After the "panic, shock and relief" of his eye injury, Craig Kieswetter returned to the Somerset fold – and showed he had lost none of his old zest or swagger.

Nine weeks after a David Willey bouncer burst through his grille and left him with a broken nose and fractured eye socket, Kieswetter showed no ill-effects of his traumatic injury.

The wicketkeeper, who had missed Somerset's previous 13 games in all formats, scored 69 from 80 balls – with 10 fours and a six – as he and James Hildreth (70 not out) batted the hosts into a seemingly strong position at the end of day one against Middlesex.

In their penultimate LV= County Championship game of the season – and their last in front of the Old Pavilion at Taunton before its redevelopment – Somerset closed on 266-5, having been put in by Middlesex on a green wicket.

Somerset recovered from the early loss of Marcus Trescothick and Nick Compton – and 36 plays-and-misses in the first session alone – with Tom Abell, Kieswetter and Hildreth scoring fifties to frustrate Middlesex, who still need 13 points to guarantee their Division One status.

Somerset scored at only 2.77 an over – but importantly they took the sting out of the Middlesex attack after a difficult opening session when all the luck was with the home side.

Their undoubted highlights were the return of Kieswetter and the return to form of Hildreth. With one missing, and the other's form absent, Somerset have tailed off in the second half of the Championship season – but they were back in the groove yesterday.

If Kieswetter had any reservations about returning to the middle after facial surgery, he did not let them show: the 26-year-old pulled the first short ball he faced, from Toby Roland-Jones, into the Somerset Stand for six.

When he had arrived in the middle, with Somerset on 119-4, Hildreth had scored 19 – but Kieswetter quickly overtook his partner, reaching his fifty from 56 balls with three fours in the space of four deliveries from Ollie Rayner. When he was eventually dismissed, bowled by Rayner as he went to sweep, Somerset – who had been 32-2 in the morning – had advanced to 203-5.

Kieswetter, whose return to the middle had been warmly received by the Somerset supporters in a large first-day crowd, said: "Walking out to bat, I got goose-bumps – it was very humbling. I had to reset myself when I got to the crease, and luckily there was a drinks break which gave me a bit of extra time. But walking out to that welcome from the supporters was extremely humbling. That showed me how much care there is around this club.

"It was just nice to score runs – and to score them in the manner I did was important for me. I didn't want to go out there and be scratchy and tentative; I wanted to go out there and try to play my normal, natural, aggressive attacking game – and it came off nicely."

With the title beyond them, Somerset are playing for league positions, prize money and their averages, although a state of limbo persists while director of cricket Dave Nosworthy sees out the season despite his departure having been announced. A number of candidates for the job – Ashley Giles and Jamie Cox among them – are understood to be scheduled for talks with the club this week over the vacancy.

After being asked to bat, Trescothick steered Gurjit Sandhu to gully for 5, before Compton's off-stump was flattened by Tim Murtagh for 9. Johann Myburgh fell for 34 when he drove at one outside his off-stump from Roland-Jones and was caught behind for 34.

Abell, who had been dropped on 4 and 28, brought up his fifty with a delicious extra cover drive – but was soon run out backing up Hildreth, when Neil Dexter diverted the ball onto the stumps off his foot.

But Kieswetter and Hildreth added 84 for the fifth wicket, with the former quickly rediscovering his rhythm. After he departed, Hildreth passed fifty and looked untroubled for his 70 not out, while Pete Trego – who finished the day unbeaten on 26 – really should have been run out on 20.

Reflecting on his injury and his time out of the game, Kieswetter said: "The extent of the injury shocked me when I found out. I was worried for two weeks after the incident and a week after the surgery, because I suffered quite severe double vision in one eye.

"It's quite panicking, because even when you're told it's going to be fine and it will stabilise, your vision is so impaired that it causes a lot of worry. You go through this process of panic, shock and then relief – it takes time to heal."

Traffic is building on the main motorways around Bristol this morning. Traffic cameras are reporting congestion on the M4 and M5 at the Almondsbury Interchange. Drivers are being warned that traffic is slow at junction 20 on the M4 eastbound.

