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Weekly round-up: Stories you may have missed

News imageDurrell Wildlife Conservation Trust A close-up of a gorilla looking at the camera. It has black fur and very dark eyes. It is in a grassy enclosure.Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
The Princess Royal has opened a new gorilla enclosure at Jersey Zoo

Ross Le Brun reflects on winning Guernsey's first island-wide by-election, business owners welcome plans for flood defences, a foodbank says it is running "extremely low" on stock, Jersey police are looking for new recruits and the Princess Royal opens a new gorilla enclosure.

Here's our round-up of some of the stories from the Channel Islands this week.

Le Brun hails 'consistency and sincerity' for win

News imageRoss Le Brun. He is wearing a checked shirt and black jacket. He is bald and smiling at the camera.
Ross Le Brun said he would work towards making his campaign messaging a reality

Deputy-elect Ross Le Brun said voters likely backed him at the ballot box due to his "consistency, authenticity and sincerity".

Le Brun won the first island-wide by-election on Wednesday ahead of 10 other candidates for the one vacant seat in the States of Guernsey following the island's lowest turnout for a by-election since at least 2000.

Cost of flood defence project is 'worth it'

News imageGeoff Mayger is wearing a shirt with palm trees and flamingos on it, and is standing infront of his hotel. He has shirt dark hair and a grey goattee.
Geoff Mayger supports the Havre de Pas coastal flood protection plans

Business owners at Havre des Pas have given their support for an incoming flood defence project.

Lead engineer for coastal engineering Steve Fitzgibbon said the Havre des Pas coastal flood alleviation scheme would cost "hundreds of millions".

Geoff Mayger, owner of the Marina Metro Hotel on the promenade, said "the cost is worth it" and the project would "protect the community from the rising tide".

Food bank stocks 'low as client numbers increase'

News imageSimon Fairclough pictured wearing a grey knitted jumper looking at the camera. He is bald with a grey, short beard.
Simon Fairclough said the service was grateful to anyone who could donate items

A food bank in Guernsey says its stock has run "extremely low" and it is seeing two or three new clients each week.

Guernsey Welfare Service, which runs the largest food bank on the island, raised the concerns in what it said was a rare such post on social media, and asked for donations including meat, pasta sauce and tinned fruit.

Service manager Simon Fairclough said "most people are struggling" and the demand and lack of stock was at a "different level" to what he had seen before.

Call out for trainee officers to serve and protect

News imageJersey police control room with officers working at computers.
The starting wage for a police officer is £49,630

The States of Jersey Police is recruiting for new trainee officers to join its force.

Applications opened for the next intake of student officers on Thursday with the 20‑week training programme delivered on‑island.

The force said the starting wage for those signing up would be £49,630.

Princess Royal opens new gorilla enclosure

News imageRobbie Dark Photography Princess Anne is squeezing an amber-coloured liquid onto a branch. A man is watching her.Robbie Dark Photography
The new enclosure is nine times larger than the previous, the zoo said

A new state-of-the-art gorilla house has been opened by the Princess Royal.

Jersey Zoo said Princess Anne had unveiled the enclosure during a private visit on Thursday.

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