A RISE in the number of armed police responding to incidents does not mean the county is less safe, police have said.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that in 2010 there were 88 incidents officers attended with firearms, then 271 in 2011 and 406 in 2012. So far this year, there have been 136 incidents.

But police say the decision to send armed officers to an incident is never taken lightly.

They also stress that the presence of their officers with firearms will help to prevent some incidents becoming more serious.

Assistant Chief Constable Richard Berry said: "Crime continues to fall in the county but it is important that the constabulary is prepared to respond effectively to potentially dangerous situations so that the public are kept safe and our officers are protected.

"On the vast majority of occasions where our armed officers have attended an incident, their presence alone has diffused or calmed the situation and occasions where a firearm is discharged are rare.

"The decision to discharge a firearm or Taser is never one that is made lightly. Our officers are trained to decide on what the appropriate and reasonable force is for the specific circumstances and to ensure that the level of force used is the minimum necessary."

So what does the law say about when officers can be armed? They can only do so when authorised by the Chief Officer. Individual officers do not need licences as long as they are trained and authorised. This is also set out in the Association of Chief Police Officers' manual of guidance on armed officers.

Gloucestershire police currently have around 100 officers who have passed a course to prepare them to carry and use firearms.

The county force's policy is to only deploy armed officers if officers feel they have to protect themselves or others from someone who has, or has access to, a potentially lethal weapon. They can also be deployed in response to a specific threat or to destroy animals that are dangerous or suffering unnecessarily.

BRIGHT colours filled Gloucester Park as the carnival got under way. Pensioners to babies donned everything from dresses made of Citizens to can pull head gear to embrace the green theme.

It was an event filled with laughter, music and cheer. Who could have thought hours later and a man would be killed nearby.

People have voiced their shock and sadness at this brutal death – somehow the fact it happening so close to where so much happiness was felt hours before makes it all the more hard to take.

What we need to do now is – as well as keeping this man's loved ones in our thoughts – is to concentrate on ensuring the police have all the help and support they need for this investigation and that means anyone with information must come forward. Call police on 101.

THANKFULLY there was no Anneka Rice-style jumpsuit required to take part in Gloucester's very own art treasure hunt.

This writer joined many other eager culture vultures searching for pieces of free art which had been dropped off in the city.

And the Culture Bomb was a great success. It not only encouraged people of all ages to get into art but had them out and about exploring the nooks and crannies of their city looking for the pieces.

The organisers should be rightly proud of such an unusual event and let's hope we see more projects like this in the future.

TELLING lads' mags to cover up is a difficult one, as what are they are showing on the front is similar to what children see on the beach when they go on holiday. But is it right that they are confronted with these images when they are picking up your comic and sweets at the corner shop? It will be interesting to see if other retailers follow suit.

THE way people drink, and go out drinking, has changed considerably in recent years.

In the past, people would head off to pubs and spend their money on booze, then go to a club to continue drinking into the early hours.

Then, as now, a substantial police presence was needed to keep people safe, and to deal with the unfortunate consequences of drinking, such as violence and vandalism.

And taxpayers – the vast majority of who would not be boozed-up or fighting – would rightly ask why they foot the policing bill when they are not profiting from the drinking, being arrested, or in hospital for drink-related injuries.

Now, in an attempt to reduce the impact of policing the night-time economy on taxpayers, a consultation is under way on whether premises which serve booze after midnight should pay a levy.

Sounds fair enough, but is the levy a few years out of date?

As Gary Paterson, the owner of G's Bar in Bath Road, Cheltenham, says today, there is a risk the new levy is unfair on smaller bars – and fails to reflect changing times.

Faced with higher costs of alcohol in bars, clubs and pubs, many people will 'pre-load' – drinking at home on cheaper supermarket-bought booze before heading off into town.

And if it all kicks-off, the nearest club or pub often gets the blame.

Clearly, those who benefit from night-time drinking should take some responsibility for the cost of policing at night.

But any new taxation should be seen as fair and proportionate if it is to be supported.

We hope the consultation is a real consultation, that Gary's views – and the 800 people who signed his petition – are listened to.

No taxation without representation was old battle cry in the American colonies in the 18th century.

And that message is just as applicable over a night-time levy in Cheltenham in the 21st century.

