A tree planted in memory of George Harrison has been killed by bark beetles and ladybugs.
The tree which was dedicated to the former Beatle, who died from lung cancer in 2001, was planted in the garden of Los Angeles' Griffith Observatory in 2004.
Local councilor Tom Labonge said the number of insects had been too much for the tree but a new one will be planted.
It had grown more than 3m tall (10ft) tall.
Where do you keep your spare house key?
A new survey has revealed that one in five of people keep theirs outside in a hiding spot close to the door.
The most common place to hide one is under a plant pot, while other popular spots include under bricks, statues, front door mats and in the shed.
Researchers for home security company Yale, found as many as one in five homeowners regularly leaves a spare key close to the front door for their children, friends or neighbours to use to enter the house.
A smiling garden gnome may well be the one entrusted with home security as hiding keys under a mini statue proved the fourth most common spot for a spare.
Despite leaving a key to the door close by, 45 per cent were unsure as to whether their chosen spot was actually safe or a good idea.
The research, which was conducted by Yale, found nearly a quarter of the 2,000 homeowners studied didn't actually feel their local area was safe and a third had reason not to trust their neighbours.
The main reason for leaving keys outside is due to the fear of people locking themselves out.
And with one in five home owners leaving a key right outside, 715 billion pounds worth of property is left vulnerable across the country.
Yale spokesman David Herbert said: ''There's a long-honoured tradition of hiding a key under the mat and it's something many of us still do in this country.
''The range of quirky hiding spots shows plenty of imagination goes into choosing a place for our spare keys but it still means that properties could potentially be exposed rather easily.
''It's always worth considering how good a hiding spot is or if there's a better way of providing easy access to those who need it, without taking risks.
''Whether it's reassessing the choice of hiding spot or keeping track of just how many spare keys to your home are out there or even having great neighbours you can trust one with, taking measures to ensure peace of mind around your home is important.''
Bath's MasterChef champion Ping Coombes is in Glasgow today serving up tasty treats to punters ahead of the opening of the Commonwealth Games.
Members of the public have posted snaps on Twitter showing the 33-year-old serving up curry in a red food truck with Malaysia Kitchen UK.
She also tweeted to say: "Just a tad excited that I'll be going to the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony tonight."
Siobhan, from Glasgow, met Ping at Silverburn Shopping Centre on her day off.
She said: "She was lovely to meet and being a massive MasterChef fan, it was a fab way to spend my day off."
The Commonwealth Games opening ceremony begins tonight at Celtic Park with a parade involving more than 4,500 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations.
More than 50 people have been killed in a plane crash in Taiwan, the BBC is reporting.
The domestic TransAsia Airways flight crashed near Magong airport on the outlying Penghu island after a failed emergency landing.
Local news sources are reporting that there were 54 passengers and four crew on board and early estimates say 51 people are feared dead and seven injured.
The first planes carrying victims from flight MH17have arrived in the Netherlands, which today held a day of mourning for the 298 victims.
The Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was there to meet the planes in Eindhoven, as bells in churches around the Netherlands rang as a mark of respect for the victims and their families.
The two military planes, one Dutch and the other Australian, carrying the first 40 coffins was met by members of the Dutch royal family, Prime Minister Mark Rutte and hundreds of victims' relatives.
The arrival was marked with a solemn ceremony attended by Dutch military and civil officials, including members of the Dutch Government
A fleet of hearses was standing by to take the remains to the Korporaal van Oudheusden barracks south of the city of Hilversum for identification..
The victims had begun their "long journey home", said Dutch government representative Hans Docter.
In Ukraine a military guard of honour accompanied The first 40 coffins as they were slowly loaded on to two military planes at Kharkiv airport.
Ambassadors, officials and soldiers gathered to see off the planes.
In a separate process, the black box flight-data recorders from MH17 have arrived in the UK, where they will be examined at the headquarters of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch in Farnborough.
Pro-Russian rebels have been widely accused of bringing the plane down.
Prime Minister David Cameron this week called on Russian president Vladimir Putin to end his support for separatists, and warned Moscow it faced international isolation, including "hard-hitting economic sanctions".
