"A guinea pig" drugs tester for a Gloucester gang has stayed off drugs and is making excellent progress with the probation service, a court heard.

Jason Danter, who admitted testing the quality of M-Cat for Reuben Brissett one of the city's drug ring leaders, in June.

The 43-year-old was given an 18-month community order with supervision, a thinking skills programme and a drug rehabilitation requirement and appeared back before the court on Tuesday for a review of his progress.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC said probation reports on Danter of Badminton Road, Matson, confirmed he had an excellent level of attendance and good feedback with the service.

The delighted judge told him: "This is not the Jason Danter I know."

Danter replied: "I am getting older and I have seen the light."

"If you can maintain this, it will be great for you, great for Gloucester and you will be less of a burden to this court," the judge told him.

"Are you proud of yourself?," he asked.

Danter replied: "Yes I am. I am keeping away from certain people."

Brissett, 33, of London Road, was jailed for a total of six-and-a-half years for leading the conspiracy to supply MCat, as well as another separate drugs ring to supply cannabis.

He joined his brothers Rodney and Micah behind bars, who are both also serving lengthy sentences for drug offences.

Danter will be back before the court again in another month for his next review.

Disabled adrenalin junkies will soon be defying gravity when England's first four-wheeled downhill mountain bike trail opens in the Forest of Dean.

The 1km-long Launch Pad track is set to open in Cannop Valley on Friday October 31 thanks to a cash windfall from Gloucestershire Environmental Trust and the Forestry Commission.

The new trail is the brainchild of Rough Riders UK, which was formed to help disabled and able-bodied riders participate in what is becoming a growing sport across the UK.

Ian Officer, who owns cycle centre Peddleabikeaway in Cannop, said: "This is the specifically designed trail in the country.

"This really is a place for all abilities to go riding.

"We try to be as inclusive as possible and disabled people can ride alongside others in an adrenalin sport."

He added: "The Forest is one of the prime places to ride in the country and we are giving the sport the chance to grow in the area."

The four-wheeled buggies are known as gravity bikes because riders use gravity alone to propel themselves down purpose-built tracks.

Mr Officer said the sport is popular in Canada and the Alps and that Rough Riderz are determined to increase interest across the UK.

"They want to develop the sport and ultimately see it become a Paralympic event," added Mr Officer.

"The trail is also great for two-wheeled mountain bikes and allows able and disabled people to ride together, making downhill mountain biking an inclusive sport."

The Launch Pad trail was funded by a £17,500 grant from the Forestry Commission as well as a £35,000 donation from the Gloucestershire Environmental Trust through landfill contributions by Cory Environmental.

Rough Riderz is now looking for sponsors in order to hold taster days so more people can try out the sport.

Pig-fattening plans for a Churcham farm have been passed despite some residents kicking up a stink.

Forest of Dean District Council's planning committee allowed two pens for 2,000 pigs at Pigeon House Farm on Chapel Lane.

Residents had written to planners objecting to the scheme, claiming the development would be noisy, smelly, be too close to neighbouring homes and would result in the contamination of land due to stored effluent.

But their pleas fell on deaf ears yesterday as councillors passed the proposals and praised the farm's vision.

Councillor Roger Yeates (C, Oxenhall and Newent) said: "This is an application for a pig-rearing unit and I don't know where else you can put a pig-rearing unit if not on a farm. That's what farms are for or will we be having farms without livestock? This farm has done everything it possibly can to make this comfortable for pigs. They are producing British pork for British people."

Coun Philip Burford (I, Hartpury) said: "The only people that seem to be objecting are sustainability officers who think it should be built on a site that floods which is ridiculous. This is one of the most complete applications for a farm development that I have seen in a very long time."

Steven and Karin Tucker, who live in Main Road, Churcham, wrote to the council and said: "From our point of view, I would never purchase a property near a pig or chicken farm. This is from the experience of living in an area where planning permission was granted for multiple, large-scale chicken units. The smell of the chicken manure on cleaning out and spreading on local fields makes your eyes water and makes you feel sick.

"And we all know, flies and pigs go together."

The earmarked site for the development is already an established working farm of around 320 acres where calves are fattened. Around 350 cattle and 180 ewes are also kept at the holding, as well as numerous lambs which are raised to killing weight.

The pigs would come to the buildings at around eight weeks old to be kept until they reach a suitable weight for slaughter.