THE Citizens' Advice Bureau is a trusted name and has helped thousands of people suffering with debts, legal issues and benefit problems in Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Cirencester.

We hope in its absence, people will seek help at County Community Projects, rather than let their problems spiral further out of control.

HOPES are high that a new generation of a rare breed will be born soon at a Gloucestershire wildlife attraction.

Staff at Birdland in Bourton-on-the-Water hope to see their first grey peacock pheasant chicks born for three years.

It follows a female having laid her first eggs since arriving at the site in 2010.

But because her mate has broken other female eggs in the past, hers have been moved to the safety of an incubation area.

They will remain there until the chicks hatch, in about three weeks' time.

Head keeper Alistair Keen said he and other staff were keeping their fingers crossed that all would go well and the young birds would be born soon.

He said: "The male has broken eggs in the past so, for safety's sake, we've taken them away and will incubate them. Then we will hand rear them ourselves."

He said the signs that the eggs were fertile were good as lights shone upon them had revealed tiny blood vessels and this should lead on to full embryos being formed.

If the chicks are born, members of the public will be able to see them in about four to five weeks' time.

Shortly after, they will be moved to other zoos in the country as part of a breeding project.

Alistair said: "That's because they're not particularly common in this country. They originate from south east Asia – parts of China and Vietnam."

He said staff at Birdland and its supporters were excited at the development, even if the chicks were unlikely to attract as much attention from the public as the site's penguins and flamingos.

He said: "They should still be popular as people like seeing young fluffy chicks."

Although the young grey peacock pheasants will not go on public view until late August or early September, Alistair said people could stay in touch with their development by reading updates on Birdland's website, wwwbirdland.co.uk.

"I will be putting regular updates on there," he said.

Birdland workers have been kept busy in recent weeks trying to keep their penguins cool in the hot weather.

They were given their very own miniature shower and large blocks of ice to stand on.

CLASS A drugs were found when police raided the All Nations Community Centre on Friday.

Several people were detained and searched by officers during the raid, which took place shortly after 10pm.

More than 40 officers were involved in the operation at the Chase Lane venue.

They searched people at the club, as well as several vehicles in the car park, after receiving intelligence that drugs might be found there.

Police said they found drug-related paraphernalia, as well as a small quantity of class A drugs.

Chief Inspector Richard Burge said: "This opportunity reflects all the intelligence we have received over a long period of time in and around this area.

"The idea of the warrant on Friday night was to act on the intelligence we received.

"The operation was not just about the drugs that we found on the night but who was involved.

"We will continue on all the work that is being done on the streets in Gloucester."

A further 72 officers attended the scene after the initial raid, and drugs dog Holly was called to search vehicles.

The dog identified a small quantity of drugs hidden in a car on the premises.

Mr Burge added: "No arrests have been made but there was a small amount of drugs which is believed to have been class A."

A total of 120 officers were involved in Friday night's operation, all of whom took part in a rehearsal at a secret location just hours before the raid itself.

The All Nations Community Centre is popular with Afro-Caribbean residents and usually has around 50 to 60 visitors at the weekend.

However on Friday, it closed its doors voluntarily.

All officers were briefed by Superintendent Emma Ackland, who led the operation.

She said: "This operation was a success. The warrant was carried out in relation to drug dealing and evidence relating to this was recovered. I would personally like to thank the members of the club and the local community for their cooperation.

"We will continue to respond to this in a robust manner and if anyone would like to talk to our officers, please call us on 101 or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Mr Burge added: "We will continue our investigations into this.

"We do urge anyone with information to get in contact with us."

NOISY neighbour Deborah Cove claimed she was the subject of a "witch hunt" after being slapped with an Asbo.

The mum-of-three, from Leckhampton, said she was too afraid to turn on her television for fear of riling the authorities.

And she admitted she'd had enough trying to make peace with her angry neighbours, who she felt had "plotted" to drive her from her home, in Fairhaven Road, ever she since moved in two years ago.

Ms Cove is now serving a five-year interim Asbo and a court hearing will take place in a year to decide whether a full Asbo must be granted.

"It's affecting me badly," said Ms Cove, who previously lived in Charlton Kings and Swindon Village for 22 years without a complaint.