In a statement to the House of Commons, Mr Cameron said Russia was facing a "defining moment" and warned Europe would fundamentally change its relations with its giant eastern neighbour unless Mr Putin changes his position on Ukraine.
The United Nations Security Council has called for "safe, full and unfettered access" to the crash site for international investigators, and for the remains of victims to be handled with respect and dignity.
The number of people killed in acts of terrorism across the world has risen dramatically in the past year, according to Bath-based risk analysis company Maplecroft.
Over the last 12 months, global deaths have risen by 30 per cent compared to the previous five-year average.
The figures come as part of Maplecroft's Terrorism and Security Dashboard (MTSD), released today, which logs, analyses and maps every reported incident of terrorism worldwide – forming a global ranking of 197 countries on their risk of terror attacks.
It found that in the 12 months before July 1 there were 18,668 fatalities compared to an average of 14,443 for the five years before that – a 29.3 per cent increase.
Over the same period, the MTSD recorded 9,471 attacks – an average of 26 a day - down from a five-year average of 10,468.
According to the dashboard, Iraq has endured the highest number of attacks in the last year with 3,158 incidents, while terrorism in Nigeria is the world's deadliest, recording the highest number of deaths per attack, with an average of 24.
The dashboard, which draws on Maplecroft's seven years of global data to reveal terrorism and security trends across the 197 countries, found that China, Egypt, Kenya and Libya have seen the most significant increases in the risk of terrorist attacks.
Chief executive Alyson Warhurst said: "The dynamic nature of terrorism means individual events are impossible to predict.
"However, up-to-date global intelligence on the intensity, frequency, precise location and type of attacks can help organisations to make informed decisions relating to market entry, security measures for in-country operations, duty of care obligations, supply chain continuity and risk pricing."
The MTSD classifies 12 countries as "extreme risk", including Iraq at the top as most at risk, as well as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Libya. It also includes the growth economies of Nigeria, the Philippines, Colombia and Kenya.
Iraq, rated as the highest risk country, recorded more than three times as many acts of terrorism as Pakistan with 3,158 attacks resulting in 5,929 deaths – an increase of 2,188 on the previous year.
And in Nigeria, the campaign of violence by Islamic militant group Boko Haram saw the country record the highest number of fatalities per attack, with Maplecroft's figures recording 146 reported attacks between July 1 last year and June 30 this year, resulting in 3,477 killed – an average of 24 people killed per attack, compared to two deaths per attack in Iraq.
Maplecroft also warned of the rising risks in China, Egypt, Kenya and Libya and the impact on their economies.
With terrorism incidents in Libya doubling in the last year according to the company, violence is having a toxic impact on its economy, especially its oil sector, while attacks in Egypt have hit its tourism industry, as well as in Kenya, which has been hit by increasing attacks by Somali-based Islamic militant group al Shabaab.
Maplecroft saId June 2014 represented the bloodiest month since the Westgate shopping mall attack in September 2013, with 69 deaths and at least seven wounded, with a single al Shabaab attack on Mpeketoni village, in Lamu County on June 15 responsible for 48 of the deaths.
The MTSD also showed that attacks are on the rise in China, which is ranked 32 on the list and classes as "medium risk". Deaths in 2014 have reached 76, compared to 16 over the first six months of 2013, according to the risk analysis company, and could worsen.
Jordan Perry, a principal political risk analyst at Maplecroft, said: "Libya, Kenya and Egypt are among a handful of countries to witness a significant increase in risk in the MTSD and investor confidence in key sectors, including tourism and oil and gas, has been hurt.
"When faced with rising security costs and decreasing safety for their personnel, companies can, and do, reconsider their country-level commitments."
Melvin Musgrove, 32, of Berkeley House, Snow Hill, was fined £335 for harassment.
Gary Larcombe, 28, of Sydenham Buildings, Lower Bristol Road, was given a 12-week prison sentence and a restraining order for assault by beating.
Samantha Delbono, 27, of Haycombe Drive, Bath, was given a community order and ordered to pay £64.25 compensation for two counts of assault by beating, criminal damage and using threatening or abusive words or behaviour.
