:00:00. > :00:00.And on BBC One, we now join the BBC's news teams where you are.
:00:00. > :00:07.Welcome to BBC Points West with Alex Lovell and David Garmston.
:00:08. > :00:11.Our main story tonight: Lonely this Christmas -
:00:12. > :00:13.volunteers get ready to befriend dozens on Christmas Day
:00:14. > :00:17.as research shows the mental cost of being alone.
:00:18. > :00:19.If you haven't got family around or people, then
:00:20. > :00:23.You're fed up with watching television all the time
:00:24. > :00:35.It's just lovely to be with some other people.
:00:36. > :00:37.Our other headlines tonight: The driver who appears to be
:00:38. > :00:41.using his phone on Lansdown Hill, as campaigners call
:00:42. > :00:45.for greater safety following the tipper truck crash.
:00:46. > :00:47.Struggling for survival at the bottom of the league -
:00:48. > :00:50.can Bristol beat a side that's having almost as bad
:00:51. > :00:54.And getting ready for tomorrow night - the reindeer bringing a touch
:00:55. > :01:07.Hundreds of volunteers in Bristol are getting ready to give up part
:01:08. > :01:10.of their own Christmas Day and put on lunch for people who'd
:01:11. > :01:15.The charity behind the festive meal says an estimated one million people
:01:16. > :01:20.in the UK are suffering from chronic loneliness - and that isolation can
:01:21. > :01:30.And we want to make the hampers just look really nice and lovely.
:01:31. > :01:33.Amy Perrin and her volunteers getting ready for Christmas Day.
:01:34. > :01:37.She helped just a handful of lonely people four years ago.
:01:38. > :01:40.Come Sunday, there'll be close to 100 having Christmas lunch
:01:41. > :01:44.at five different venues in and around Bristol.
:01:45. > :01:46.I just wanted to give them a nice treat, really,
:01:47. > :01:57.But realising the effect that that has and the change that
:01:58. > :01:59.can have afterwards, as well, just that one point
:02:00. > :02:02.of contact, and then being helped into new friendships,
:02:03. > :02:08.70-year-old Safia Wiggram Christmas lunched with the charity last year.
:02:09. > :02:12.A former nurse, she's lost contact with her family and now lives
:02:13. > :02:17.I'm used to being alone, but being lonely is a different thing.
:02:18. > :02:24.And just missing the sharing, just a little joke or something that
:02:25. > :02:28.passed by, you want to say, look, that was funny, wasn't it?
:02:29. > :02:30.Or just the touch of someone, touching your hand or something,
:02:31. > :02:34.when you're deprived of that, it does - it affects you very much.
:02:35. > :02:36.Recent studies suggest chronic loneliness is as bad
:02:37. > :02:40.for you as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
:02:41. > :02:42.And it can increase a person's chance of suffering diseases
:02:43. > :02:48.If you feel unhappy and lonely, you don't really feel
:02:49. > :02:51.like looking after yourself, so it can actually make
:02:52. > :02:53.you physically ill because you're not able to look after your
:02:54. > :02:56.diabetes, you don't feel like - you're not going out to meet
:02:57. > :03:00.people, you don't feel like looking after yourself.
:03:01. > :03:01.The charity ensures those they help at Christmas
:03:02. > :03:05.None of it would be possible without the hundreds
:03:06. > :03:11.willing to sacrifice some of their own Christmas Day.
:03:12. > :03:14.I decided to help because I realised that time spent helping other people
:03:15. > :03:21.was going to be far more fulfilling than sitting around eating cheese.
:03:22. > :03:24.Amy, who's an occupational therapist, is always on the lookout
:03:25. > :03:28.for other venues willing to open on Christmas Day.
:03:29. > :03:31.Since we're all living longer, this looks like a charity that's
:03:32. > :03:39.Laura Alcock-Ferguson is from the charity
:03:40. > :03:47.I asked her just how much of a health threat being lonely is.
:03:48. > :03:50.Loneliness has been shown to increase your risk of dementia,
:03:51. > :03:58.And because there are a million older people feeling chronically
:03:59. > :04:00.lonely across the UK, the Campaign to End Loneliness
:04:01. > :04:05.considers this to be a major public health issue.