"I feel like I have been bullied and victimised ever since day one."

Ms Cove's case was brought to the attention of Cheltenham Borough Council's environmental health team after a clandestine investigation by police.

Her home had been investigated since September 2012 following complaints of loud music and anti-social behaviour.

Her Asbo prevents her from abusing or using foul language towards neighbours or people in her street or people acting in an official capacity.

"I just want to get out of here," added Ms Cove. "I don't care where I move to, I just want to leave this place.

"I have had properties for 30 years and not once did I have a complaint before I moved here.

"I try to keep myself to myself. But now I am afraid to make any noise at all."

During police investigations, Ms Cove's address had been bugged from outside to measure noise pollution.

But Ms Cove claimed it had gone too far.

"It's an invasion of my privacy," she said.

"I have never had an Asbo or a conviction. I feel I have been treated like a scapegoat.

"I feel intimidated."

Her case was brought before Cheltenham Magistrates' Court on July 12.

As part of an 'acceptable behaviour contract', Ms Cove was asked to reduce levels of noise, the court heard.

But, following further disturbances, it was decided an Asbo was the only way forward.

Yvonne Hope, the council's head of public protection, said: "I hope that this now means that the households affected can live without the disturbance they have been suffering for so long.

"This outcome should act as a warning to others that anti-social behaviour is not acceptable and working with our partner organisations, such as the police, action will be taken where necessary."

Magistrates said her Asbo was "just".

JAMAICAN national Roderick Weir used his cousin's details to get a UK passport, Gloucester Crown Court heard.

The illegal immigrant will face deportation after he finishes his 12-month jail term for making an untrue representation to get a passport.

Prosecutor Julian Kesner said he used all of his cousin Norman Moore's information to gain the document, but a photograph of himself.

The 45-year-old came to England in 2006 to be with his girlfriend and child on a six-month visa, but he failed to leave.

The court heard the couple had another child together while Weir was living in the UK.

He had been working as a labourer, earning cash in hand, after not being able to gain employment or benefits legally to support the family.

In court, his defence lawyer said: "In 2006 he decided to get hold of a passport in case he wanted to travel.

"But there is no suggestion he needed it for a bank account or to get a job, in fact it was never used at all.

"He has been honest about earning cash in hand.

"He needs to survive and support his family with whatever he can.

"He fully cooperated with police and even showed them where they could find the passport."

Judge Jamie Tabor QC told Weir of Deans Way, Kingsholm, it was a very serious offence.

He said: "There are a number of reasons there has to be trust that passport exhibits are genuine.

"There is a long queue of people wanting to come into this country who are legitimate and people who have false passports undermine confidence in the system."

Jailing him for 12 months, Judge Tabor said: "There has to be a deterrent here and others must be deterred from having passports of this nature."

The court heard a Mr Holder, who signed the picture to confirm it was Weir during the passport application process, was still wanted by police.

But Gloucestershire police were unable to provide further details about him.

A FANTASY football league is being organised to raise funds for Cooper's Edge FC.

It is open to anyone and bosses are appealing for people to get involved.

Entry is £5 and the winner will get 50 per cent of the pot.

Runner up will get 25 per cent and third place 10 per cent.

Last place will get a mystery booby prize.

The club will keep the remaining 15 per cent to invest in its activities.

It has been going for just over a year and has two men's sides, a veterans' team, ladies' team and kids' training.

Club treasurer James Scott said: "It's a great opportunity to have some banter with your friends and neighbours, win some great prizes and raise some money for your local football club at the same time."

Sign up at www.fantasy.premier league.com and join the Cooper's Edge league with code 6347-16669.

Then email your name and team name to James at Zimpaz@gmail.com.

A PETITION urging council chiefs to reconsider plans to introduce a late night levy in Cheltenham now has more than 800 signatures.

G's Bar in Bath Road, owned by Gary Paterson, is one of a number of businesses that believe the proposed tax needs to change to make it fairer.

The levy would see all premises which stay open past midnight serving alcohol having to dip into their pockets to pay for the cost of policing the night time economy.

But because of the way the Bill is worked out, based on the rateable value of a premises in a similar way to how business rates are calculated, some smaller bars could end up paying the same amount as large night clubs.