Kyle Escott, 19, of Tintagel Close, Keynsham, was given a community order and ordered to pay £260 compensation for theft and two counts of trespassing.
Lee Moreton, 29, of Rosewarn Close, Twerton, was fined £50 and ordered to pay £50 compensation for using racially-aggravated threatening or abusive words or behaviour.
Serana Tucker, 41, of Wedmore Park, Bath, was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 compensation for two counts of assaulting a police officer and using threatening or abusive words or behaviour.
Zak Ford, 22, of Redland Park, Twerton, was given a community order, a curfew and an electronic tag for assaulting a police officer and using threatening or abusive words or behaviour.
Nicholas Davies, 44, of High Street, Freshford, was fined £135 and given three penalty points for speeding.
Neil Duncan, 45, of Moorfields Road, Bath, was given a 20-week prison sentence for three counts of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour, assault by beating and failing to answer bail while subject to a community order.
David Browning, 28, of Julian House, Manvers Street, was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £92 compensation for criminal damage and shoplifting.
Gari Farrell, 18, of Julian House, Manvers Street, was given a six-month conditional discharge for using threatening or abusive words or behaviour.
Timothy Wilcock, 32, of Fountain Buildings, Bath, was given a community order and ordered to pay £7.85 compensation for using threatening or abusive words or behaviour and shoplifting.
Patrick Sullivan, 51, of Julian House, Manvers Street, was given a community order and ordered to pay £7 compensation for two counts of shoplifting while subject to a conditional discharge.
Daniel Wright, 29, of Norfolk Crescent, Bath, was given a community order and ordered to pay £332.99 for three counts of shoplifting.
Paul Belsten, 47, of Corn Street, Bath, was given a community order, a restraining order and ordered to pay £50 compensation for two counts of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour.
Matthew Gilmore, 23, of Springfield, Peasedown St John, was fined £275 and ordered to pay £100 compensation for using threatening or abusive words or behaviour.
Police have released CCTV images of a man they would like to speak to after a 71-year-old woman had her credit card stolen from her handbag at a Bath supermarket.
The victim reported the theft from her bag at Sainsbury's in Odd Down at around 7pm on Wednesday, July 2.
Her bank contacted her shortly afterwards to warn that there was unusual use of her card, but not before £200 was withdrawn from a cash machine.
Two other unsuccessful attempts to withdraw money at cash machines in Widcombe and Combe Down were made that evening.
Anyone who recognises the man in the images or his blue Citroen Picasso car with roof bars is asked to call Bath police on 101 quoting crime reference number 67026/14.
A Bath carer, jailed for assaulting a dementia sufferer he 'misguidedly' tried to help when she got into difficulty, has been freed by top judges on appeal.
London's Criminal Appeal Court heard John Morgan performed an out-dated intimate procedure on the woman, a resident at the care home where he worked, in a 'grossly insensitive and misconceived' attempt to help her.
The 61-year-old, of Wellsway, Bath, was jailed for four months at Bristol Crown Court in June after admitting common assault.
But he was today released from prison by judges sitting at London's Criminal Appeal Court, who said the sentence was 'too severe' for his crime.
The court heard Morgan was a senior carer at a residential home when the incident happened in May 2013.
After discovering an elderly resident, who suffered with dementia and was unable to communicate, was in difficulty, Morgan went to her room and performed the procedure in a bid to help her.
The court heard the procedure was 'out-dated', had not been used at the care home in many years, and Morgan had not been trained in it.
As a result of his actions, the woman became extremely distressed and an ambulance was called, although she had calmed down by the time paramedics arrived.
A probation officer concluded Morgan, who had an unblemished record as a carer over many years and who also looked after his disabled wife, was 'low risk' and suggested a community punishment.
But the crown court judge said that, in light of the vulnerability of the victim, only a custodial sentence would suffice.
Morgan's lawyers challenged his jail term, arguing the judge ignored the absence of any malice or intention to harm the victim, as well as his genuine - albeit misplaced - attempt to help the woman.
