somerset

Rachel Candlin,West of England and Charlie Taylor,SomersetIan SperringIan Sperring is sharing leave with his wife after their second child was bornCampaigners are calling for paternity leave to be "modernised" to help fathers be more present in family life.The Dad Shift is urging the government for "affordable and equal leave for both parents in every relationship".Co-founder Alex Lloyd Hunter, from Somerset, said they were also working to raise awareness, as most dads are unaware they can share parental leave…

BBCRamblers Carnival Club were amongst the big winnersThe winners of this year's Guy Fawkes Carnival season have been revealed.The longstanding Somerset tradition sees different Carnival Clubs compete against each other in a number of categories centred around design, creativity and performance.The season sees carnivals taking place in Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Weston-super-Mare, Noth Petherton, Midsomer Norton, Shepton Mallet and Wells before ending in Glastonbury.With all the scored counted it has been revealed that Ramblers Carnival Club won top prize in…

November is in full swing across the county, bringing people together for parades of all sorts.Firefighters marched in the poppy parade on Armistice day and carts were seen on Weston-super-Mares streets for carnival.Find this and more in our weekly picture roundup.Lights and colours: A procession of illuminated carts and costumed performers filled the streets of Weston-super-Mare for the return of the carnival.The event, which dates back to 1871, is one of the well-known Somerset Guy Fawkes carnivals. The…

Four kittens were saved after they were found malnourished and riddled with fleas and worms at a landfill site. Workers from a cat welfare charity used kippers to tempt the kittens to safety after staff at Westcombe Waste in Somerton, Somerset, found two other dead kittens.The three males and one female kitten, aged about five weeks old, were discovered under an 8m (26ft) high pile of wood.Rebecca Dawson, from Cats Protection, said after two weeks of specialist food,…

Chloe HarcombeWest of EnglandBernard BrydenPeter Brown, also known as Pete the Street, paints landscapes and street scenesAn artist who paints street scenes and landscapes around the world has released a book about his work in Bristol.Artist Peter Brown, also known as "Pete the Street", has spent 32 years capturing views of cities including Bath, London and New York.He hopes the book Bristol Paintings will help readers discover new places and revisit familiar locations. "I just hope that I've…

Bea SwallowWest of EnglandBBCRoads are closed and rivers are bursting their banks as Storm Claudia closes inMajor flooding has closed roads across the west country as Storm Claudia brings amber weather warnings and heavy downpours.Traffic monitoring site INRIX is reporting queueing traffic and one lane closed due to flooding on the M5 southbound after J19 A369 near Portishead, Somerset.Rising river levels are also expected to cause flooding overnight for the River Avon at Twyning in Gloucestershire, and Winford…

Chloe HarcombeWest of EnglandBBCMany children around the West Country, including these Priestley Primary School pupils in Calne, Wiltshire, had the chance to meet Pudsey earlierPeople around the West Country have been fundraising and meeting Pudsey for BBC Children in Need.Challenges and bake sales have been held across Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire in a bid to raise as much money as possible for the cause.BBC Children in Need funds vital support for children and young people struggling with…

Exmoor Community Bus AssociationExmoor Community Bus Association has been running since 1983Members of four community organisations say they feel "absolutely delighted" after receiving the King's Award for Voluntary Service.The honour, equivalent to an MBE, has been awarded to four organisations in Somerset, including the Exmoor Community Bus Association, the Good Fellowship Club in Yeovil, Green Wedmore and the Thomas Poole Library in Nether Stowey.The recipients for each year are announced on 14 November, King Charles' birthday.Deputy Lieutenant of…