08/08/2013 BBC Points West

Points West. Our headlines tonight: The friend of

Prince Harry who died in training. Corporal James Dunsby was one of

three who collapsed on an exercise, the coroner says the state had a

duty to protect his life. Are you going on holiday and new

cash need new sport question about find out why some companies are

cashing in on the completion. -- confusion.

Snakes alive! Why the hot weather is encouraging reptiles to go for a

swim. And lift off for the balloon fiesta

A coroner's heard more details about the death of a soldier from Bath who

collapsed during a military training exercise in South Wales.

Corporal James Dunsby was an army reservist in the Wiltshire Royal

Yeomanry. Scott Ellis reports. Today's coroner's investigation in

South Wales heard that initial post mortem tests indicate that

31-year-old James Dunsby from Bath died of multiple organ failure. The

coroner here in Aberdare heard he died at the military wing of the

Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Edgbaston in Birmingham on July the

30th. 15 days earlier he'd fallen ill during a military training

exercise in the Brecon Beacons where temperatures reached 30 degrees

Celsius. Two other reservists, also thought to be on a Special Forces

selection cause, died on Pen Y Fan mountain the day James Dunsby

collapsed. -- course. The coroner explained it is not the purpose of

the future inquest to apportion blame, but she added it is likely

she will use Article two of the human rights act to ensure

development circumstances are fully investigated to find out if there

had been any failings. She said it had been important the full

circumstances are addressed, so that families can fully understand what

happened to their loved ones. Article Two is the right of life and

prohibits the State from intentionally killing. Requiring all

deaths caused by the State to be fully investigated. Police in Brecon

have set up an incident room to find out of any criminal offences were

committed. The inquests into James Dunsby, Craig Roberts and Edward

Marr will be held jointly. With a pre-inquest review on September the

third. Trading standards are warning us all

to beware of companies that offer to help us fill in government forms for

things like passports and driving licences.

The forms can look very daunting and some businesses will complete them

for you, in return for a fee. But often you can do it yourself for

free or help is already available for a smaller charge.

Dudley lives in Somerset. When he needed a new passport, he paid an

online company to print out his application form. The form that you

would fill in normally, that you get from the Post Office. That cost him

more than �30, he still needed to sign it, get his photos, send it all

to the Passport Office, and pay their fee Was it good value for

money? I didn't think it was, because it basically replicated

everything I could do myself or go to the Post Office to check. Dudley

got a refund. The site he used pays to top a web search and said they're

clear about their offer, a good checking service 24 hours a day,

that they prefer email to the premium line and are clearly not

linked to the Passport Office. The government has told me it'll act

against anyone saying they are. Where we see anybody using our

branding, logos or official name, we can take action against them. One of

the things we have strengthened, now we are called Majesty 's passport

office, we can take action using that will branding as well. And it's

not just passports on the authorities' radar. We're getting at

least one complaint a week, sometimes more coming in about this,

these aren't isolated incidents. Examples are the European Healthcard

where people are paying �25 for a card which is actually free when you

use the official website, and travel visas. Jan also lives in Somerset.

When she needed to change her husband's address on his driving

licence, she paid an online company:. �60 just to print a form

out and post it to me. This is free on the DVLA site. With these people

it takes a lot longer, it takes them a few days to put it in the post to

you; a couple of days for it to arrive, you've got to then send it

to the DVLA, it takes over a week whereas with the DVLA website, it

takes about two days, three days at the most. Her correspondence is from

this site, clearly not linked to the DVLA and clear on fees. But Jan

thinks she probably clicked on the top link of her web search. This

site look familiar? The disclaimer is at the bottom. No way would I

have read that, I can't see it without my glasses. The sites are

run by the same company who said this isn't their main site but the

information is on the home page and in the application process for

people to make an informed decision. And they offer a transparent

checking service to help avoid rejected applications. In the end,

it's up to consumers to decide whether it's worth it or not, the

advice from some in Somerset is to read exactly what you're getting

first. Dickon joins me in the studio now.

Dickon, quite a problem and even some people in this newsroom being

caught out by this. Some good advice at the end though, any more official

advice? Here is the form, we know how to

keep they can be to fill-in. The official advice is if you go online

and had something into a web search engine don't just click on the top

link, it is likely to be an advert for a commercial company and they

will charge you to help fill in these forms, you can do yourself for

free, or you can get that help keep from official government sites which

will not have a premium rate phone number.