Cristiano Ronaldo is determined to leave Real Madrid at the end of the season after falling out of love with the club.

Former Real Madrid President Ramon Calderon says Ronaldo is frustrated with life at Real Madrid and could return to Manchester United - where the winger had a hugely successdful spell between 2003 and 2009.

Real Madrid are 13th in the La Liga league after losing to Atletico Madrid on Saturday. The Daily Mail reports that Ronaldo is angry at the club's sale of Xabi Alonso and Angel di Maria and the latter's sparkling start to his Manchester United career has improved the club's chances of luring Ronaldo back to Old Trafford.

Who would you want back at your football club?

People who eat/drink eight or more portions of high-fat dairy produce each day are at a lower risk of developing diabetes than those who have only one portion a day, new research shows.

A study of almost 27,000 people aged between 45 and 74, 60% of whom were female, showed that those who increased their intake of foods including cream and high-fat milk had a 23% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

While there was an increased risk with a greater intake of meats, that risk became higher for those who took meat containing less fat, the study by Dr Ulrika Ericson and her colleagues at the Lund University Diabetes Centre in Malmo, Sweden, claimed.

Dr Ericson said the research, presented at this year's annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Vienna, showed fats specific to dairy products "may have a role in prevention of type 2 diabetes".

She said: "Our observations may contribute to clarifying previous findings regarding dietary fats and their food sources in relation to T2D (type 2 diabetes).

"The decreased risk at high intakes of high-fat dairy products, but not of low-fat dairy products, indicate that dairy fat, at least partly, explains observed protective associations between dairy intake and T2D.

Dr Richard Elliot, Diabetes UK Research Communications Manager, said more research is needed and warned people against adding high fat dairy products to their diets in a bid to protect against type 2 diabetes.

"Consumption of dairy products can form part of a healthy diet, but it's important to be aware of the amount you consume as they can be high in calories which can contribute to becoming overweight, and therefore increase your risk of Type 2 diabetes.

"More research will be needed before we change our advice that the best way to reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes is by maintaining a healthy weight through increased physical activity and a balanced diet that is low in salt, saturated fat and sugar and rich in fruit and vegetables."

More must be done to curb the nation's sugar intake to reduce the "costly burden" of tooth decay, experts have said.

People should get no more than 3% of their daily calories from sugars, experts said.

Current World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations state that adults should get no more than 10% of their daily calories from "free" sugars. And the NHS says that "added sugar" such as sucrose, hydrolysed starch and honey should not make up more than 10% of the total calories people get from food and drink each day.

But researchers from University College London (UCL) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said 5% should be the absolute maximum with people aiming for a target of just 3%.

The comments come after they examined public health records from countries across the world in order to assess diets and dental health of large populations of both adults and children.

They found that sugar intake which accounted for 10% of energy intake, or calories, "induces a costly burden of caries (tooth decay)".

"This largely preventable disease is still common," the authors wrote in the journal BMC Public Health.

"Despite the use of fluoride and improvements in preventive dentistry, the burden of dental caries remains unacceptably high worldwide."

Study author Aubrey Sheiham, emeritus professor of dental public health at UCL, said: "Tooth decay is a serious problem worldwide and reducing sugars intake makes a huge difference.

"Data from Japan were particularly revealing, as the population had no access to sugar during or shortly after the Second World War. We found that decay was hugely reduced during this time, but then increased as they began to import sugar again. Similarly, only 2% of people at all ages living in Nigeria had tooth decay when their diet contained almost no sugar, around 2g per day. This is in stark contrast to the USA, where 92% of adults have experienced tooth decay."

The authors recommended a series of steps health officials could take to reduce sugar intakes including sugar taxes and reforms to food packet labelling.

Professor Philip James, honorary professor of nutrition at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, added: "We need to make sure that use of fruit juices and the concept of sugar-containing treats for children are not only no longer promoted, but explicitly seen as unhelpful. Food provided at nurseries and schools should have a maximum of free sugars in the complete range of foods amounting to no more than 2.5% of energy.