:04:06. > :04:07.We're talking about this at Christmastime, but there's
:04:08. > :04:12.It's not because you're particularly lonely at Christmas.
:04:13. > :04:16.We have to make loneliness everybody's business.
:04:17. > :04:20.Something like Christmas gives you the chance just to knock
:04:21. > :04:23.on your neighbour's door or say hello to someone
:04:24. > :04:28.in the street, but loneliness is the responsibility of everybody.
:04:29. > :04:35.Those at Christmastime, people at Christmastime,
:04:36. > :04:38.as well as charities - local authorities need to see this
:04:39. > :04:40.as a public health issue and even national government,
:04:41. > :04:43.businesses and organisations - businesses on the high really need
:04:44. > :04:45.to take this issue much more seriously, and their
:04:46. > :04:49.Why are so many people - you talked about a million people -
:04:50. > :04:52.Loneliness is caused by so many different triggers.
:04:53. > :04:57.Retiring can be a big trigger, as well as poor health.
:04:58. > :05:00.Lack of transport in rural areas and even a high turnover
:05:01. > :05:08.It does affect all ages, of course, and big changes in life often
:05:09. > :05:18.And if somebody watching this is feeling lonely, what can they do?
:05:19. > :05:20.If you're lonely right now, then it's really important
:05:21. > :05:22.to know you're not alone and there are people
:05:23. > :05:24.and organisations out there who can help you.
:05:25. > :05:30.One of the organisations who is open all Christmas is The Silver Line,
:05:31. > :05:36.OK, you've definitely given us food for thought.
:05:37. > :05:39.Laura, it's an important time to talk about it, as well.
:05:40. > :05:44.The family of the former Wiltshire boxer Nick Blackwell say they've had
:05:45. > :05:47.the Christmas miracle they've been wanting so badly -
:05:48. > :05:53.Nick, who's from Trowbridge, suffered a bleed to the brain
:05:54. > :05:56.after a sparring session at the Devizes Amateur
:05:57. > :06:00.He had to retire from the sport after suffering another
:06:01. > :06:03.brain injury in a match against Chris Eubank Junior
:06:04. > :06:09.Volunteers have been out on Lansdown Hill in Bath
:06:10. > :06:12.doing their own speed checks following last year's crash
:06:13. > :06:18.They're appealing for motorists to slow down and take care -
:06:19. > :06:22.but at least one lorry driver didn't appear to be taking any notice.
:06:23. > :06:30.Lansdown Lane in Bath, a steep hill winding past pavements
:06:31. > :06:34.often filled with pedestrians, close to homes and
:06:35. > :06:41.Now with its own amateur speeding enforcers.
:06:42. > :06:46.A new campaign by volunteers aiming to change the way drivers use this
:06:47. > :06:50.often congested lane, with a 20 mph limit that locals say
:06:51. > :07:03.Biggar some even seemed to use their phone at the wheel.
:07:04. > :07:06.So we're starting a community speed watch scheme where volunteers
:07:07. > :07:09.are going to monitor the speeds along the lane and inform the police
:07:10. > :07:11.of any infringements to the speed limit.
:07:12. > :07:13.Four-year-old Mitzi Steady was one of four people killed
:07:14. > :07:16.here in February last year when a tipper truck's brakes failed
:07:17. > :07:20.Yesterday, the truck's owner and its mechanic were found
:07:21. > :07:27.Now this community wants to make Lansdown Lane a safer place.
:07:28. > :07:29.They'll be using cameras and placards, as well,
:07:30. > :07:36.It's just a very busy road, a very dangerous road,
:07:37. > :07:38.and there are lots and lots of children - especially during
:07:39. > :07:59.opening hours for the school - coming back and forth.
:08:00. > :08:02.The area of Weston in Bath, still shocked by the deaths
:08:03. > :08:05.almost two years ago, but determined to change the way
:08:06. > :08:16.You're watching Alex and David on BBC Points West.
:08:17. > :08:19.It's Christmas Eve Eve - if there is such a thing.
:08:20. > :08:25.I hope you've got all your shopping in.
:08:26. > :08:29.Still to come: Val from the Great British Bake Off is coming
:08:30. > :08:34.in with some last-minute Christmas tips.
