Wednesday 25th October

Wednesday, 25 October 2023 07:00

By Steve Haigh

New figures have shown a significant rise in cases of theft and shoplifting in Somerset. A further one hundred and fifty thousand pounds worth of grant funding has been awarded to charities and projects in Somerset. A Yeovil-based financial expert is offering help to people who may be missing out on a full state pension due to an error in their national insurance records. Yeovil Town increased their lead to four points at the top of National League South by beating Weymouth 2-0 at Huish Park last night...and more.

New figures have shown a significant rise in cases of theft and shoplifting in Somerset. A total of 9,763 incidents of theft were recorded by June 2023, compared to 8,911 by June the previous year. The rise represents an increase in theft cases of 9.6%. Despite this, the total number of crimes committed in Somerset was slightly down from 41,131 by June 2022 to 39,557 in June of this year.

A Yeovil-based financial expert is offering help to people who may be missing out on a full state pension due to an error in their national insurance records. HMRC is writing to people, who are mostly women, who took time off work to care for family between 1978 and 2010, as they may not have been credited with what's known as 'home responsibilities protection'. Stephanie Dyke of Blue Fox Wealth in Yeovil says some claimants could be entitled to a back payment of up to £5,000.

A further one hundred and fifty thousand pounds worth of grant funding has been awarded to charities and projects in Somerset to help tackle the cost-of-living crisis this winter. In the last year, over half a million pounds has been raised by local authorities and companies through the Somerset Community Foundation.

A Somerset woman whose teenage daughter died suddenly in 2017 says retraining as a counsellor has helped her rediscover meaning in her life. Tanya Russell says she "fell apart" five years after seventeen-year-old Johdi suffered Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy. After completing a university course earlier this year, Tanya says it's never too late to change careers.

The parents of a man who needed a heart transplant have fitted a defibrillator in Chard in memory of the donor who gave their son "his life back". Revd Len and Jacquie Schofield’s son, Barry, was left with diabetes and heart failure following having had Covid. In September 2022, a match was found and his heart transplant operation went ahead a few weeks later. Barry’s parents say they’re so thankful to the family of a young man for giving their son his life back and have installed the defibrillator at Bishops Court in Chard in his memory.

Somerset Council has signed a new eight-year contract with Kier Transportation Ltd to deliver maintenance services across its road network. The £225 million agreement covers road repairs, drainage, verge cutting, and winter services, such as gritting.

Yeovil Town increased their lead to 4 points at the top of National League South beating Weymouth 2-0 at Huish Park last night. The crowd of 6,289 was Yeovil’s biggest at home of the season so far.

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Thursday 30th July

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Tuesday 28th July

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Monday 27th July

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Friday 24th July

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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

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