Friday 4th September

Friday, 4 September 2026 at 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a vehicle near Shepton Mallet. New taxi charges come into force in Somerset later this month. The fire service is treating as accidental a blaze at a flat in Yeovil town centre... and more

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a vehicle that came off the road and fell into a ditch near Shepton Mallet. The car had been travelling on the A361 at East Compton Road on the morning of the August 18th. Later the same day, two men were seen removing items from the vehicle before setting it alight. Police are asking for witnesses or anyone with dash footage to please call the non-emergency number 101.

New taxi charges come into force in Somerset later this month. From September nineteenth the maximum standard fare for journeys of up to one mile will rise from four pounds sixty to five pounds and six pence. A standard two-mile journey will cost a maximum of eight pounds sixty, up from seven pounds sixty. The fares are maximums, and operators can still charge less if they choose.

The fire service is treating as accidental a blaze at a flat in Yeovil town centre. The fire above a shop in Westminster Street happened on Wednesday at around 8.30 pm. No one was hurt but the flat suffered 50 percent smoke damage.
Hundreds of affordable homes are to be built in Somerset following a government announcement. Magna Housing has been awarded £250 million to build 1,500 new homes in Somerset and Dorset over the next ten years. The cash is being put up by Homes England, the official government agency for housing and regeneration.

A Yeovil man is preparing to swim the English Channel to raise money for a charity teaching children water safety skills. Matt Read, who works at Leonardo in Yeovil, will take part in a Channel relay crossing later this month, supporting Swim Tayka, a charity which aims to prevent drowning through swimming education and water safety programmes for children.

Four gardens in our area will be open to the public from this weekend as part of the National Garden Scheme. Skool Beanz Children's Allotment in the Chilthorne Domer will be open to the public tomorrow, Saturday. On Sunday, the Old Coach House in Templecombe will be open to the public. The Newt in Bruton will be open next Wednesday, September 9th and, Kilver Court Gardens in Shepton Mallet will be open next Friday, September 11th.

More from News

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

The owner of campsite in Somerset says a two-thousand-seven-hundred percent increase in business rates will be 'catastrophic' for his business. Plans to build nearly 300 new homes on the outskirts of Chard have been given the go ahead. Yeovil Town are through to the first round proper of the FA Cup after beating Leatherhead 5-2 at Huish Park last night... and more
Tuesday 20th October

The NSPCC says sexual communication offences involving children in the South-West have more than doubled since the offence was introduced seven years ago. People in Somerset are being warned that artificial intelligence is being used to make homes look more attractive in estate agent’s photos. Yeovil Town replay their FA Cup 4th qualifying round against Leatherhead at Huish Park tonight.., and more
Monday 19th October

The Environment Agency says reservoir levels across Somerset are well below what they should be for the time of year. A former school building in Wincanton could be turned into a recording studio and arts venue. Families in Somerset are being reminded of the October 31st deadline to apply for school places ...and more
Friday 16th October

Parts of Somerset have been moved into the highest drought category to protect water supplies. A new group's been formed to try and save Taunton’s Brewhouse Theatre from closure.Tesco in Yeovil is recruiting for temporary staff for the busy Christmas period... and more
Thursday 15th October

Hate crime recorded by Avon and Somerset Police has risen to a record high. The Communication Workers Union claims postal workers in Somerset are leaving their jobs due to a controversial new delivery system. Four new Deputy Lieutenants have been appointed to support Somerset’s Lord-Lieutenant... and more
Wednesday 14th October

Somerset Council says it can’t confirm whether new parking machines being installed across the county will be able to accept cash. The number of cloned cars seized have more than double in the past 3-years with Avon and Somerset Police recovering one fraudulent vehicle every week. The skull of a 50,000 year old Woolly Rhino found on the Mendips Hills has gone on a display at a museum in Wells...and more