UMBRELLAS, rain coats and Wellington boots are necessities this Monday morning.

It’s a wet and dim start to the week but according to the Met Office after today it will remain dry until Friday.

So be careful on the roads this morning as there is a lot of spray on the motorways and lots of surface water on some of the roads in and out of Stroud.

Here are five things you need to know this Monday.

  1. The Stroud community has been left reeling after tragedy struck this weekend when two people were killed in an accident on the Ebley bypass on Saturday night. The male driver and the female passenger of the VW Golf both sadly died in the crash. Click here for the full story.
  2. For all of you that don’t watch the X Factor this morning will be your first chance to hear the new Band Aid single. It goes on sale at 8am today and radio stations and TV music channels will be playing it for the first time. It is 30 years since the first Band Aid single was released and this year’s track includes the likes of Bono, One Direction, Rita Ora, Sinead O’Connor and Ed Sheeran.
  3. Firefighters rescued a Labrador retriever early this morning after it had fallen approximately 20 feet down a cliff near the Sharpness Marina whilst out with its owner. The fire crew used specialist rescue equipment to find the dog which was rescued uninjured and reunited with its owner.
  4. Prime Minister David Cameron has warned that the impact from conflicts, low growth and a eurozone "on the brink" of recession could threaten Britain’s economic recovery. He was speaking after the G20 meeting of world leaders in Brisbane, Australia.
  5. For all you Rugby fans – England was left disappointed at Twickenham on Saturday after being defeated by the Springboks 28-31.