Headlines: Storm Éowyn, job losses and a hedgehog

The weather, which has been pretty dramatic throughout January, has continued to dominate the local media headlines.

The entire West Country was covered by a Met Office yellow weather warning for high winds, as Storm Éowyn battered parts of the region on Friday.

Elsewhere, the sentencing of a drink-driver, whose crash caused a woman to lose an arm, also sparked a lot of reaction.

Also featured in this week's top posts are an ancient medieval street, the Lionesses' return, a TV dating show and a rescued hedgehog.

A number of roads were blocked and hundreds of homes were without power on Friday when Storm Éowyn rolled in.

Footage posted by Wiltshire 999s of a blustery Swindon got a lot of interaction and police warned of fallen trees on several A-roads.

Bristol Airport cancelled flights to Ireland and Scotland, while the high winds also closed the M48 Severn Bridge.

ITV West Country's video of a drink-driver causing a crash, which led to a woman being in a coma for two months and losing an arm, sparked a lot of reaction.

Leigh Brean, 43, had drunk 10 pints before getting behind the wheel and colliding with a bus and a Fiat 500 near Bristol Airport on 28 October 2023.

He was jailed for three years and two months and banned from driving for 11 years and seven months at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday.

The family of one of the victims said in a statement to the court: "We are aware of how many careless drivers there are on the road and the fact that there is one less is a very welcome prospect."

The 39% increase in council tax for Bridgwater residents was a top post for the Bridgwater Mercury.

Digital reporter, Seth Dellow, reported that Labour councillors voted through the steep increase at a "heated" meeting on Thursday, while the Conservative group opposed the proposal.

Average Band D households will now have to pay more than £410 per year - an increase of about £115 from 2024/25.

The justification given by councillors was that "if we hadn't done this, we would have seen parks close, streets unswept and assets sold off".

One of the most-read posts was the announcement of the upcoming loss of 3,000 jobs at Sainsburys - including two local branches - due to the closure of its remaining cafés.

Bristol Live reported on the two, at Emersons Green and Winterstoke Road, that are among 61 being closed nationwide.

The supermarket says the move will "simplify the business", adding that most Sainsbury's shoppers "do not use the cafés regularly".

A spokesperson added: "We'll be doing everything we can to support anyone impacted by the announcement."

Wells Cathedral's appeal to repair the medieval Vicars' Close has sparked a lot of interest this week as their fundraising target gets closer.

The cathedral now has just under £800,000 to raise for the project, which will cost £7.1m to deliver.

Somerset Live's Kirstie McCrum, quoted the Dean of Wells, Toby Wright, saying: "Vicars' Close is the oldest intact medieval street in Europe (dating back to 1348) still used for its original purpose to house the cathedral's adult choir.

"It has been integral to the history and fine choral tradition of Wells Cathedral for centuries and its continuity of use is incredibly rare."

The announcement by Bristol City that the Lionesses will be hosting Belgium at Ashton Gate performed well on X.

The England women's football team will return to the ground for their UEFA Nations League match against the Red Flames in the third game of their campaign.

The last time they played Belgium in Bristol in February 2023, the Lionesses won 6-1.

Head coach Sarina Wiegman said: "We had a great experience the last time we played there. We have seen how the people in Bristol have celebrated women's sports recently so I hope we will get a similar warm welcome again."

The Swindon Advertiser sent out a siren call to singletons in Wiltshire this week as the team behind the hit TV show First Dates hunts for contestants in the county.

First Dates is a show that captures the highs and lows of blind dates over dinner and drinks, giving people the chance to find love in front of millions.

Aptly-named reporter Jamie Singleton wrote that filming for the 11th season will start in Bath in March and take place at The Botanist, where last year, Swindon-based contestant, Sam, sat down for lunch with Jo.

Alberta the blonde hedgehog created a stir of emotion after being found struck by a strimmer and infested with fleas in Wiltshire.

ITV West Country reported that she was rescued by staff from RSPCA Oak and Furrows near Cricklade and needed weeks of rehabilitation and treatment to restore her to good health.

"She was absolutely drenched from heavy rain storms with blunted spines near her head, suggesting a very close call with a strimmer," said a member of staff.

Alberta has now been released into neighbouring woodland.