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

Monday 15th June

People in Somerset are being asked to take part in a new survey about alcohol use. Yeovil's MP Adam Dance will lead a debate in Parliament today on NHS dentistry. A Yeovil runner has been selected to represent England at a national endurance championship... and more
Friday 12th June

It's claimed the increasing availability of drugs such as ketamine and cocaine has normalised drug use among young people in Somerset. The trial of a man accused of killing his one-month-old son in Chard begins today at Bristol Crown Court. A stone pillar outside the Langport Arms Hotel in Langport has been replaced after it was destroyed in a car crash... and more
Thursday 11th June

Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to the three aircrew from RNAS Yeovilton who died in last week's helicopter crash in Devon. Two men have been arrested and stolen vehicles seized following a major multi-agency operation in South Somerset. An event highlighting opportunities for women in the aerospace industry has been held in Yeovil... and more
Wednesday 10th June

The public will be consulted on how best to spend fifty million pounds of government funding to tackle flooding in Somerset. Avon and Somerset Police are backing a new road safety campaign aimed at reducing motorcycle fatalities. New welcome signs have been installed at entrances to the Mendip Hills National Landscape... and more
Tuesday 9th June

The government has announced a £50 million investment to strengthen Somerset’s flood defences. A woman from Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been banned from driving for 14 months after admitting drink-driving. Somerset Council has been told it must improve its adult social care services... and more
Monday 8th June

Plans for a new railway station in Langport remain stalled in Whitehall, according to Somerset Council. Plans to build 50 new homes in Broadway, near Ilminster, have been refused. The new water fountains in Yeovil’s Triangle, in Lower Middle Street, are being switched off during very hot weather because of safety concerns... and more.
Friday 5th June

A new NHS dental practice in Crewkerne says it won’t start operating at full capacity until July due to staff shortages. Somerset Council says it has no plans to show England matches in the World Cup on the Big Screen in Yeovil town centre due to safety concerns. A Somerset family has been thanked after completing a 73-mile walk raising money for a third world charity... and more
Thursday 4th June

An investigation continues today into the crash of a Royal Navy helicopter, based at RNAS Yeovilton, in which all three aircrew were killed. Somerset Council has confirmed that a new operator will take over several leisure centres across the county. The new live-action Masters of the Universe movie, filmed in Somerset, is released this week...and more