Western Daily Press

Airport Arrest Over Chemical

A man arrested on suspicion of endangering an aircraft following an airport chemical alert was released on bail today. Baggage handlers at Manchester Airport raised the alarm when they noticed a strange smell as they loaded luggage onto a plane.

Cheeky Calendar

The cast and crew of Frome Amateur Operatic Society (FAOS) have stripped off, not only for the eagerly awaited production of The Full Monty, but for a calendar to raise funds for research into testicular cancer. The Bristol Royal Infirmary's campaign It's In The Bag was created by the oncology department and the society decided to take part in a charity calendar.

Council's Pounds 40k Mower Smash

Cheltenham Borough Council has been fined Pounds 14,000 after a long-serving gardener fell off a ride-on lawnmower and punctured his lung. Steve Hope was hospitalised when he fell off the mower trying to navigate a slope in Hatherley Park, smashing into a bench. A colleague of Mr Hope's, who was sitting on the bench, had to leap out of the way, Cheltenham Magistrates' Court heard.

Attack in Park

Three men were victims of an unprovoked attack by youths in a Somerset park. Police are appealing for witnesses of the incident which happened in Victoria Park, Taunton at 10pm on September 12 and left one man with a broken wrist and all three with cuts.

Challenging Time ; in Brief

Bristol building services company Mitie yesterday revealed its new build housing and interior fittings divisions still face challenging conditions. In a trading update for the period since the start of its financial year on April 1, it said projects had been delayed and clients have reduced spending and investment.

Let Us Know That 13-Year-Old Is Safe

Police have appealed to a man believed to be with a missing 13- year-old girl he met on the internet to let them know she is safe. Teagan Feakins, 13, was last seen at 7.30pm on Friday in the Babbacombe Road area of Torquay.

Win Boost for Arsene

Arsenal ....................2 Van Persie 78; Arshavin 86 Olympiacos .............0 Arsene Wenger continued the quest for the one thing missing from his Arsenal CV as the Gunners maintained their 100 per cent record in Group H of the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Olympiacos at the Emirates Stadium. The French coach will later this week become the longest-serving manager in the history of Arsenal, whom he openly admits were a "bit crazy" to take the gamble on his appointment some 13 seas...

Evans Back for Glos After Course Record

Chris Evans is back in the Gloucestershire county first team after setting a new course record at The Kendleshire. He has been chosen for the final Channel League match of the season against Gwent at The Monmouthshire on Sunday. Evans has now scored eight-under-par 64 on two of the three possible lay-outs at the 27-hole complex. His previous 64 was over holes 10-27 in the club championship in 2005.

Ruth Watson's Hotel Rescue 8pm, [...]

Vintage Model ; for Most People, Retirement Signals the End of Their Career. However, for Bristol Grandmother Jo Ashley, It has Been the Start of a New One. Suzanne Savill Reports Lookatbeauty

Until she retired at 60, Jo Ashley had spent her career working as a scientist. It was a role she enjoyed. However, people often told her that she should have chosen a different path. "Over the years so many people have said to me: 'you should have been a model'," says Jo, who is 5ft 8in tall, with an inside leg measurement of 36in.

Police Probe Teen Violence

Extra police are patrolling a Somerset town after a number of incidents between teenagers in the area. Police are warning young people in Yeovil that there is no excuse for violence following a small number of incidents between teenagers in the area. Only one of the incidents, in Yeovil, has been reported to police but it is believed to be connected to several other unreported incidents in the Grass Royal and Preston Road area.

Today's Birthdays

Human Remains Found

Driver Killed

Ice Cap Trip Halts

An adventurous couple's icy expedition to cross the world's third largest ice cap has been disrupted by ice stor ms. Tarka L'Herpiniere and his partner Katie-Jane Cooper, of Wellington, Somerset, are stuck at the foot of a glacier in Argentina, having been hit by a severe storm.

River Quality Is Not Good ; Your Say

We are told that water quality in our rivers is "better than ever". Indeed, the improvements are to be welcomed, but they are far too small. In the South West only 33 per cent of rivers, lakes and coastal waters achieved "good" or "high" ecological status under the new and more stringent Water Framework Directive. This compares with an average figure of 26 per cent for England and Wales.

Petition for Your Pension ; Your Say

Calling all pensioners and those approaching pension age with access to the inter net. A petition can now be viewed on the Number 10 website at http:// petitions.number10.gov.uk/ pensionsoldage to try to get an increase in the old age pension. To readers who have no internet access please could I suggest you write to your MP.

Brown Should Not Be a Brag ; Your Say

In his party conference speech, Gordon Brown will no doubt brag about his achievements as Chancellor and Prime Minister. Will he also admit that our financial troubles are partly due to his spend policy as Chancellor, and his selling of gold reserves on a buyers' market were also less than prudent? Also, that his under- funding of the MoD led to the deaths of soldiers in Afghanistan due to a lack of adequate equipment? With the Irish voting this week in a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, we s...

Developers Need to Consider Our Wildlife ; Your Say

As a resident of a neighbouring village to the Lakes by Yoo development, I am outraged at the number of articles that have appeared recently in both national and local newspapers giving an insight into John Hitchcox's view on this development (West Country Life, September 26). They amount to advertising for these lakeside properties and do not state the true effect that this development has had and will continue to have on thecommunity. The paper should publish an article from the view of man...

Respect Due to Veterans ; Your Say