Headlines: Storm Darragh, market mayhem and a tunnel

Met Office warnings about Storm Darragh dominated the headlines on Friday as Somerset braced for a battering.

Earlier in the week, the elderly motorist who injured seven people, including two young children, at a Christmas market was the most-read story.

A tunnel discovered underneath Salisbury railway station piqued the interest of local historians.

And, with an art installation of red dresses hanging in parks and churchyards and a snowman created from 2,500 wine bottles, there has been plenty to talk about across the West.

Somerset Live alerted readers to the "rare" red warning given by the Met Office with "significant damage" expected across the Bristol Channel as Storm Darragh was approaching on Friday.

The fourth named storm of the season brought winds of up to 90mph and heavy rain on Friday afternoon and into Saturday, causing many events to be cancelled across the west and severe travel disruption.

Organisers of Bath Christmas Market, which was cancelled on Saturday, posted a widely-held sentiment on Facebook: "We take the safety of the public, stall holders and our staff seriously."

The elderly driver, believed to be in his 80s, collided with pedestrians on Sunday in Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire.

The collision happened at low speed while the man was manoeuvring out of a parking space on the High Street.

One of the injured children was a baby and five adults were also hurt.

It led to a lively discussion on Reddit about extra driving tests for older motorists.

A post on Facebook commented: "I wonder how many people are secretly praying that mum or dad don't hurt someone but it's taboo to actually raise it with them."

Wiltshire 999s' coverage on a man in his 60s who collapsed while out running in Quarry Hill was the top post on Monday.

Emergency services were called to the incident near Box at about midday.

Members of the public tried to revive the man but he died a short time later.

Wiltshire Police said: "Our thoughts are with his next of kin at this incredibly difficult time."

The discovery of a tunnel under Salisbury railway station sparked interest among readers, particularly local historians.

Frogg Moody wrote in the Salisbury Journal that he believed it could lead to the former Fisherton Asylum, which became The Old Manor Hospital.

Mr Moody once worked there as a gardener.

"I can vouch for this tunnel because I actually walked the whole length," he said.

"It was said to be for patients who were arriving for admittance to the asylum via train."

Bridgwater Mercury covered the story of a disabled woman who claimed she was left stranded for two hours in the town after her mobility scooter tyre was punctured by roadworks.

Reporter Seth Dellow quoted Sally Jones saying: "I feel no one listens to disabled people in Bridgwater. Disabled people and mobility scooters should be taken into consideration when roadworks are thought up."

Somerset Council said: "We're sorry to hear about this. The new wider pavements will provide much greater accessibility for all."

However, the incident has prompted about 100 people to sign a petition to stop the roadworks on Celebration Mile in Eastover.

Bristol Live covered the controversy surrounding 40 red dresses hung around east Bristol - an art piece aiming to raise awareness of women killed and missing through violence.

Church leaders at St Mary’s Church, Fishponds, gave permission for the red dresses to be hung around the churchyard.

Chief Reporter Tristan Cork wrote: "The subject matter, the poignant and perhaps eerie nature of the display, and the very public location, has sparked a debate in the community."

One post on Facebook said the installation was "powerful" while another commented that "graveyards are a place which command dignity, respect and peace. Leave the politics out of it".

Bristol City Council's announcement of a public consultation on the proposed new Regional Cycling Hub in Lawrence Weston led to lots of comments.

The aim of the centre is to give new and existing riders the chance to improve their skills, confidence, fitness and wellbeing.

Posts on the council's Facebook page ranged from calling the hub "an utter waste of money" to saying "Bristol is extremely successful at cycling and spaces like this help the sport grow".

And finally, is this the most festive pub in the West? Somerset Live makes the case for the Queen Victoria Inn in Priddy which has gone all out on Christmas decorations.

Run by Mark and Debs Walton, the pub is covered in more than 55,000 lights.

The display, which is expected to attract thousands of visitors, also includes an 8m (26ft) snowman made from 2,500 wine bottles.

Mr Walton said: "We spend a lot of time up a ladder in the days before the big switch on."