24/08/2011 BBC Points West

Good evening and welcome to BBC Points West. Our headlines tonight:

A touch of the Wild West - sheep rustlers move in as the price of

lamb goes up. The wind changes for Honda - now,

the company is scaling back its plans for new turbines. Well, yes,

they've got rid of the one that would dominate my house, but there

are other people involved in this, and if people don't want these

things dominating their skyline, then all fair and good, they'll

still get my support." No water under the bridge - two

rivers in Wiltshire dry up after a rain-free spring.

And putting the boot in - what happened when this woman got really,

Hello. Thousands of sheep are been stolen in the West as thieves try

to make a tasty profit from the increasing cost of lamb. Today, a

farmers' insurance company said the region was now the worst affected

by sheep rustlers in the whole country. And there's a public

danger, too. Police say stolen meat being butchered by amateurs is a

health risk. Andrew Plant has been talking to famers at the famous

The value of wool had stayed static for the lamb been revealed he will

fetch a premium price. Several thousands have been stolen the

South West already this year as meat becomes an increasingly

expensive commodity. At the moment, they're not importing New Zealand

lamb which means the price of lamb in our country is increasing. That

in itself obviously means that people who are committing the

offences are getting more return for their money. This is how one

Dorset farmer solved the problem. At the end of his tether, after

having 200 story. Farmers here are looking for more practical

solutions like making sure no one buys on the black market. Sheep

rustling is a really high risk crime but with a very high price of

lamb at the moment, it is become increasingly attractive to

criminals. Police are saying these lambs aren't what anything if the

prig -- if the criminals cannot sell the meat. If you are offered

some, do not buy it. But with prices high and prosecutions below,

sheep rustling is booming. With many animals stolen this year and

with the South West at the top of the rustling table. A typical man

like this here, you are talking �75, �85 apiece. A video recorder stolen

from someone's house will cost five or �10, generally. It can be good

money as well. These lambs were rescued in a full, bundled into a

car pulled over on the M25. It is not all well organised. But it is

well paid. Lasted, the South West was the first worst region in the

UK for livestock rustling but this year, it is first in the list of

targets. So, it is something we are keen to warn farmers about. The

livestock may be at risk and they should watch their sheep and cattle

and pigs very carefully. No one issue with the stall and lambs are

butchered or where they are sold. This show is a long way from the

Wild West but old-fashioned sheep rustling is very much a West

Country problem. The car makers Honda is to scale

back its plans to build three giant wind turbines at its factory in

Swindon. The plan now is to have just two because so many of the

nearby residents have complained about the 400 feet high structures.

So, will the latest compromise win over the neighbours? Scott Ellis

For a while, Andy Ings has been living in fear, worried that a 400

feet high wind turbine would be built near his home. But today,

some good news in the post. Honda and developers Ecotricity say the

mast closest to homes has been withdrawn. We will give we took

away the they are tired line, we would double the separation and

takeaway the cause for concern. will Andy Ings and others now give

up the fight? The turbine that most affects me won't be built but that

does not affect everybody and I will support others in their

campaign. That might disappoint the developers and Honda. This is their

map. But for some, that's not good enough. If we could the guidelines

in Scotland, of the Bill going through the House of Lords, both of

these took about a separation distance of two kilometres. So, we

may not have seen the last of these placards. The original application

was the four wind turbines. That went down to three, and now two.

The company must be feeling they have compromised enough. Those who

support them say it is vital that the two wind turbines are built so

that Honda can reduce their energy costs here at the plant. Their

annual energy bill is more than �8 million in Swindon. Wind power

would reduce that. This pub benefits from having Honda nearby.

The landlord thinks it's time to say yes to turbines. This is their

most expensive plant to run. Anything that can help to reduce

that and keep them in Swindon is a good thing for the local community.

Honda say two turbines is a pragmatic workable solution. It'll

be down to planners to decide in You're watching BBC Points West.

