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

Friday 13th March

The first of the new medium lift helicopters being built by Leonardo in Yeovil for the RAF will be delivered in 2031. Somerset Council has launched a public consultation on planned new charges at its two hundred public car parks. More women in Somerset are said to be taking up walking football... and more
Thursday 12th March

A Yeovil headteacher says he’s concerned about plans to stop giving school holiday food vouchers to families on low incomes. The owner of Yeovil Town is calling on fans to be patient as he continues his overhaul of the National League side. A high voltage fault is being blamed for plunging 1700 homes into darkness in the Ilminster area... and more
Wednesday 11th March

Plans have been submitted to convert two properties in Yeovil into houses of multiple occupation. A new court date has been announced for a Yeovil man charged with attempted murder. An engineer who has worked at the Leonardo factory in Yeovil for 40-years has won a top industry award... and more
Tuesday 10th March

Police say a fire at the former Oscar Mayer food factory in Chard was started deliberately. Yeovil College says it would have been adversely affected had Leonardo not won the contract to build new medium-lift helicopters. A seven-foot dragon will be visiting towns and villages in our area during the next few weeks to promote Somerset Day... and more
Monday 9th March

Two Wildcat helicopters from 815 Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton have arrived in Cyprus to help protect RAF Akrotiri from further Iranian drone strikes. New figures show that 40 people were killed on Avon and Somerset’s roads in the last 12-months. A Somerset man has been recalling the day 60-years ago when he was a passenger on the last train on the Somerset and Dorset Railway... and more
Friday 6th March

Defence Minister Luke Pollard has been explaining why it took the government so long to confirm a contract for the Leonardo in Yeovil to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. Police are investigating a break in at a pet shop in Ilminster. Somerset Council is to stop using red ink on council tax reminder letters... and more
Thursday 5th March

Two military helicopters from RNAS Yeovilton are being sent to Cyprus to help bolster UK’s defences amid the US-Israel war with Iran. Yeovil Town Council is seeking legal advice over the closure of the hyper acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital. Flood warnings have been lifted on the Somerset Levels... and more
Wednesday 4th March

A man has died in a fire in Wincanton. Somerset Council is planning further cuts of twenty-one million pounds to help balance its books. A campaign to raise £30,000 for a minibus has been launched in Chard... and more