Western Daily Press

Morrisons to Freeze Fuel Price

A supermarket announced yesterday that it was temporarily freezing the price of its fuel as motorists faced a hike of 2p a litre. Morrisons said it would not be increasing the price of petrol and diesel despite a Government fuel duty rise.

Cafe Go-Ahead

A cafe in a Bath park has been given permission to sell alcohol and play music. Councillors yesterday decided to grant the licence at the premises in Alice Park in Gloucester Road despite objections from residents.

Tears As Centenarian Sisters Are Reunited ; 102-Year-Old Eugenie Gets a Birthday Visit From Her Big Sister

There were tears of joy as two sisters over the age of 100 were reunited for the first time in six years in Dorset. Hilda Greening, 105, made the journey from Gloucester to see sister Eugenie Underwood, who celebrated her 102nd birthday earlier this summer. It was the first time the pair had met for six years.

Alcohol Asbos to Tackle Drink-Fuelled Crime

People responsible for alcohol-fuelled crime and anti-social behaviour face being given new "booze Asbos". Drinking banning orders (DBOs) will be available to police and local authorities to protect the public from further drink-related offences.

Alarm Over Iraq Human Rights Record

Dreams that the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime would see the end of torture and killings in Iraq have "all but faded to nothing" with more than 1,000 prisoners still facing the death penalty, says Amnesty International. The human rights organisation said the country's "ramshackle justice system can barely cope with ordinary crimes never mind capital offences".

'Libya Trade Deals Had No Bearing On Release'

The Scottish Justice Secretary hit back yesterday at questions over the medical advice he sought before releasing the Lockerbie bomber. Kenny MacAskill spoke out as footage emerged of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi in his hospital bed.

Child Inmates Held in 'Dire Conditions'

Children being taken to a West prison have to urinate in plastic bags as they do not get toilet breaks on the journey, a charity has said. And there is an unacceptable use of strip searching at Ashfield near Bristol with youngsters routinely subjected to the practice on arrival and again every two months.

Launch Party Helps to Kick Off Rugby Stars' New Cafe

England rugby star Lee Mears and his ex-Bath team-mate Matt Stevens held a launch party for their new coffee house on Saturday - and had a little help from some friends. Mears and Stevens were joined by many other stars from Bath Rugby, as well as England flanker Joe Worsley, for the grand opening of Jika Jika.

Talks Tackle Pub Problems

Problems at a Shepton Mallet pub where neighbours were unhappy about rowdy customers have been resolved after talks. The future of the Victoria Inn at Board Cross hung in the balance at a licence review hearing in the town last week.

Researchers Called in to Solve 'Storm in a Tea Cup' Row

The National Trust has called in independent researchers as the "storm in a tea cup" row over whether introducing a tea room at Dunster Castle would hit trade in the village continues. Some traders are worried that catering at the castle would corral visitors who would fail to visit the village and cut the slice of the "tourist cake" which is a vital part of the economy.

Getting Used to Life After Helmand ; Amy, 23, Says Time As a Medic in Afghan War Zone Changed Her Forever

She is only 23 years old, but already Amy McArthur has twice witnessed the unimaginable horrors of life in the depths of a war zone. Amputations, children with bullet wounds and dying friends are among the traumas the lance corporal with the Territorial Arm (TA) dealt with almost every day while serving as a medic in Afghanistan's notorious Helmand province. She is now readjusting to life in Yeovil, worlds apart from the conflict where she regularly heard homemade explosive devices rip the li...

Lucky Escape As Car Impaled On Barrier

Driver Sarah Harvey has spoken of her shock when a metal barrier pierced her car in an accident and went straight through the vehicle. Sarah was just inches from being seriously injured or even killed as the Vauxhall Astra hit the barrier in Berwick Lane, Easter Compton.

Husband Jailed

A man who murdered his doctor wife in an unprovoked attack has been jailed for life. Nabeel Khan strangled Dr Iffat Kamal, 39, during an argument on December 10 last year in Dundee. The pathologist died 10 days later in Ninewells Hospital, where she had worked.

Abuse Inquiry Into Girl's Death

Detectives are investigating whether a lorry driver believed to have strangled his nine-year-old stepdaughter before hanging himself had sexually abused the girl. The child's body was discovered on Saturday in the man's lorry, which was parked at a Little Chef on the A605 near Warmington, Northamptonshire.

Sailing Home

A disabled yachtswoman aiming to become the first female quadriplegic to sail solo around Britain was yesterday completing the final stretch of her challenge. Hilary Lister, 37, was expected to arrive in Dover Harbour yesterday evening.

Protest Campers Target Treasury

Climate camp activists staged a "clean-up" protest outside the Treasury yesterday before heading to an airport for a flash mob demonstration. The government building in Whitehall and London City Airport were the latest targets for those attending the week-long camp at Blackheath in south-east London. Armed with cleaning equipment, the protesters said they wanted to expose the "dirty practice" of using taxpayers' money to fund fossil fuel extraction in spite of the Government's claim to be lea...

Adopt Red Box

Telephone boxes in six villages just outside Bath are once again under threat of removal by BT. Notices have been posted in the traditional red boxes offering local communities the opportunity to 'adopt' the boxes without the telephone service so as to preserve them as a heritage feature.

The Landlord Is My Shepherd

Prayers and pints are not often enjoyed in the same breath, but that is all about to change in one West pub. And it won't just be the Holy Spirit on offer when the newly- renovated Old Custom House Inn in Langport reopens its doors next year. For the historic hostelry in Bow Street has been bought by a local church, keen to restore it to its former glory as a living, breathing pub and cement its place at the heart of the community.

Real Ale Festival

Kick the Smoking Habit in B&Nes

Smokers desperate to kick the habit stand a better chance of succeeding in Bath and north east Somerset than anywhere else in the south west - according to new figures. Thanks to the NHS Bath & North East Somerset's Stop Smoking Service, more people than anticipated stubbed out their last cigarette in 2008-09. In all 1,121 people used the service to put a stop to their habit - 13 per cent above target - making it the best performer in the region.