23/03/2014 BBC Points West

Good evening from Points West. That is it for now.

Good evening from Points West. The Conservative candidate to become

Lord Mayor of Bristol has again denied that he holds any holophobic

views after a petition was launched online opposing his selection.

Councillor Chris Windows catsed controversy in 2011 saying that he

was unhappy Sir Ian McKellen had made visits to Bristol schools on

behalf of gay rights' charity Stonewall.

This is the petition, onlind, questioning whether a counchllor

once accused of making homophobic remarks should be chosen as the

ceremonial figurehead of thd city. Its organisers say his commdnts some

three years ago call into qtestion his suitability for the rold.

I think everybody is entitldd to their opinion. The difference is the

councillor represents the chty and as Lord Mayor he will be a very

prominent person. He should be representing the whole city, not

just who he feels he should be representing.

But Councillor Chris Windows says he is perfectly happy to represent all

views and all people in Bristol should he be chosen as Lord mayor.

He says his one`off remarks were badly expressed and he has

apologised for any offence caused. I've had people raise this with many

that were concerned. If youngsters are persuaded to come out. @nd they

haven't got people round thdm to support them, I'd take it vdry great

risk of being bullied. The petition's organisers s`y hiding

your sexuality won't help bdat bullying but some who've bedn

through exactly that school experience actually support

Councillor Windows. I myself, as a gay person, don't

take any offence to what he said and actually agree with the stance he

takes that coming out at school is perhaps not the right time.

I didn't because I was scardd of fleeing. The vote to decide on who

does become Lord Mayor will take place at the start of June.

The Bristol businessman acctsed of arranging his wife's murder in South

Africa has been told he will be extradited on April seventh. Shrien

Dewani is charged with mastdrminding the murder while the couple were on

honeymoon in November 2010. The 33`year`old denies any involvement

in the killing of his wife, Anni. Hospital Officials in Bath have

apologised after two new mothers had medical swabs left inside them while

in hospital. An independent investigation's been started at the

RUH after the so`called "never events" came to light. The head of

the Great Western Hospitals Trust, which runs the RUH, said thd

mistakes were unacceptable `nd that safety procedures are now bding

reviewed. Football now, and it was a case of

so near and yet so far for our teams. There were goals galore but

plenty of opportunities missed too. In the Championship, Yeovil

squandered the chance to move out of the relegation zone as they threw

away a two`goal lead at homd to Bolton. Ishmael Miller put the

Glovers ahead before Kevin Dawson doubled their lead. The vishtors

fought back though to share the spoils and leave Yeovil 23rd in the

table. In League One, Swindon returned to

winning ways after nine gamds without a win. They beat high flying

Preston 1`0 thanks to this second half penalty from Michael Slith

Frustration for the Bristol City manager Steve Cotterill who saw his

side let a 2`0 lead slip at Colchester. On`loan striker Martin

Paterson hit City's opener `nd Scott Wagstaff forced in a Brendan Moloney

cross but the home side found a way back to leave it 2`2 at full time.

In League Two, three goals weren't enough to help Cheltenham Town's

hopes of sneaking into the playoffs. They travelled away to AFC

Wimbledon, who beat them 4`3 thanks to a goal in the 90th minutd.

In Rugby, Bath secured a bonus point in their win at London Irish

yesterday evening. The second half came alive when Nick Abendanon

darted through a gap in the Irish defence before passing to Anthony

Watson to score against his old club. Converted by man of the match

George Ford. The convincing 23` 4 scoreline means Bath keep hold of

third place. And Bristol st`y firmly on top of the Championship table

after an important win at Ldeds The 33`27 victory means Bristol are all

but guaranteed a place in the playoffs. Let's take a look at the

weather now with Sara Thornton. We've had plenty of sunshind through

this afternoon. It has been really nice, if rather chilly. Temperatures

will really tumble tonight with a sharp frost. It could be thd coldest

night since last November, would you believe? We will start tomorrow with

lots of sunshine out towards the east. There is some cloud in the

West. That could have a real impact on the temperatures. Were wd start

with that cloud, we won't h`ve much time to see those temperatures

rising so we could just see 6`8 It will feel chilly at times.

That's it from the newsroom, here in what the Sunday Times says hs the

best city in Britain, after Bristol topped their poll of the best places

to live. Wherever you are in Hello. Following today's showers,

tonight is going to be much colder. Clear skies, light winds, a recipe

for a widespread frost. Sharp showers for the next couple of

hours. From East Yorkshire to the south-east. Hail and thunder. Skies

will clear across many areas. Temperatures tumbling across rural

parts it could be as low as minus six. Not as cold across Northern

Ireland and the far south-west. Increasing cloud ahead of the

weather front pushing rain very slowly in from the Atlantic. Central

and eastern areas staying dry and bright all day. Good-looking day

across Scotland. Sunshine turning hazy later in the West. Thickening

cloud. Rain in the afternoon. The band of rain will work its way into

Wales in the afternoon. Robbery arriving a little bit sooner in the

far south-west. -- probably arriving. Further east, dry with

plenty of sunshine after the