"Vending machines offering confectionary and sugary drinks in areas controlled or supported financially by local or central government should be removed. We are not talking draconian policies to 'ban' such sugar-rich products, which are available elsewhere, but no publicly-supported establishment should be contributing to the expensive problems of dental caries, obesity and diabetes.

"The food industry should be told that they should progressively reformulate their products to reduce or preferably remove all the sugars from their products. New food labels should label anything above 2.5% sugars as 'high'.

"A sugars tax should be developed to increase the cost of sugar-rich food and drinks. This would be simplest as a tax on sugar as a mass commodity, since taxing individual foods depending on their sugar content is an enormously complex administrative process. The retail price of sugary drinks and sugar rich foods needs to increase by at least 20% to have a reasonable effect on consumer demand so this means a major tax on sugars as a commodity. The level will depend on expert analyses but my guess is that a 100% tax might be required."

A handyman who sliced his hand to the bone with a machete claims he was turned away from a GP surgery - because he was not registered.

Glenn Box, 54, accidentally hacked into his hand while cutting back bushes and stumbled into the local surgery begging for help.

But despite dripping with blood Glenn was turned away by staff who refused to help him because it was not his usual clinic.

Glenn was forced to drive himself eight miles to hospital where medics told him he had cut though his tendons and gave him 14 stitches.

He said: "I'm disgusted at the way I was treated. I had been cutting through twigs and branches with my jungle knife when I cut straight through my hand.

"I'm a bit of a Rambo and I'm not squeamish but was shocked to see I had cut through to the white tendons.

"I have never seen that much blood in all my life so I knew I had to get help straight away.

"Everyone I have told has said they think it is wrong that trained medical staff refuse to help in an emergency.

"I left the surgery in shock and I was losing so much blood I worried I would collapse.

"I decided to try to drive to the hospital, thinking if I started to feel faint I would pull over and call an ambulance."

Glenn, from Radstock, Somerset, went to St Mary's Surgery in nearby Timsbury, but was told a GP could not see him because he was not a registered patient.

He added: "I'm a Timsbury lad born and bred and hoped that they would bandage me up to stop the flow of blood but they just pretty much told me to go away.

"I bet if I was a foreigner they would have seen me straight away. Everyone I have told has said they think it is wrong that trained medical staff refuse to help in an emergency."

Glenn, who is registered with a doctors in Radstock, drove to Bath's Royal United Hospital, where he was treated and given 14 stitches.

Jackie Yeates, practice manager at St Mary's, said: "I cannot comment on the individual case but the general rule is that you should go to your own surgery if it is within the local area as they are best placed to treat you as they have your medical records.

"If someone has minor injuries the best option is to go to Paulton Hospital but this again depends on the individual situation."

She added that she was unaware of the situation at the surgery at the time of Glenn's visit on September 9 but said it may have been the case there were no doctors or nurses at the surgery at the time because they often go out for home visits during the afternoon.

Most of us learn to walk before we can swim - but a Gloucestershire girl, Erin Bradley took to swimming before her feet could even touch the ground and has been voted one of Britain's most inspiring young swimmer by Water Babies - a national baby swimming school.

Erin, who is now four-years-old, was diagnosed with hip dysplasia just before her second birthday, a condition which meant her hip socket was not developed. Erin underwent a bone graft to create a new hip joint two weeks after the diagnosis.

She had her legs and hips encased in plaster for 24 weeks - leaving her unable to move around, have a bath, or learn to use a potty.

But after finally being released she quickly built her strength up by swimming and was walking just in time to start school. Emma had taken Erin to Water Babies swimming classes at her local pool when she was just four weeks old.

Proud mum Emma, 38, a teacher, said: "Her time in the body cast was challenging and heart-breaking to us as a family.

"As soon as the casts were off, we again started swimming and she amazed us all by swimming long before she could weight bear. Erin still falls more than other children her age and she gets tired easier."

