Hottest day of the year recorded in West England

Spring started with a record-breaking day in the West of England. On Thursday, the region experienced its hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching 21 degrees Celsius. This marks the highest temperature recorded in the UK for a spring equinox since 1972. At Salisbury Cathedral, the first eggs of the season from peregrine falcons have been laid. There is excitement that these eggs might hatch just in time for Easter. The Cheltenham Festival saw lower attendance this year. The chief executive highlighted the importance of providing value for money. However, ticket prices for next year will remain unchanged. In a separate incident, the mother of Max Dixon, who was murdered at 16, is calling for a social media ban for his killer. This comes after the killer released a rap song about Max's death. In other news, a man named Gary Prince made headlines after locking himself inside a housing developer's showroom. He did this to raise awareness about the mould and damp issues affecting his family’s home in Yeovil. Stay updated with daily roundups and follow the BBC West social channels for more local news.