G's is one such smaller bar and Mr Paterson believes the levy should take into account footfall and income to avoid certain businesses being unfairly penalised. He also believes the council needs to take into account the impact supermarkets have on the night time economy through "pre-loading" – people drinking alcohol at home before going out.

Mr Paterson said: "The councillors are massively, unequivocally out of touch. How are they in touch with young people who are going out drinking?"

"A lot of the public don't even know what the levy is but everyone says it is unfair and they ask why bars should have to pay the same amount as clubs?

"There are so many factors that the borough council has not taken into account.

"So, for example, mini bars in hotels, are they going to be locked after midnight?

"Councillors don't understand how people drink nowadays. Things have changed massively in the last 10 years with people drinking before they go out, pre-loading, but supermarkets will get away scot free under the levy."

The money collected by the levy would be split between Cheltenham Borough Council and Gloucestershire police.

A period of consultation with the council asking businesses what they think of the tax will finish on August 26.

The borough council has stressed that it cannot change how the levy works because it is set out in law by the Government.

The authority said it is considering "the overall benefits" the levy would bring while balancing that with the potential impact on the night time economy.

Councillors in Gloucester rejected similar plans for the city in June.

OPINION, P8

THERE has been a sharp rise in the number of Gloucestershire incidents attended by armed police officers (from 88 in 2010 to 406 in 2012). The figures were released by the county's police under the Freedom of Information Act. But should we alarmed by them or not? Robin Jenkins reports.

THE decision to send armed officers to an incident will never be taken lightly.

So say Gloucestershire police, who also stress that the presence of their officers with firearms will help to prevent some incidents becoming more serious.

But what does the law say about when officers can be armed?

They can only do so when authorised by the Chief Officer. Under the Firearms Act, individual officers do not need licences as long as they are trained and authorised. This is also set out in the Association of Chief Police Officers' manual of guidance on the management, command and deployment of armed officers.

The county police has around 100 officers who have passed a course to prepare them to carry and use firearms.

It's policy is to only deploy armed officers if officers feel they have to protect themselves or others from someone who has, or has access to, a potentially lethal weapon. They can also be deployed if someone is considered so dangerous that the use of armed offices is considered to be appropriate.

Two other reasons can see armed officers being deployed. One is for an operation in response to a specific threat and the other is to destroy animals that are dangerous or suffering unnecessarily.

And despite a massive rise in the number of times the police have gone out to events carrying conventional guns or the Taser electric stun weapon, the county remains a safe place to live in. That is the message from the force's bosses.

Assistant chief constable Richard Berry said: "Crime continues to fall in the county but it is important that the constabulary are prepared to respond effectively to potentially dangerous situations so that the public are kept safe and our officers are protected.

"On the vast majority of occasions where our armed officers have attended an incident, their presence alone has diffused or calmed the situation and occasions where a firearm is discharged are rare.

"The decision to discharge a firearm or Taser is never one that is made lightly. Our officers are trained to decide on what the appropriate and reasonable force is for the specific circumstances and to ensure that the level of force used is the minimum necessary."

A PROCESSION bursting with colour poured out of Gloucester Park and through the city streets during this weekend's carnival.

The 77th annual Gloucester Carnival kicked off with energetic performances from the likes of the Ambitions dance group, Glo Active and Cheer Supreme Allstars.

The Ambitions dancers showed off their green credentials, in line with the event's eco-friendly theme, by wearing costumes made from recycling materials, including crisp packets and can clips.

The Glo Active Street Beat dance group also emphasised the message of caring for their environment with their performance. A panel of judges, including The Citizen's editor Jenny Eastwood and Mr Gloucester Yaseen Jaffer, judged the best floats and performances.

Anna Smith, of Stroud, was cheering on her granddaughter Eryn, eight.

She said: "I was there supporting my granddaughter and the rest of the Ambitions group. They were absolutely fantastic. Their costumes looked great."

After the dance performances, all the floats headed off for a parade around the city, heading along Park Road towards Trier Way and on to Eastgate Street and Westgate Street, finishing off in Lower Quay Street, with a crowd of thousands lining the route.

Amelia O'Loughlin, 13, one of the Ambitions dancers, said: "It was a great day. It was quite hard to make the outfit and took a while to collect all the materials. I have used a lot of crisp packets on my skirt. The other groups performed really well too."