When walking was difficult, swimming gave her the freedom that her legs didn't have on land.

Mum Emma from Abbeymead said: "The water was extremely good for her. It was hard as parent because you would see other children walking to the pool but I had to carry Erin. When she got into the pool she would let go of me straight away. The power of the water helped Erin with her movement which was very important. The consultants and physiotherapists noticed a massive difference."

Although Erin may suffer some hip problems in the future, she has regular check-ups with the doctors.

"She is just awesome and always very positive," she added."Erin is like any four-year-old running around. "She started at Abbeymead Primary School last week, which she is enjoying."

To crown her progress, last week, Erin, who has a sister called Chloe and a brother called Dylan, was named Water Babies Little Hero following a nationwide search for Britain's most inspiring young swimmers.

Emma added: "We are delighted that Erin has been recognised as one of Water Babies Little Heroes. "Everyone was surprised at how she could swim so well, yet not able to walk. Erin limped and struggled to walk more than a few steps before falling over.

"Her time in Spica body cast was challenging and heart-breaking to us as a family. Every six weeks she was back in theatre.

"As soon as the casts were off, we again started swimming and she amazed us all by swimming long before she could weight bear."

Two years on, the swimming has helped strengthen her hip and she is in a swim class with children a school-year older than her.

Paul Thompson, co-founder of Water Babies, said: "Erin's story is an inspiration to us all and we are delighted to crown her a Water Babies Little Hero. "We're thrilled that our Water Babies classes enabled her the freedom to roam the water and develop a love for it that is continuing to grow week-on-week."

A paedophile from Wiltshire has been jailed for conducting a sick 14-year ordeal against two girls which began when the youngest was just four years old.

Police have praised the 'great courage' of the victims of James Philips, after their evidence saw him jailed for 20 years.

Philips was sentenced after being found guilty last month of seven child sex offence charges which took place between 1997, when he was 15, and lasted until just three years ago in 2011.

The 32-year-old, from Springfield Drive in Calne, was found guilty of three counts of inciting a girl under 14 to commit an act of gross indecency, which related to victims aged between eight and 11 years old, two counts of rape of a girl under 16, one count of sexual assault of a girl between the age of four and six, and a seventh charge of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity when the victim was aged between seven and ten.

Philips was sentenced to 15 years in prison for each count of rape, to run concurrently, and five years in prison for the other offences, to be served consecutively. He was found not guilty of another three charges of indecent assault, which related to another victim.

All the offences happened in Reading between 1997 and 2011, and relate to two victims, who were praised by detectives who brought the case to court.

Det Con Lisa Flitter, from Milton Keynes CID, said: "This was an historic case which happened in the Reading area and although the offences date back to 1997, this sentence shows that Philips has not been able to escape justice.

"The victims have shown great courage in coming forward to tell police about the horrific acts that Philips carried out, and I am pleased that he has today received a strong punishment. I hope that the knowledge that Philips will be behind bars for a long time will help the victims to move on from their ordeal," she added.

A body has been recovered from the River Avon in Bath. It is believed to be the body of missing teenager Sammuel Amin.

Sammuel Amin, 18, went missing at 2am on Saturday after leaving a bar next to the River Avon in Bath.

Five people have drowned in the river since 2009 and there have been called for increased safety measures.

A spokesman for Avon & Somerset police said: "A body believed to be that of missing Bath teenager Sammuel Amin has been recovered from the River Avon in the city.

"The body has not yet been formally identified, but Sammuel's family has been informed. Police divers searching the river near the city centre made the discovery at around noon today."

All rail lines were blocked between Bristol Parkway and Gloucester after a person was hit by a train near Yate this morning.

First Great Western reported on Twitter the person died from their injuries. It also warned passengers to expect delays as services get back in place.

The incident happened at around 8am, and caused disruption on routes between Bristol Parkway and Gloucester.

Network Rail and British Transport Police were on site as passengers were advised to take alternative routes.

