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01/05/25 - Import border checks, local elections and blackgrass

As new border checks on food and plant imports from the EU get underway, we report from a border control post to find out how it works.

New physical checks have been brought in on some imports of food and plants from the EU. Products deemed high or medium risk now have to be inspected - including live animals, meat and some plant products. Inspections can be done either at Government run sites or at commercial facilities - we report from both to find out how it works.

The major political parties are all competing for the rural vote ahead of the local elections. A combination of councillors, mayors and police and crime commissioners will be selected across England and Wales.

And, blackgrass is a weed that can grow amongst fields of commercial crops, competing for nutrients in the soil, and reducing yields. We meet a team of scientists at Rothamsted Research who are looking into how to tackle this pernicious weed.

Presented by Anna Hill
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons

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14 minutes