A mother from Chard has praised the work of medics who detected a heart defect in her unborn baby. Somerset residents are being encouraged to take part in a "test-a-thon", raising awareness of high blood pressure. Ferne Animal Sanctuary is looking for volunteers...and more
A mother from Chard has praised the work of medics who detected a heart defect in her unborn baby which could have killed him. Stacey Davies found out at her twenty-week scan that her son had transposition of the great arteries or TGA, but it meant doctors were ready to operate right after he was born. Jon Arnold's daughter had the same condition which led him to set up the charity Tiny Tickers which supports families like Stacey's.
Meanwhile, Somerset residents are being encouraged to ‘take the pressure off’ as a 24-hour test-a-thon takes place in the county to raise awareness of high blood pressure. Checks will be available on September 5th in Yeovil’s Quedam Centre between 11 am and 2 pm, alongside sessions at workplaces across the region. The campaign started in March and has provided over 2,000 free checks since its launch. The organisers remind us that high blood pressure is a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes, with many people unaware they have it.
Ferne Animal Sanctuary is looking for volunteers at its premises near Chard. If you’re an animal lover, there are opportunities to help care for the animals, fundraise and guide visitors around the centre. You could also help the charity raise money by volunteering in one of its shops. Full details, along with a list of roles, can be found at their website.
And it’s less a case of green and white but more red-faced at Yeovil Town after fans discovered their team’s name had been misspelt on the packaging of the club’s new merchandise. A video has gone viral online, showing two letters missing from the branding. The club blames human error.
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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