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A circus boss whose company had to travel from Guernsey to Jersey via Portsmouth due to a "lack of ferry services" between the two Channel Islands said the detour cost £20,000 in lost time and accommodation.

Joel Hatton, manager and ringmaster of Gandey's Circus, said a gap in inter-island freight ferry travel meant they had no choice but to travel the extra 380km (230 miles) by sea.

It comes after the islands' governments chose different firms to operate services to the UK and France for the next 15 years, leading to fewer large inter-island vessels.

Authorities said previously they had been approached by a group, FerryBridge, offering to run vehicle and freight services between the islands.

The BBC has asked the governments of Jersey and Guernsey for comment.

Mr Hatton said in previous years, the circus had been able to perform in Guernsey before travelling directly to Jersey by ferry on the same day.

But he said they were "surprised" to discover a reduction in scheduled services this year.

So, having dismantled the big top on Monday, he said they then left Guernsey at 4:00 BST on Tuesday, before arriving into Jersey via Portsmouth at 07:00 on Wednesday.

It meant waiting in Portsmouth for five hours, he said, before loading all their equipment back onto freight ferries.

Due to time lost, they had to immediately start constructing the big top on their arrival into Jersey: "We were very tight on time due to losing a whole day travelling and being sat waiting in Portsmouth."

A dilapidated 1,000-year-old church could be reopened for services, the local Church of England diocese has said.

The Church of St Augustine in Oundle Road, Peterborough, has been closed since 2022.

The Diocese of Ely, which runs the building, said more than £300,000 was needed to repair issues including water ingress and the condition of the roof.

Samuel Pedlar, community support adviser at the diocese, said it had been in "active discussions" with other Christian denominations for one of them to take over the church.

"It is important for the church to be opened again," he said.

"We see it as a great community asset."

Historic England says the urgency of the repairs are classed as category A, and says there is an "immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric".

On Tuesday, community groups and church stakeholders were invited to a meeting to discuss the future of the Woodston church, as it is popularly known locally.

Mr Pedlar said there was six inches of water on the floor when the diocese examined the church "a few years back" for the Historic England survey.

He said "holding repairs" had stopped the damage worsening.

The diocese was talking to other Christian denominations who were interested in buying the building it, he said.

"[They would] start worshipping there and open it for the use of schoolchildren for their services, ringing of church bells, and any other community events they agree with," he explained.

Elaine Wilkinson, tower captain at the church, welcomed the news.

"It was a flourishing, beautiful church. Now it is crumbling," she said.

"When it closed it was so sad – myself and other bell-ringers felt our hearts were crushed. Because we were passionate about it and wanted it to keep going.

"It looks like we may have a great partnership to get involved with and hope the bells keep ringing."

A young squad has landed its first ever national medal for Guernsey.

Guernsey Tumbling Squad sent its largest ever team to the English Gymnastics Championships in Telford last week where 10-year-old Robbie won a bronze medal.

Coach Bobby Montague said he was "really proud to see how far they've come as a squad and as individuals".

Robbie is set to compete in the second qualifier for the British Gymnastics Championships later in June.

Robbie said it had been "very nerve-wracking" to show his somersaults in Telford but that he "loves how it's really fun".

He explained he had used a new combination of tumbles in the competition which included whips, flicks and a full twist and straight back ending.

He said: "I was very pleased because because there were some very challenging people in my category.

"It was very exciting because when I started I didn't really know much about it and three and a half years later I won a bronze medal at the English Gymnastics Championships!"

Mr Montague said it had been the first time a gymnast from the squad had competed in the elite category.

He said two of the members of the team, Rosie and Myra had been ranked 11th in the country and Mason had been ranked fourth.

Robbie said his dream was to compete in the World Gymnastic Championships.

"Even if I came last, to get to that level would be amazing," he added.

Isle of Harris Distillery says it will reduce its production and workforce as part of a restructuring programme.

The maker of Isle of Harris Gin, and also the first single malt whiskies on Harris in almost 200 years, employs 50 people.

The distillery opened in 2015 with just 10 employees.

Managing director Simon Erlanger said the spirits industry was facing "challenging headwinds" and having to make difficult decisions.

Scotland's whisky industry warned earlier this month tariffs imposed by the US – its most important overseas market – would be a "huge blow".

'Deeply regrettable'

Mr Erlanger said restructuring was needed to safeguard the future of the business.

He said: "Following a number of cost-cutting measures, voluntary redundancy is being offered to staff in the first instance, with compulsory to follow thereafter if we do not fulfil our cost reduction target.

"It is deeply regrettable we find ourselves in this situation and would like to take the opportunity to thank our entire team, particularly those affected by the changes, for their dedication and contribution to the business."

Mr Erlanger said the distillery represented more than £20m investment in the island's economy.

He added: "We remain true to our founding purpose as a sustainable, multi-generational firm built to support the community for many years to come.

"The regrettable measures now being taken are necessary to help fulfil that long term vision."

In 2022, the distillery secured £10m in funding from HSBC to pay for a new export drive to distribute its gin to more than 20 markets around the world.

They includes the US, Canada, France and Germany.

A bid to prevent a town centre bar from operating has been overturned by a government inspector.

Hartlepool Borough Council had rejected an application for a bar at The Intro, on York Road, in November due to concerns from councillors over a potential increase in crime and noise.

The venue, which has since rebranded as Screams Court 2.0, had already started operating as a coffee bar and live music venue without permission a month before the decision, when it relocated to the York Road premises from Hartlepool Marina.

The Planning Inspectorate ruled the venue would have "an acceptable effect" on the living conditions of neighbours in terms of noise.

A report added the development would not "unacceptably increase the potential for crime", reports the Local Democracy Reporting service.

In July last year, a licensing application was approved to give the York Road site permission to sell alcohol and play live and recorded music.

It also imposed conditions such as installing a noise limiter.