An app has been launched to help people identify the house spiders that scuttle indoors in autumn.

The number of spiders seen indoors increases suddenly at this time of year as the males go on the hunt for a mate, often leading them into homes where people encounter them in the bath or scurrying from under the sofa.

The Society Of Biology is launching a Spider In Da House app with photos, identification tools and information to help people identify and learn more about 12 of the most common spiders which become temporary house guests.

Professor Adam Hart, from the University of Gloucestershire, said: "By eating flies and other insects, spiders are not only providing us with a pest control service, but are important in ecosystems.

"They often feed on the most common species, preventing a few species from becoming dominant. We want to encourage people to respect and learn more about their little house guests."

Uses of the app might realise they have been lucky enough to spot the rare spitting spider, which is only seen in older houses and is rarely active in the day, and which catches its prey by firing sticky glue at it from modified poison glands to pin it down.

A more common sight is the jumping spider, often found on the walls of houses and easily recognised by its squared off head and two very large eyes, which give it the best vision of all the spiders.

The most common type of jumping spider is the zebra spider, recognisable by the distinctive black and white strips on its abdomen.

The app also helps users to identify whether spiders are male or female. Female spiders are often larger than the males.

Both species remain in webs in sheds, garages and wood piles until the autumn when the males set out on a search for a mate, which often leads them into houses.

The Spider In Da House app is available from the Apple App Store and Google Play for free.

Labour Party Shadow Defra Minister, Huw Irranca- Davies came to Gloucestershire yesterday and met up with a range of local people including those opposed to the cull from Stroud. Mr Irranca-Davies re-iterated the Labour Party's opposition to the government's badger cull policy. He also confirmed that if elected the Gloucestershire and Somerset culls would be stopped and not continued for a further two years as laid out in the current government plans.

Gloucestershire Against Badger Shooting spokesperson Nick Berry said " Whilst our campaign is not aligned to any political party we are heartened to see that the Labour party has come out and stated so publicly that the cull would not be continued locally if they were elected in May. We know that the badger cull is one of the top five things that constituents have raised with MPs in recent months and we hope that people will consider this at election time in May 2015."

A man killed in a collision between a motorbike and a car in Somerset has been named as Trevor House, from Coleford.

The 53-year-old was killed when his Suzuki bike was involved in a collision with a BMW in the early hours of last Friday morning.

Police said the collision happened at the crossroads near the water pumping station on Old Wells Road, near Leigh-on-Mendip.

The driver of the BMW was unhurt, and police appealed for witnesses to come forward.

"Investigator Amy Gilbertson, of the Collision Investigation Unit, is appealing for anyone who saw either of the vehicles prior to the collision, or the actual collision, to come forward," said a spokesman for Avon and Somerset police. "If you can help, please call the Collision Investigation Unit via 101."

There was controversy and drama at the West's biggest pie-eating contest after judges ruled the winner had drunk too much water, and ordered an extra-time 'pie-breaker' to decide who should win.

The crowds gathered at The Inn at Freshford had thought Matt Tudge, from Bradford on Avon, had won after scoffing nine pork pies in ten minutes, defeating last year's champion Robin Wells, from Frome.

But a stewards' inquiry discovered the Wiltshire man had drunk more than the one cup of water he was allowed to, and it was decided to stage a head-to-head tie-breaker contest to see who could eat a single pork pie in the quickest time. Robin scoffed his in 54 seconds and was proclaimed the winner for the second year running.

The Man vs Pie contest saw dozens of people line benches and eat as many pork pies as they could in ten minutes, watched by a huge crowd at the pub near Bath. The event was a fundraiser for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Freshford primary school.

Last year Robin won with seven, ate eight this time but was still behind Matt's, albeit illegal, nine.

"I had the serious shakes when it went to the pie-breaker," said Robin. "But I knew deep down I had the pie of tiger to clinch the Man Vs Pie trophy again.

"And despite eating one more pie than in 2013, I still managed to eat steak for my dinner," he added.

