Western Daily Press

Designs On Show

A budding fashion designer from Cheltenham has been chosen to show off her work at a prestigious London event. Nia Jones, 22, from Charlton Kings, was selected to showcase her designs at the Graduate Fashion Week at Earls Court today.

Orchid Wipe-Out

An investigation is under way after workmen sprayed a roadside with herbicide - and killed hundreds of rare orchids. The nine species of the exotic flower were being reared at an official wildlife site on an embankment near the A38 in Chudleigh, Devon.

'We Want to Be the Best'

Chief Constable Colin Port has said mediocrity is not an option as he pushes to make Avon and Somerset police the best force in the country. Despite the constabulary having its best crime figures for 10 years, Mr Port said his officers and staff must continue to improve year on year.

Taste of Home to Spice Up Cricketers

Bangladeshi cricketers in the World Twenty20 competition have been getting a taste of "home cooking" - thanks to a Bristol restaurant and a helicopter. The players wanted to make sure they could enjoy a feast of spicy dishes after their first two games.

School Reopens After Flu Alert

Classes resumed at Eton College yesterday after the school shut for a week following more than 30 cases of swine flu. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) confirmed at least 31 cases of the virus linked to the public school in Berkshire.

Swimmers Threaten Public Access to Reservoir

Public access to a popular reservoir is under threat of closure due to the dangers involved in people swimming in it. Despite danger warnings from Bristol Water, soaring temperatures have been tempting people into the water at Cheddar Reservoir, just outside the historic Somerset village.

Use Your Pedal Power to Help

A charity is calling on people in the South West to get on their bikes to raise money. Cancer Research UK is encouraging people in Dorset, Devon and Somerset to take part in National Bike Week, to help people suffering from cancer.

New Chapter Begins for Rescued Print Firm

By Claire Wilson wdnews@bepp.co.uk I t is the West Country firm which became a symbol for the early days of the credit crunch, a company connected to hundreds of people in the heart of Somerset that was saved from the brink of collapse.

Most People Live Sanitised Lives. What They Need to Do Is Get Stuck in a Desert

P erhaps it should not be too much of a surprise to discover that even getting into the office of The Adventurists is, well, a bit of an adventure. In a room with dark wood- panelled walls and a fireplace, which looks like a pastiche of a traditional gentlemen's club, there is a bookcase with old copies of National Geographic magazine on the shelves, alongside exotic memorabilia, including a miniature native head and an ornamental dagger.

Slow Progress for Cider Tanks

Two giant cider fermentation tanks - each capable of holding 800,000 litres (1.5 million pints) - have been driven through Gloucestershire. The vessels, measuring 8m (26ft) in diameter and 35m (115ft) long, were transported by boat from Dortmund in Germany to Sharpness, Gloucestershire. Both 50-tonne tanks set off from Sharpness docks heading to Universal Beverages in Ledbury.

You'd Have to Be Off Your Trolley to Try to Steal From Thomas' Tesco Store

By Marcus Denby wdnews@bepp.co.uk A hero shop worker who stood behind a car to stop a shoplifter escaping has been praised by a judge for his bravery.

Fencing at 91

Britain's oldest competitive fencer was still feeling sharp yesterday - at the age of 91. Dennis Willcock, a member of the British Fencing Federation, is still winning international tournaments 64 years after first picking up an epee.

Pete Fined Over Drugs

Rocker Pete Doherty was fined for taking drugs just days before he performs at a West Country venue, police have confirmed. The singer was met by Swiss officers on arrival at Geneva Airport on Thursday after an incident on a British Airways flight, a spokesman for Geneva Police said.

Memorial Gig for Les

Singers from across the region are taking to the stage for a memorial concert in Weston-super-Mare. Les Skidmore, a former deputy head teacher at Kings of Wessex School in Cheddar died in November 2007 from a brain tumour.

Anger at Mps Spreads to Cows

Former home secretary David Blunkett has returned to work after breaking a rib when he was charged by a cow. The blind MP attended a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party last night.

2m Free Books

More than two million free books are to be given to children across England. Poetry anthologies, picture books and novels will be among those distributed under the Booktime and Booked Up programmes between now and Christmas.

Gene Uncovered

Rugby 7-a-Side

Rugby teams from universities across Europe will be going head- to-head in a seven-a-side tournament hosted by Bristol University. The tournament, which opens on Wednesday, will be held at the university's Coombe Dingle Sports Complex.

Fond Farewell

A maternity care assistant from Weston General Hospital has retired after 38 years of service. Jeannie Jacobs, 79, worked originally in Ashcombe House and then transferred to the hospital when it opened in Grange Road 22 years ago.

Blown Away by Flights of Balloons

A helium-filled balloon launched from a village fete in Brimscombe, near Stroud, was found a day later - 1,105 miles away in Gdansk, Poland. Two other balloons also made it to Europe - one ending up in Germany and another in Denmark.