Tuesday 7th January

Tuesday, 7 January 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Firefighters have used a boat to rescue a man trapped in a submerged van in floodwaters at Isle Abbots. Businesses in Somerset say there was a return to High Street buying over Christmas. The search is on locally for places where new homes and business premises could be built. Astro-tourism took off in Somerset last year, with hundreds coming to the County to view the Northern Lights...and more.

Firefighters had to use a boat to rescue a man trapped in a submerged van in floodwaters at Isle Abbots. Yesterday morning, a fire crew from Ilminster and a rescue team from Bridgwater wearing flood suits used the boat to bring the driver safely onto dry land.

Businesses in Somerset say there was a return to High Street buying over Christmas, with footfall in some of our local towns up 20 per cent. Owner of Mundys, the florists, in Street, Rob Haywood, said it was good to see people supporting their local shops.

A Yeovil nursery has installed a new defibrillator for public use. The defibrillator at Little Discoveries on Stiby Road was bought following a fundraising campaign led by Nursery manager, Naomi Bartin, in memory of her younger sister, Sasha.

The search is on for places in Somerset where new homes and business premises could be built. Somerset Council is drawing up plans for new developments and wants to hear from landowners who have sites that might be suitable for building.

Langport Young Farmers are recycling Christmas trees again this year. They’re raising money for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, the Farming Community Network and MS UK. The Club says it will collect trees within a five-mile radius of Langport.

People have been flocking to one part of Somerset to view the night sky. Exmoor National Park says so-called Astro-tourism took off last year with hundreds visiting the area to witness the Northern Lights and meteor showers.

Furnham Road in Chard will be closed for the next five months for work to be carried out on two major infrastructure schemes. Wessex Water is installing a new sewer flood alleviation scheme and Wales and West upgrading a gas main.

More from News

Tuesday 18th August

People across Somerset are banned from today from using hosepipes to water gardens, clean windows or cars, or fill swimming and paddling pools. More cases of the potentially deadly livestock disease Bluetongue have been confirmed in Somerset. Work is underway to improve disabled access at Holyrood Academy in Chard... and more
Monday 17th August

Wessex Water, who supplies almost all homes and businesses in Somerset, has introduced a hosepipe ban effective from midnight tonight. A sinkhole on Station Road in Castle Cary has been repaired, two years after it was first discovered. A Wildcat helicopter from RNAS Yeovilton has taken part in the annual passing-out parade at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth... and more
Friday 14th August

Police are investigating an incident in which obscene words were scratched onto the World War One memorial at Ham Hill. Yeovil MP Adam Dance has repeated his call for the upgrade of the town’s police station to include a custody suite. A Somerset carnival club is building a specially adapted float to allow a wheelchair user and her assistance dog to take part in this year’s carnival circuit...and more
Thursday 13th August

An Ilminster family is celebrating after winning one million pounds on the National Lottery. Police have released a picture of a man they want to speak to in connection with suspected frauds in Somerset. Somerset Council has opened a tendering process to find a main contractor for the £15 million upgrade of Yeovil’s Octagon theatre... and more
Wednesday 12th August

Experts say with good visibility forecast for this evening, people across Somerset should have some of the best views of the solar eclipse anywhere in the UK. A Somerset councillor is calling for the Stop Line cycle route between Chard and Ilminster to be better supported. It's 40-years ago this week since a Lynx helicopter built in Yeovil set a new World Helicopter Speed Record... and more
Tuesday 11th August

Wessex Water says a hosepipe ban is possible if customers fail to cut their water usage. A record number of illegal dog fights were reported in Somerset last year. Yeovil Town's Mason Obeng has won the traditional sack of potatoes, given to the player who scores Yeovil's first goal of the new season, as a lucky omen... and more
Monday 10th August

A local councillor claims anti-social behaviour is putting people off coming into Yeovil town centre. South-West Water has announced a hosepipe ban in the Chard area. Great Western Railway has apologised after a wheelchair user from Chard became stuck at one of its stations... and more
Friday 7th August

Chard's biggest employer, Numatic International, makers of the Henry vacuum cleaner, has announced job cuts. A new Neighbourhood Plan for Hatch Beauchamp has officially been adopted. Two historic artefacts taken from Glastonbury Abbey more than 70 years ago have been returned...and more