They also said the judge didn't take enough account of his previous good character, his work record and his responsibilities as a carer for his wife.
Allowing the appeal, Judge John Bevan QC said the original sentence was 'excessive' and reduced it to two months so Morgan would be freed immediately.
Sitting with Lord Justice Treacy and Mrs Justice Laing, he added: "Here, the offence was not committed to punish, but to assist - however misconceived that intention might have been.
"The sentence failed to give credit for any of the mitigation and in our judgment, it should have done. The resulting penalty is too severe and is manifestly excessive.
"With the passage of time, it seems to us that the proper course for this instance of gross insensitivity is to achieve his release today."
A three-vehicle crash at Hinton Charterhouse, south of Bath, has now been cleared and is no longer causing delays for motorists.
Police were called to the incident on Wellow Lane following a collision involving three vehicles at the junction with the B3110 High Street and Branch Road.
It is a popular route out of the city for commuters driving home towards Frome and Trowbridge.
There are already delays in that area because of works to repair a landslip at Midford earlier in the year.
The main road through the village has temporary traffic lights and one lane is closed while those works take place.
Elsewhere in Bath traffic appears to be moving freely, although there is the usual congestion on Lower Bristol Road around Windsor Bridge and on London Road.
A First World War Victory medal, found in a field in the 1950s, is to be donated to the Somerset Military Museum in Taunton.
The medal originally belonged to Private William Wareham, of the Somerset Light Infantry, who was awarded Victory and British medals after taking part in the First World War.
It was found in a field near Green Ore by retired dentist David Boswell in the late 1950s when he and his wife Joan moved to the area. The medal has 'Private W. Wareham 5117' etched on the rim.
A photograph of the medal is one of the highlights of WW1 Remembered, a major exhibition opening in Bath on Friday, 1 August to mark 100 years since the start of the 1914-18 war. The exhibition commemorates those who lost their lives in the conflict and tells the stories of local people affected by the war.
The medal was restored to descendants of Private Wareham due to the efforts of amateur genealogist Graham Winter, who was able to help trace the family of the war veteran after inspecting local parish records and service records.
Mr Winter said: "At this point, I spoke to a member of the council's staff with the surname Veasey. He confirmed that he had an Uncle Bill and Aunt Eve, with three children, John, Kathleen and Doug.
"He contacted Kathleen's daughter and she spoke to her Uncle John about the medal. The family have since made contact with the finders and have decided that the Council can feature a photograph of the medal as part of their exhibition display."
Following agreement with the Wareham family, David Boswell plans to donate the medal to the Somerset Military Museum, which holds the regimental archives and collections for the Somerset Light Infantry.
The 'WW1 Remembered' exhibition will run at Bath Central Library from August 1 – 11. It coincides with the date that war broke out in August 1914. To mark the centenary of the First World War, the exhibition will feature memorabilia from local people and stories from the conflict.
The WW1 Remembered exhibition opens on Friday August 1, from 3:30pm – 5pm; then from Saturday 2 August.
It will be available during the library's regular opening times. These are: Monday 9:30am – 6pm; Tuesday - Thursday 9:30am – 7pm; Friday & Saturday 9:30am – 5pm; Sunday 1pm – 4pm.
It is a collection of memories and artefacts that brings to light some of the unique histories of local residents who served in uniform and on the home front.
A search has been launched to find 24 men with a passion for reading to help encourage young boys to pick up a book.
Volunteers are needed to read to youngsters at preschools, nurseries and reception classes as part of Bath and North East Somerset Council's new book bugs project.
It launched as a pilot scheme in Paulton last summer and now the council is looking to expand the project into Radstock and Keynsham.
Book bugs project leader Jane Southwell is keen to roll out the scheme in order to address the difference in reading levels between girls and boys.
She said: "We know from the assessment data that we get in that actually it's an area where boys aren't doing as well as the girls. In some areas of local authorities it's significant.
"There is a lot of work going on to help these children to read. We just wondered if it's because the early learning workforce is predominately female and some boys may not see men reading.
