Friday 8th May

Friday, 8 May 2026 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Police investigating a fire in Shepton Mallet are appealing for help to identify two people. Yeovil MP Adam Dance has called for more government support for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. This weekend sees the start of the Great Gardening Show at The Newt near Bruton...and more

Police investigating a fire in Shepton Mallet are appealing for the public’s help to identify two people. The incident happened in Collett Park on Saturday, March 21st, when a waste bin was set alight, causing damage to a café. Officers want to speak to two people captured on CCTV to help with their enquiries. Images can be viewed on the Avon and Somerset Police website. Anyone with information is asked to call the non-emergency number 101.

Yeovil MP Adam Dance has called for more government support for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. During a debate in the Commons, Mr Dance said funding shortages had led to reductions in some specialist services, including rope rescue and water response teams. He added that rural fire stations face additional challenges because of geography. Mr Dance said a full review of rural fire service funding was needed.

The Somerset-based defence firm SEA says the war in Ukraine has changed thinking within the defence sector. The company, based in Beckington, builds a wide range of defence equipment, including drones and undersea surveillance systems. Managing Director Richard Flitton says technology once considered unconventional in warfare has now become mainstream.

Chard Community Hub is preparing to celebrate four years of service in the town with an exhibition showcasing its work. The Hub, which began on Fore Street in May 2022 and now operates from the Boden Centre, will host the event on Saturday, May 30th. The exhibition will highlight the Hub’s impact and the support services it provides, including food assistance, wellbeing groups, and early years support.

This weekend sees the start of the Great Gardening Show at The Newt in Somerset near Bruton. The event is being held for the first time and will feature demonstrations, plant sales, food and drink stalls, and an appearance by celebrity TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh.

More from News

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
Tuesday 2nd June

Somerset Prostate Cancer Support Group says a decision not to introduce mass screening for prostate cancer is the wrong one. A Martock woman has been banned from driving for 28 months. Somerset Council is marking Volunteers’ Week by thanking the volunteers who help deliver council services... and more
Monday 1st June

People in Somerset with Football Banning Orders are being reminded they must surrender their passports by the end of today ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup tournament. A road in Yeovil will close for nine days later this week. Farmers from Somerset were among the winners of this year's ITV Britain's Got Talent final...and more
Friday 29th May

South Western Ambulance Service is struggling to cope after a surge in 999 calls during the hot weather. Glastonbury and Somerton MP Sarah Dyke says a shortage of rental homes is making it harder for rural employers to attract workers. The National Trust is warning that changing weather patterns are making it difficult to maintain the Cerne Abbas Giant... and more
Thursday 28th May

People are being asked to take extra care in parks and open spaces as high temperatures and dry conditions increase the risk of fire. Plans to build hundreds of new homes in Yeovil can now go ahead after a High Court challenge by Mudford Parish Council was dismissed. A Somerset bakery chain has sparked a reaction after it stopped making iced buns... and more