They are providing a service which a lot of people might need and

appreciate. They are totally legal what they are

doing, that is what they say, we provide good checking service. It is

up to the consumer, you have got to decide whether the fee they are

doing, that is what they say, we provide good checking service. It is

up to the consumer, you have got to decide whether the feed their child

it is worth, the companies disagree. -- the feed they are

charging. The passport will check and sensual

application for less than �10, some companies filling these forms for

you it is �40 or �50. One thing you will not need a passport for. It's

the 35th year of the Bristol Balloon Fiesta and it all gets underway

today. Over the next four days there'll be mass balloon ascents,

two nightglows, visits from the Red Arrows and a Typhoon, to name just a

few things on the list. Well Fiona Lamdin is at Ashton Court for us

now, Fiona, what's happening right now?

The special shapes are getting ready to go up, this really is what draws

all crowds in. You might be able to see the crowds over their gathered.

This is what they love, they love seeing a bear in the sky or a dog in

the sky, some different sort of shapes, but make no mistake, this is

about advertising. It is like having a huge billboard in the sky. There

are five new shapes this year, let me introduce you to a few of them.

We have got the cube over their, this isn't new but we are just

coming past the up balloon. It is the latest Hollywood blockbuster,

meet Stuart Dominion, causing a lot of excitement on Twitter. We have

the football club, that has never actually flown in England before.

Coming over to special shapes pilot, what is it like flying check --

special shapes blue? It is the same principle as a regular balloon, you

need a bigger place to land. They are very difficult to get down, you

need a much lighter wind to fly them.

Can any shape be designed? It looks like you can make anything into a

special shape? Within reason. You need to have the volume to give it

the left, so something like the cup, we have a big wide area that

allows it to fly. A small, thin shape would not do. They generally

creativity is only a limitation. Pilots have come from all over the

world to be here, and will has been to meet some of them.

With fans, burners, and canvases filling the sky, it can only be the

Bristol Balloon Fiesta. And this year it's as international as ever.

The first pilot licence in Thailand. I want to try everything.

Tom Gouder was once Britain's youngest balloon pilot aged 17 and

four weeks. He lives in Thornbury now but was born in Malta, he's

unique. I am the only Maltese born national to hold a licence for a

hot-air balloon. My ambition is to try and get a balloon out to Malta,

onto Mark -- multi soil so I can put my own country into my log book.

Before that there are six mass ascents for Tom to hopefully take

part in. You like the look of it and you fancy a visit. Now the problem

is, how are you going to get there? The first thing to remember is that

the Clifton suspension Bridge is off-limits. It's closed to all

vehicles cyclists even pedestrians from 6pm until 2am tonight and

Saturday night. If you're thinking of arriving here by car, something

important you need to know. This road is closed down past the

suspension bridge, all the way to the Cumberland basin. The road's

basically closed from the Brunel Way roundabout all the way up as far as

Beggar Bush lane from seven until midnight Thursday to Sunday. It's

all part of the fiesta's grand traffic plan and it is designed to

keep everyone moving as fast as possible. So here's the main advice,

the fiesta is easy to walk to from the city centre takes 20 minutes.

Cars can book parking on site from �6 in advance or �10 on the day, the

postcode for your satnavs is BS8 3TQ And there's a special bus service

from Temple Meads or the city centre. Entry to the fiesta is free

and once you're in all your worries can drift away.

You join me inside a giant tablet computer, it is quite special thing.

This balloon is the size of a tennis court, I feel quite overwhelmed.

Once this goes up along with the special shapes there will be more

coming up at 9:15pm, and if you join me in about six or seven minutes I

will be with the man who is behind it all.

It's a sunny Thursday evening and you're watching BBC Points West

still to come on the programme: Primed, ready, and flown by the best

of the best, but what does it take to put on one of the most amazing

aerial displays in the world. The Tory MP for North-East Somerset,

Jacob Rees-Mogg, says he's "shocked" at comments made by a group for whom

he gave an after-dinner speech. Mr Rees-Mogg spoke at a meeting of the

anti-immigration Traditional Britain group in May. But it's emerged the

group's Facebook page calls for the mother of the murdered black

teenager Stephen Lawrence and "millions like her" to return to

their "natural homelands". Jacob Rees-Mogg told the BBC today he

entirely dissociates himself from the group and has "never been a

member or supporter." David Cameron has repeated his

support for a trial cull of badgers in the West. He said there would be

"appalling consequences" for farmers, cattle and badgers if there

were no cull. The prime minister also warned the government could

spend another "billion pounds" dealing with the consequences of

bovine TB. Opponents say a cull would be inhumane and ineffective. A

trial cull of badgers has already been authorised in parts of Somerset

and Gloucestershire and could start at any time.

