Thursday 2nd April

Thursday, 2 April 2026 06:00

By Steve Haigh

The joint master of a hunt in Somerset has criticised the decision to hold a public consultation on banning trail hunting. Images of two men police want to speak to in connection with an arson attack on a barber’s shop in Wincanton have been released. The company that runs four leisure centres in the Mendip area has gone into administration... and more

The joint master of a hunt in Somerset has criticised the decision to hold a public consultation on banning trail hunting. Mary Perry from the Cotley Harriers says criticism of trail hunting is frustrating, as they follow all the guidelines. The League Against Cruel Sports wants trail hunting banned, but Mary Perry says this would be unfair.

Images of two men police want to speak to in connection with an arson attack on a barber’s shop in Wincanton have been released. On Saturday, March 14, two men were caught on CCTV smashing a window at a property on Church Street, pouring flammable liquid onto a door and setting it alight. Images of the men can be viewed on the Avon and Somerset Police website.

The company that runs four leisure centres in the Mendip area has gone into administration. Fusion Lifestyle manages Wells Fitness Centre, Tor Fitness Centre in Glastonbury, Strode Swimming and Fitness Centre in Street, Frome Leisure Centre, and Shepton Mallet Lido. Somerset Council says it will run the centres until a new operator is found.

Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident on the A358 near Taunton in which a motorcyclist was killed. It happened at Mattocks Tree Hill in West Hatch at around 10.30pm on Sunday, March 29th, when a Nissan Juke, a Vauxhall Zafira and a motorbike collided. A man in his 20s, who was riding the motorbike, died at the scene. If you witnessed the accident or have dashcam footage, you’re asked to call the non-emergency number 101.

A road in Ilminster will shut to traffic for three nights later this month. Silver Street will be closed on April 13, 14 and 15 from 7pm to 5am for BT Openreach to carry out essential works. Diversions will be in place during the closure.

More from News

Wednesday 22nd April

Expectant mothers are using Yeovil Hospital once again to give birth following the reopening of the maternity unit. A Yeovil man has been jailed for four years for committing sexual offences against two young girls. Plans have been approved to convert a pub in Milborne Port into housing... and more
Tuesday 21st April

NHS Somerset has delayed closing the hyper-acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital. A former Avon and Somerset Police officer has been jailed for making indecent images of children. A Somerset man has been fined after pleading guilty to hunting a wild animal with dogs... and more
Monday 20th April

Nearly one hundred roads in Somerset will be surface dressed this summer to prevent further damage. Almost all children starting primary school in Somerset in September have been offered a place at one of their top three school choices. People in Somerset are being asked to record wild mammals in gardens and other green spaces over the summer... and more
Friday 17th April

Yeovil MP Adam Dance has backed calls for a cap on heating oil prices. Invitations are being sent out to those in Somerset eligible for the latest Covid vaccine. A pub near Chard has closed just four months after reopening... and more
Thursday 16th April

Wessex Water has been told to pay £300,000 after a sewer spilled into the River Yeo killing dozens of fish. The Brewhouse Theatre in Taunton has been given a grant of half a million pounds. Today marks the official opening of the new visitor centre at Ham Hill... and more
Wednesday 15th April

Yeovil College has been upgraded to a Defence Technical Excellence College. Somerset Council is taking legal action against a housing developer that owes £35,000 in contributions towards local services in Broadway. An Ilminster couple have covered the first 400 miles of their epic walk around the coastline of mainland Britain... and more
Tuesday 14th April

Avon and Somerset Police has launched a new five-year plan to tackle anti-social behaviour. Additional GP appointments will soon be available at three local surgeries, following a £1 million investment to upgrade NHS facilities in Somerset. A Stoke-sub-Hamdon couple whose daughter died of cancer have raised £128,000 in her memory... and more
Monday 13th April

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is calling for better support for survivors of domestic abuse living in rural communities. The RSPB in Somerset is urging people to stop feeding birds to prevent the spread of disease. Yeovil Town Football Club says an issue that had threatened it with removal from the register at Companies House has been resolved... and more