Mistaken identity murders, Rovers sacking and boat fire

The sentencing of four teenagers who killed Max Dixon and Mason Rist in a heartbreaking case of mistaken identity dominated the news this week.

The attack horrified communities living and working in Bristol, including those sent to investigate.

Meanwhile, Bristol Rovers sacking manager Matt Taylor caused rumours to circulate about a possible replacement.

And a man who lost everything after a fire broke out on his narrow boat created a lot of sympathy.

Bristol Live's story about four teenagers being detained for life for the murders of best friends Max Dixon and Mason Rist who were killed in a case of mistaken identity gripped the city this week.

Mason, 15, and Max, 16, were stabbed to death with machetes yards from Mason's front door in Knowle West, Bristol, in January.

Riley Tolliver, 18, and 17-year-old Kodishai Wescott, who can be identified for the first time after reporting restrictions were lifted, were told they would each be detained for a minimum of 23 years.

A 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were detained for life with minimum terms of 15 and 18 years respectively.

Bristol Live's X account was busy throughout this week after Taylor was sacked on Monday.

By Thursday, reporter Daniel Hargreaves, was posting: "Frustratingly, very little is coming out on names and the identity is yet to be revealed, but there's still a belief it could be a foreign appointment."

By Friday the most likely successor was being named as German coach, Michael Wimmer.

A post stated: "Deal not yet done but Gas pushing for appointment in time for Exeter."

The story of a man losing everything in a narrow boat blaze in Frampton on Severn sparked a lot of interest.

Gloucestershire Live reported that George Pedley had been out for the evening on 6 December when a neighbour called him with the news that his beloved white boat was on fire.

Mr Pedley said: "I was in complete disbelief. I never contemplated losing everything. It is hard to take because a lot of that is irreplaceable."

A top post for Bristol Live on Tuesday was the story about a former Bristol teacher jailed for a third time for child sex abuse.

According to reporter Tristan Cork, Christopher Flavin was a boys' football club coach and teacher with "a long track record of abuse in the Bristol area".

Flavin, 72, who had already served two sentences in prison in the last two decades, was jailed again, this time for 10 years, with an extra five years supervision after that.

The prosecutor was quoted as saying his record "establishes beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant is nothing other than a committed, calculating and dangerous paedophile".

An article in the Swindon Advertiser about three people who are to stand trial for the murder of Raymond Groves, was a top post on Thursday.

Mr Groves, from Hartcliffe, Bristol, died in a stabbing in Easterton, near Devizes, Wiltshire, on 2 July.

Helen Shakespeare, 53, of Strawberry Fields, and Anthony Hodges-Hillier, 33, of Brooklands, Royal Wootton Bassett, have both been charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Letishia Goodwin, 29, of Strawberry Fields, has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

All three have been remanded in custody ahead of a trial set to begin in February 2025.

A warning of a rise in measles cases in Somerset was trending early in the week.

Somerset Council posted symptoms to look out for in children such as fever, runny nose, red and watery eyes, or a rash starting on the face and spreading.

Parents are being urged to keep children suspected of having measles away from healthcare settings.

The warning prompted comments on the council's Facebook page about the importance of getting children vaccinated against the disease.

The signs that have gone up over the former Marks and Spencer store in Regent Street, Swindon, have been sparking interest in the town.

The Swindon Advertiser reported that a company called House to Home had been confirmed as the new tenants with a reopening within the next week.

Reporter Chloe Tuff said several people had been spotted working inside the shop putting the finishing touches on the decor.

A spokesperson for the Brunel Centre said: "We hope shoppers will be able to find the perfect finishing touches for their Christmas at home or to spruce up their space for the New Year."

The story of rare identical triplets born in Somerset was one of the most clicked posts for ITV West Country this week.

The triplets, named Hunter, Bodhi and Travis, were due to be born on Christmas Day but arrived early at 33 weeks on 6 November.

Proud parents, Stacey and Grant Silk, who live near Shepton Mallet, said: "We're taking it one day at a time and embracing the chaos - we're quite a chaotic family anyway, so it suits us."

Burnham-on-Sea.com had a popular post about a lollipop lady who was retiring after more than 35 years.

Heather James, 67, hung up her familiar road crossing sign on December 13 as she retired from her current role at Somerset's West Huntspill School.

The local website quoted her saying: "I'm not happy about retiring because I still feel young, but sometimes you've got to start thinking about yourself. I will miss all the children."