A group of researchers from the University of Bath has been chosen to lead a new global watchdog which aims to hold the tobacco industry to account.

It will be called Stopping Tobacco Organisations and Products (Stop) and means the university's Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG) will be able to expand its scale and geographic reach.

TCRG director, Professor Anna Gilmore, said it gave the group more ammunition to research the tobacco industry’s "nefarious tactics".

The news comes after the department was awarded "major funding" from Bloomberg Philanthropies which has committed nearly $1bn (£780m), since 2017, to combat tobacco use worldwide.

Image source, PA

The recent heatwave revealed details of our ancient past to archaeologists - including two sites in Somerset.

Surveys from the air across England have revealed neolithic ceremonial monuments, Iron Age settlements, square burial mounds and a Roman farm for the first time.

Historic England said the weather "provided the perfect conditions" to see the crop marks because of the lack of moisture in the soil.

They include prehistoric farms in Stogumber, and an ancient enclosure in Churchstanton - both in Somerset.

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Neolithic monuments, Iron Age settlements and a Roman farm have all been made visible in crop marks.

Tahvon Campbell's second-half goal puts Forest Green into the second round of the Carabao Cup for the first time as they beat Swindon.

Cheltenham progress to the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 6-5 penalty shoot-out win over Colchester.

League One side Bristol Rovers secure Carabao Cup progress with a 2-1 win over Crawley Town, who end the game with 10 men.

Last season's Carabao Cup semi-finalists Bristol City are knocked out at the first-round stage by Plymouth Argyle.

Aston Villa survive a scare to overcome League Two side Yeovil Town and reach the Carabao Cup second round.

The England cricketer shakes hands with co-accused Ryan Ali as they are cleared of all charges.

The move has proved controversial, with thousands signing a petition opposing the move.

A woman from Taunton has found her grandfather's sketchbooks from the Battle of the Somme in a shoebox.

The unique collection of three artists books contain around 120 illustrations and paint a picture of life in trhe trenches:

Councillor Mhairi Threlfall, Cabinet Member for Transport and Connectivity at Bristol City Council, has responded to calls for people using the Bristol to Bath railway path to have more respect for one another, following altercations on the route.

“Conflict between pedestrians and cyclists is a growing challenge as more people choose to travel short journeys sustainably, by foot or bike...

"we are concerned about anything which could disrupt or dissuade people from continuing these journeys.

“This has been no-more evident than on the popular Bristol and Bath Railway path, and we want to work with local people, path users and non-path users alike, to identify how we alleviate pinch-points and problem areas so we can all travel together in harmony.”

Approximately 4 million people use the path every year, according to Sustrans.

Image source, Google

A meeting has been held to encourage users of the popular Bristol to Bath railway path to "share, respect, and enjoy" the path.

Cycling charity Sustrans says the number of collisions between cyclists and pedestrians is on the rise.

They hope the public meeting will remind people to use the path appropriately and respectfully.

Approximately 4 million people use the path every year, according to the charity.

Separately, police have said they are increasing patrols on the path after recent reports of violent attacks.

Dave Harvey
Business Correspondent, BBC West

One of the first discount shopping centres in the UK celebrates its 25th anniversary today, as other retailers struggle to stay open.

When they opened the UK’s first factory outlet centre at Clarks Village in 1993, John Major was Prime Minister, Meatloaf and Whitney Houston were top of the charts and it was illegal for big stores to open on Sundays. Oh, and only a few scientists had heard of the internet.

Clarks was a retail revolution in its time, persuading big brands to offer big discounts on “factory seconds”.

Over the years, outlet centres have popped up in many towns and Clarks has more than 90 brands.

But all the while, the internet was growing. And then, of course, came online shopping.

The outlet centres were no longer the cut price new kids on the block, they were themselves under threat.

To woo customers, Clarks has led the way again, offering things to do as well as things to buy. A kids adventure playground, numerous restaurants, even an outdoor cinema in the summer. All designed to make the centre more of a day out than just a trip to get stuff.

A life-size pencil portrait of a Big Issue seller from Bath has gone up for sale at an art gallery in the city, with a price tag of £3,000.

It took artist Adrian Thompson-Boyce, external a total of 100 hours to draw a 2m high illustration of Ian Duff.

Richard Graham said "immigrants not used to urban recycling" could receive "an education programme".

A unique collection of World War One sketches, penned by a medic who served in the Somme, has been discovered by his family in Somerset.

Three sketch books with around 120 drawings - covering the entire period of the war - paint a poignant picture of life in the trenches.

Douglas Chambers was 20 when he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and served in the Somme.

Sue Doyle, from Taunton, didn't even know the drawings existed until she was sifting through her mother's possessions after she died

The family now plan to donate them to a military museum.

England and Bath back Anthony Watson faces an extended, unspecified lay-off after re-tearing his Achilles tendon.

Taking on one of the UK's fastest growing water sports with man's best friend.