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.

More from News

Tuesday 17th March

The government is being asked to help fund Somerset's carnivals. Bridgwater Town Council wants more trains to stop at the town’s railway station. A fund raising pie throwing event is taking place for Red Nose Day in Chard... and more
Monday 16th March

Drivers are being told that it could take several more weeks yet before Hendford Hill in Yeovil reopens to traffic. A new bus service between Glastonbury and Castle Cary railway station is to start on a trial basis. Children in Chard are being given free reading books as part of a scheme founded by Dolly Parton... and more
Friday 13th March

The first of the new medium lift helicopters being built by Leonardo in Yeovil for the RAF will be delivered in 2031. Somerset Council has launched a public consultation on planned new charges at its two hundred public car parks. More women in Somerset are said to be taking up walking football... and more
Thursday 12th March

A Yeovil headteacher says he’s concerned about plans to stop giving school holiday food vouchers to families on low incomes. The owner of Yeovil Town is calling on fans to be patient as he continues his overhaul of the National League side. A high voltage fault is being blamed for plunging 1700 homes into darkness in the Ilminster area... and more
Wednesday 11th March

Plans have been submitted to convert two properties in Yeovil into houses of multiple occupation. A new court date has been announced for a Yeovil man charged with attempted murder. An engineer who has worked at the Leonardo factory in Yeovil for 40-years has won a top industry award... and more
Tuesday 10th March

Police say a fire at the former Oscar Mayer food factory in Chard was started deliberately. Yeovil College says it would have been adversely affected had Leonardo not won the contract to build new medium-lift helicopters. A seven-foot dragon will be visiting towns and villages in our area during the next few weeks to promote Somerset Day... and more
Monday 9th March

Two Wildcat helicopters from 815 Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton have arrived in Cyprus to help protect RAF Akrotiri from further Iranian drone strikes. New figures show that 40 people were killed on Avon and Somerset’s roads in the last 12-months. A Somerset man has been recalling the day 60-years ago when he was a passenger on the last train on the Somerset and Dorset Railway... and more
Friday 6th March

Defence Minister Luke Pollard has been explaining why it took the government so long to confirm a contract for the Leonardo in Yeovil to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. Police are investigating a break in at a pet shop in Ilminster. Somerset Council is to stop using red ink on council tax reminder letters... and more