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Headlines: Flooding, Chris Serle tributes and BBL death

Trevor Porter A black car partially submerged, and abandoned on a flooded country road with a partially visible 40 mph sign visibleTrevor Porter
The widespread flooding after prolonged heavy rain was a dominant headline across the west

Widespread disruption caused by extensive flooding across the region was dominant in the news this week.

Gloucestershire Live editor, Phil Norris, wrote about a fundraising appeal after downpours caused thousands of pounds' worth of damage to Tewkesbury C of E Primary School.

Water poured through the roof into the school's library, ruining more than £12,500 worth of books, which staff have described as a "disaster".

Ben Gardner for the Wiltshire Times wrote about an abandoned car submerged on the flooded B3106 in Holt - despite the road having been closed by gates installed in 2019 as drivers regularly ignored flood warnings.

On Friday, flooding caused disruption again after a section of the M5 had to be closed.

Mr Norris wrote a live blog about the incident, which saw stranded vehicles being rescued by firefighters.

Family handout A close-up of Alice Webb looking to camera in a barFamily handout
Alice Webb, 33, died in the early hours of Tuesday

Gloucestershire Live covered a tragic story on Wednesday about mother-of-five, Alice Webb, 33, who died after is it believed she underwent a non-surgical Brazilian butt lift (BBL).

In a Facebook appeal, Ms Webb's partner, Dane Knight, said: "Please have these five girls' feelings at heart before speculating."

Gloucestershire Police's major crime team is investigating and the two arrested people have been released on bail.

The O'Sullivan family at Jack's graduation with his arm around his mother, surrounded by his father and brother. Jack is wearing a mortar board
Catherine O'Sullivan said she was convinced her son, Jack, (Second R) was still alive

Somerset Live published an update about the search for missing Jack O'Sullivan. The Bristol man's mum told the online site that she believes her son is still alive.

Jack, 23, disappeared on 2 March after he was last seen at around 03:15 BST in the Brunel Way area of Bristol.

Reporter Shannon Brown spoke to mum Catherine O'Sullivan who believes her son did not fall into the water.

She is spending every moment searching for Jack and believes she has come up with the 'most likely theory' for what happened to him.

Getty Images A close-up shot of Ellis Genge looking away to the right of cameraGetty Images
The announcement that England prop Ellis Genge had signed a new "long-term" contract with Bristol Bears was a top post in Bristol

Bristol Bears Rugby announced earlier this week that England prop Ellis Genge had signed a long-term contract with the club.

The club shared a video of the Bristol-born player, including a flash of his now famous "Knowle West" toe tattoo.

The 29-year-old forward was a key part of the Bears' strong end to last season which saw them win six of their final seven matches of the league season, missing out on the play-offs by two points.

"Hopefully it's not the end; a long contract, so obviously I feel at home now," Genge told BBC Radio Bristol. "To be honest I didn't realise how important it was to me."

Wiltshire Council A car park with Wiltshire Council
The Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing centre in Salisbury has installed solar panels and a solar-powered EV charging hub in the car park

Europe's first-ever large-scale solar-powered car park which opened in Salisbury was covered by the Journal.

Deputy editor, Benjamin Paessler, said the Health and Wellbeing Centre would use 100 per cent of the energy generated from the solar panels, providing 10 per cent of its electricity.

Posts on the Journal's social media page were mainly positive with comments such as: "Why destroy countryside, this scheme should be across Wiltshire".

Daniel Mumby A tired looking depot with a brown and yellow bus parked outsideDaniel Mumby
The 26 electric buses will operate on five routes from the spring

Somerset Live also covered 26 new electric buses being launched at an upgraded Taunton depot.

The buses will begin operating on five routes across Somerset from spring, after the council secured a £2.2m grant from the government's Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) scheme.

Several comments posted on Somerset Live's social media page agreed that electric buses could be a fire hazard.

Phyll Babb standing in a garden with an abundance of orange flowers in the background
Phyll Babb is walking 100 one-mile walks before her 100th birthday for charity

The popular story about 99-year-old Phyll Babb walking 100 one-mile strolls before she celebrates her century did well for the Salisbury Journal.

Reporter Isabella Holliday said she was "currently ahead of schedule to complete the walks by the time of her 100th birthday on 13 July 2025.

Ms Babb is walking the same route each time from her home and around the Cathedral Close to raise money for the Salisbury Trust For the Homeless (STFH).

Chris Serle, and Paul Heiney being hugged by Esther Rantzen in a garden in 1979
Chris Serle (L), who died this week, on the set of That's Life! in 1979 with fellow presenters Dame Esther Rantzen and Paul Heiney

And finally a round-up of the headlines would not be complete without a tribute to the much-loved Bristol-born former BBC presenter, Chris Serle.

Pete Gavan, senior editor Bristol Live, reported that Dame Esther Rantzen remembered her That's Life! co-star for being "funny, clever and charming", following his death.

"He was as nice off-camera as he was in the studio.....viewers and listeners of That's Life! and the many other radio and television programmes he presented will be equally sad," she said.

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