A design statement added: "The number of pigs will not exceed 2,000.

"The pig-rearing units will be fitted with high-velocity extraction fans as it was concluded that naturally ventilated units may be considered unacceptable upon the community."

Good news for Liverpool. Real Madrid's world record signing Gareth Bale is out of tonight's Champions League Group B match at Liverpool (7.45pm kick-off).

The 25-year-old Welsh winger injured his upper thigh muscle in last Saturday's 5-0 La Liga home win over Levante.

The Spanish giants could be holding back their prize asset for this Saturday's El Clasico match against rivals Barcelona at the Bernabeu (5pm).

Real have won both of their opening Champions League games, after triumphing 5-1 at home to Swiss side FC Basel and 2-1 away at Bulgarian fliers Ludogorets Razgrad.

Liverpool have won one of their fixtures, 2-1 at home to Ludogorets Razgrad, and lost the other one, 1-0 away at FC Basel.

With Anfield set to be rocking for the visit of 10-time winners Madrid, expect plenty of fireworks, and goals.

There will be plenty of talent on show as the two European giants hold a combined total of 15 titles between them, with Liverpool lifting the trophy five times themselves, the last time in 2005, following a penalty-shootout triumph over Italians AC Milan.

The big question is: have Real Madrid got enough back-up to cope with the absence of Bale. The answer surely has to be yes. Let's be honest, Cristiano Ronaldo is useful.

Prediction: a 3-2 away win for Madrid, continuing the defence of the title they won last year in Lisbon after beating City rivals, Atletico, 4-1.

CIVIC leaders have hit back at claims they cannot afford to defend their decision to reject a plan for more than 200 homes at an appeal next month.

Forest of Dean District Council's planning department has come under fire for the way it has handled an application to develop farmland off Allaston Road, in Lydney – which could lead to it being placed in 'special measures'.

Planners threw out the application after 1,000 people signed a petition against it and Councillor Patrick Molyneux, Conservative leader of the authority, said: "This is not about money, this is purely about the fact we would not be able to win at the appeal – our grounds are not strong enough.

"Our solicitor does have a duty of care and if they know they can't win an argument, we can't spend tens of thousands of pounds just for the sake of it."

He said this is a "complex issue" surrounding planning legislation and that planning inspectors, at recent appeals, have indicated that despite the council's arguments policy is being interpreted in favour of developers – meaning permission is likely to be given on sites that have not been 'allocated' for development by the authority.

Planners's objections are based on the density of the scheme which will compromise the quality of agriculture land and are "not strong enough to counter a presumption in favour of sustainable development if not five-year land supply can be proven."

The plan by Allaston Developments Ltd comprises 200 new homes, including 20 self-build plots, up to 37 retirement apartments, a community building and public open space with access roads, off Driffield Road, Allaston Road and Court Road.

Lydney Town Council had hoped to hold a meeting next week where senior Forest of Dean district councillors could explain the situation to the public. This has been cancelled after a number of councillors reportedly failed to confirm their attendance.

Senior dignitaries and Mark Harper, MP for the Forest of Dean, had been asked to explain the situation to residents at a meeting at Lydney Town Hall next Monday at 7pm. Despite repeated requests, Jayne Smailes, chief executive of Lydney Town Council, said no confirmation of their attendance has been received.

She said some town council members have discussed writing to a senior judge because they feel the authority's planning department has made poor decisions in relation to what are now judicial reviews.

"The letter would seek to place the authority under special measures, which means all planning applications would then be considered in the first instance by the planning inspectorate in Bristol," she said.

The authority has spent over £200,000 to defend its decision to approve Asda's plans for Cinderford against Mid Counties Co-operative.

Proposals to open a rival pharmacy in a Forest village have been rejected.

Civic leaders said plans for a new dispensing service for Yorkley have been overturned amid concerns it would threaten the future of an existing chemist in the community.

Dave Kent, clerk to West Dean Parish Council, spearheaded a campaign to block rival plans in order to protect the "hugely successful" service at Yorkley Health Centre.

He said Yorkley and Bream Practice, which runs Yorkley Health Centre and Bream Surgery, only receives enough Government funding for one of the sites and therefore heavily relies on revenue from prescription sales.

Mr Kent said: "They provide a lot of benefits to the community from the profits they make in dispensing services and that would be entirely lost if another company muscled in on the business."

