Friday 25th July

Friday, 25 July 2025 at 06:00

By Steve Haigh

A father has been found guilty of murdering his two-week-old son at Yeovil Hospital. From Monday, no trains will be stopping at Crewkerne until further notice. Experts say the dry weather has created ideal conditions for wasps to multiply in significant numbers across Somerset. A rare railway carriage from the 1880s, believed to have been built in Somerset, is being given a new lease of life...and more.

A father has been found guilty of murdering his two-week-old son at Yeovil Hospital. Bristol Crown Court was told that Daniel Gunter, aged 27, of no fixed address, inflicted catastrophic injuries to the head, neck, legs and jaw of Brendon Staddon. His former partner, Sophie Staddon, aged 23, also of no fixed address, was cleared of causing or allowing the death of a child.

From Monday, no trains will be stopping at Crewkerne until further notice. A replacement bus service connecting Yeovil Junction and Axminster stations will serve the station. It's due to the dry weather causing clay embankments to shrink, meaning trains cannot travel safely at their normal speeds.

A local driver, found to be double the drink-drive limit when stopped by police, has been banned from driving for 20 months. Tracy Sandford of Fairhouse Road in Barwick near Yeovil pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol at Yeovil Magistrates Court. Sandford was also fined £138 with £85 costs.

Experts say the dry weather and the early heatwave have created ideal conditions for wasps to multiply in big numbers in Somerset. People from all around the County are reporting seeing a big increase in wasp numbers for the time of year.

A rare railway carriage from the 1880s, believed to have been built in Somerset, is being given a new lease of life. The carriage has been acquired by the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust, which will undertake a complete restoration before returning it to service on the East Somerset Railway.

Artwork by students at schools in Chard has gone on display at two GP surgeries in the town. The paintings created by students at Manor Court Primary, Redstart Primary, Avishayes Primary and Chard Prep schools, in collaboration with Chard Together, are now displayed in the reception areas of both St. Mary's and Summerfield surgeries.

Cinema at the Warehouse, Ilminster's film club, has announced a new season of showings. The first of twelve screenings planned for the new season will be a showing of The Salt Path on the big screen at the Warehouse Theatre in Ilminster on Saturday, 13th September.

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Thursday 29th October

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Wednesday 28th October

Leweston School near Sherborne has announced that it is closing with immediate effect. NHS Somerset could merge with neighbours in Bath and North-East Somerset and Dorset to cut costs. Somerset’s Lord-Lieutenant has launched a campaign to get more people nominated for national honours... and more
Tuesday 27th October

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Monday 26th October

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Friday 23rd October

Somerset is the 11th most challenging place in England to be a child according to a report. Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire could have its own elected ‘Wessex Mayor’ by 2028. Cricketer, Ian Botham returns to the county this weekend... and more.
Thursday 22nd October

The NFU says that testing for the virus Bluetongue needs to be sped up. Construction of new flats on Yeovil’s Grimsby Corner site will officially begin next year. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind tomorrow... and more.
Wednesday 21st October

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