"In a way if we can encourage one or two boys in a group to become interested in books where they normally wouldn't have been, then that's going to make a long-lasting difference."
Volunteers will become reading role-models, and will be offered training as well as ongoing access to local libraries and resources.
They will need to commit to visiting a group for one hour a week.
The target is to recruit and train the volunteers in time for them to start visiting children by the end of October.
Ms Southwell said: "Schools and nurseries in the area are keen to take part in the project and now we really need male volunteers to come forward and help us make the project work.
"We did it last summer and we had really encouraging results. There were a couple of boys who weren't really interested in books.
"Their volunteer went in every week at regular times so they got to know him quite well. After a few weeks they would see him coming through the gate and they would come running up saying 'he's here'.
"We've started small because it's important to plan things thoroughly and make sure that it works well, but this has potential to carry on in other areas."
To volunteer e-mail Jane_southwell@bathnes.gov.uk or call 07977 228316.
Beauty salons in Bath and north east Somerset have been getting advice on hygiene and health and safety.
Council inspectors have been visiting businesses to talk to salon owners about the rules and regulations, making sure that customers are always kept safe when receiving treatments.
One of those salons which has been visited is Sacco Beauty, in Westgate Street, which is run by sisters Rebecca Banahan, aged 29, and Harriet Sacco, aged 25.
Formed eight years ago by Rebecca, the salon offers a range of beauty treatments including facials, massage, specialist hot waxing, manicures and pedicures and tanning.
They received a visit from the council's health and safety team three weeks ago to ensure that their clients are being protected from the risk of infection.
The team aims to ensuring that beauty salons in the area follow good practice and have satisfactory hygiene standards in place.
Rebecca said: "The visit was really friendly and helpful. It was useful to know that we are complying with the correct guidelines and legislation."
Councillor David Dixon, the council's cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: "Most businesses strive to promote and maintain good hygiene practices.
"But many of the businesses are small operators and do not know how to access health and safety information or advice through mainstream channels.
"Where standards fall short, officers can provide advice and guidance on how to improve as well as providing other health and safety advice in order to fulfil their legal duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
"Many of the businesses we have visited have welcomed our advice. They have concerns over those who are not maintaining good standards and give the industry a bad name."
Under the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1982, beauty salons are required to register with the council for any skin-piercing activities which include cosmetic piercing (including ear piercing), electrolysis, semi-permanent make-up, tattooing and acupuncture. It is an offence not to be registered.
Sara Chiffers, the council's senior environmental health officer, added: "Skin-piercing activities such as electrolysis and semi-permanent make-up also bring an elevated risk from blood borne infections if not carried out properly.
"A number of businesses have been operating unregistered and officers would urge clients to ensure they see the businesses' registration certificate before undertaking any of those treatments."
People are being asked to give their views on the future of Wiltshire's fire service, including the possibility of a merger with Dorset Fire Authority.
A consultation has now been launched and will run until October 20.
Members of the public will be able to access the information online, while a random selection of 12,000 households across Wiltshire and Dorset will be sent questionnaires.
Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service's chief fire officer Simon Routh-Jones said: "We are keen to know what local people think about our options to strengthen our fire and rescue service.
"We have a number of potential ways forward including a potential merger with Dorset Fire Authority. We are consulting widely on this important issue and we would encourage any views as no decisions have yet been made."
Councillor Christopher Devine, chairman of Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Authority, added: "We face difficult financial times ahead that result from cuts to our central Government grant.
"We need to find significant savings from our limited budget whilst protecting frontline services.
"It is vital that local people take this opportunity to find out more about the proposals and have their say, and we would encourage as many people as possible to get involved now that the consultation has started."
The cost-saving proposal comes after the two authorities said that by 2017, it was expected the Wiltshire service would be facing a £4.2 million deficit, and Dorset £3.7 million.
The consultation portal is accessible via www.wiltsfire.gov.uk/strengtheningourfrs
The Avon and Somerset Police Speed Enforcement Unit are scheduled to enforce at the following locations during the week beginning July 21 2014.
Please note that mobile enforcement may still take place at other locations within the Avon and Somerset area.
