Thursday 26th September

Thursday, 26 September 2024 06:00

A body has been found in the search for missing Michael Wheeler from Yeovil. The Met Office has issued another yellow rain warning for the region. Ilminster’s hopes for a banking hub has been raised... and more.

A body has been found in the search for missing Michael Wheeler from Yeovil. Police say the discovery was made during a search of a property in Yarlington near Wincanton on Wednesday afternoon.

Four men have appeared in court charged with murder in connection with his disappearance. 39 year old David Garland and Jack Rance who’s 28, both of no fixed address are charged with murder, along with 38 year old Mark Roberts and 18 year old Reuben Clare, who are both from Yeovil. They have all been remanded in custody, pending a further appearance at Bristol Crown Court tomorrow. Specialist officers are supporting Michael’s family.

The Met Office has issued another yellow rain warning for the region. Up to 60mm of rain could fall across the UK over the next 36 hours, with the possibility of roads being affected and further flooding in Yeovil and South Somerset. This follows heavy rain which swept across the area at the end of last week. Flood water left some roads closed and the National Grid reported a number of power outages. The warning is in place from this evening through to 10am tomorrow morning.

Ilminster’s hopes for a banking hub appears to have been raised, after the town council met with Link and Cash Access UK to discuss a new application. This follows vital criteria appearing to change in the town’s favour. Lloyd’s was the last bank to announce its closure in Ilminster, earlier this year.

A new pedestrian crossing between a major housing development and Chard town centre is not being considered by Somerset Council. Tilia Homes is currently in the late stages of building 200 new homes on the Snowdon Grange development. The Council says it currently has no plans to provide a new crossing over the A358.

And a Wincanton woman has described her shock at finding an eight-and-a-half foot boa constrictor in her garden last weekend. The snake, christened ‘Lucky’, is being looked after by a snake expert and both Lucky, and the town resident who found him, are both reported to be doing well after the initial fright!

More from News

Monday 15th December

Toolstream in Yeovil has been put into administration threatening the jobs of dozens of employees. NHS Somerset has issued a last chance call for people to get a flu jab after hospital admissions increased by 76 per cent within a week. Police are investigating the theft of a bike valued at £7,000 in Sherborne... and more
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