The practice offers a number of services, from cervical smears and immunisations to child health clinics and blood tests.

The NHS England Pharmaceutical Services Regulations Committee (PSRC) considered the application for a second pharmacy because a need for it could not be proven.

An NHS England spokesman said: "There are several criteria under which contractors can apply to open a pharmacy, and PSRC has to consider each application under those criteria, following the guidelines relating to the regulations.

"The PSRC decided in this case that the evidence provided by the contractor did not prove the case and therefore refused the application. All applicants can appeal decisions with the Litigation Authority."

County councillor Richard Leppington (U, Blakeney and Bream) supports the NHS decision to reject the application.

He said: "Revenue raised by the practice through its pharmacy helps to fund greater accessibility and a range of services for my constituents.

"Any reduction in revenue would have had a devastating effect on the ability of the doctors to continue to provide these services."

"No sale, no trust no charity" is the message to the Government as campaigners continue their fight to keep the Forest of Dean in public hands.

A series of satirical murals have been emblazoned on homes in Coleford in response to proposed new law which campaigners fear will result in the "exploitation" of the 27,000-acre estate.

Artist Tom Cousins has created an image of the Houses of Parliament morphing into a chainsaw to reflect dissatisfaction over the Infrastructure Bill, which could result in a new management organisation of the nation's forestry estates.

Tom has created a series of six murals around the district as the Bill arrived at the House of Lords for further debate and comments yesterday.

He said: "The Infrastructure Bill looks like an administrator's chainsaw; I'm not comfortable giving the Government of any political party that kind of power."

He has just finished work on a row of three houses and is looking for more sites to publicise the danger he says faces the Forest.

The murals have appeared in support of campaign group Hands Off Our Forest (HOOF), which says the Bill, if it receives Royal Assent to become an Act, will allow any government to sell any part of the Forest, close footpaths and bye-ways and even give planning consent for development.

Jacky Smith, who owns a mural wall, said: "When I first found out about the Infrastructure Bill, I set up a petition that got nearly 30,000 signatures in a week.

"The only response from the Government was a press release claiming that I had misunderstood the purpose of the Bill – but the truth is, this Bill is about selling off the Forest to help pay the deficit."

A HOOF spokesman said: "The proposed Infrastructure bill is every bit as dangerous to the future of the Forest of Dean as the original Public Bodies bill which we forced the Government to scrap following the 'march in the snow' back in 2011.

"The high-visibility campaign by Tom Cousins is in response to the way that Mark Harper MP has avoided discussing this matter with constituents and with HOOF."

A Defra spokesman said: "There are absolutely no plans to sell off the Public Forest Estate. The Infrastructure Bill does not provide any new powers to dispose of it or build on it. The Public Forest Estate is hugely important to us all and we are committed to protecting it."

Toys R Us has pulled Breaking Bad dolls from its shelves after a petition was collected claiming toy accessories of drugs and cash went against family values.

The award-winning TV series is about a secondary school chemistry teacher who becomes a drug dealer.

The petition said that Toys R Us's sale of the toys was "a dangerous deviation from their family friendly values".

"While the show may be compelling viewing for adults, its violent content and celebration of the drug trade make this collection unsuitable to be sold alongside Barbie dolls and Disney characters," it said.

More than 9,000 people signed the petition, while a rival petition supporting the sale of the dolls drew more than 3,000 signatures.

Toys R Us had previously defended its sale of the collectible dolls.

On Monday, it said the action figures were "carried in very limited quantities in the adult action figure area" of its stores, and that the packaging "clearly notes that the items are intended for ages 15 and up".

Bryan Cranston, the actor who plays the lead character in Breaking Bad, previously joked that he was "mad" at the petition.

He tweeted on Monday: "'Florida mom petitions against Toys 'R Us over Breaking Bad action figures.' I'm so mad, I'm burning my Florida Mom action figure in protest".

Police are appealing for information following a three-vehicle crash at Highnam last night.

A Suzuki motorcycle, a Citroen C3 and an Audi A3 collided at around 5.30pm near the village hall on the B4215.

A 30-year-old man from Newent, riding the Suzuki, was taken to Southmead Hospital, in Bristol, with leg and pelvic injuries where he remains in a serious condition.

Two women, the 19-year-old driver of the Citroen and the 48-year-old Audi driver, are both thought to be local and were not injured.