:08:35. > :08:36.Conditions have taken a turn for the worst here.
:08:37. > :08:56.And you thought it was going to be mild. It will be, don't worry.
:08:57. > :08:57.The future of helicopter manufacturing in Somerset
:08:58. > :09:01.is being put at risk by a plan to move vital machinery to Poland,
:09:02. > :09:03.according to the former Liberal Democrat leader Lord
:09:04. > :09:07.His claim comes as aerospace company GKN closes its site this month -
:09:08. > :09:12.Our Somerset correspondent, Clinton Rogers, has the story.
:09:13. > :09:15.In a matter of days, this factory will close,
:09:16. > :09:20.the company GKN saying it's simply no longer viable.
:09:21. > :09:22.But it is what happens to the manufacturing equipment
:09:23. > :09:26.inside there which is now at the centre of a political storm,
:09:27. > :09:29.with the former Liberal Democrat leader arguing that,
:09:30. > :09:32.if it is shipped to Poland - and that is one option -
:09:33. > :09:35.then it could signal the beginning of the end for helicopter
:09:36. > :09:43.GKN make airframes for the Royal Navy's new Wildcat
:09:44. > :09:47.helicopter under license to Leonardo Helicopters next door.
:09:48. > :09:52.When Leonardo, formerly Augusta Westland, decided to take
:09:53. > :09:55.that work back in-house, that effectively killed
:09:56. > :10:05.Now the company is considering moving the manufacturing kit
:10:06. > :10:09.Lord Ashdown says the government could and should intervene,
:10:10. > :10:11.not least because the kit is actually owned by
:10:12. > :10:17.I think we are in danger of undermining the long-term
:10:18. > :10:22.viability of the Yeovil site which has served the nation
:10:23. > :10:25.for 100 years in being able to make our own aircraft -
:10:26. > :10:32.And if we do not retain as much work in Yeovil as we can, we lose that.
:10:33. > :10:35.But Lord Ashdown has been accused of exaggerating the threat.
:10:36. > :10:39.The local Conservative MP says he, too, is lobbying the company to keep
:10:40. > :10:45.He says no final decision's been made, but it's not the government's
:10:46. > :10:51.It's worth remembering also that, unless there are Wildcat orders,
:10:52. > :10:55.then there's no Wildcat work to do anywhere.
:10:56. > :10:59.And what the government has been working really hard on is working
:11:00. > :11:03.with the company to help garner those export orders in all sorts
:11:04. > :11:07.So far, the company has refused to comment.
:11:08. > :11:10.Now, there are rumours it may be announcing a new foreign order
:11:11. > :11:16.If that is true, where the airframes will be made clearly
:11:17. > :11:25.Bird flu has been found in a dead wild bird in Somerset.
:11:26. > :11:28.The UK's chief veterinary officer has confirmed
:11:29. > :11:31.it was found in a wigeon, and is the same strain
:11:32. > :11:35.which was found at a poultry farm in Lincolnshire last week.
:11:36. > :11:37.The advice from Public Health England remains that the risk
:11:38. > :11:40.to public health from the virus is very low, but farmers
:11:41. > :11:42.are still having to keep all their poultry inside
:11:43. > :11:48.Rail passengers travelling to and from London over Christmas
:11:49. > :11:52.Paddington station is closed from eight o'clock tonight
:11:53. > :12:00.Great Western Railway services won't get back to normal
:12:01. > :12:04.Passengers are being advised to go to Ealing Broadway,
:12:05. > :12:08.then use the Underground to get into central London.
:12:09. > :12:10.A Bristol teacher has spent the afternoon raising money
:12:11. > :12:14.for the displaced people of Eastern Aleppo.
:12:15. > :12:16.Ousama Fadel, who's originally from Syria, has been holding
:12:17. > :12:20.an open-air food sale at his local mosque.
:12:21. > :12:22.All the money raised will go to the charity
:12:23. > :12:28.Human Concern International to provide blankets for refugees.
:12:29. > :12:31.There's no bigger match in the West on Boxing Day than Bristol
:12:32. > :12:33.against Worcester in rugby's Premiership.
