Tuesday 4th June

Tuesday, 4 June 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

More than one thousand gas canisters were found dumped at Somerset’s recycling centres in the first four months of this year. Police are appealing for witnesses to a crash on the A303 at Horton in which a motorcyclist was killed. Three pilots from Somerset are marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day by flying their own World War 2 aircraft to Normandy...and more.

More than one thousand gas canisters have been found dumped at Somerset’s recycling centres in the first four months of this year, according to Somerset's waste contractors, SUEZ. They say people are mistakenly putting canisters into recycling blue bags when they should be taking them in person to their local recycling centres. SUEZ says gas canisters and also batteries have been the cause of ten fires at recycling centres in Somerset since last October.

Police are appealing for witnesses to a crash on the A303 at Horton in which a motorcyclist was killed. A silver Ford Fiesta and a motorcycle collided at around 7 pm on Saturday. The motorcyclist died at the scene. The A303 at Horton was closed for several hours, and police now want anyone who saw what happened to please contact them on the non-emergency number 101.

Three pilots from Somerset are marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day by flying their own World War 2 aircraft to Normandy. The Auster aircraft flew from RNAS Yeovilton to France yesterday. One of the pilots, Martin Baldock, said it was important that they mark the anniversary.

A revised bus timetable affecting routes in and around Somerset has come into force this week. The changes aim to improve punctuality and increase capacity, with a new route to the Yeovilton Navy Base introduced for a trial period.

Serving and former Royal Marines from the Westcountry are kayaking across the English Channel, recreating a famous D-Day mission. It took place when a paddle group led a search of the Normandy coastline for places to land Allied troops in the days leading up to June 6th, 1944. To honour the memory of those who took part, a team of Royal Marines are re-creating the journey by sea, after which they will join in at Thursday’s 80th anniversary events.

A road in Ilminster is set to close for five days for roadworks to be carried out. Blackdown View in Ilminster will be shut to traffic from Monday, June 10th until Friday, June 14th to allow Wessex Water to repair a leaking valve.

More from News

Friday 13th March

The first of the new medium lift helicopters being built by Leonardo in Yeovil for the RAF will be delivered in 2031. Somerset Council has launched a public consultation on planned new charges at its two hundred public car parks. More women in Somerset are said to be taking up walking football... and more
Thursday 12th March

A Yeovil headteacher says he’s concerned about plans to stop giving school holiday food vouchers to families on low incomes. The owner of Yeovil Town is calling on fans to be patient as he continues his overhaul of the National League side. A high voltage fault is being blamed for plunging 1700 homes into darkness in the Ilminster area... and more
Wednesday 11th March

Plans have been submitted to convert two properties in Yeovil into houses of multiple occupation. A new court date has been announced for a Yeovil man charged with attempted murder. An engineer who has worked at the Leonardo factory in Yeovil for 40-years has won a top industry award... and more
Tuesday 10th March

Police say a fire at the former Oscar Mayer food factory in Chard was started deliberately. Yeovil College says it would have been adversely affected had Leonardo not won the contract to build new medium-lift helicopters. A seven-foot dragon will be visiting towns and villages in our area during the next few weeks to promote Somerset Day... and more
Monday 9th March

Two Wildcat helicopters from 815 Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton have arrived in Cyprus to help protect RAF Akrotiri from further Iranian drone strikes. New figures show that 40 people were killed on Avon and Somerset’s roads in the last 12-months. A Somerset man has been recalling the day 60-years ago when he was a passenger on the last train on the Somerset and Dorset Railway... and more
Friday 6th March

Defence Minister Luke Pollard has been explaining why it took the government so long to confirm a contract for the Leonardo in Yeovil to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. Police are investigating a break in at a pet shop in Ilminster. Somerset Council is to stop using red ink on council tax reminder letters... and more
Thursday 5th March

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
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