Local News Friday 6th August

    Exeter Crown Court

    A South Petherton man has been found guilty of murder following a jury trial at Exeter Crown Court. Up to 300 adult education courses in Somerset are under threat. Plans to build five new houses in Templecombe have been given the go-ahead. A former nurse at Yeovil Hospital has been struck off for allowing a child to leave the children’s ward without informing social services...and more.

    A South Petherton man has been found guilty of murder following a jury trial at Exeter Crown Court. Matthew Sheridan, had denied fatally stabbing Louis Bednall at a property in Hendford Hill in Yeovil last December. However, after deliberating on the case for less than ninety minutes, he was found guilty by the jury. The court had been told that Sheridan carried out a relentless and savage knife attack on Bednall after the two men argued over a bottle of vodka. Sheridan will return to court today for sentencing.

    Up to 300 adult education courses in Somerset are under threat. It comes after the local provider. Somerset Skills and Learning lost out on funding for a key contract. The decision has also put 18 staff at risk of redundancy. The Department for Education says the process to award the contract was fair and open and that adult learners in Somerset can still access education and training through other providers. 

    Plans to build five new houses in Templecombe have been given the go-ahead. The three detached and two semi-detached houses will be built at the end of West Street. South Somerset District Council approved the application despite local concerns about pedestrian safety.

    A former nurse at Yeovil Hospital has been struck off for allowing a child to leave the children’s ward without informing social services. Fiona Diba was a nurse at Yeovil Hospital in 2016 when she allowed a child to leave the children's ward with its parents, in breach of a protection plan. Following an investigation, the Nursing and Midwifery Council has ruled that she should no longer practice as a nurse. In a statement, Yeovil Hospital said it welcomed the decision.

    A call has been made for disabled people to be provided with better toilet facilities at the Cartgate services on the A303 in South Somerset. Jo Elgarf says she had to use the toilet floor at Cartgate to change her daughter, Nora. She’s asking Highways England to provide a disabled toilet that has a hoist and space for a carer. 

    A dairy farmer Lewis White from Castle Cary has proposed to his girlfriend using two of his cows. He wrote ‘will you marry me' on the sides of the cows and his girlfriend Emily Francis accepted without hesitation. Lewis says being a farmer, how could he not have involved his cows in the biggest decision of his life.

    More from News

    • Friday 12th December

      The Chief Executive of Somerset Council, Duncan Sharkey, has admitted to making mistakes in cutting jobs. Yeovil MP Adam Dance is supporting a Lib Dem initiative to introduce a new ‘Farm First’ training scheme. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has launched an appeal to help buy a second helicopter... and more.

    • Thursday 11th December

      A man has appeared in court in connection with an attack in Wincanton. A member of Somerset Council, jailed for 26 months for taking part in a Just Stop Oil protest, may not have to stand down as a councillor. NHS Somerset has announced that changes to stroke services at Yeovil Hospital will "go live" in the spring of next year...and more

    • Wednesday 10th December

      Avon and Somerset Police say 62 drivers were arrested in the first week of the Christmas drink and drug driving campaign. A reindeer farm near Yeovil thinks it may have to close after being told it needs a Zoo licence. Father Christmas has made a special delivery of presents to Charlton Farm Children's Hospice in Somerset...and more

    • Tuesday 9th December

      The Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset has criticised the government for axing the role. Police are appealing for witnesses to a road traffic accident near Ilminster in which a woman was seriously injured. Residents of Freedom Avenue in Yeovil are raising funds for charity with a big display of Christmas lights...and more.

    • Monday 8th December

      Plans to build 150 new homes in Ilminster have been scrapped. A Somerset councillor has been jailed for 26 months. Marks & Spencer wants to build a new Food Store in Ilminster. Poundland has announced that it’s shutting its store in Middle Street in Yeovil...and more

    • Friday 5th December

      Police are appealing for witnesses after an assault on a man in Chard. Lloyds Banking Group has announced a date for closing the Halifax in Yeovil. Train journeys on the Castle Cary to Taunton line will be disrupted next week due to engineering work. The mental health charity MIND in Somerset has produced a Christmas advent calendar... and more.

    • Thursday 4th December

      The Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police says her force is doing all it can to reduce anti-social behaviour. Somerset Council has deferred a decision on introducing Sunday car parking charges. People living in deprived areas in Somerset are being fast-tracked for hospital treatment...and more

    • Wednesday 3rd December

      Fire crews have rescued the driver of a car that got stuck in floodwater near Ilminster. Avon and Somerset Police are urging people going out to celebrate this Christmas to book a taxi or use public transport. A woman from South Petherton has come top at the British Down Syndrome Swimming Championships...and more,

    Today's Weather

    • Yeovil

      Sunny intervals

      High: 12°C | Low: 10°C

    • Chard

      Sunny intervals

      High: 11°C | Low: 9°C

    • Crewkerne

      Sunny intervals

      High: 11°C | Low: 9°C

    • Somerton

      Sunny intervals

      High: 12°C | Low: 10°C

    • Wincanton

      Sunny intervals

      High: 11°C | Low: 9°C

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