Stay with us as there's much more still to bring you tonight,

Derby night at Ashton Gate. Who will go through to next round of

the Cup? And see them first. We meet a very

special choir - about to sing live for us, as they prepare to perform

on Children In Need night on First though, a �1.5 million

sculpture by the artist Damien Hirst has been vandalised outside a

Bristol art gallery. The Charity statue at the front of the Royal

West of England Academy has been targeted with graffiti. It's not

the first time the building's been hit. Another exhibit - a statue -

was broken into three pieces in June. But the Academy says it won't

stop them putting pieces on display in future. We're very disappointed

that this sort of thing should happen again. It is not the first

time this has happened. We have some damage to another sculpture

recently. It won't stop us putting pieces out door. It won't deter us.

Police are now studying CCTV footage to try to identify the

culprit responsible for this latest vandalism.

A gorilla put on display as part of celebrations to mark the 150th

birthday of Bristol Zoo has been stolen. The half-sized model, named

Werburt, had been put on display at St Werburgh's City Farm. He'd been

decorated by children from the local primary school. Staff at the

farm say he disappeared from his wooden stand overnight, despite

being kept in an enclosure surrounded by a fence. He is a real

character. We have had him for a couple of months and we have been

moving him around to different areas so the children can enjoy

finding where he is. They will be gutted to find out in September

when they go back to school that he has gone. Staff at the city farm

hope the thieves will have a change of heart and the gorilla will be

returned before the start of the new school year.

The Tropicana in Weston-super-Mare could be demolished next summer if

plans to redevelop it aren't in place soon. North Somerset Council

is meeting on Friday to discuss the future of the derelict site on the

seafront. It's warned if no suitable schemes are suggested in

the next six months, the swimming pool will be filled in and the

building knocked down. The local authority's now asking for

interested parties to come forward with small-scale ideas.

People living in the town of Mere in Wiltshire have been battling to

save wildlife from two rivers which have completely dried out. They

claim Wessex Water is taking too much water from underground springs.

The two tributaries of the River Stour, which flow around Mere, have

run dry. Wessex has denied they're to blame, citing this year's dry

spring for the receding water. Sabet Choudhury reports. This river

is running dry. It had left the way of life struggling. But it wasn't

always like this. It was a fast- flowing chalk stream. It was a

place where people could get water from the springs for drinking. It

was a place with the children could play. It was a delight. Walking

along the bed of this river, you can tell it was quite a fast-

flowing river, filling both sides of this white bank. Today, it is

near enough bone-dry. This is a temporary sanctuary built by the

local children to help the struggling wildlife. These are the

fish that the children have been catching and moving downstream to

keep safe. These little chats live underneath stones and when the

river price up, they stay under the stones so unfortunately, when the

river dries up, they dry out. Shepherd is the New River monitor

but lately, he has been rather redundant. I don't have enough

water to monitor. It is very, very sad. This used to be a vibrant

chalk stream with all the flies, the lovely comic Kingfisher's, all

disappeared. The locals say the state of the river is the resort of

Wessex Water extracting too much to provide for our drinking needs. The

company denied the claim and blamed the dry spring and summer for the

drought. You cannot pretend that taking water out to drink doesn't

make the difference to the river but climatic changes are much

bigger and what we take out is much is very consistent. I think the

change in water levels is down to the rainfall. From now until the

river fills again, these children are using their holidays to save

the dying fish, although there is a fear that the river will be long

gone for their children to enjoy it. To respond to some e-mails, we

found the missing Wednesday. Now to some astonishing pictures of

a woman who dramatically lost her temper outside a bank in Chippenham.

She's seen taking off her stilleto and lashing out in a spectacular

display of anger. The scenes are reminiscent of Basil Fawlty but

what was the object of her displeasure? And why did she put

the boot in? Will Glennon has been finding out.

