BBC Somerset

Beth CruseWest of EnglandReutersCheese-rolling attracts thousands of participants and spectators to Gloucestershire each yearFrom tumbling down hills after cheese to racing homemade contraptions, the West Country's calendar is packed with events as eccentric as they are beloved.Crowds come from far and wide to be a part of the weird and wonderful traditions that make our region unique."These special events draw in hundreds of thousands of visitors to the area, boosting our local visitor economy which is worth more…

A man has been injured in a gang attack on a bus, police have said.Officers have shared CCTV footage after a group of six teenagers assaulted a man who had confronted them for opening an emergency exit on the vehicle.The victim was left with injuries to his head, face and arms after the incident on Cork Street in Frome, Somerset, at about 17:00 GMT on 12 December.An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: "They [the gang] are all…

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Police are investigating the deaths of four gulls after it is believed they were shot down. Peter Colton, 79, was walking through Sharpham Road Playing Fields next to Cheddar Reservoir on Tuesday morning when he discovered the birds, one of which was dead and three seriously injured.Volunteers from Secret World Animal Rescue collected the surviving gulls, but had to put them down due to the severity of their injuries.The charity's wildlife and veterinary services manager, Lauren Valentine, said:…

John WimperisLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceBBCResidents were given faulty recycling bags that rapidly faded and rippedA council has said that it has been given a refund by a company that supplied thousands of faulty household recycling bags.Residents in the North Somerset Council area were issued with red bags for their plastic and metal waste in March, following a successful trial in November 2024 that aimed to boost recycling.But there were complaints from residents as many of the bags were…

Alexandra BassinghamWest of EnglandPeter Andrews/Corbis via Getty ImagesAnimal welfare advocate Sarah Fisher has died at the age of 61Tributes have been paid to an "extraordinary, kind and talented mother" and animal-welfare advocate.Sarah Fisher, who lived in Bath, with her partner, actor Anthony Head - famous for his role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Little Britain - ran Tilley Farm, a sanctuary for rescued horses, ponies and donkeys.Her daughters, Emily and Daisy Head, said: "No words could ever…

Here's our daily pick of stories from across local websites in the West of England, and interesting content from social media.A fundraiser for a man who lost his wife and two children in a house fire in Stroud, has raised more than £160,000 in two days, according to Gloucestershire Live. The fire happened in the early hours of Boxing Day.Labour MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke, Claire Hazelgrove, says she is "concerned" over plans for housing on land…