Britta Zeltmann

A planned two-year digital weight-loss pilot in Guernsey has been cancelled after its chosen provider withdrew shortly before the contract was completed. The programme was intended to support adults living with obesity through medicines that help them feel fuller. Public Health associate director Alex Hawkins-Drew said officials are reassessing what service can be offered, while the existing free Tier 2 programme, Oviva’s 12-week service and GP referrals to specialist dietetic support remain available in Guernsey and Alderney.

Castle Cornet bridge in Guernsey will close from 7 September 2026 for an eight-month, £6.2m reconstruction. The work will replace the 95-metre concrete deck and approach bridge, while strengthening and retaining the historic 19th-century granite piers. The castle will remain open until 6 September, businesses on the Castle Emplacement will retain access, and the bridge is expected to reopen in late May 2027.

Vendors at Guernsey’s West Show faced wet and windy conditions while setting up their stalls at L’Eree Aerodrome in St Peter’s. Despite delays and an initially reduced turnout, the weather improved, with thousands expected to attend the two-day agricultural event featuring livestock, vintage tractors, lawnmower racing and monster trucks.

Not On The High Street has paused deliveries to Jersey, Guernsey and the wider Channel Islands because of recent changes to international shipping and customs regulations. The marketplace, which serves thousands of independent businesses, said continuing deliveries could cause delays and unexpected customs charges. It apologised to affected customers, offered full refunds to eligible NOTHS&More members and said it was seeking a long-term solution.

The Battle of Flowers attracted about 12,000 people to its day parade and 20,000 to the moonlight event, but organisers said this year’s one-pass format and route changes were not fully successful. Chairman Martyn Maguire said the Battle of Flowers Association would review crowd management and develop improvements. A planned fireworks display was cancelled because of exceptionally dry conditions, and attendees have been invited to complete an online feedback survey.

The RAF Red Arrows will miss a scheduled appearance at RNLI Lifeboat Week in Lyme Regis after poor weather stranded the team in Canada. Devon-based Bradninch Red Barrows, a charity group that performs comedic Red Arrows-style displays with wheelbarrows, will replace them. Organisers said the rest of the week will proceed as planned, including Spitfire and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight displays.

Students across Devon, Cornwall, Jersey and Guernsey celebrated A-level, T-level and BTEC results. Top A-level grades across England, Wales and Northern Ireland rose for the third consecutive year to 28.5%, while a record number of UK 18-year-olds secured places at their first-choice universities. Colleges reported strong pass rates, including 99.67% at Exeter College, more than 98% for its T-level and vocational students, 99% at Highlands College and 100% at Elizabeth College. Students described varied plans, including university, apprenticeships, a gap year and entering the workforce, while some highlighted the appeal of earning while learning and concerns about university debt.

Jersey Zoo has named a baby capybara Waffle after a public vote. The name follows the potato-themed names of her half-siblings, Hashbrown and Dauphinoise. Waffle was born after Tayto and Tango became parents, while Tango was previously involved in a temporary zoo closure after escaping from his enclosure.

Boardmasters Festival will take place from 5 to 9 August 2026 at Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, with more than 50,000 attendees expected. The festival features performances by artists including Fatboy Slim, Lily Allen, The Kooks, Kasabian and Loyle Carner, alongside surfing, skating, family activities and wellness facilities. The guide details arena and campsite opening times, coach, train, shuttle and parking options, temporary road closures, food and drink rules, access arrangements, and safety requirements. St John Ambulance advises visitors to stay hydrated, use sun protection and seek urgent help for signs of heatstroke, while welfare, medical and specialist safeguarding support will operate throughout the event.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service has urged people to consider picnics instead of barbecues as dry, hot conditions have led to a sharp rise in fires. Crews in mid-Cornwall attended at least 148 open fires since the start of July, with on-call firefighters facing resource-intensive incidents and extensive call-outs across the county. Group manager Steve Swan said crews were being rotated to protect their welfare while maintaining public safety, and warned that dry conditions make fires exceptionally easy to start.

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust has won the Best Conservation Project Award for its 25-year effort to protect Jersey’s only native frog, the agile frog. The trust’s recovery programme has returned thousands of froglets to the wild after the species declined and became restricted to two areas in western Jersey, partly because of a pesticide spill. Prize money will support further research and conservation, while a new 10-year species action plan aims to establish strong genetic populations across the island and benefit the wider ecosystem.

Tourism leaders in Devon and Cornwall say hotels, restaurants and holiday parks have been overlooked after Andy Burnham announced a further 20% cut in business rates for pubs, clubs and music venues in England. Hospitality businesses point out that hotels face larger projected rate increases than pubs and have received no comparable relief. Industry representatives welcome support for pubs but argue that the whole hospitality sector needs help, while the government describes the measure as a first step and says it will continue seeking broader solutions.

Cornwall Council approved a vote of no confidence in South West Water amid concerns over persistent sewage spills affecting the county’s environment and public health. Councillors argued the company’s management model is failing and called for its removal from water and wastewater operations in favour of a publicly owned alternative. South West Water defended its performance, citing major investment and reductions in spill incidents. Local leaders connected the issue to wider national problems in the water industry, with expectations that Prime Minister Andy Burnham may consider further action.

A University of Plymouth engineering student developed a £30 device that translates and transcribes speech into text in real time, projecting subtitles onto a small screen attached to a user’s glasses. Built using affordable and recycled materials, the system captures speech through a microphone, uses an AI model for translation, and displays text via a mirror and lens setup. Designed to improve accessibility and reduce reliance on expensive smart glasses or phone-based tools, the device aims to assist both language learners and people who are hard of hearing. The student emphasises privacy, affordability and encouraging others to start creating without hesitation.

About half of the landowners billed by the States of Guernsey for emergency tree‑clearing after Storm Goretti have repaid their charges, returning £33,788 of the £82,788 spent removing debris from public roads. Traffic and Highways Service said trees from private property blocked roads during the January storm, requiring government‑hired contractors to clear routes quickly. Officials noted the difficulty of contacting owners during the incident and cited benefits such as restoring emergency access and public transport. They acknowledged some landowners refused to pay and expect similar cost‑recovery attempts in future large‑scale events.

Water voles have been reintroduced to North Devon more than 25 years after their local extinction, supported by extensive habitat restoration including ponds, tree planting and flood management measures. About 110 voles were released with expectations of population growth, while monitoring efforts and community involvement aim to ensure their long‑term recovery. Conservation groups and volunteers are working together to improve conditions across the Combesgate catchment in Woolacombe and track the voles’ progress.

An 85-year-old woman completed a 26.2-mile coastal walk from Marazion to Mousehole and back twice, raising more than £1,200 for Cornwall Air Ambulance. Joined by her daughter and granddaughter, she attributed her success to determination and a positive mindset. Her family highlighted her active lifestyle and encouraging spirit, emphasising her goal to show that age should not limit achievement while supporting a vital emergency service.

Imerys reports increasing trespassing on its Cornwall industrial land, with motorcyclists and cyclists entering hazardous areas where heavy trucks operate. A worker was recently assaulted after confronting a youth on an e‑bike at Littlejohns pit. Company lead Mark Hewson warned of serious safety risks and urged the public to avoid the sites and respect staff. Police are addressing the incident as the firm faces rising numbers of trespass cases in warm weather.