Headlines: Flooding, 'BBL death' and Jack O'Sullivan search

Headlines: Flooding, Chris Serle tributes and BBL death Widespread destruction caused by extensive flooding across the region was dominant in the news this week.

Gloucestershire Live editor, Phil Norris, wrote about a fundraising appeal after downpours caused thousands of pounds' worth of damage to Tewkesbury C of E Primary School.

Water poured through the roof into the school's library, ruining more than £12,500 worth of books, which staff have described as a "disaster".

Ben Gardner for the Wiltshire Times wrote about an abandoned car submerged on the flooded B3106 in Holt - despite the road having been closed by gates installed in 2019 as drivers regularly ignored flood warnings.

On Friday, flooding caused disruption again after a section of the M5 had to be closed.

Mr Norris wrote a live blog about the incident, which saw stranded vehicles being rescued by firefighters.

Gloucestershire Live covered a tragic story on Wednesday about mother-of-five, Alice Webb, 33, who died after is it believed she underwent a non-surgical Brazilian butt lift (BBL).

In a Facebook appeal, Ms Webb's partner, Dane Knight, said: "Please have these five girls' feelings at heart before speculating."

Gloucestershire Police's major crime team is investigating and the two arrested people have been released on bail.

Somerset Live published an update about the search for missing Jack O'Sullivan. The Bristol man's mum told the online site that she believes her son is still alive.

Jack, 23, disappeared on 2 March after he was last seen at around 03:15 BST in the Brunel Way area of Bristol.

Reporter Shannon Brown spoke to mum Catherine O'Sullivan who believes her son did not fall into the water.

She is spending every moment searching for Jack and believes she has come up with the 'most likely theory' for what happened to him.

Bristol Bears Rugby announced earlier this week that England prop Ellis Genge had signed a long-term contract with the club.

The club shared a video of the Bristol-born player, including a flash of his now famous "Knowle West" toe tattoo.

The 29-year-old forward was a key part of the Bears' strong end to last season which saw them win six of their final seven matches of the league season, missing out on the play-offs by two points.

"Hopefully it's not the end; a long contract, so obviously I feel at home now," Genge told BBC Radio Bristol. "To be honest I didn't realise how important it was to me."

Europe's first-ever large-scale solar-powered car park which opened in Salisbury was covered by the Journal.

Deputy editor, Benjamin Paessler, said the Health and Wellbeing Centre would use 100 per cent of the energy generated from the solar panels, providing 10 per cent of its electricity.

Posts on the Journal's social media page were mainly positive with comments such as: "Why destroy countryside, this scheme should be across Wiltshire".

Somerset Live also covered 26 new electric buses being launched at an upgraded Taunton depot.

The buses will begin operating on five routes across Somerset from spring, after the council secured a £2.2m grant from the government's Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) scheme.

Several comments posted on Somerset Live's social media page agreed that electric buses could be a fire hazard.

The popular story about 99-year-old Phyll Babb walking 100 one-mile strolls before she celebrates her century did well for the Salisbury Journal.

Reporter Isabella Holliday said she was "currently ahead of schedule to complete the walks by the time of her 100th birthday on 13 July 2025.

Ms Babb is walking the same route each time from her home and around the Cathedral Close to raise money for the Salisbury Trust For the Homeless (STFH).