Tuesday 28th January

Tuesday, 28 January 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Work continues to clean up from the floods in Chard, Ilminster, Somerton, South Petherton, and parts of Yeovil. A man who threatened to kill a support worker at the mental health unit in Yeovil has been sentenced to a community order. A competition that gives new musicians the chance to play at this year's Glastonbury festival has opened for entries...and more

Work continues to clean up from the floods in Chard, Ilminster, Somerton, South Petherton, and parts of Yeovil. The major incident, declared by Somerset Council, remains in force this morning to ensure a multi-agency approach to the emergency. 12 flood warnings for Somerset, including along the catchments of the Rivers Isle, Parrett and Brue, issued by the Environment Agency also remain in force. Yeovil MP, Adam Dance, is asking for people’s experiences of dealing with floods, as part of his campaign to get more money invested by the central government in flood prevention.

A man who threatened to kill a support worker at the mental health unit where he lived in Yeovil has been sentenced to a community order. Matthew Hunniset, aged 23, of Bladen Valley, Briantspuddle, in Dorset, pleaded guilty to assaulting Hannah Martin and using or threatening unlawful violence towards her. After receiving a pre-sentence report from the Probation Service, magistrates in Yeovil told Hunniset they had come close to sending him to prison. Instead, they sentenced him to a 12-month community order, with 30 rehabilitation activity days, and a 120-day tagged alcohol treatment order. He was also ordered to pay the victim £250 compensation.

A former 40 Commando and triple amputee from Somerset is waiting for a new world record to be verified by the Guinness Book of World Records. At the weekend, Mark Ormrod became the first person to pull a two-and-a-half-ton truck more than 100 metres.

Somerset Sight is looking for volunteers to support blind and partially sighted people in Yeovil. The roles involve visiting people at home for companionship, helping with their correspondence, and accompanying them on shared outings. Details of how to apply as a volunteer can be found on the Somerset Sight website.

The first of a series of face-to-face dementia clinics takes place in Yeovil today. The sessions, hosted by Dementia UK's Admiral Nurses, offer practical and emotional support for dementia patients. The clinics are taking place at the Yeovil branch of Nationwide in Middle Street over the next 3-days, starting from today.

A competition that gives new musicians the chance to play at this year's Glastonbury festival has opened for entries. The winners of the Emerging Talent Competition will play one of the main stages and be awarded a five thousand pound Talent Development prize. The closing date to apply is February 3rd.

More from News

Friday 31st July

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says July has been its busiest month ever for emergency calls. Police have recovered a 1970s Austin Mini pick-up stolen in Shepton Mallet. A specialist spinal injuries service at Yeovil Hospital has treated three hundred patients in its first year... and more
Thursday 30th July

The Environment Agency has declared a drought across Somerset as the hot weather takes its toll on the county's water supplies. Police are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic accident near Crewkerne. A bowls player from Yeovil has won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow...and more
Wednesday 29th July

Police have arrested two suspects in connection with a series of moped thefts in Chard. A combine harvester has been destroyed in a farm fire at Forton, near Chard. A bowls player from Yeovil has won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow... and more
Tuesday 28th July

The former Beales department store in Yeovil could be brought back into use as part of a wider masterplan for the future of the town. A yellow heat health alert is in place across Somerset from nine o’clock this morning until nine o’clock on Friday morning. A Somerset farmer says this year is the driest on his land since 1976... and more
Monday 27th July

Gooch and Housego, based in Ilminster and one of the town’s biggest employers, has been sold in a multi-million-pound deal to an American private equity firm. A father who shook his four-week-old baby to death at a house in Chard has been sentenced to life in prison. A doctor who works for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is one of five people to have jointly set a new world record for rowing around Great Britain... and more
Friday 24th July

Avon and Somerset Police are warning people to watch out for scammers posing as Amazon. The CEO of the company that provides Somerset's recycling is warning of a major incident if people continue to put used batteries in waste bins. A former Yeovil pub could be demolished to make way for a major hotel expansion.
Thursday 23rd July

The West Country is officially one step closer to being declared in drought. Somerset Council says it's remodelling its service after a children's home was closed following an inspection. A new McDonald's planned off the M5 at Bridgwater could create up to 120 local jobs... and more
Wednesday 22nd July

Two men have been jailed for stealing electrical items and cash from a property in Yeovil. Somerset Council has defended its use of Yeovil’s new performance area in The Triangle, in Lower Middle Street. Tintinhull Primary School, near Yeovil, has won a top national award for outdoor play... and more