It's normally a fairly simple process at the cash machine. You

put your card in and out comes the money. Difficult to put a foot

wrong, isn't it? Well, take a look at this - a true case of cash

She was filmed with clearly one sole purpose, taking her shoes off

and smacking the cash machine as hard as she could. Why is she doing

it? Is she a overdrawn and seeing red? Was her card stuck inside?

Police did not think that. She does not do it just once. She attacks

again. And when that has not worked, she stops and thinks, hit it harder.

Then, the third attack. This time it is an all out attack. She

stepped back to get herself extra room. That is a forceful way to

enter your mid- -- security number. Just when you thought it was

finished, another attack. What are these use made of to take that kind

of battering? The screen and the key pad at at cash machine in

Chippenham were smashed in. Police said the woman did not got any

money and the card was not inside. But they are baffled about the

reasons why that cash machine The woman concerned is in very

serious trouble with the police. The screen had keypad were damaged

and nobody else could use it that night. Anybody with any information

is urged to contact the police. For the second time in four days,

Swindon are involved in a derby match. This time, the Carling Cup

first round match against Bristol City. Here is our correspondent and

Ashton Gate. Will it have the same intensity as the Oxford match?

will be honest and say normally these third round matches did not

get very big crowds but this is a local derby. They have not played

each other in more than five years. It is just �10 to get into night.

They should get a good crowd. They want to give their home fans a good

result at Ashton Gate. Swindon arrived in the last few minutes.

Some of the players are behind me. Paulo Di Canio is leading his team

off the bus. He will be looking to turn things around after two three

consecutive defeats. He was on the wrong end of one result in the past

couple of days. Both sets of supporters have got work to do to

convince themselves. City first. think it is achievable but we have

got to get some players out and the manager wants to bring some players

in. A couple of defenders, I think. Yes. The back four seems a bit more

solid. I hope it can keep happening. There have been good times. But it

is still very early days. Obviously results have been quite

disappointing. The general style of play is much better than last year

by far. It is just putting the last chance is a weight. We have got

strike is coming in which can hope fully appreciate that. -- chances

in the net. BBC Radio Bristol and BBC Radio Wiltshire are with me now.

They are kidding, Terry tonight. A couple of decent results for

Bristol City, Ed Hadwin? They could not defend at all. It was not a

great performance but they are growing into the season a little

bit. Room for improvement but getting better. Paulo Di Canio is

entertainment in itself. Is there substance in what he has said?

Slowly but surely. They have lost a three league matches and supporters

are getting a bit worried. They should have got a result against

Oxford on Sunday. They will be hoping for something better tonight.

You are about five yards apart? Any banter between yourselves?

quarter will be given in the commentary box! Will it be

difficult tonight? Swindon have got to play their home game tonight and

not get drawn into the fact that they are playing a Championship

team. We will let you get set up. You are both broadcasting in about

10 minutes. Get all the way to the commentary box. That is where they

will be. They will be at the back of the Williams stand. A bit of

transferred use at Ashton Gate. Liam Fontaine and his move to

Southampton has broken down. The clubs had agreed a deal which would

have been worth about �1 billion for Bristol City. But he travelled

to Southampton and the deal has been called off. -- �1 million. I

asked the manager how he felt. is a player that I liked very much

as a person and he is one of our best defenders and I am delighted

the deal has collapsed. We want him to be part of the team. Not any

chance of him coming back? I do not think there is any chance. He is a

key part of our squad. He will play a big part of this year.

Southampton, the club involved, will play the winners of this match

between Bristol City and Swindon. Bristol Rovers already won last

night against a Championship team, Watford, beating them on penalties.

What that might not be in the best of form but they are above Bristol

in the divisions and the manager understood a tart up said was

needed. It looked like seniority needed. It looked like seniority

would tell. Watford did not run away. The equaliser was spectacular.

What a goal! But they had chances again. Especially when it is shot

came off the bar. Watford were thwarted by the crossbar as well.

