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‘Ice hockey teddy bear donations’ and ‘singing donkey’

‘Ice hockey teddy bear donations’ and ‘singing donkey’

Swindon WildcatsIce hockey fans donated 425 teddy bears to the children's charity Barnardo's Swindon by throwing them onto the iceHere's our daily pick of stories from across local websites in the West of England, and interesting content from social media.Our pick of local website storiesA man has set up a prostate cancer support group in Weston-super-Mare after his own diagnosis. The Weston Mercury reports Martin Shaddick started the group as people previously had to travel to Pill to…

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University of Exeter to lead national modern languages campaign in the region

A new campaign tackling the decline in the number of young people learning modern languages at A-level is being launched in the South West. Languages For All establishes a network of state schools in Cornwall and Devon working together to make advanced modern language study valued, possible and normalised in the region. Schools will collaborate to deliver joint A-level classes, either after-hours or online, ensuring that every 16-year-old can access the course if they wish to, even if…

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Oil presses stand silent as West Bank has its worst olive harvest in years | Israel-Palestine conflict News

Oil presses stand silent as West Bank has its worst olive harvest in years | Israel-Palestine conflict News

Between October 1 and November 10, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs documented 167 olive harvest-related settler attacks resulting in casualties or property damage, which locals note is likely a significant undercount.OCHA also notes the number of affected communities, 87, has doubled since 2023, mostly due to the expansion of settler outposts and infrastructure into new areas of the occupied West Bank.Moustafa Badaha, 48, owns a small house among these olive groves on the…

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Mum who lost her daughter to brain tumour calls for change

Mum who lost her daughter to brain tumour calls for change

Sam TuckerSam Tucker's eldest daughter Molly was diagnosed with a brain tumour when she was two years oldA mother has called for earlier diagnosis of paediatric brain tumours after the death of her six-year-old daughter. Sam Tucker, originally from Bristol, believes "opportunities were missed" when her daughter Molly was diagnosed with a large mass. She later died in 2017 when the family were living in Dorset.Ms Tucker who, along with other bereaved mothers, delivered a study to health…

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Exeter helps lawyer and father of two beat cycling greats in his 40s

Exeter helps lawyer and father of two beat cycling greats in his 40s

Raising a family and working as a lawyer would keep most people busy enough, but not for one amateur cyclist who at the age of 41 is making a big name for himself in the sport – with support from experts at the University of Exeter through a service which is now open to all. Andrew Feather, from Bath, made international headlines in October when he beat four-time Tour de France winner and current World Champion, Tadej Pogačar,…

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More than 100 arrests in county lines operation across South West

More than 100 arrests in county lines operation across South West

Anna VarleSouth West home and social affairs correspondentBBCMore than 100 arrests were made across the South West in a week of police action against drugs and child exploitationPolice have seized guns and arrested more than 100 people across the south west of England in a week of police action against drugs and child exploitation.Operation Scorpion targets gangs who use young people to traffic drugs into the region from major cities. Police said 122 people were arrested across the…

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Exe estuary takeover plan sparks fears of new charges

Exe estuary takeover plan sparks fears of new charges

Miles DavisDevon political reporterBBCIan Garcia, commodore of Topsham Sailing Club, says there is not enough information available on Exeter City Council's plans for a harbour revision orderPlans for a council to take over the running of a major estuary in Devon are facing opposition from water users concerned at the possibility of new charges being imposed.Exeter City Council wants to use a harbour revision order (HRO) to take charge of the Exe estuary, which runs from Exeter Quay…

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New treatments hoped for brain tumour patients in Plymouth

New treatments hoped for brain tumour patients in Plymouth

Craig RussellCraig Russell was unaware a tumour was growing inside his brain for 15 yearsMillions of pounds of funding could change the outcome for patients with brain tumours, according to scientists in Devon.The University of Plymouth has been awarded £2.8m to develop its research, which experts and patients said could result in life-changing treatments.The funding has come from the charity Brain Tumour Research and will be used to repurpose existing drugs and move more quickly towards clinical trials.Brain…

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Transport costs force Somerset schools to celebrate digitally

Transport costs force Somerset schools to celebrate digitally

Three rural schools have recorded a virtual Christmas celebration because of a rise in transport costs.The pupils would normally come together to celebrate in Somerset but school leaders say doing so now would cost them "thousands", so they have recorded three videos that will be edited into one to celebrate.Hannah Maggs, the executive headteacher at Cameley Primary School in Temple Cloud, said their alternative was a "lovely way" to "teach the Christmas story".The schools hope the new approach…

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Somerset museum gets almost £1m to display Norman treasure

Somerset museum gets almost £1m to display Norman treasure

A grant of almost £1m will mean a hoard of Norman-era treasure found in the Somerset countryside can be put on permanent display.The Chew Valley Hoard, which features 2,584 coins dated from just after the Battle of Hastings in 1066, is thought to be the highest-value treasure acquisition on record at £4.3m.It was found in 2019 by a group out metal detecting in the Chew Valley, who split the findings with the landowner.The National Lottery grant of £993,345…

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National Trust launches £330k appeal to buy Cerne Giant’s ‘lair’

National Trust launches £330k appeal to buy Cerne Giant’s ‘lair’

National TrustStanding at 180ft (55m) tall, the Cerne Giant is sculpted into the chalk hillside above Cerne AbbasA £330,000 appeal to buy the land surrounding the Cerne Abbas Giant has been launched.The National Trust is hoping to raise the money to help fund the purchase and care of 138 hectares (341 acres) surrounding the ancient naked figure sculpted into the chalk in Dorset.So far over £2m has been raised to buy the swathe of land known as giant's…

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Boat users set for increase in Dorset harbour fees

Boat users set for increase in Dorset harbour fees

Boat users of three harbours in Dorset could face higher fees, according to a report.Dorset Council is looking to implement a minimum 3.4% increase to charges at Bridport, Lyme Regis and Weymouth harbours, although some exceptions have been made.The proposed changes, outlined in the report to the Harbours Advisory Committee, aim to keep the facilities financially sustainable while remaining competitive with other ports.Winter mooring fees at West Bay and Lyme Regis would remain unchanged and, following feedback, boat…

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