A36 Warminster Road, Bath (30mph)
A362 Farrington Gurney (30mph)
A367 Wellsway, Bath (30mph)
A37 Pensford Hill (40mph)
A37 Upper Bristol Road, Temple Cloud (40mph)
A39 Bath Road, Farmborough (30mph)
A4 Batheaston Bypass (50mph)
A4 Newbridge Road, Bath (30mph)
A431 Kelston Road, Bath (30mph)
A46 Swainswick Bypass (50mph)
B3110 Midford Road, Bath (30mph)
B3116 Wellsway, Keynsham (30mph)
B3355 Silver Street, Midsomer Norton (30mph)
Charlton Road, Keynsham (30mph)
Coronation Avenue, Bath (20mph)
Lansdown Road, Bath (30mph)
Train passengers travelling to and from Bath this summer will be getting extra advice on keeping their luggage safe during long journeys.
British Transport Police (BTP) officers are carrying out extra patrols on services between London Paddington and Penzance this Friday, giving safety tips to people and handing out leaflets.
It follows last year's launch of Operation Magnum, which is a crackdown on theft of passenger belongings on the railways.
Sgt Steve Reay, who has organised the initiative, said: "Op Magnum sees BTP officers working closely with train operating companies and local police forces to disrupt and deter thieves who prey on unsuspecting commuters and tourists at busy stations and on trains – particularly long distance journeys.
"Thieves use a variety of tactics, from brazenly snatching expensive smartphones and tablets from distracted passengers' hands to stealing luggage and valuables from on board trains."
People can go online to view a video highlighting the 13 most common tricks that thieves use. Go to www.btp.police.uk/theft
There are a number of other steps people can take to keep their property as safe as possible when on the rail network:
If you think your property has been stolen:
Is this you or someone you know?
The Cleveland Pools Trust is trying to identify this swimmer, who they have nicknamed "Handstand Man", which was taken in the early to mid 1960s.
He's young, he's fit, with a great head of hair and an eye for jewellery.
He looks like he's no stranger to the diving board either.
Handstand Man would now be in his 70s, and is distinguishable by his cluft of hair, pointed features and he is wearing a ring and a watch.
He is obviously a strong swimmer, and trustees think he may have been a member of Bath D olphins, which is over 100 years old.
The picture was given to the trust by a museum at Wessex Water's pumping station in Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth, Dorset.
It is fast becoming an icon image for the pools, which was a major attraction for Bathonians in the 1960's and 1970's, and is now a colour poster.
They think the swimmer may have either been performing in a gala at the pools, or was an employee of one of the firms working there.
Posters are available from www.souterandstanley.co.uk., and all proceeds will go towards the Cleveland Pools Trust.
We all know Bath is a respectable place these days..
But did you know there was a time when, hidden behind the regency homes of Bathwick, groups of men, hordes of them, used to swim stark naked in an outdoor pool?
(You can just imagine, 200 years down the line, a shy Jane Austen or Elizabeth Bennet peeking through the hedges.)
It really was a Victorian Full Monty in the 1800's, and one of the men, a certain Captain Evans, liked to keep his top hat on but nothing else.
His particular amusement was to parade around naked on an elevated board above the pool with nothing on but his top hat, with a pet monkey by his side.
There was a carnival atmosphere on gala days and it is a piece of history not often told.
The venerable ladies of Bath, wanting a slice of the action, demanded their own pool, separate and indoor of course, where they could escape the humidity of the city, peel off their dresses and bustles and emerge themselves in a Victorian style cold plunge Bath.
The water was freezing and, according to first-hand accounts, there is nothing quite like the feeling of immersing the naked body into an ice-cold bath under a blue summer sky.
So rampant was this naked swimming thing that a law had to be enforced, the Bath Water Act, banning people from swimming outdoors with no clothes on to protect the reputation of the city.
The Cleveland Pools is part of this city's heritage. Stories abound, and today (Thursday) we will find out if lottery money is to be given to allow the pools to reopen.
The beautiful pools were enjoyed by people in the city until as late as 1984, and could be a popular amenity once again, without the naked thing, of course.
