Friday 26th September

Friday, 26 September 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Lloyds Banking Group has announced that it is closing its Halifax branch in Yeovil. Avon and Somerset Chief Constable, Sarah Crew, is calling on the public to stand firm against hate. A helicopter from RNAS Yeovilton has been involved in tracking a Russian warship over the English Channel...and more.

Lloyds Banking Group has announced that it will be closing its Yeovil branch of The Halifax. Lloyds Bank, by the War Memorial on the High Street, will be unaffected by closures being made across the country. The Halifax will close on January 12th,2026.

Avon and Somerset Chief Constable, Sarah Crew, is calling on the public to stand firm against hate. She's a signatory to an open letter, also signed by council leaders, asking for calm, following an incident in which a 9-year-old girl was shot with an airgun in Bristol in a racially motivated attack. Sarah Crew says people are scared to go about their daily lives for fear of being attacked on the streets, which is not acceptable.

A helicopter from RNAS Yeovilton has been involved in tracking a Russian warship as it crossed the English Channel. The Wildcat was scrambled to support HMS Iron Duke in following the Russian vessel as part of a NATO-led operation last week.

Pharmacy chain Jhoots, which has unexpectedly shut all its outlets in Somerset, has been accused of failing to provide patients with their medication and not paying its staff. In a statement, Jhoots says it's actively engaging with staff, partners and other stakeholders. But one former employee in Somerset claims she's owed thousands of pounds in unpaid wages.

A key flood defence in Somerset could be upgraded to cut the risk of flooding at places further inland. The Somerset Rivers Authority wants to widen Highbridge Clyce as part of mitigation measures to reduce the flood risk upstream from the River Brue.

A carpenter from Somerset has been chosen to carry out repairs at Britain's scientific base in Antarctica. Jo Oliver from Wedmore is part of a team of tradespeople travelling to Antarctica to help 'future-proof' buildings at Port Lockroy against the effects of climate change.

More from News

Friday 12th June

It's claimed the increasing availability of drugs such as ketamine and cocaine has normalised drug use among young people in Somerset. The trial of a man accused of killing his one-month-old son in Chard begins today at Bristol Crown Court. A stone pillar outside the Langport Arms Hotel in Langport has been replaced after it was destroyed in a car crash... and more
Thursday 11th June

Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to the three aircrew from RNAS Yeovilton who died in last week's helicopter crash in Devon. Two men have been arrested and stolen vehicles seized following a major multi-agency operation in South Somerset. An event highlighting opportunities for women in the aerospace industry has been held in Yeovil... and more
Wednesday 10th June

The public will be consulted on how best to spend fifty million pounds of government funding to tackle flooding in Somerset. Avon and Somerset Police are backing a new road safety campaign aimed at reducing motorcycle fatalities. New welcome signs have been installed at entrances to the Mendip Hills National Landscape... and more
Tuesday 9th June

The government has announced a £50 million investment to strengthen Somerset’s flood defences. A woman from Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been banned from driving for 14 months after admitting drink-driving. Somerset Council has been told it must improve its adult social care services... and more
Monday 8th June

Plans for a new railway station in Langport remain stalled in Whitehall, according to Somerset Council. Plans to build 50 new homes in Broadway, near Ilminster, have been refused. The new water fountains in Yeovil’s Triangle, in Lower Middle Street, are being switched off during very hot weather because of safety concerns... and more.
Friday 5th June

A new NHS dental practice in Crewkerne says it won’t start operating at full capacity until July due to staff shortages. Somerset Council says it has no plans to show England matches in the World Cup on the Big Screen in Yeovil town centre due to safety concerns. A Somerset family has been thanked after completing a 73-mile walk raising money for a third world charity... and more
Thursday 4th June

An investigation continues today into the crash of a Royal Navy helicopter, based at RNAS Yeovilton, in which all three aircrew were killed. Somerset Council has confirmed that a new operator will take over several leisure centres across the county. The new live-action Masters of the Universe movie, filmed in Somerset, is released this week...and more
Wednesday 3rd June

A Yeovil man has appeared in court charged with assaulting three police officers. Somerset Council has begun legal action to recover more than £320,000 owed by housing developers. The line-up has been announced for this year’s Ilminster Midsummer Experience...and more