Bristol News Wire: August 5

Former Bristol MP Tony Benn has revealed how he is "not frightened by death" after suffering a stroke and spending much of the past year in hospital. The 88-year-old former Labour minister, whose movement and speech have slowed down, said the experience of losing his wife to cancer in 2000 has helped him feel philosophical about the future. But Mr Benn admitted that he still misses American-born Caroline Middleton DeCamp and wants to be buried next to her on the River Blackwater in Essex.Hooligans involved in trouble which erupted before and after a Bristol City game last season have been banned from attending football matches for a total of 102 years. Thirty-two men have been convicted of public order offences following disturbances involving Robins supporters outside the Cardiff City Stadium and in the centre of the Welsh capital.

A campaign has been launched to erect a life-size model of a Bristol Rovers football legend outside the club's ground. Stainless steel industry in dire straits, launched on Facebook, is hoping to raise enough funds for a bronze statue of Geoff Bradford. He played for Rovers in the 50s and 60s and is still the record goalscorer.Work to modernise sewers is set to start in the Downend area. Wessex Water is due to start the work to improve the sewerage network in Downend Road on Monday. The ￡1.6 million scheme will see about 700 metres of new sewers built in Sheppard Road, Overndale Road, Downend Road, Kimberley Road and Staple Hill Road.A man whose sister died from a rare condition during childbirth, has run the distance of seven marathons in seven consecutive days. Mark Joy'pleted the unofficial marathons to raise money for research into amniotic fluid embolism.

During labour, amniotic fluid entered Lisa Waterman's bloodstream, which killed her and her son, Louie. Mr Joy, from Bristol,'pleted his final run along the Camel Trail, in Cornwall on Thursday. Mrs Waterman, who was 34 and also from Bristol, died in December 2011. Nine tonnes of unwanted items worth more than ￡16,000 have been collected from students in Bristol for charity. Clothes, food, kitchenware and bedding were among the items collected as part of the Bristol University scheme. Set up to promote the reuse of items at the end of term, it also raises money for 12 different charities.