Megan Darkes, 13, another dancer, said: "I really enjoyed dancing in front of everyone. I have been dancing for about three and half years so I was a little nervous but I am sort of used to it now."

RICHARD Graham, Gloucester's Conservative MP, has defended the city after a parliamentary hopeful in Cheltenham said the town was an "infinitely superior" place to live.

Alex Chalk, the Tory prospective parliamentary candidate for Cheltenham, made the comment at a public meeting held in Warden Hill on Saturday evening.

Mr Chalk said that Gloucester is a city "on the march" thanks to "very energetic leadership" before adding Cheltenham is currently "punching below its weight".

Mr Graham tweeted in response: "Truth is top quality cities like Gloucester with 3Choirs, Carnival & W Cup Rugby don't need to talk about superiority."

What's your favourite Gloucestershire day out?

A picnic at Beechenhurst in the Forest of Dean with family and friends.

And your favourite place to eat out in the county?

The Thai Emerald in Cheltenham. Lovely food, great staff, and wonderful surroundings.

What's the worst job you've ever had?

I have been very lucky with every job I've ever done so there's no worst job for me.

Have you got any unusual habits?

My daughter would tell you I snore... I don't believe her though.

Who is your hero and why?

I haven't really got any heroes as such! When I was in my early teens my favourite heroes were Starsky and Hutch!

What book are you reading at the moment or tell us your favourite?

The one that sticks in my mind was all about life on the canals in and around Birmingham years ago. Life for these people then was dangerous and hard and they worked tirelessly to scrape a living.

What was the last film you watched?

It was Les Miserables – I ended up a crumpled tearful mess.

First single/record you ever bought?

My first single was bought at a little record shop in Coleford when I was about eight – it was Sherry Baby.

Facebook or Twitter?

I think I am addicted to Facebook! I check in at least a couple of times a day.

A HAIR straighteners heist ended in a tug-of-war between drug addict robbers and staff at a beauty supplier.

Cerise Theyer and dad-of-six Jamie Lake attempted to steal three sets of hair straighteners worth £300 from Sally Salon Services in Honeybourne Way, Cheltenham.

But their plan was foiled by quick-witted staff who tried to lock them in a cupboard, before the tussle broke out.

The pair were jailed after pleading guilty at Gloucester Crown Court to the robbery on May 18.

Prosecutor David Maunder described the robbery as a "hair straighteners heist".

He said Shirley Vaughan suffered some sort of blow during the tug-of-war, though it was not known who may have hit her.

Lake, known as Yankie, of Princess Elizabeth Way, also admitted possession of crack cocaine with intent to supply on November 21, 2012.

Mr Maunder said the 27-year-old was stopped on the street acting suspiciously before a strip search at Cheltenham Police Station uncovered around £200 of the drug in plastic wraps between his buttocks.

He also had £210 in his sock and two mobile phones.

He told the court: "Both phones had text messages making reference to drug dealing – some complaining of having been ripped off and relations complaining about him selling drugs, as well as requests."

In mitigation, Joe Maloney said Theyer, of Grove Street, Lansdown, wanted a prison sentence, rather than a community based drug rehabilitation order, as she had made progress coming off drugs since being in custody.

Mr Maloney said that Theyer felt being back in the community at this time would be "setting her up for a fall".

The 26-year-old was jailed for nine months and ordered to pay a £100 victim surcharge.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC described the robbery as a "horrible attack".

He told her: "I think you are an intelligent young woman who knows you are going to die early and have a very miserable life, because that is what heroin does."

Lake was jailed for three-and-a-half years and ordered to pay a £120 victim surcharge.

He added to Lake: "You know very well the example you are setting to your six children could not be worse.

"There are six children going around Gloucestershire saying my dad's a druggie – not a great start in life for them."

YOUNGSTERS in Tewkesbury got to create their own image of a comedy-horror movie character.

The town's library staged a session for children to make face masks on the theme of the film Frankenweenie – Tim Burton's latest offering, made using black and white stop-frame animation to look like a 1950s B movie.

The craft session followed children watching the film first. That was thanks to the Sun Street-based library working in partnership with The Roses theatre, next door.

The link-up between the two helped the county council put on one of a series of summer holiday activities for children in Gloucestershire.