Bristol's Colston Hall trustees are calling on everyone to help raise the £45 million needed to bring the city centre venue into the 21st century.

They will be asking the government, the lottery and the Arts Council for help, as well as businesses and private donors.

And they are confident they can ensure enough support that work can get underway in 2017 – in time for the venue's 150th anniversary.

The famous old venue will be closed for up to two years while workers completely transform the inside.

The plans include completely revamping the main auditorium, adding an extra circle, new balconies along either side, new seating and better sound equipment.

The money will also be used to dramatically redevelop the Lantern, the Victorian hall at the side of the building, and the conversion of the historic cellars to host educational programmes and what the trust has described as "intimate club-type events".

Colston Hall chief executive Louise Mitchell said: "Currently it's like stepping back in time as you go from our old building to the new foyer area.

"The main auditorium hasn't been touched since 1951, and today it's time to get this show on the road and start the process of giving Bristol the concert hall it deserves.

"This place is full of potential – and it's past time that it was realised. We need everybody's help and support to make this a reality."

Bristol West MP Stephen Williams, the Liberal Democrat Minister for Communities and Local Government, said he was determined to secure the funding from Government agencies "owed" to Bristol after plans for a concert venue on the Harbourside in the 1990s fell through.

Speaking at the launch of the Thank You For The Music campaign earlier this week, he said: "Yes, £45 million is a lot of money – but we are not trying to raise it all at once. We've got a few years to do it, certainly in the run up to 2017, which is the 150th anniversary of the hall opening.

"I will try my very best to make sure the government puts some money on the table.

"I was on the committee for what was meant to be the replacement for the Colston Hall back in the mid 1990s when we thought we had secured £97 million from the Arts Council to build a new concert hall on the Harbourside, and that opportunity was taken away from us at the last minute.

"I think various agencies associated with the government have owed Bristol ever since that time and, certainly, I'm going to be doing my bit to remind people of that.

"All of us have a duty to make sure Bristol is in the premier league for every sort of walk of life, whether it's football, cricket or the arts. We must make sure that the Colston Hall is mentioned by people in that sort of premier league of facilities around the country – but if we are honest with ourselves, we must do better than what we have at the moment."

The redevelopment will also see Colston Hall add to its education programme, which currently works with around 9,000 children across the city.

The first phase of redevelopment was completed in 2009, when £20 million was spent transforming the venue's foyer and exterior – adding its now trademark golden frontage.

Trustees say the second phase of the plans will give the venue the potential to become an international-standard concert venue, and continue to attract globally-recognised names.

Bristol mayor George Ferguson said: "These are very exciting times for the performing arts in Bristol and the wider region."

A Wiltshire churchgoers whose project to conserve their ancient building was backed by the Archbishop of Canterbury have been told their bid for Heritage Lottery cash had failed.

Fundraisers at St Mary's Church in Lydiard Park, in Swindon, are now more than £200,000 short of their target to save the church.

It comes as one of the West's most famous churches – Bath Abbey – launched a fresh appeal to raise £7 million to complete its ambitious "Footprint" project to renovate and improve the ancient building – but they are already well on the way past their first million.

On Saturday, the Most Rev Justin Welby included St Mary's Church at Lydiard Park in his packed itinerary, and fundraisers had hoped to mark his visit with the announcement that they had secured the lottery funding they needed for the £1.2 million project to save the building.

They had been fundraising for a year and had raised around £160,000 but needed £370,000 to back up the lottery grant.

But the Heritage Lottery Fund said while the bid this year would be turned down, they were invited to reapply next year.

Church leaders said they would renew their efforts for a second bid.

Meanwhile in Bath, the Heritage Lottery Fund has already backed the £20 million Footprint project with a start-up grant and the pledge of a £10 million lottery fund, but Bathonians are being called on to help reach the public appeal target of another £7million.

Parishioners have already stumped up £1.1 million to get the appeal started. "It's wonderful, what a remarkable group of people," said Prebendary Edward Mason, who is leading the appeal.

