West Live: As it happened

1. News, sport, weather and travel updates from across the West of England on Tuesday, 21 February 2017

Firefighters help children in Bristol to read

Avon Fire and Rescue officers with their delighted audience

It's been a day of heavy news so we'll leave you with some firefighters delighting school-kids with a reading session.

The crew members visited Greenfield Academy in Knowle to help pupils with their literacy skills.

We'll be back with the latest news, sport, travel and weather from 7am.

Mild and damp conditions to continue into Wednesday

Tomorrow we should expect more of the same warm, damp weather but as the day progresses it will become breezy with spots of rain as Storm Doris starts to make her entrance.

Gloucestershire will fair best for dry weather but the Met Office is expecting high winds there on Thursday.

Here's Sara Thornton with the latest forecast for the region.

Mild weather is to continue into Wednesday with some spots of rain and gusts of wind.

Firm creates bionic hands for child amputees

Open Bionics

A robotics company from Bristol has partnered with NHS England to develop affordable robotic prosthetics for hand amputee children. 

Open Bionics will receive £100,000 to run a feasibility study to bring their human-powered bionic hands to the health system.

Open Bionics is based at the University of the West of England's Bristol Robotics Lab and was established only two years ago.

Virtual music lessons - the future of teaching?

Watch: Wiltshire Music Centre has been teaching via a video link

Children from St Nicholas VC Primary School in Bromham, near Chippenham, are learning how to play the African drums over the internet.

Each child has their own drum and they are being taught, using Skype, by Wiltshire Music Centre teacher David Garcia.

'Poor decision making' enabled Winterbourne View abuse

A report by the Nursing and Midwifery Council found that a district manager at Winterbourne View, Kevin Haigh, failed "to effectively safeguard" patients.

It stated: "By failing to ensure adequate and timely investigation of incidents, failing to submit safeguarding minutes and investigation reports and failing to challenge poor decision making in other agencies and individuals [Mr Haigh] allowed the status quo to prevail. 

"In the case of Winterbourne View this meant that residents were left in an environment where they were exposed to mistreatment and emotional and physical abuse. 

"Whilst [Mr Haigh] did not bring about this state of affairs, his failings whilst in post meant that opportunities to properly identify the full extent of the institutional abuse at Winterbourne View were missed resulting in patients being subjected to abuse and at unwarranted risk of harm."

The full story is here.

Budget decisions made - now for the reactions

Councils in Wiltshire and Bristol met to set their budgets today.

In Bristol, emotions were running high over cuts to a raft of services. People were ejected from the meeting and a march was held outside.

Charlie Bolton, leader of the Green Party, accused Labour of not listening to the debate.

He said: "It is a list which is impressive only in the extent of its awfulness."

In Wiltshire, Lib Dem leader Glenis Ansell criticised the Tories for their "lack of effective planning and foresight”.

She said: "The last four years have been dominated by a programme of savage spending cuts and reductions in jobs and services.”

Manager in Winterbourne View scandal is struck off

A council care manager sacked after adults with learning disabilities were ill-treated at Winterbourne View has been banned from the profession.

Undercover filming by BBC Panorama showed people with learning disabilities and autism being taunted, bullied and abused at the now closed private hospital.

Kevin Christopher Haigh, who worked for South Gloucestershire Council, was struck off at a hearing by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Go here for a timeline of events in the scandal. Read the full story here.

BBC

Becky Godden's dad says Halliwell search should have happened 'years ago'

John Godden speaks of his anguish as searches carried out

The father of Becky Godden, one of Halliwell's victims, believes police should have searched the murderer's home previously.

John Godden said the family just wanted to remember Becky's life.

Looking for a new career? You might consider working as a welder

Castle Welding and Fabrication says there is a shortage of skilled welders

A company near Glastonbury says it's struggling to employ welders because there's a shortage of people in Somerset with the proper qualifications. 

Julian Wittledon has run Castle Welding in Pilton for the last 22 years, and employs around a dozen skilled welders from the local area. 

The shortage is so bad, Julian is using a more unusual method to attract employees.

Dog rescued unharmed from car crash in Wiltshire

After the earlier crash in Swindon - look who got rescued!

Marvin Rees: Budget 'takes back control' of finances

There have been scuffles, protests and even a fire alarm, but now Bristol City Council has set its controversial budget.

Mayor Marvin Rees said: "We all know there’s no realistic way to make over £100m of savings without some pain, but I think we’ve done a good job understanding the impact and thinking about how we minimise it."

Members agreed a 4.99% increase in council tax, with 3% of that levy paying for adult social care.

The council has identified just over £62m of savings but still needs £40m to plug the funding gap.

BBC

Mental health bosses apologise over Southmead patient's death

The Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership has apologised over the death of Carolyn Brock.

Dr James Eldred said changes have been made to ensure every decision Is passed on to other team members.

Health bosses have apologised after a patient took her own life at Southmead Hospital

Depressed grandmother's risk management plan not robust

More on the death of Carolyn Brock, who took her own life at Southmead Hospital after battling depression (7.34pm update).

Coroner Maria Voisin told the inquest: "The risk management plan for Carolyn had not been communicated to the team overseeing her care, which allowed her to take unaccompanied leave from the unit. 

"During unaccompanied leave she took the opportunity to take her own life." 

Council calls for member to step down after racist messages appear on Twitter feed

A parish council has passed a special motion criticising racist tweets posted by a member.

Philip Winter, of Almondsbury Parish Council, was suspended by UKIP after racist Tweets appeared on his Twitter feed on 13 Feb. He claims his account was hacked.

Council chair Phil Hall said: "The resolution was agreed unanimously.

"The Parish Council strongly deplores councillor Winter’s comments and ask that he stands down as a councillor to this parish.”

Almondsbury Parish Council

A419 northbound at Swindon closed near Nythe

Grandmother took her own life at hospital - despite doctors saying she shouldn't be left alone

A grandmother took her life at a hospital in Bristol - despite doctors ruling she should be accompanied at all times.

Carolyn Brock, 67, from Filton, told staff at Southmead Hospital that she was going out for a breath of fresh air. 

Today a coroner said communication failures meant nurses weren't told she shouldn't walk around by herself. 

Trinity Mirror/ Bristol Post

Council budgets: Bristol v Swindon

Our political editor Paul Barltrop compares the respective budgets of councils in Swindon and Bristol.

Both have been debating their financial situations today.

Paul Barltrop compares approaches to council tax between Swindon and Bristol.

Council care manager struck off

Daughter versus Dad - but who wins?

At just 10, she is already an up and coming Judo star - and much of her success is down to her coach. 

Only in Charlie Whitfield's case - the coach is her dad. 

Gavin Whitfield introduced his daughter to Judo four years ago - and she's already won gold two years running in regional fights. 

Today, the duo had a family showdown in front of her classmates. 

Charlie from Bristol has won lots of medals in judo.