:12:34. > :12:36.Ali Durden is here to look ahead to all the festive action.
:12:37. > :12:44.It's bottom against second from bottom.
:12:45. > :12:46.If Bristol can't beat Worcester, they're going
:12:47. > :12:52.Mathematically, they're not down if they lose,
:12:53. > :12:55.but, psychologically, it would be devasting.
:12:56. > :12:58.Win it, and they're right on Worcester's heels
:12:59. > :13:03.Bristol have been improving in recent weeks, but they'll face
:13:04. > :13:09.this game without one of their most experienced players.
:13:10. > :13:15.For most, more time with the family at Christmas and would be welcome,
:13:16. > :13:20.but Jordan Crane's injury has come at the worst time for Bristol.
:13:21. > :13:25.The four-times Premiership winner will miss the Boxing Day battle.
:13:26. > :13:32.Already six points adrift, it's a fixture they can't afford to lose.
:13:33. > :13:38.Bitterly disappointed, but I've got every faith
:13:39. > :13:41.and confidence in the boys to go out and get the job done.
:13:42. > :13:44.If we can get the result and do it in the right manner, as well,
:13:45. > :13:48.it can have a real momentum shift for them, as well as us -
:13:49. > :13:51.hopefully us on the way up and them on the way down.
:13:52. > :13:52.Back-to-back wins in European competition have given Bristol
:13:53. > :13:56.a new perspective and a confidence boost, as they now try to break
:13:57. > :14:03.It's going to be about staying calm, as well, during the game,
:14:04. > :14:06.because it is going to be a great atmosphere at Ashton Gate.
:14:07. > :14:11.We want to go out and play the rugby we've been playing over the last
:14:12. > :14:13.three or four weeks and hopefully, by doing that, get
:14:14. > :14:17.For the fans, a nervous Christmas ahead of a game that appears
:14:18. > :14:21.I think there's ten games left after this one.
:14:22. > :14:25.I don't think we're likely to win any more than Worcester and bear
:14:26. > :14:28.in mind, we'd then be two games behind them and then to play
:14:29. > :14:31.on the last game of the season, so for me it's make or break.
:14:32. > :14:35.You sense that the atmosphere is different within the team,
:14:36. > :14:38.but I think the players will relish what will be possibly be
:14:39. > :14:42.Lets get some score predictions from you -
:14:43. > :14:55.It is the Christmas gift every Bristol supporter really wants.
:14:56. > :15:10.Bristol's game, a three o'clock kick-off on Boxing Day.
:15:11. > :15:14.Bath's game at Wasps is Christmas Eve, while Gloucester
:15:15. > :15:20.Bristol City away at Wolves - a ground they haven't
:15:21. > :15:26.Rovers play Coventry - manager Darrell Clarke has just
:15:27. > :15:33.The other big head-to-head contest on Boxing Day
:15:34. > :15:37.is between Somerset-based horses Cue Card and Thistlecrack.
:15:38. > :15:41.Trainer Colin Tizzard has entered them both into the King George
:15:42. > :15:47.Cue Card is hoping to complete the second part of a big-race treble
:15:48. > :15:54.But stable-mate Thistlecrack could jeopardise those chances.
:15:55. > :15:57.We have to treat both horses as individuals.
:15:58. > :16:00.People keep bringing the million pound bonus with Cue Card
:16:01. > :16:06.and we might be the people that take that opportunity away
:16:07. > :16:10.But they are two individual horses with two separate owners
:16:11. > :16:13.and they have to be treated fairly, and then you have to be fair
:16:14. > :16:16.to the horse because there is only one King George a year,
:16:17. > :16:30.Both horses are expected to contest the troll on Gold cup in March and
:16:31. > :16:41.they could be joined by two other runners from the same yard. It looks
:16:42. > :16:45.cold. If only they had a hand! Wear it with pride. As we do.
:16:46. > :16:48.I don't know if you have a lifetime ambition you want to fulfil,
:16:49. > :16:51.but one woman has recently achieved hers - owning reindeer.
:16:52. > :16:53.Karen Perrins from Gloucestershire has spent months preparing "her
:16:54. > :16:56.boys", as she calls them, and she's now bringing a festive
:16:57. > :17:05.Christmas is a busy time for Dancer and Blitzen.
