Vandals are holding up the development of the Bailey’s Court Activity Centre with a series of attacks which have included smashing windows and starting fires.

Officers from Avon and Somerset Police are now calling on BS32 residents to shop the offenders who have caused thousands of pounds of damage.

Police believe youths are to blame for the incidents who, between Monday and Tuesday, started a deliberate fire under the cricket veranda.

On Wednesday various items, including insulation for the activity centre, were moved from the contractor’s compound and dumped on the nearby cricket field.

Our picture of the new building clearly shows criminal damage with graffiti daubed on the outside.

Neighbourhood Inspector Simon Ellis said: “It is a great shame that a small number of youngsters have taken it upon themselves to commit mindless acts of criminal damage which could ultimately delay the completion of the community centre and increase its costs.

“We have introduced extra police patrols in the area in an attempt to catch the offenders and are urging the community to join forces with us to identify those responsible.

“Anyone caught committing criminal damage will be dealt with sternly as I want to send a clear message to the community that criminal damage is unacceptable and has serious consequences.”

Insp Ellis now wants residents to call the police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 if they spot any suspicious activity.

A choir from Wheatfield Primary School officially opened Bradley Stoke’s new Aldi store.

The children sang a selection of songs before helping the firm’s area manager, Paul Hutton, cut the ribbon.

“We are very excited about opening our new store here in Bradley Stoke and are delighted to have the support of Wheatfield Primary School.”

Aldi has opened at the former site of Somerfield, which closed in 2006.

Aldi area manager Paul Hutton welcomes customers to the new store

Wheatfield Primary School pupils, Danny and Lauren cut the ribbon

Wheatfield Primary School choir perform for customers

Members of the Bradley Stoke Small Business Forum will get help to decide on their future directions at their next meeting.

Life coach Becky Hall from Focus:Future will give a talk to the group on Monday, 9 July 2007.

Becky is one of a number of guests who have been invited to give talks.

Jeremy Marchant from Emotional Intelligance at Work will talk about how and why people drive you mad at work and how to turn it to your advantage in August.

Julie Stenning of Southern Brooks Community Partnership is slated for the October meeting where she will talk about partnerships between businesses and the voluntary sector.

The Bradley Stoke Small Business Forum was set up to help and promote firms in the town - for information on membership contact Nick Wood via email on nick4info@yahoo.co.uk

The head of Bradley Stoke Community School was recognised at the regional finals of the National Teaching Awards.

Dave Baker was given a distinction for his role in the Headteacher of the Year for Secondary Schools at the event which took place at Bath’s Assembly Rooms.

Darren Stanley, the deputy head of Holy Trinity Primary School, was the regional winner in the Primary School category for Teacher of the Year.

Mr Stanley will now go forward to the national competition which will take place later in the year.

Mystery surrounds the discovery of a cable in the middle of The Tump in Three Brooks Nature Reserve.

The find has sparked theories that Bradley Stoke is about to be plunged into a Lost-style plot.

The cable, poking from the ground, loops out in among some long grass.

What could it be? This reporter believes there is a hatch, like the Lost island, beneath The Tump.

Shortly we will find a Scottish man who has been typing in numbers to a computer every 108 minutes for the past three years.

Perhaps you have a better theory to explain this mysterious cable. If you do we’d love to hear your ideas.

Or, even better, you might actually know what it’s for! Let us know.

* Please note: It’s summer and there isn’t much going on. This story marks the start of silly season.

Children at Bradley Stoke Community School have been warned to be careful after an incident which saw one pupil pursued by a man on rollerblades.

The Examiner has learned that the child was followed by a man in his late teens/early twenties. He was described as having short spiky black hair.

The incident follows a report of a man on a BMX bike at the weekend who had a similar description being involved in an undisclosed incident.

In the school’s newsletter, headmaster Dave Baker urged parents not to “overreact” to the news.

He said the children had been warned during assembly about being vigilant while out and about.

John Hogan, who is accused of murdering his son while on holiday in Crete, has divorced from his wife, reports the Press Association.

John Hogan jumped from the fourth floor of a hotel with Liam and his daughter Mia, then aged two, during a family holiday in 2006.

Mia survived the fall but Liam, 6, died. Mr Hogan, from Bradley Stoke, was charged with murder by Greek police and is currently awaiting trial.

Natasha, 34, was granted a decree absolute at Bristol County Court, formalising the divorce.

Full report here