Wednesday 26th August

Wednesday, 26 August 2026 06:30

Two people have been arrested and released under investigation after the death of a baby in Crewkerne. A large sand picture of the prime minister has appeared in Burnham On Sea. The wet winter and hot summer means cider producers are struggling with their yields... and more.

Two people have been arrested and released under investigation after the sudden and unexplained death of a baby in Crewkerne. Avon and Somerset Police were called to a property in the town by the ambulance service, shortly before 2.45pm on Sunday August 16th. The child was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are treating the cause of death as unexplained following an initial forensic postmortem examination. A spokesman for Avon & Somerset Police said “we would politely ask people not to speculate around the circumstances because there is still a great deal of information we need to ascertain and review to further our understanding of what occurred”.

A large sand picture of the prime minister has drawn some curious looks after it appeared on Burnham on Sea’s beach front on Monday. Campaign group 38 Degrees wants to highlight what it calls 'the national sewage crisis’. The sand drawing showed Andy Burnam’s face and said 'Burnham-on-Sewage' - but was washed away by the tide in the afternoon. The Environment Agency has responded saying it’s working to improve water quality in the area.

The wet winter followed by the long, dry, hot summer - means cider producers are struggling with their yields Whilst cider sells well in the summer months, producers are concerned at the lack of apples growing in their orchards ahead of the autumn harvest.

Two and half thousand people have signed a petition calling on the government to urgently rebuild Taunton's maternity unit - after a report identified it as one of the worst in England. The government says it is working to a 'realistic and deliverable' timeline to deliver the new unit.

Ferne Animal Sanctuary’s charity gala evening is returning to Ilminster this autumn, following a successful 2025 outing. The event helps raise money to support hundreds of animals in need and the charity is keen for locals to buy tickets, saying the gala at the Shrubbery Hotel on Friday October 16th is essential to the sanctuary’s continued operations.

More from News

Tuesday 25th August

Fire crews have been dealing with a fire in Ilchester which broke out yesterday afternoon. Somerset’s frontline health services say heatwaves and tourism are making their jobs more difficult. A Chard health store has been named Natural Lifestyle Retailer of the Year.. and more.
Monday 24th August

The Chair of the NFU has repeated calls for a longer-term plan to tackle bluetongue, Three men have been jailed for their involvement in car key burglaries in Somerset. Police say they’re treating a fire in Norton Fitzwarren as suspicious... and more.
Friday 21st August

Adam Dance MP has added his voice to those criticising this week’s Channel 4 documentary on ADHD. Visitors can now explore more of Ham Hill with a new off-road mobility scooter hiring scheme. Young people are being encouraged to join the Ilminster Carnival children’s procession... and more.
Thursday 20th August

Castle Cary railway station’s makeover has been officially unveiled. A new 18 million pound diagnostic centre in Bridgwater has opened. A Crewkerne teenager has been named ‘coach of the year’ for his work with Bristol City.... and more.
Wednesday 19th August

The fire service in Somerset has issued a plea for the public to take every precaution to prevent wildfires. Plans have been approved for Numatic International to install one-thousand solar panels on roof of their Chard factory. Somerset fast bowler, Jake Ball, has signed a new one-year contract that will keep him at the club for the 2027 season... and more
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