:17:06. > :17:13.But it does seem to help if you put the hat on.
:17:14. > :17:17.It's been a dream of Karen Perrins to own reindeer and now that that's
:17:18. > :17:19.come true, it's been a steep learning curve.
:17:20. > :17:23.Also, growing the antlers, as they grow, they're full of blood.
:17:24. > :17:26.So you do have to be really, really careful that they don't knock them.
:17:27. > :17:29.So it's off to the first visit of the day, but the locals
:17:30. > :17:33.Although someone was almost left behind.
:17:34. > :17:42.And that meant these youngsters at Little Skylarks in Randwick got
:17:43. > :17:46.to feed Dancer and Blitzen with buckets full of lichen.
:17:47. > :17:49.# Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh, hey!
:17:50. > :17:53.Well fed and serenaded, it was time to head to a place where conditions
:17:54. > :18:01.Dancer and Blitzen were guest stars for their Christmas community event,
:18:02. > :18:03.and if proof were needed about the power of feeding
:18:04. > :18:14.This is an absolute dream, this is what I've always wanted to do.
:18:15. > :18:17.And to be able to bring them out and share them with other
:18:18. > :18:22.Karen now wants to build an accessible sleigh to take
:18:23. > :18:24.disabled people on rides, pulled along by the reindeer,
:18:25. > :18:27.bringing some real-life magic of Christmas to the Cotswolds
:18:28. > :18:39.and helping Dancer and Blitzen work off all that lichen.
:18:40. > :18:45.You may have noticed we're starting to get in the Christmas spirit here.
:18:46. > :18:47.And who better to welcome into the studio but Val Stones
:18:48. > :18:50.from Somerton, who was one of the contestants on the Great
:18:51. > :19:00.And you've brought lots of Christmas goodies with you.
:19:01. > :19:09.Thank you for coming in. It looks delicious, this food. This Christmas
:19:10. > :19:14.special time for you? The best time ever. It is when you get together
:19:15. > :19:18.with your family, friends, and it's a time of presents for the children
:19:19. > :19:23.and reflection for the adults, thinking about past Christmases and
:19:24. > :19:29.future Christmases. It has been quite a year for you. A little
:19:30. > :19:34.different from most years. You want everybody's hearts on Bake Off when
:19:35. > :19:39.you spoke about staring in love. Yes, but I am one of your original
:19:40. > :19:44.hippies. I am of that era and it is something I've always done. When you
:19:45. > :19:50.bake it is very reflective. You think and what have you. I like
:19:51. > :19:55.that. What he P food have you brought in for us today? These are
:19:56. > :20:02.the things I always serve at Christmas. That is festive slice,
:20:03. > :20:08.and it is frangipani and home-made mincemeat and a really good slug of
:20:09. > :20:18.brandy. This one here is home-made mincemeat and home-made pastry and
:20:19. > :20:23.those dogs have little olive ranches that I flying away with. Christmas
:20:24. > :20:30.trees, my gingerbread recipe I had when I was on Bake Off. I remember.
:20:31. > :20:35.These are my famous sausage rolls. I had one before you came in.
:20:36. > :20:41.He was practically salivating! It is a lot of work, isn't it? I don't
:20:42. > :20:45.count it as work, bigging is a pleasure. When I was a headteacher,
:20:46. > :20:49.I used to come home on Thursday night and bake for my staff and make
:20:50. > :20:55.Friday treats for them. Can you come and work here?
:20:56. > :20:59.Let's look at you while you are chatting. Any hints and tips for
:21:00. > :21:05.anyone who was inspired by you and are facing Christmas and may be a
:21:06. > :21:12.bit intimidated? Just take a breath, go shopping, and by some ready-made
:21:13. > :21:19.pastry if you can't make it. By some ready-made mincemeat and then add
:21:20. > :21:26.extras to it. Add the love and a good slug of brandy. Is that good?
:21:27. > :21:31.You couldn't stop him. It is lovely. It has a bit of booze in it. Yes,
:21:32. > :21:35.and a real tip is always have plenty of icing sugar at hand because you
:21:36. > :21:42.can sprinkle over and hide everything. The last thing is a bit
:21:43. > :21:49.of brandy in your gravy. In your gravy? This is lovely. Thank you and
:21:50. > :21:51.happy Christmas. All the best for next year.
