Thursday 5th March

Thursday, 5 March 2026 05:00

By Steve Haigh

Two military helicopters from RNAS Yeovilton are being sent to Cyprus to help bolster UK’s defences amid the US-Israel war with Iran. Yeovil Town Council is seeking legal advice over the closure of the hyper acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital. Flood warnings have been lifted on the Somerset Levels... and more

Two military helicopters from RNAS Yeovilton have been deployed on board the British warship HMS Dragon which is soon to leave for Cyprus to help bolster UK’s defences amid the US-Israel war with Iran. The Ministry of Defence says the two Wildcats from 815 Naval Air Squadron will be equipped with missiles, designed to intercept and shoot down any incoming drones aimed at UK assets.

Yeovil Town Council is seeking legal advice over the closure of the hyper acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital. NHS Somerset announced its decision to shut the unit in January 2024 with patients suffering a stroke being taken for emergency treatment to the County Hospital in Dorchester or Musgrove Park in Taunton. Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, has since endorsed the decision. Yeovil Town Council says it’s seeking legal advice to see what, if anything, can still be done to stop the closure going ahead.

Flood warnings have been lifted on the Somerset Levels, five weeks after they were introduced by the Environment Agency. The warnings covered Curry Moor, Hay Moor, Muchelney and the Rivers Parret and Yeo. Although now lifted, a flood alert remains in place for the area as flooding of lower lying land is still possible

A botanical artist from Somerset has had her work featured on a set of 10 stamps celebrating the beauty of roses. Marie Burke from Glastonbury designed the stamps by visiting local gardens for inspiration, including the Bishop's Palace in Wells.

Somerset Council has appointed a new chief finance director, the fifth such appointment in four years. Rachael Sanders, who's currently at Herefordshire Council, has been given the role on a permanent basis with a salary of £150,000 a year. It brings to an end employing three interim directors, the most recent costing Somerset Council £7,000 a week.

A Yeovil woman says you don't need a specialist wheelchair to break world records. Jackie Clemit has just set a new world record for the fastest half marathon completed in a non-racing wheelchair. She took on the challenge at Goodwood Circuit with the Guinness World Records now confirming that she completed it in one hour and thirty-nine minutes.

More from News

Wednesday 4th March

A man has died in a fire in Wincanton. Somerset Council is planning further cuts of twenty-one million pounds to help balance its books. A campaign to raise £30,000 for a minibus has been launched in Chard... and more
Tuesday 3rd March

A woman from Ilminster has been jointly charged with another woman after a man’s body was found inside a car in Cornwall. Somerset businesses, involved in the supply chain for Leonardo, have welcomed the news that the Leonardo factory in Yeovil is to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. Plans have been submitted to build thirty-two homes in Milborne Port... and more
Monday 2nd March

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
Friday 27th February

The CEO of Leonardo has suggested the UK government could make an announcement immindently about ordering new medium lift helicopters to be built in Yeovil. A family run hardware business in Yeovil has gone into administration. The Lord Lieutenant of Somerset has been named the new patron of Somerset Chamber of Commerce... and more
Thursday 26th February

Workers at Leonardo in Yeovil have been to Downing Street to hand-in a petition calling on the government to back British jobs. The decision to grant planning permission to upgrade Yeovil's Octagon Theatre has been enthusiastically welcomed by staff who work there. The search is on to find a defibrillator that has gone missing in Chard... and more
Wednesday 25th February

Plans have been passed to carry out a £15 million upgrade of Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre. A new medical unit providing NHS and private treatments has opened in Shepton Mallet. Manor Court Community Primary School in Chard is celebrating after receiving a Gold Artsmark for excellence in arts and cultural education...and more
Tuesday 24th February

First Bus has announced changes to bus timetables on routes across Somerset. A Somerset drone company is celebrating getting through the audition round of ITV’s Britain's Got Talent. A public footpath in South Somerset is set to remain closed for up to two years... and more
Monday 23rd February

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is warning of a scaling back of jobs at the Leonardo helicopter factory in Yeovil. Work is underway on the multi-million-pound refurbishment of Yeovil police station. The A361 across the Somerset Levels has reopened... and more