RUGBY player Charlie Sharples made a special appearance in Gloucester to officially open a new charity shop.

Footsteps Counselling and Care has just opened its new charity shop in Westgate Street.

The charity offers help to families, who have suffered pregnancy-related problems like postnatal depression and issues around adoption.

Counsellor Katherine Goatley said: "The shop will sell anything that has been donated with all proceeds going to the counselling service which is offered in the rooms upstairs.

"We have completely refurbished the derelict building."

LADS' mags have been told to 'cover up or else' by The Co-operative.

It says photographs of scantily clad woman on the covers of Front, Loaded, Nuts and Zoo are "overtly sexual" and harmful to children.

The supermarket chain has given publishers of the four titles until September 9 to put them in modesty bags – or they will pull them from their shelves altogether.

The company has 4,000 stores, including at least 10 in Gloucester.

Its shops have already introduced opaque screens on shelves to shield the magazines from sight.

Longlevens dad-of-three Dave Jasper, 45, said: "It's a good idea as it prevents young people being exposed to that sort of thing.

"You don't want children to become accustomed to these images which I totally agree are overtly sexual."

Gloucester mum-of-four Patricia Blake, 38, said: "I don't have a problem with the magazines.

"You can see women in two-pieces at the beach and I don't think it's harmful for children."

Longlevens hairdresser Lisa Gregory, 45, disagreed and said her two children had said they do not like seeing the images.

The mum-of-two said: "If you choose to look at it then fine but children don't have a choice in a shop if it is right there in their face."

Account manager Mike Philpot, 19, from Longlevens, said: "If people don't want to look at them they don't have to.

"The images can be sexual but you see that kind of thing on the telly and in newspapers."

The Sport newspaper has already agreed to put a modesty bag on all editions sent to Co-operative stores from September 9, following pressure from the retailer.

Chief executive of retail for The Co-operative Group, Steve Murrells said: "As a community-based retailer we have listened to the concerns of our customers and members, many of whom say they object to their children being able to see overt sexual images in our stores.

"Whilst we have tried to mitigate the likelihood of young children seeing the images with a number of measures in-store, the most effective way of doing this is for these magazines to be put in individual, sealed modesty bags."

The Co-operative's decision comes after the Bailey review recommended publications with overtly sexual images on the cover be displayed in modesty bags.

Minister for Women and Equalities Jo Swinson MP said: "Exposing children to lewd pictures that portray women as sex objects is not appropriate. Adults should be left to make their own decisions about what legal sexual images they look at, but the place for these is not next to the sweets at children's eye-level. I hope other retailers will follow The Co-operative's lead."

FIVE people have been arrested after a man died in a 'brutal' stabbing.

The 50-year-old man was attacked just before 8pm on Saturday.

He was rushed to hospital with two stab wounds, but later died.

Police said they believe more people could be involved and are appealing for witnesses to the incident in Gloucester Park.

It came just hours after the popular spot was packed with visitors.

Acting DI Gavin Webb said that they believed the man had either been followed by his assailants or had been walking with them before the attack.

He said: "Our information suggests the victim, a white 50-year-old male in dark clothing, was walking through the park.

"He was followed or accompanied by the people we believe are involved in the attack.

"He was stabbed at least twice with a bladed article, probably a knife.

"There is nothing to suggest a mugging and there are still plenty of lines of inquiry we need to cover."

And Acting DI Webb insisted that residents in Gloucestershire did not need to fear for their own safety following the incident.

He added: "Murders are thankfully rare in the county, especially ones as brutal as this, and we want to keep it that way." Police were scouring the area for evidence and looking at CCTV of the scene last night as they continued in their hunt for clues.

Hours before the stabbing, Gloucester Park was packed with families enjoying the city's annual carnival and a fun fair.

Cancelled

More festivities were due to take place in the park yesterday, but they had to be cancelled as the park remained closed to the public. It is expected to reopen today.

Chief Inspector Richard Burge said: "We don't know what the motive was.

"We are very much keeping an open mind.

"But we have no reason to believe it was connected to the carnival or those attending it.

"We will be pulling out all the stops to ensure those people responsible will be caught and brought to justice."

Two forensic tents were in placed in nearby Park End Road throughout yesterday.