A police spokesman said: "Road closures were in place until 11pm while a collision investigation took place.

"Officers are appealing for witnesses to the collision, particularly the driver of a small blue car that was turning from the entrance to Highnam Village Hall who may be unaware of the crash."

Anyone who can help should call 101 and quote incident 419 of October 21 and ask for PC Norman-St-George.

AFC Totton 3 Cinderford Town 1

Cinderford's nine-game unbeaten run is over after they were knocked out of the FA Trophy.

John Brough's men dominated the first game on Saturday but paid the price for missed chances as they drew 1-1.

Totton always held the edge in the replay after Kyle O'Brien put them ahead in the seventh minute.

Nathaniel Sherborne made it 2-0 after 65 minutes before Lorcan Sheehan pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute.

James Jennings wrapped up the victory three minutes from time.

Controversial plans to build a new petrol station in Abbeydale, which came to a halt, are to be considered by planning officers.

Last orders were called at the popular Ridge and Furrow pub last year to make way for a fuel station.

Morrisons who own the land, submitted a planning application last year, but a number of delays meant it could not be heard.

However, the supermarket giant has submitted a revised planning application to Gloucester City Council for the site.

The revised application follows feedback from the Environment Agency and as a result the plans now include overground fuel storage tanks.

Morrisons said it has also worked closely with the city council to ensure all planning matters have been addressed.

Alistair Smith, property asset manager at Morrisons, said: "Following consultation with local residents, we were encouraged by the number who said they wanted a new, convenient petrol station in Abbeydale.

"Through close consultation with the council and Environment Agency, a revised scheme has now been prepared, which we are confident is suitable for the site and our neighbours."

After 2,000 residents signed a petition to save the pub, the city council granted it as a community asset in June this year.

County councillor Andrew Gravells (C, Abbeydale) said: "Given that the city council rejected Morrisons' appeal to have the listing of The Ridge and Furrow as a Community asset thrown out, I'm surprised and disappointed to see a new planning application to demolish the pub and build a petrol filling station being submitted by Morrisons.

"While some local people want to see a filling station built on the site, the vast majority of people here in Abbeydale and Abbeymead want to see a decent and modern pub there. Abbeydale needs its own local pub, and this is by far the best site for it."

The community asset application was submitted by resident Andrea Hawkins. However, neither the building nor the lease are for sale so in this case the listing does not affect the proposed petrol station.

Andrea said: "The majority of us still want a pub. Morrisons carried out a limited survey compared to what MP Richard Graham carried out. They both showed different results. We will keep opposing this and will fight to save the pub."

Mr Graham's survey showed that 1,500 people in the area opposed the plans for a filling station. More than 2,000 people responded to the survey in January this year

OUTSTANDING food and drinks producers, retailers, businesses and individuals were honoured in 2014's Taste of Gloucestershire Food and Farming Awards ceremony last night.

The fourth annual award ceremony at Hatherley Manor Hotel celebrated farmers, producers, retailer and those pubs and restaurants we enjoy visiting so much.

Awards were handed out for categories including best farmer and young farmer of the year, business of the year, best food and drinks producer, and best eating out establishment.

TV and radio presenter Valerie Singleton OBE was joined by Rugby Union legend and former BBC Celebrity Masterchef champion Phil Vickery to hand out the awards.

The winners were:

Best independent cafe, tea room or snack bar: Central Cross Cafe

Local Food Retailer: Woefuldane Organic Dairy

Best Pub/ Bar: The Retreat

Best Eating Out Establishment: KIBOU Sushi

Young Farmer of the Year: Lizzie Dyer

Farmer of the Year: Simon and Sarah Righton

Best Drinks Producer: Gloucester Brewery

Best Food Producer: Kitchen Garden Foods

Chef of the Year: David Kelman

Lifetime Achievement Award: Rob Rees MBE

Business of the Year: Simon Weaver Organic

Winners of the awards were delighted with the recognition they received.

Susannah Moffatt, owner of Central Cross Cafe in Cheltenham, said: "We're just overwhelmed to have won this award for the second time. I think central to our success is our staff and the quality of food we provide.

"Events like these reiterate how vital it is to have local cafes and produce in Gloucestershire."

Emma Graverny, owner of KIBOU Sushi, said: "A great deal of hard work has gone in to winning this award. Teamwork is the main reason we have won this, because staff are our most important asset."