"Less than six months ago, the abbey invited its members to consider the Footprint project by pledging gifts. In this short space of time, the total raised has risen to £1.1 million, an amazing response."

A woman has told of her heartbreak at not being able to hug her dying sister – because she is half a world away in Australia.

Michelle Lovell's friends in Swindon have been so touched by her plight they have started a fundraising campaign to find the money to pay for her to fly to Perth so she can see her sister Tracey one last time.

Tracey, 44, has been diagnosed with three major brain tumours – and while yesterday she underwent an operation on one, two are too deep and have been deemed inoperable.

Doctors in Western Australia have said there will come a point where there is nothing more they can do.

Back in Blunsdon, near Swindon, Tracey's big sister Mrs Lovell has been left devastated by the diagnosis, and the fact that she is not able to see her sister in person.

Mrs Lovell, who herself suffers from the debilitating condition ME, said it is heartbreaking every day to talk to her sister online.

"It's now just a waiting game, and it is heartbreaking," said Mrs Lovell, who works as a finance manager at a communications equipment company in Brinkworth, near Royal Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire.

"The doctors have told Tracey she's got 'six months-plus', but what the 'plus' is going to be, no one knows. It could be a week, a month or a year.

"She moved out to Australia eight years ago and we've met up just once since then.

"We are obviously communicating via Skype so I can see her and talk to her, but I think that's the worst thing.

"The worst thing is being so far away and not being able to give her that hug and that love.

"We were talking just last night and I'm trying not to cry and she's trying to tell me not to cry and trying not to cry herself.

"I just want to let my little sister know I'm there for her," she said.

"We were so close growing up, there's only 16 months between us and we would fight like cat and dog, but if anyone else came in we'd stick up for each other.

"It's just heartbreaking thinking she's going through this and I might not get there for her. I've obviously looked into the cost of flights, and it is just astronomical – there's no way I could afford it. I resigned myself to not seeing her, but then my friends saw how upset I was and started a fundraising campaign, which was amazing.

"Already since the web-page was set up, it's got £190, and it's come from people I don't know which is so lovely," Mrs Lovell added. "People are so wonderful."

Mrs Lovell's friends set up this web page: www.gofundme.com/ebtxr4 to raise funds for the flight to Perth to reunite the sisters.

Former Atomic Kitten pop star Natasha Hamilton has thanked Southmead Hospital after she went into suspected labour at bandmate Kerry Katona's wedding. The singer, 32, had been due to give birth on September 26. But after she experienced labour pains during her bandmate's nuptials with rugby player George Kay on Sunday night at Tortworth Court Hotel, near Wotton-under-Edge, she was rushed to the Bristol hospital. After her ordeal the pop star tweeted: "Well what an eventful 48 hours I've had! Totally exhausted & glad to be home. Thanks to all at #SouthMeadHospital who took care of us x."

Read Natasha's blog about the incident at @babycentreuk

The Government plan to control bovine tuberculosis by culling badgers amounts to "political poison", critics said after a new poll revealing the level of public dissatisfaction.

Anger over the controversial pilot culls in Gloucestershire and west Somerset has been the fifth biggest source of complaints to MPs, MORI have revealed.

Some 54 per cent of Conservative and Labour MPs surveyed identified the divisive issue as one of the major sources of letters and queries through constituency clinics.

The trials, which resumed last week, were ranked fifth in the survey, behind immigration, benefits, housing and the NHS, but ahead of issues such as pensions, child care and taxes.

Dominic Dyer, spokesman for the Badger Trust and Care for the Wild, described the culls as "political poison in Westminster" and called for a clear signal from the Opposition that it would immediately halt the culls, which are currently licensed for five years.

"The MORI poll confirms that MPs from all parties are being inundated with complaints from constituents calling for it to end," he added.

"Wildlife protection is now a key political issue in the UK and millions of voters want a clear choice on the badger cull issue at the next election."

The Badger Trust failed in its recent legal bid to stop the culls resuming, after the High Court supported the Government's assertion that independent monitoring was only intended to run in the first year.