Local News Thursday 5th August

    An inquest into the death of Yeovil Town captain, Lee Collins, has been told the footballer took his own life. There’s been a doubling in the number of people in the South West helping with medical research into the Covid pandemic. A decision to remove waste bins at Ham Hill country park near Yeovil has proved to be a real winner. Chard Carnival is set to go ahead this year but not on the grand scale of previous years.

    An inquest into the death of Yeovil Town captain, Lee Collins, has been told the footballer took his own life. Mr. Collins, who was 32, was found dead in a hotel bedroom in West Coker on March 31st. Colleagues said he’d struggled with depression and had an alcohol addiction. And, when the football season was cancelled due to coronavirus, had worried about money and resorted to drug-taking. Somerset Coroner, Tony Williams, recorded a verdict of suicide.

    There’s been a doubling in the number of people in the South West helping with medical research into the Covid pandemic. The National Institute for Health Research says people taking part in a recovery trial has helped save 20,000 lives. 

    A decision to remove waste bins at Ham Hill country park near Yeovil has proved to be a real winner. In a bid to stop anti-social littering, South Somerset District Council took away all litter bins at Ham Hill and put up signs asking people to take their litter home for recycling. The Council claims it’s led to an 80 percent reduction in littering at Ham Hill and has thanked visitors for contributing to the wellbeing of the country park and its wildlife.

    Chard Carnival is set to go ahead this year but not on the grand scale of previous years. With clubs not building new floats due to a lack of funds, it’s been decided that they should use their old costumes and props to stage a shorter ‘Celebration of Carnival Parade’. The parade will be held on Saturday 9th October starting at 7 pm.

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      Work starts today building a new eastbound carriageway as part of dualling the A303 between Sparkford and Podimore. A childhood obesity clinic in Somerset has revealed that it is treating children as young as eight months old. Somerset Wildlife Trust has launched a campaign to recruit an army of young people to act as conservation champions...and more.

    • Thursday 18th April

      A Martock man has been jailed after admitting to shining lasers at aircraft flying over Yeovil. Police are investigating an attempted break-in at the TK Maxx store at Babylon Hill. Nearly four hundred people have put their names forward for redundancy at Somerset Council...and more.

    • Wednesday 17 April

      Three local primary schools have been named on a list of England's top five hundred primary schools. A new co-working space for businesswomen has opened in Wincanton. Urgent repairs are being carried out to Ilminster's new public clock after it started showing the wrong time...and more

    • Tuesday 16th April

      A new operator has been found to run a Chard care home that has been at risk of closure. A licence has been granted to run a new music festival in West Dorset. People have until midnight tonight to register for a vote in the election for a Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset...and more.

    • Monday 15th April

      Four people have been arrested as part of an investigation into the illegal supply of prescription-only drugs in Yeovil. A Yeovil man has appeared in court in connection with two burglaries in Langport. A well-known farm and restaurant business in South Petherton has been put up for sale. New figures have shown a further decline in the number of House Sparrows in Somerset...and more.

    • Friday 12th April

      Yeovil Town will play National League football next season after beating Truro 2-0 last night to win promotion and the National League South title. Somerset Council says the cost of keeping Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre closed has risen to £140,000 a year. A holiday website has reported a 31 percent upturn in visitor numbers to Somerset...and more.

    • Thursday 11th April

      Yeovil Town get another chance tonight to clinch promotion when they play away against Truro. Citizens Advice in Somerset says people are continuing to struggle with the cost of living. Some of England’s loudest voices will be heard in Yeovil later this month when the town's annual town crier competition takes place...and more,

    • Wednesday 10th April

      A former sub-postmaster from Wincanton says she's having to work a 70-hour week to pay off debts she incurred due to the Post Office IT scandal. Two people have been fined for illegal fishing in Yeovil. Images of wildlife taken by a photographer in Somerton have been chosen to feature on a new set of charity cards...and more.

    Today's Weather

    • Yeovil

      Light rain shower

      High: 15°C | Low: 3°C

    • Chard

      Light rain shower

      High: 14°C | Low: 3°C

    • Crewkerne

      Light rain shower

      High: 14°C | Low: 3°C

    • Somerton

      Light rain shower

      High: 15°C | Low: 3°C

    • Wincanton

      Heavy rain shower

      High: 15°C | Low: 3°C

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