:21:52. > :21:53.This is our last full programme of the year,
:21:54. > :21:56.although Points West of course keeps broadcasting right over
:21:57. > :21:59.But it seemed only right to have a very quick
:22:00. > :22:01.look back over 2016, to the tune of a well-known
:22:02. > :22:21.Gold medals coming their way after a magnificent tournament.
:22:22. > :22:50.From up here, you realise just how fragile the Earth is.
:22:51. > :23:07.The atmosphere here is absolutely electric.
:23:08. > :23:11.Brilliant, and David has put his hat on.
:23:12. > :23:13.Thank you. Thanks to Bristol's Gurt Lush Choir
:23:14. > :23:15.for singing that for us, and if you want to watch it again,
:23:16. > :23:26.it's on our Facebook page. Ian is on the roof to give us the
:23:27. > :23:31.festive forecast. Have you got your hat?
:23:32. > :23:33.Absolutely. A whole raft of equipment in our weather shack.
:23:34. > :23:36.Hello. Let me take you through the Hello. Let me take you through the
:23:37. > :23:42.forecast expectations through the next couple of days. We will take a
:23:43. > :23:48.peek towards Boxing Day, as well. Tomorrow, many areas will be dry and
:23:49. > :23:52.generally quite bright. There could well be showers around, rolling in
:23:53. > :23:57.Western districts, one or two getting further across. They will
:23:58. > :24:02.tend to be the exception. Most areas dry, if breezy. Somewhat chilly, not
:24:03. > :24:06.markedly so. Turning mostly mild overnight and into Christmas Day
:24:07. > :24:10.itself. It will be an almost extensively cloudy day, a bit of
:24:11. > :24:14.drizzle in the air and continuing on a breezy if not windy note. Storm
:24:15. > :24:19.Barbara has passed up to the north-west today and so the front
:24:20. > :24:23.associated with that came over this afternoon. We are now into this
:24:24. > :24:28.regime through tonight and tomorrow, seemed mostly dry conditions. A
:24:29. > :24:31.second storm following in the wake of Barbara overnight and into
:24:32. > :24:38.Christmas Day, that one is called Conor. No real impact for us. For
:24:39. > :24:41.the rest of the evening, the last of the rain on the cold front is just
:24:42. > :24:45.edging out of Wiltshire. Behind that, perhaps one or two showers, a
:24:46. > :24:50.lot of dry weather will characterise the overnight picture. Rather
:24:51. > :24:58.breezy, temperatures around two to 5 degrees. The rest of the day, as I
:24:59. > :25:02.mentioned, we can't rule out a few showers coming in from the West, but
:25:03. > :25:07.certainly a decent share of dry and bright weather, varying amounts of
:25:08. > :25:11.cloud will be the order of things throughout the daylight hours. As we
:25:12. > :25:14.get was the tail end of the evening, milder air stars to come back in
:25:15. > :25:18.from the south-west. Ultimately, that would be associated with a lot
:25:19. > :25:22.of cloud for Santa to deal with as he tries to land on all the
:25:23. > :25:28.children's rooftops. Temperatures tomorrow of nine to 10 degrees, but
:25:29. > :25:31.by Christmas Day it could be as high as 13. Some parts of the British
:25:32. > :25:36.Isles will be competing with the warmest Christmas Day on record. To
:25:37. > :25:40.the tail end, some places in the north-west could see a white
:25:41. > :25:41.Christmas at least in Shari fashion. Boxing Day looks dry and generally
:25:42. > :25:49.bright. Time for us to wish you a very
:25:50. > :25:55.heartfelt Merry Christmas as we all going to the festive weekend.
:25:56. > :25:58.Merry Christmas. We will still have bulletins over the festive period,
:25:59. > :26:07.but it is time now for the last of our festive choirs to play us out.
:26:08. > :26:09.Tonight we hear from the Vocal Works choir. Be safe.
:26:10. > :28:09.Christmas is about family. I'll have that.
:28:10. > :28:26.Let's get this Christmas party started!