A delegation from China have been in Gloucestershire today to find out

how the UK tackles rural deprivation. China has a growing gap

between the rich and the poor and the Government wants to address the

problem urgently. The delegation met with Action with Communities in

Rural England, who are based in Cirencester. Steve Knibbs reports.

Chinese visitors to the Cotswolds aren't unusual but this group were

more interested in aspects of rural life not on the tourist map.

national voluntary network, we have access right across England.

would be interesting to know what issues those in rural China are

facing and the reasons why the delegates are here is to see what

they can learn from Gloucestershire that the Chinese government have

told us no interviews. To give you some idea this is Southern China, in

the country's poorest province. Whilst in the major cities the

economy is booming, life here couldn't be more different. Lu Da Yi

is a farm labourer hasn't earned any money for a year, one of 100 million

rural Chinese living below the poverty line. TRANSLATION: It is not

fair, I have been to the cities, the rich eating fancy restaurants, my

life doesn't compare. China's communist rulers have made

it a priority to tackle inequality which lies behind the reason for

today's visit. And whilst some of the problems we face may not apply

in China there is some common ground And here's an interesting

coincidence Ching Lin is a volunteer village agent in Gloucestershire

looking after the needs of Chinese community in rural areas.

Historically we have similar issues around poor housing, poor

sanitation, those issues have largely been addressed and we focus

on slightly different issues, but they can look at why we have come

from, where we are now, and the power of the voluntary network to

make changes. Here is an interesting coincidence. This is a volunteer

village agent in Gloucestershire, she looked after the needs of the

Chinese community in rural areas. She had the lessons the delegation

learn here will help of huge problems back home. It is like a

time bomb waiting explode, so I think that is why they are coming to

learn from us to see how we tackle the ageing society problem. China is

facing such a massive challenge. will not be the last visit from

Chinese officials, the group are due here in a few weeks to forge closer

links with Gloucestershire businesses, education and tourism.

The start of maybe a longer-term relationship between East and West

country. Hundreds of engineering jobs have

been secured in Wiltshire after a Melksham firm signed a deal with

train company Hitachi Rail. Knorr-Bremse will get �36 million to

supply brakes and support for the train manufacturer over the next 28

years. They employ 350 people in Melksham and another 30 in Corsham.

In terms of employment here it certainly means consistency. We have

a number of large contracts stretching into the future. This is

probably one of the longest. The support will be for some 28 years.

It is very good for the consistency and planning of future employment.

Network Rail has received an extra �33 million from the Government to

improve the rail link between London and the South West. It'll help fund

a total of 113 projects across the region. Some of the money will be

spent on repairs, and some will go towards reducing the impact of

severe weather on the rail network. It's hoped all the work will be

completed by April 2014. Some football.

The fixtures for the second round of the Capital One Cup have been drawn

this lunchtime. Bristol City will host Ian Holloway's Crystal Palace

at Ashton Gate. Swindon Town will be away to Queens Park Rangers. Yeovil

have been drawn at home to Birmingham City and Cheltenham are

away to West Ham United. The ties will be played the week beginning

26th August. The recent hot temperatures have

left many of us looking for ways to cool down. Our wildlife has also

been affected by the heat which has led to some strange animal behaviour

on a lock in Devizes. Tracey Miller went to find out.

Alan has worked on these locks in Caen Hill near Devises for 36 years,

Keeping this 200 year flight of locks running smoothly. He's become

quite an expert on the wildlife that live here, but he was taken by

surprise on a very hot morning in July. Just literally came at the

undergrowth, straight across the towpath, and went straight in to the

loch. I saw three more, they were all coming out the undergrowth.

were grass snakes and they were over two foot long. He managed to capture

this footage before making sure they could safely escape. Relatively

early in the morning so the boats weren't coming through. It was still

empty. Every time I filled it up, they got out that way. It was very

unusual, I have never seen anything like it before. They are one of

three native types of snake and although they aren't endangered,

it's unusual to see so many. To have that high number over such a short

period suggest there was something different going on for those snakes

at that time. The only thing we can really connect it to was the really

hot weather. Perhaps they overheated and the only way they could see of

getting out of that situation was to head for the nearest water, which

happened to be the empty lot. snakes are considered harmless and

as it's unusual to see them so if you do it's worth taking a photo or

some film footage. In my think taking a photo from a

distance with a very long lens. Well the Bristol International

Balloon Fiesta is well and truly underway now so let's go back to

Fiona Lamdin who is there for us now, Fi?

