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Headlines: Honours, healthcare strains and snow

BBC Desmond Brown. He is bald and has a grey goatee. He is wearing a navy blue fleece and is standing in a street, near a wall covered in multicolour graffiti. Desmond is looking at the camera and smiling. BBC
Knife crime campaigner Desmond Brown was named in the New Year Honours list

It has been a busy week for many as another festive period came to an end and the New Year celebrations began.

The New Year Honours list was released on Monday night.

It featured many individuals from across the West country who been recognised for their work serving the public or those who have made an outstanding contribution.

Julie Devey (L) and Carole Gould sitting on chairs, wearing white T-shirts with black writing, reading: "Killed Women", the campaign group they co-founded.
Julie Devey (L) and Carole Gould (R) were recognised for their work tackling domestic violence

The list is compiled following recommendations from the prime minister, senior government ministers and members of the public.

Det Supt Gary Haskins from Avon and Somerset Police, knife crime campaigner Desmond Brown and broadcaster and entrepreneur Loyd Grossman are among those who have been recognised.

Domestic violence campaigners including Carole Gould from Wiltshire, Julie Devey from Somerset and Nick Gazzard from Gloucestershire were also honoured.

Bristol Live and Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard have published round-ups of all the local individuals on the list.

Weather Watchers An easyJet plane at Bristol airport, at night, with snow falling. There are white trucks close by with yellow barriers in the background. Weather Watchers
Some passengers were left waiting at Bristol Airport overnight on Saturday for flights home

The mild weather stayed in 2024 as temperatures plummeted at the end of the week, with snow appearing in the West.

More than 100 homes in parts of north Somerset and north Bristol were left without power and heavy snowfall meant Bristol Airport was closed for a time on Saturday night.

The UK Health Security Agency issued an amber cold health alert for England and a number of councils across the region implemented emergency action plans to help those struggling on the streets.

Somerset Live wrote about the forecast, while Bristol Live and Wiltshire Times shared tips on how to stay warm and what to do to help those sleeping rough.

In Swindon, the council took early steps ahead of freezing temperatures to deploy gritters out on to the town's main roads.

Getty Images Three ambulances parked up outside a hospital. One of them has the side door open and a bed and medical equipment can be seen inside.Getty Images
Hospitals and A&E departments are busy as winter bugs spread

The festive period remained busy for staff working in healthcare settings.

Pressure has already increased due to the spread of winter bugs and viruses, with the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board advising people what to do if they are unwell.

Bobby Angelov from The Salisbury Journal covered the story earlier this week.

A bus stop marked out on the road. The markings are painted onto the tarmac in yellow paint, spelled in capital letters. Two black cars can also be seen in the frame.
Bus passengers are facing changes to their fares

Last October, the prime minister announced that the single bus fare cap in England would increase from £2 to £3.

The previous limit was introduced by the former Conservative government to help with the cost of living.

The increase came into effect on 1 January, with the Department for Transport stating that the money raised will help support travel in rural communities and towns which rely on buses.

Many services in the region operated by Stagecoach and FirstBus are impacted by the change.

Alex Driscoll from Bristol Live explained all of the new fares.

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