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.

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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