Tuesday 25th August

Tuesday, 25 August 2026 06:30

Fire crews have been dealing with a fire in Ilchester which broke out yesterday afternoon. Somerset’s frontline health services say heatwaves and tourism are making their jobs more difficult. A Chard health store has been named Natural Lifestyle Retailer of the Year.. and more.

Fire crews have been dealing with a hedge fire in Ilchester which broke out yesterday afternoon. Six fire engines attended the scene with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service responding to multiple calls. Hoses and breathing apparatus were used to tackle the blaze.

Somerset’s frontline health services say heatwaves and tourism are making their staff’s jobs more difficult. Practitioners are reporting that tourists have needed treatment for heatstroke, heat rash, insect stings and tick bites over the last few months, while some visitors had arrived without enough prescription medication.

The MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, Sarah Dyke, is calling on food retailers to reduce the amount of food being rejected for being misshapen or wonky. Dyke says one supplier she spoke to had 6,000 cauliflowers rejected because they were described as 'too yellow'. There are additional concerns that the extreme heat and dry weather this year is causing problems for farmers when it comes to their yields.

Rural communities in Somerset could find it easier to develop and deliver their own active travel schemes thanks to a Somerset council initiative. The toolkit helps locals through the process needed; from large-scale ambitions to much smaller adjustments such as dropped kerb requests. The project aims to provide confidence, knowledge and practical tools, from identifying an initial need, through to the long-term maintenance needed once it is implemented.

An independent health store in Chard has been named Natural Lifestyle retailer of the Year 2026, despite being open less than a year. Health and Remedy on Holyrood Street won the award, which recognises excellence in the UK’s independent health food retail sector, for the business’ passion, positive outlook and deep community engagement. Judges also commended the store as a standout example of how independent outfits can succeed, even in a challenging retail environment.

More from News

Thursday 10th September

Work has begun building a new multi-million-pound David Lloyd leisure centre in Yeovil. NHS Somerset says a new system to handle emergency stroke care will lead to "better outcomes" for patients. Tickets for next year’s Glastonbury Festival will go on sale in October...and more
Wednesday 9th September

Police have released an image of a man they want to speak to following an assault in Yeovil. Businesses in Taunton say they're worried that planned changes to parking rules could put people off visiting the town. The Red Arrows will take to the skies near the Somerset border in a one-off display later this week... and more
Tuesday 8th September

Police in Avon and Somerset say they’re dealing with a big increase in reports of cloned vehicle fraud. A new video system designed to speed up stroke care has been launched in Somerset. Pilgrims are walking through Somerset this week to mark eight hundred years since the death of Saint Francis of Assisi... and more
Monday 7th September

Avon and Somerset Police are warning about a new scam involving criminals posing as police officers. Flu vaccinations are now available on the NHS ahead of the winter. Liverpool comedian John Bishop has cancelled his show in Taunton later this week after breaking his ankle... and more
Friday 4th September

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a vehicle near Shepton Mallet. New taxi charges come into force in Somerset later this month. The fire service is treating as accidental a blaze at a flat in Yeovil town centre... and more
Thursday 3rd September

Fifteen thousand people have signed a petition calling on Somerset Council to cancel plans for a huge data centre in Bridgwater. A nest of Asian hornets has been found in Somerset. More patients in Somerset are set to benefit from a hospital project aimed at restoring independence... and more
Wednesday 2nd September

Yeovil-based charity, School in a Bag, has started sending supplies to Nepal to help in the aftermath of the devastating floods. 6,000 people have signed a petition opposing plans for a new relief road in Chard. The Royal British Legion in Somerset is appealing for more volunteers to help run this year’s Poppy Appeal... and more
Tuesday 1st September

One person had to be cut free from a vehicle following a two-vehicle collision on the A30 near Chard. A Yeovil man has been jailed for 7-and-a-half years for supplying cocaine and cannabis. Two Somerset teenagers have become the youngest to swim the Bristol Channel... and more