Tuesday 23rd December

Tuesday, 23 December 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

NHS Somerset reports a strong uptake of flu jabs, but some eligible people for free vaccinations haven’t come forward. Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident on the Ilminster by-pass in which a pedestrian was killed. A Crewkerne woman has gone viral on TikTok after being trapped inside a Lidl store in the town... and more.

NHS Somerset reports strong uptake of flu jabs, but some eligible people still haven’t come forward. Flu jabs are on offer at local GPs, community pharmacies or NHS drop-in clinics.

Somerset Council has announced new dates for bin collections over the festive period. If your usual collection day is today or tomorrow, the changes don't apply; otherwise, collections scheduled for Thursday, 25th December (Christmas Day) will move to Saturday, 27th December. Those due on Friday 26th December (Boxing Day) move to Saturday 27th December. Those due on Thursday 1st January (New Years Day) move to Friday 2nd January. Those on Friday, 2nd January, move to Saturday, 3rd January.

Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident on the Ilminster by-pass in which a pedestrian was killed. It happened on the eastbound carriage at around 9.45 pm on Sunday and involved a Seat Leon—the occupants of the Seat were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Police are keen to speak with a van driver who drove off the by-pass at the Crewkerne junction at the time of the collision. If you can help with dash cam footage, or were travelling on the Ilminster by-pass and saw what happened, please call the non-emergency number 101.

More than 6,000 children across 47 schools in the Diocese of Bath and Wells have participated in an online collective worship led by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Michael Beasley. Bishop Michael spoke to pupils about the meaning of Christmas and the message of hope delivered by the angels to the shepherds.

A Crewkerne woman has gone viral on social media after being trapped inside a Lidl store in the town. Sarah McClelland says she mistakenly entered the supermarket after it had closed and was unable to exit the building. Luckily, someone outside spotted her and let her out. Sarah put her exploits on TikTok, where they have been viewed more than a million times.

More from News

Monday 22nd December

Somerset Bus Partnership has welcomed a £24.7m boost for the county's bus services. Outline planning permission has been granted to build up to 100 new homes in Ilminster. An Ilminster man has been banned from keeping animals for seven years. Residents in Chiselborough have set up a group to try and re-open the village pub...and more.
Friday 19th December

Crewkerne Community Hospital is to lose half its inpatient beds. A review will be conducted of a project to make Bridgwater more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly. Chard Methodist Church is offering residents a free lunch on Christmas Day. Yeovil-based Screwfix is opening a new outlet in Minehead...and more.
Thursday 18th December

Yeovil MP Adam Dance has warned that delays in ordering 30 new medium lift helicopters for the RAF is putting the future of Somerset’s defence industries at risk. Somerset's farmers are being urged to convert more cow manure into biogas to heat homes. A new visitor centre has opened at Ham Hill country park...and more
Wednesday 17th December

Parcel business, Evri, has been criticised by Glastonbury and Somerton MP Sarah Dyke over what she claims have been ‘widespread delivery failures’. Demand for mental health support provided by South Western Ambulance Service is running at record levels. A nine-year-old Somerset boy has completed 100 days of litter picking for charity...and more
Tuesday 14th December

New data shows that crime in the Avon and Somerset police area is at an all-time high. Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard has issued a warning to prospective pet owners ahead of Christmas. The owner of four pubs in Somerset has warned that many could be forced to shut unless the government reconsiders business rates...and more.
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% in 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