It was tested to its very foundations. The shoot-out. Scott

Bevan gave them an early advantage. Wayne Brown put them 3-2 ahead.

This second save, match point. Then, Mustapha Carayol. The manager was

Mustapha Carayol. The manager was delighted with the performance.

was outstanding. What a magnificent effort. It has been a great season

and it was a fantastic finish. This got us back into the game straight

away it. A Night To Remember and a second round match against Leyton

This match at Ashton Gate is not be any Derby tonight. In cricket,

Somerset play against Gloucestershire in the CB40. They

are looking to get a place in the semi-finals. Gloucestershire cannot

make the semi-finals but they are hoping to put on a good performance

against their West Country rivals. Rain has reduced to these matches

to 30 overs. Somerset, 24-0. We can Thank you very much. What is the

way they're going to be like for the football and the cricket? --

What is the forecast going to be like? We are looking up at the

skies! I have got my trusty debt of his umbrella. But I will not need

that because it is dry. -- my trusty umbrella. We have got a

picture which we can show on your graphic. We have had a cold front

graphic. We have had a cold front which has been moving in from the

West today. Pretty strong looking showers. People have asked me to

promise them that they will have plenty of sunshine during the Bank

Holiday weekend. I can promise it will get settled by Sunday and

Monday. Sunshine and showers. Some will be heavy in places. We have

got this weather system moving across the West. This is developing

and it will bring heavy rain for many of us. Tomorrow, sunny spells

and showers. Predominantly in the West. We have got a yellow alert

because of rain tonight. This is essentially because of the threat

of 25 mm in a couple of hours in some districts, particularly in the

north and east. Plenty of water. But on a positive note, at this

time, many people will be tucked up in bed forced him --. This is

coming down to the south. Rain coming up here as we get to the

rest of tonight. Apart from showers, we will have some sunny spells. In

the course of tonight, rain pushing up from the south-west. Becoming

heavy here. In many eastern areas, I cannot guarantee it, but try.

Temperatures at about 11 degrees. Tomorrow will be wet, particularly

further east. This will move out of the way and we will get sunshine

later into the morning. Then it is a bit of a lottery with the showers.

We might get a bit of sunshine here and there. Temperatures will

struggle a little bit. Temperatures up to about 19 in the sunshine.

Beyond that, I mentioned about the prognosis this weekend. Further

showers on Saturday and Sunday. Pressure building from the West. It

will settle down on Sunday and Monday. Temperatures average for

Monday. Temperatures average for the time of year. Next, a first.

The trust performance on live television by the special Children

In Need quiet. We have got nine members that were picked because of

their talent for singing. They have got something in common, they are

terrified of performing! But they have got a massive challenge to

sing on national television in front of millions of people on

Children In Need. The man in charge of bringing them together and

trying to pull off the performance is the singing guru, Gareth Malone.

Welcome, Gareth. How did you choose this choir? I auditioned them and

saw how frightened they were. These people would not normally come

forward but I found people that had been bullied and did not want to

perform in public and worked with them. We have built deck confidence

week by week. -- their confidence. Imagine, where are you from?

Warminster or. Are you scared? really scared. But you have got a

big smile on your face. How do you get confident? I just put my

nervousness into positive and gentle stop as this process --.

Into positive action. We are looking forward to your performance.

Where are you from? Somerset. to your family make of this?

family are all screaming. But I am sure that my friends are going to

be saying, you are from the television! Will a night like to

ride help? Eventually, you will be in front of Children In Need.

still a bit uncomfortable. I am still going to be screaming inside.

It is difficult on the outside. We hope we can give a good performance.

They are very friendly on Children In Need it. Usually! I am going to

give you the microphone and. How are you feeling? Really nervous.

But I heard your rehearsal and you were lovely. That is about it from

us tonight. We are going to leave you with Children In Need. This is

their first television performance ahead of the big night in November.

From all of last year, over to Children In Need. -- from all of us

here. Sleep my child and peace attending... Guardian angels, God