0:00:13 > 0:00:15Good evening.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17A BBC Inside Out West investigation has found an increasing number
0:00:17 > 0:00:19of students in the Westcountry are turning to the sex
0:00:19 > 0:00:21work to pay their debts.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24As the cost of higher education has risen so has a new phenomenon
0:00:24 > 0:00:29called sugar dating, Rachel Stonehouse reports.
0:00:29 > 0:00:30The world of sugar dating is here.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33It's a world where the woman are called sugar babies
0:00:33 > 0:00:35and the men sugar daddies.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38Look online and you'll find dozens of students posting adverts
0:00:38 > 0:00:40for sugar relationships.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43It is like online dating but with one big difference,
0:00:43 > 0:00:46the man pays the woman for her company.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48Coco has been doing this for two years.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51She lives in a bedsit in Gloucester and dropped out
0:00:51 > 0:00:54of her college course last year because she couldn't
0:00:54 > 0:00:56afford the fees.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58Is there an expectation that you will have sex at some
0:00:58 > 0:01:00point with a sugar daddy.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Yeah.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05I mean, for me, it's just like a normal relationship,
0:01:05 > 0:01:08the only differences I get money.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Coco is one of a growing number of young people who are funding
0:01:11 > 0:01:13their education this way.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17A recent study by Swansea University found that 4.8% of UK students
0:01:17 > 0:01:20were involved in the sex industry.
0:01:20 > 0:01:25One psychologist is concerned about the impact of this.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28As debt has mushroomed so has the proportion of people who now
0:01:28 > 0:01:31openly admit to working in the sex industry.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33And what's the response been from universities.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36It's been really, kind of...
0:01:36 > 0:01:39I wouldn't even go as far as to say it's ignored.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41They try and brush it under the carpet, take no
0:01:41 > 0:01:42notice of it, deny it.
0:01:42 > 0:01:43Deny there is a problem.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46We contacted all five universities in the Westcountry to find out
0:01:46 > 0:01:50if they offered any help or advice for students involved in this.
0:01:50 > 0:01:56Only one acknowledged students are working in the sex industry
0:01:56 > 0:01:58but none had any support available for those who are.
0:01:58 > 0:02:03Rachel Stonehouse, Points West, Gloucester.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06And you can see the full report on sugar dating on Inside Out West
0:02:06 > 0:02:09tomorrow night at 7.30 on BBC1.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12The government is set to announce an ?8 million deal
0:02:12 > 0:02:15with Leonardo Helicopters in Somerset to help develop
0:02:15 > 0:02:18unmanned helicopter drones.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21The Ministry of Defence will work with the company to see how
0:02:21 > 0:02:25the technology could be used to support the military in future.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28There was a rare chance to walk inside a canal
0:02:28 > 0:02:29lock in Wiltshire today.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31The lock at Bradford-on-Avon has been drained to allow
0:02:31 > 0:02:37for major repairs.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40Today, the Canal and River Trust invited the public to climb down
0:02:40 > 0:02:42some temporary stairs into the chamber.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44Bristol Rugby beat Bath 12-11 at Ashton Gate,
0:02:44 > 0:02:46to record a vital win in their fight against relegation.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48Gavin Henson kicked all 12 points for Bristol,
0:02:48 > 0:02:51in his return from injury.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54Semesa Rokoduguni scored the only try of the game for Bath,
0:02:54 > 0:02:57but Rhys Priestland missed the conversion and Bristol held
0:02:57 > 0:03:02on to move just two points behind Worcester in the Premiership table.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04Henson was named man of the match.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06I was a bit nervous.
0:03:06 > 0:03:07I've been out for four months.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10The last thing I want to do is get injured again.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12The main thing I was thinking, just don't get injured.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15But once you cross over the line you're straight into the zone.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19I had to have a big performance today and so glad...
0:03:19 > 0:03:24The boys played as well so a great day.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27Bad news for Gloucester who lost 35-22 away to Wasps
0:03:27 > 0:03:31who secured a bonus point.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34The Cherry and Whites sit in ninth after the defeat,
0:03:34 > 0:03:37and have lost their last five away games in the Premiership.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Finally, more than 400 students from across the UK have been
0:03:40 > 0:03:42competing in the final of a national robotics competition
0:03:42 > 0:03:44in Bristol today.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47The First Lego League is a science and technology challenge
0:03:47 > 0:03:51which runs across the world.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55Teams of students aged between nine and 16 have to solve a real-world
0:03:55 > 0:04:01problem with the help of a robot made from Lego.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Let's get the weather now with Emily Wood.
0:04:03 > 0:04:04Hello.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08Some heavy showers to watch out for over the next couple of days.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11We have some dry and clearer weather for a time tonight
0:04:11 > 0:04:14and fairly breezy.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18Showers will arrive by first thing tomorrow morning.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26They will be on and off throughout the day with the risk of some hail
0:04:26 > 0:04:29and thunder and it could turn wintry on high ground as well.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Some sunshine between the showers but it will feel cooler
0:04:32 > 0:04:33and breezy through the day.
0:04:33 > 0:04:38A bit more in the way of sunshine on Tuesday but locally
0:04:38 > 0:04:43heavy showers around.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46Some milder air on Wednesday but rain by the end of the day.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49It looks dry on Thursday.
0:04:49 > 0:04:54That's all from the Points West team for this evening.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56We're back in Breakfast news tomorrow morning.
0:04:56 > 0:05:01But for now, from me, a very goodnight.