The special shapes are getting ready to go, and after the special shapes

everybody is getting ready for tonight 's nightclothes, when 25

balloons burn in time to music. The crowds are already gathered, 100,000

people are expect to hear tonight. They are already getting their place

secure all. --. Let's meet the man behind this all. You could choose

from 130 pilots to be part of this globe, had do you choose? I choose

believe that would look good, some dark ones don't look great but the

lighter ones do. I also like to get a lot of local pilots in, any of the

local guys who want to do it. You did a new thing, you had a

rehearsal and we can see some pictures. Tell us about this

rehearsal. We did it because we want to give the crowd really good show

and we felt sometimes we want to be a bit tight, so before we practised

with the light and get everybody in, and we thought it was great

fun, very like schoolchildren but it went really well, and professionally

everybody will see the benefits tonight.

That ill -- that is all happening at 9:15pm. Tomorrow we have got some

special guests, the red arrows flying past and they invited me to

go up to their base and see them in It is an oppressive line-up. These

are some of the worlds best pilots. To qualify you will need 1500 flying

hours under your belt, and to have flown a fast jet on the front-line.

The daily drill rarely differs, always starting with a briefing.

11:55am take-off the wind is two and half left. The briefing is going on

behind me. They have to fly together every eight days but the current

loss once the therapeutic skills to be so shop he insists they fly every

three days. -- Sharp. Try not to chase a few feet with the bodice.

After the briefing it is time to get kitted up. We are in the dressing

room where all the kit is. On the top you see their name and number,

and in each locker, these are the trousers, you will find a life

jacket, at the top the helmet. Complete with oxygen mask. Read too

grew up in Bath, joining last October he is still relatively new

to the team. He remembers visiting the Fiesta as a child and cannot

believe he will now be flying over It is a local show and I think my

parents are coming, that is the point that starts the adrenaline

going, having your family and friends watching you that is the bit

that makes you the most nervous. is not the only one from the West.

Number six grew up in Bristol. some really good times there, I went

to a couple of the local schools, one in Long Ashton. Being able to

display around the, despite not being able to see them, is quite

nice. To ensure the display is perfect

time for one final month free. -- run three. The extreme forces mean

their hearts drop four centimetres within the body. And here just

inches apart while flying at a closing speed of 800 miles an hour.

But the work is most certainly not over when they touch down. On the

airfield the planes need attention. As soon as the planes land this team

are the first on the scene. All the colours you have seen in the sky

come from this machine. 750 litres of red and blue dye. While inside

they are already planning tomorrow's display over Bristol. The current

looking that way. balloons are slowly floating off

around me. I cameraman is in one of them. They floating towards Keynsham

so if you look out of the window you should see them quite soon. Quite a

few have already gone. Tomorrow, the next mass ascent will hopefully be

just after 6pm. Ian will be there and will be with us in a minute to

give us a final forecast to see if that will happen.

That was lovely, you made it sound so interesting.

I love the red arrows. And the cameraman floating away excavation

mark -- fitting way! Ian has been tweeting about the

newspapers. One in particular. It has a headline

with a wet heat wave in it. It is mass ascent at 6am, and another at

6am. Bit of a mixed set, low cloud first thing, patchy rain, that will

lift out of the way. It should we find for the red arrows at 4pm. --

it should be fine. The key uncertainty will be the ascent at

6pm. I have discussed this in length with some of the organisers and will

be a window of opportunity and we just need the cloud base to lift out

of the way. There will be a dichotomy of decision-making but

fingers crossed they will get away. It will be breezy but it will

brighten up, it will be dry. If you're going to the Fiesta will be

plenty to do and see. This is how things look for the rest of this

evening, this pollution coming in from the rest -- West will bring

outbreaks of rain. It starts to set things up for the north-westerly

flow which will be brisk, but fading away through the evening, leaving a

bright day and a dry afternoon. You saw the mass ascent looks like it

will be up and away for the night glow you should stay just about dry.

We could get some heavy bursts and temperatures will be much milder

than recent nights. Tomorrow, if the mass ascent gets up and away between

6pm -- 6am and ATM before the wind starts to up coming from the

Northwest -- 8am. For the rest of the afternoon variable amount of

cloud, some bright, sunny spells and I am hopeful that the wind will show

a sign of dying down so the latent mass ascent might get up.

Temperatures could be as high as 21 degrees, Saturday looks a reasonable

day, the wind will be light, not so on Sunday, but we should see some

great stuff in the afternoon. And you are there tomorrow. Am I? Oh,