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In pictures: US bomber returns and Marmalade Awards winner

The aeroplane is silhouetted in the sky against a stunning orangy-yellow sunset with the tops of a line of trees at the bottom of the picture and the sun disappearing on the horizonLee Hathaway

An American B-1B Lancer arrived back at RAF Fairford from the Middle East

Large US bombers continue to land at a UK military base that is being used by the United States Air Force (USAF) to launch operations against Iran.

RAF Fairford has seen dozens of planes deployed to the Middle East since the US, alongside Israel, began a war against Iran.

Meanwhile, a heroic pensioner from Cheltenham has been memorialised in a giant mural.

And a man from Somerset beat thousands of competitors to claim the top prize at the 2026 International Marmalade Awards.

Here's a round-up of pictures from across the region.

Somerset

An older man in a very smart brown tweed three-piece suit holding up a jar of marmalade and smiling broadly to the camera. He is in a grand room, like in a manor house, and there is a table behind with dozens of marmalade jars laid on it and two elegant lamps casting a yellow glow over themHermione McCosh

Jam-packed: David Hinkins, from Somerset, was delighted that his Seville orange and passionfruit marmalade was voted the best variety at the 2026 International Marmalade Awards in the Lake District.

His jar was chosen from 3,400 others who entered from around the world.

A huge site with rubbish strewn all across it. There's a bath in the foreground, lots of large planks of wood and card and a pile of bricks in the background in front of a Premier Inn building. The sky is blueGlastonbury Gabriel

Eyesore: About 40 volunteers in Glastonbury have cleared a huge pile of fly-tipped rubbish in the town.

Mummified rats, bank cards and a bath-tub were some of the items found at the site of a disused car park near to the A39 and Red Brick Building.

Four visitors and a male guide stand in a cave which is brightly lit with a purple hue. The man is gesticulating with his left hand and is wearing a green jumper and a lanyard. The path weaves away into the back of the cave with yellow lowlights lighting the wayWookey Hole Caves

Heritage experience: Visitors to Wookey Hole Caves have been enjoying illuminated chambers below the Mendip Hills led by specialist heritage guides during the Wookey Uncovered experience.

An old-fashioned white fingerpost on a village green in a chocolate box-type village with a red telephone box and bench next to a war memorial and a couple of stone houses in the background. Places on the fingerpost include Weston-super-Mare and Blagdon

Travellers' guide: It was 90 years ago that an engineering firm in Wells came up with a standardised fingerpost design for Somerset County Council. Hundreds were made over the next 30 years, and Somerset is one of the few counties in England which has preserved most of its posts.

Bristol

A close up of a large brown eye painted on a wall with a turquoise background. The eye is reflecting a person in the iris. A man is standing taking a photo of the eye with his back to the camera and against a wall. He has grey hair and a rucksackBristol Business Improvement District

"Fresh energy": Bristol Business Improvement District (BID) has announced the return of its Love Bristol, Love Broadmead campaign. Called Blossoming Broadmead, the bank holiday event invites visitors to "rediscover Broadmead in a new way".

A group of about eight older men and women standing in a library smiling to camera and three of them are holding onto a poster which says 'Book Bingo'FoCCaL

Book bingo: A new reading challenge for adults has been launched in Bristol's libraries to encourage people to explore a diverse range of books. The project is being funded by proceeds from the Clifton LitFest, run by the Friends of Clifton Centre and Library.

Two young women and a young man stand are in a darkened room with a spotlight on them and a large poster behind saying 'Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival'. They are smiling to camera and wearing casual clothesSam Cavender

Rhyme time: Creative minds came together for the Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival, which featured 35 events across the city. The festival theme of Wonder and Wanderers celebrated "histories of migration and movement".

One man and five women in a mid-shot standing outside in sunshine and smiling to camera. Three are wearing blue medical uniforms, one is in a red uniform and the fifth is in a blue t-shirt with a cartoon picture on. There is a fence and greenery behind themRoyal United Hospitals Bath

Class of 96: Members of staff from Bath's Royal United Hospital met this week to each celebrate 30 years of working at the trust and to look back on their time at the hospital.

Gloucestershire

A mural of an elderly man from the chest up, wearing a blue beanie hat and a blue fleece. He is smiling and has a pink nose. Round his shoulders are the words 'RIP Lord Jim'Andy Dice Davies

Painted tribute: A mural has been painted to memorialise Jim Davis, 73, who died after approaching two people who had thrown a large branch at a cyclist in Cheltenham.

Painter, Andy Dice Davies, said he was "honoured" that Davis' family had allowed him to create the mural near the spot where he died.

A close-up of a tiny baby pine marten being held by a member of staff wearing blue plastic gloves and black fleece. There is a container behind with a white cuddly toy inside. There is an electronic monitor above the cage. Vale Wildlife and Rehabilitation Centre

Hand-rearing: A baby pine marten, one of the most rarest mammals in the UK, is being cared for by the Vale Wildlife and Rehabilitation Centre in Gloucestershire. He was discovered in a rubbish bin, along with two siblings who had already died.

A stunning photo at dusk with a river in the foreground and the bank behind, and the sky is a flaming yellowy-orange colour, with ominous grey clouds tinged with the sun's rays.Weather Watcher/Space Walker

Orange sky at night: This stunning photograph was captured by one of our BBC Weather Watchers by the River Severn at Elmore.

A fluffy penguin chick with greyish down feathers lying in a plastic containerBirdland Park and Garden

New beginnings: A fluffy new arrival caused excitement at Birdland Park and Gardens after a Humboldt penguin chick successfully hatched during the busy breeding season.

Two small birds are sitting on a tree which is covered in moss.Paul Sutton

Feeding time: The arrival of spring has seen an influx of birds across the West Country. This image of a baby dipper being fed was taken near Stroud by resident Paul Sutton.

Wiltshire

Sheep and small lambs scuttle over a green field. There are trees in the distance and a bright blue sky.BBC Weather Watchers/Jo C

Baa-rilliant: Baby lambs have a spring in their step with the arrival of warmer weather. Thank you, Weather Watcher Jo C for this picture from Market Lavington.

A man and woman smile and hold a star award and a small hedgehog cuddly toy with a high-vis jacket. There is green grass behind them.Swindon Borough Council

Star travel: Wichelstowe in Swindon has been crowned one of the best residential areas for sustainable transport at the Modeshift STARS National Travel Awards, which honours the promotion of walking, cycling and public transport use for everyday journeys.

Hippos swimming in waterLongleat

Hip hip hooray: New hippos Lola, Matylda, Manon and Hodor are also enjoying the warmer weather and can now be seen wallowing in Half Mile Pond at Longleat. Hippos walk underwater rather than swim, which is why their full scientific name - hippopotamus - originates from the Ancient Greek term "river horse".

A thin cloud orange in colour and surrounded by a soft purple sky.BBC Weather Watchers/Ruthie

Pink skies: The longer evenings have led to a flurry of late-night walks for Weather Watchers in Wiltshire. Thank you Ruthie for this picture of an unusual cloud formation changing from orange to pink above Devizes this week.

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