Tess De La Mare

A woman who lost three limbs to meningitis as a baby and experienced severe bullying in school graduated with a first-class law degree from the University of the West of England. She credits university life, supportive lecturers and a focus on family law for transforming her confidence and career goals. Highlighting her desire to help others, she urged disabled students to pursue higher education without hesitation. Her achievements have led to multiple offers to continue to a master’s degree.

Families of those killed in the 1994 RAF Chinook crash plan to seek an inquiry under the newly passed Hillsborough Law after a High Court judge ruled their legal challenge was submitted too late. Relatives argue that key documents remain classified and that restrictions on RAF personnel prevented timely disclosure. The Ministry of Defence acknowledged the ruling and said it will continue engaging with the Chinook Justice Campaign.

A Somerset start‑up, Rookwood Operations, has developed a cartridge-based material that removes phosphates from waterways and can recycle the captured nutrient as fertiliser. A successful trial at Chew Valley Reservoir showed the system can filter phosphates even at low concentrations, offering potential benefits for farmers and addressing pollution that contributes to harmful algal blooms. The technology may also help unlock delayed housing projects restricted by phosphate-related environmental regulations. Experts, including Professor Penny Johnes, stress the widespread nature of phosphorus pollution and the need for long-term government commitment. Bristol Water and South West Water view the trial results as evidence of a practical and sustainable water‑quality solution.

Police are treating a fatal crash near Royal Wotton Bassett as murder and attempted murder after a 43-year-old driver was re-arrested. A woman in her 70s died at the scene and a teenage passenger was seriously injured. Wiltshire Police referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct due to prior contacts with the suspect. Investigators are gathering information and appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage.

A potentially toxic bloom of blue‑green algae forced the closure of the boating lake at Warminster Lake Pleasure Grounds in Wiltshire, following Environment Agency advice to keep people and pets away. Excess nutrients, warm temperatures and stagnant water were identified as contributing factors, with risks to human and animal health outlined. Other park facilities remain open as the town council works with the Environment Agency to reopen the lake once conditions are safe.

Somerset is expected to experience a heatwave from Sunday to Friday, with temperatures forecast to exceed the 26C threshold required for a heatwave. A yellow heat-health alert has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency, warning of increased risks to vulnerable people, strain on healthcare services and possible rises in water-related incidents. Meteorologists attribute the conditions to persistent high pressure and note that while this heatwave will be less intense than the recent late‑June record temperatures, climate change is driving more frequent and severe heatwaves. Experts highlight that human-driven greenhouse gas emissions are the primary cause of rising temperature extremes.

Temperatures in Somerset are expected to exceed the official heatwave threshold from Sunday to Friday, prompting the UK Health Security Agency to issue a yellow heat‑health alert. Forecasters anticipate highs of up to 28C, below the record June temperatures recently recorded in the county. The alert warns of increased health risks for vulnerable people and potential rises in water‑related incidents. Meteorologists note that continued warm, dry weather is driven by high pressure, while scientists highlight human‑driven climate change as the key factor behind increasingly frequent and severe heatwaves.