Friday 6th September

Friday, 6 February 2026 05:00

By Steve Haigh

Leonardo has announced a major deal to build helicopters in India. Campaigners trying to set up a new bus link to Castle Cary railway station from Glastonbury say they need 150 thousand pounds of council money. A community event is being held in Chard for charities and service providers to showcase their activities.... and more

Leonardo, who've threatened to close their Yeovil factory if they don't get a government contract to build medium lift helicopter, has announced a major deal to build helicopters in India. They've joined with the firm Adani to build one thousand helicopters for the Indian government. Leonardo warned last year that it could not continue to subsidise the Yeovil factory and said it would shut the site at the end of March if the order for medium lift helicopters was not forthcoming. The government’s defence investment plan, which will confirm if the new medium lift helicopter is wanted by the MOD, is due to be published in the Spring.

Campaigners trying to set up a new bus link to Castle Cary railway station from Glastonbury say they need 150 thousand pounds of council money. Somerset is getting over four million pounds a year in government funding until 2030 towards improving bus services, but Somerset Bus Partnership claims 80 percent of the cash will go towards existing routes.

Brean Theme Park in Brean in Somerset has gone into liquidation. Owners of the theme park, Unity Holidays, say Brean Splash and a local gym which they also own, will continue to operate as normal.

The social media star from Somerset, Francis Bourgeois, known for his light-hearted videos about his love for trains, has been announced as one of the new presenters of the TV motoring show, The Grand Tour. Alongside James Engelsman and Thomas Holland from the YouTube channel, Throttle House, the trio will replace Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.

A community event is being held in Chard for charities and service providers to showcase their activities. Chard Town Council says it’s an opportunity for organisations to discover what each other do in the local area, and takes place at the Guildhall on Saturday, February 21st.

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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