Wednesday 3rd December

Wednesday, 3 December 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Fire crews have rescued the driver of a car that got stuck in floodwater near Ilminster. Avon and Somerset Police are urging people going out to celebrate this Christmas to book a taxi or use public transport. A woman from South Petherton has come top at the British Down Syndrome Swimming Championships...and more,

Fire crews have rescued the driver of a car that got stuck in floodwater near Ilminster. It happened on Stibbear Lane in Donyatt at around 6.30 pm on Monday, during heavy rain. The driver was trapped for around one hour before being released and moved to a place of safety.

Avon and Somerset Police are urging people going out to celebrate this Christmas to book a taxi or use public transport. Police say they will be stepping up roadside checks during December and say tip-offs received from the public on drivers getting behind the wheel of a car high on alcohol or drugs will be acted upon immediately.

A restaurant in Castle Cary has closed just one year after opening. The Lazy Lobster, on the High Street, launched in August last year, and blames financial reasons for the closure.

A road in Ilminster will close for half a day next week to allow Openreach to carry out repairs to overhead cables. Townsend, from its junction with Bay Hill, will be shut to traffic in both directions between 9 am and 3 pm on Monday, December 8th.

A woman from South Petherton has come top at the British Down Syndrome Swimming Championships. Caroline Faithfull won gold, silver, and bronze in the 1500 metre freestyle, the 100 metre backstroke, and the 800 metre freestyle events. It follows her success at the recently held European Open Down Syndrome Swimming Championships, where she set several new world records.

A Chard woman has won a top prize in the Female Business Awards 2025. Debbie Gilbert, owner of Business Women UnLtd, won first prize in the Networker of the Year category and came runner-up in the Professional Service category.

More from News

Tuesday 2nd December

A 33-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a serious assault in Wincanton. Fire crews have dealt with a house fire in the village of Pitney. Plans have been submitted to redevelop Bridgwater Docks into a cultural and tourist destination. Ilminster's annual Christmas tree festival has opened in the town...and more
Monday 1st December

New figures show that crime in the Avon and Somerset police area rose by 8% in the year to June. South Western Railway has restarted running hourly services through Sherborne, Yeovil and Crewkerne following months of disruption. Persimmon Homes South West has donated £1500 towards the running costs of Castle Cary Rugby Club...and more
Friday 28th November

Somerset Council has failed to stop 150 homes being built in Crewkerne. Posters of a drag act coming to Somerset, displayed in Shepton Mallet, have been vandalised. Avon and Somerset police are using proceeds from drug crime to fund community projects...and more,
Thursday 27th November

A new NHS dentist in Chard will start seeing its first patients next Tuesday. The go-ahead has been given to install five new lighting and CCTV columns on Milfield Road in Chard. Work is to start in January, replacing ageing traffic signals at the A39 junction with Clarks Village in Street...and more
Wednesday 26th November

Workers at Leonardo Helicopters in Yeovil, belonging to the Unite union, have accepted a new pay offer of 8% over two years. Yeovil Town has appointed a new first-team Manager. A new NHS dental practice is due to open in Chard next month...and more
Tuesday 25th November

Yeovil MP, Adam Dance, is calling on the Chancellor to deliver ‘real economic growth’ for Yeovil in her budget tomorrow. The government has given Yeovil College £2 million to upgrade its engineering facilities. A Chard-based charity has sent 7,000 boxes filled with Christmas gifts to Ukraine...and more.
Monday 24th November

A church leader has warned that “irrevocable damage” will be caused to town centres if Somerset Council starts charging for Sunday parking. Fifty new homes are to be built in Castle Cary following a successful planning appeal. A call has been made for a memorial to the victims who died in a plane crash on the Blackdown Hills 80 years ago...and more.
Friday 21st November

A public inquiry is being held into plans to build a large solar farm in the village of Wayford. Fire crews have put out a small blaze at Tesco in Ilminster. Canadian firm KDC One is closing its Wellington factory, putting dozens of jobs at risk. It's Ilminster's turn to switch on the Christmas lights tonight... and more.