Monday 2nd March

Monday, 2 March 2026 05:00

By Steve Haigh

The Leonardo factory in Yeovil has won a multi-million pound contract to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. A doctor, who previously worked at Yeovil Hospital, has appeared in court charged with illegally accessing NHS computers. A new Construction Innovation Centre has opened at Yeovil College... and more

The Leonardo factory in Yeovil is to build the new medium lift helicopter securing the jobs of thousands of workers and cancelling the threat issued by its Italian owners to shut the Yeovil site if the contract wasn’t awarded by the deadline of March Ist. Right at the last moment, the order for up to 25 helicopters for the RAF was confirmed yesterday by the UK government following the personal intervention of the PM and Chancellor. The Leader of Yeovil Town Council Councillor Andy Soughton says it’s been a long time in coming and is a huge boost for the town.

A doctor, who previously worked at Yeovil Hospital, has appeared in court charged with illegally accessing NHS computers to look at his wife’s medical records. Mohamad Alsaadany pleaded guilty to three charges of accessing medical computer programmes on a total of 33 occasions when he appeared before magistrates in Yeovil. The Court was told Alsaadany would now go before the General Medical Council and be struck off the Medical Register.

A new Construction Innovation Centre has opened at Yeovil College. It will train learners in trades including carpentry, bricklaying, electrical installation, and plumbing. It’s the second major building finished under Yeovil College’s ‘once-in-a-generation’ Big Build programme, funded by the Department for Education.

Yeovil Hospital is holding an event to raise awareness of sleep apnoea. The disorder that causes brief interruptions in breathing during sleep, can lead to morning headaches, and a higher risk of developing heart problems. The sleep apnoea awareness day takes place at Yeovil Hospital this coming Saturday.

And a new music shop has opened in Yeovil. The Somerset Music Academy at 9, Silver Street in the town centre, sells guitars, ukuleles, drum kits, and digital pianos, and offers an instrument repair service.

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Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says July has been its busiest month ever for emergency calls. Police have recovered a 1970s Austin Mini pick-up stolen in Shepton Mallet. A specialist spinal injuries service at Yeovil Hospital has treated three hundred patients in its first year... and more
Thursday 30th July

The Environment Agency has declared a drought across Somerset as the hot weather takes its toll on the county's water supplies. Police are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic accident near Crewkerne. A bowls player from Yeovil has won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow...and more
Wednesday 29th July

Police have arrested two suspects in connection with a series of moped thefts in Chard. A combine harvester has been destroyed in a farm fire at Forton, near Chard. A bowls player from Yeovil has won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow... and more
Tuesday 28th July

The former Beales department store in Yeovil could be brought back into use as part of a wider masterplan for the future of the town. A yellow heat health alert is in place across Somerset from nine o’clock this morning until nine o’clock on Friday morning. A Somerset farmer says this year is the driest on his land since 1976... and more
Monday 27th July

Gooch and Housego, based in Ilminster and one of the town’s biggest employers, has been sold in a multi-million-pound deal to an American private equity firm. A father who shook his four-week-old baby to death at a house in Chard has been sentenced to life in prison. A doctor who works for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is one of five people to have jointly set a new world record for rowing around Great Britain... and more
Friday 24th July

Avon and Somerset Police are warning people to watch out for scammers posing as Amazon. The CEO of the company that provides Somerset's recycling is warning of a major incident if people continue to put used batteries in waste bins. A former Yeovil pub could be demolished to make way for a major hotel expansion.
Thursday 23rd July

The West Country is officially one step closer to being declared in drought. Somerset Council says it's remodelling its service after a children's home was closed following an inspection. A new McDonald's planned off the M5 at Bridgwater could create up to 120 local jobs... and more
Wednesday 22nd July

Two men have been jailed for stealing electrical items and cash from a property in Yeovil. Somerset Council has defended its use of Yeovil’s new performance area in The Triangle, in Lower Middle Street. Tintinhull Primary School, near Yeovil, has won a top national award for outdoor play... and more