Rob Rees MBE, known as the Cotswold Chef, was given the lifetime achievement award for his services to food in Gloucestershire.

He was honoured for his services to the food industry in 2005 and is now the director of The Wiggly Worm charity, which aims to ensure that no child goes hungry in Gloucestershire.

Mr Rees said: "I've still got a few more years in me but it's lovely to be recognised by the local food industry.

"I'm a bit embarrassed to get the award because I have a great team of volunteers at the charity.

"We have something special here in Gloucestershire, and awards like these are great for someone like Lizzie Dyer who won Young Farmer of the Year because it kickstarts what she wants to do in her career." 

Doctors in Liberia are within weeks of having a treatment available to fight the deadly Ebola disease, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Serum made from the blood of recovered Ebola patients could soon be available soon in one of the countries worst hit by the virus.

Antibodies in the patients' blood which can fight off the virus can be taken out in a blood sample and used to treat other patients.

Work is also advancing to get drugs and a vaccine to Ebola ready for January 2015, according to WHO's assistant director general for health system and innovation Dr Marie Paule Kieny.

The Ebola outbreak has already killed over 4,500 people and Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have been the worst affected countries. 

A woman who was injured in a car crash near the Go Outdoors store in Gloucester city centre on Monday has died in hospital. 

The crash involving a Mercedes and a mini happened in Trier Way on Monday and a 57-year-old woman was taken by ambulance to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital with life threatening injuries.

The woman, who was driving the Mercedes, died yesterday afternoon. Gloucestershire Police believe her death was caused by a medical episode and not the collision.

A 60-year-old woman, who was driving the mini, was also taken to the same hospital with minor injuries as a precaution on Monday. She has now been discharged.

Trier Way was closed for three hours after the crash at 1:40pm on Monday. 

Long tailbacks were reported the fire brigade cut the roof from one of the cars. 

The police investigation has now ended. 

Eco-farmers must work to convince planners of a need to live on Forest land which has been at the centre of an ownership dispute for more than two years.

Forest of Dean District Council deferred its decision on proposals to build 15 low-impact dwellings at Yorkley Court Farm due to a lack of information over income, expenditure and sanitation.

Residents, who are applying for retrospective permission to live on the 30-acre site, told the council that "farming which is not oil-dependent requires more attention and labour, which means sustainable farmers must dwell on the land they cultivate."

Frank White, a spokesman for the group, said: "We believe there is a need for farms that produce healthy food without harming the environment or jeopardising the future of our children; a new generation of farmers which are going back to the land using agro-ecological practices.

"By sharing responsibilities and resources, we reduce our ecological impact and create a healthy and supportive environment; creating a project with subsistence at its core requires us to live on the land. We have low incomes because we live to a high degree of self-sufficiency. Communal living is more resourceful and economical."

The community currently lives in huts, tents and yurts, grows as much of its own food as possible, collects and chops fire wood and pass knowledge of low-impact living and working to school pupils in the area.

West Dean Parish Council supports the plans and a spokesman said: "Schemes of this nature are developing in other counties and are well-established. The people of Yorkley Court Farm are a committed group of intelligent, well-qualified folk who have the enthusiasm and skills to make it work."

A number of supporters and Yorkley residents packed the public gallery of the council chamber and at the start of the planning committee debate. Councillor Gethyn Davies (C, Tidenham), claimed he had been threatened and said before leaving: "I do not feel safe sat here, have we got security on premises."

Coun Philip Burford (I, Hartpury) said the planning application has a number of deficiencies which, in many cases, would warrant refusal.

"I can understand why we don't publicise details of the business case but we have got 30 acres which is expected to support 15 people, Mr Burford said. "I think it is reasonable, as members, that we ask what the income is and where it is coming from because it is not in the report and it's material to the decision."

Senior planning officer Stephen Colegate said the change of use application for five years is for 15 structures for 15 people, contained within one residential unit. He said a letter had been received from an opposition solicitor which stated "this group is illegally squatting on land without the owner's permission who is involved in obtaining a possession order."

The current residents have been on the site for two-and-a-half years, claim they have the best claim to it and that attempts made by bailiffs to turf them off earlier this year were illegal.

Mr White said after the hearing: "We asked for a deferral so we are happy to work with the planning committee, the planning office and we are happy to provide more information to make it easier for them to make a decision."