One resident, of nearby Chilingworth Mews, who did not want to be named, said he could not believe it had happened.

He added: "I am utterly shocked about this incident, especially when there is the fair going on at the moment."

Another passer-by said: "When you think that 8pm is not even that late, it is still light in these summer days.

"I am shocked and this is very sad."

LACK of funding will force Citizens Advice Bureau to close in Cheltenham.

It comes after it lost a key contract with the borough council to provide support and advice to the town.

A letter sent to staff and volunteers by Richard Busby, the chairman of Cheltenham, Cirencester and Tewkesbury CAB's board of trustees, said the organisation would close the branch. It means that clients looking for help would have to go to Gloucester or Stroud.

The bureau lost a contract with Cheltenham Borough Council to provide housing, benefit and financial advice in 2011 and the charity has been operating at a loss ever since.

Figures released in May revealed the number of people using the service across the three districts had risen by 60 per cent from 3,428 in 2009/10 to 5,484 in 2012/13.

The borough council has been providing the charity with interim funding worth £30,000 a year, but that cash will stop from next April.

As a result face-to-face services at the CAB's hub in St James's Square will stop while drop-in services in Tewkesbury and Cirencester will be transferred to other providers.

In the letter, Mr Busby said: "The interim funding from CBC did enable us to keep going but only by using our reserves to help to finance the operation.

"Now that interim funding is to be stopped we do not have adequate financial resources and also it would be wrong in principle to cross-subsidise operations from Tewkesbury or Cirencester.

"In consequence the Trustees decided that their only course of action was to close down the organisation and transfer our contracts with Tewkesbury and Cotswold plus other services to other local CABs such as Gloucester, Stroud or West Oxfordshire.

"Services in Cheltenham will be subject to an orderly reduction with the aim of ending face-to-face services at St James' Square."

The trustees said they regretted taking the decision.

County Community Projects (CCP) won the right to run the advice service in Cheltenham.

When CAB missed out, the borough council agreed to give £30,000 a year for two years to help the charity adjust.

It also offered CAB a council-owned retail premises rent-free but the charity felt unable to make the move without additional financial support, according to the authority.

Councillor Peter Jeffries (LD, Springbank), cabinet member for housing and safety, said: "We are disappointed that CAB has taken the decision to turn down our offer of rent-free accommodation.

"Cabinet members and officers have spent many months working with CAB to try and find solutions that would sustain their services in the town.

"The offer of rent-free premises was quite generous, considering we are now funding another organisation to provide these advice services in Cheltenham."

CCP deliver the council's advice service from Cheltenham First Stop in the High Street.

OPINION, P8

POLICE have not ruled out more arrests after a man died in a 'brutal' stabbing near Gloucester Park.

The 50-year-old local man was attacked in Park End Road after walking through the park just before 8pm on Saturday.

He was rushed to hospital with two stab wounds, but later died.

Four men and a woman, all from Gloucester, have been arrested on suspicion of murder, but police believe more people may have been involved.

Acting DI Gavin Webb said: "Our information suggests the victim, a white 50-year-old male in dark clothing, was walking through the park.

"He was followed or accompanied by the people we believe are involved in the attack.

"He was stabbed at least twice with a bladed article, probably a knife.

"There is nothing to suggest a mugging and there are still plenty of lines of inquiry we need to cover.

"Murders are thankfully rare in the county, especially ones as brutal as this, and we want to keep it that way."

Hours before the stabbing, Gloucester Park was packed with families enjoying the city's annual carnival and a fun fair.

More festivities were due to take place in the park yesterday, but they had to be cancelled as the park remained closed to the public. It is expected to reopen today.

Chief Inspector Richard Burge said: "We don't know what the motive was. We are very much keeping an open mind. But we have no reason to believe it was connected to the carnival or those attending it. We will be pulling out all the stops to ensure those people responsible will be caught and brought to justice."

Park End Road was closed throughout yesterday, and two forensic tents were put up by police.

One resident of nearby Chillingworth Mews, who did not want to be named, said: "I am utterly shocked about this incident, especially when there is the fair going on at the moment."

Another passer-by, from Tuffley, said: "8pm is not even that late, it is still light in these summer days. I am shocked and this is very sad."