Wednesday 6th August

Wednesday, 6 August 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

A fire at the former Mermaid Hotel in Yeovil town centre is being treated as accidental. People with premium bonds in Somerset are being encouraged to check their numbers as over 800-thousand pounds of prizes remain unclaimed. Chard is set to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day later this month...and more.

A fire at the former Mermaid Hotel in Yeovil town centre is being treated as accidental. Smoke was spotted coming from the property on the High Street at around 8.30 yesterday morning. The fire service says the building was empty at the time and suffered 100% smoke damage.

People with premium bonds in Somerset are being encouraged to check their numbers as over 800-thousand pounds of prizes remain unclaimed in the county by bondholders.

A farm near Chard has taken delivery of two Albion cows and their calves to start a breeding programme. Albion Cattle are considered critically endangered, with a national population of just 300. The animals have been given conservation land to graze on at Beetham Farm in Combe St Nicholas in the hope they will soon start to breed.

A couple in Martock, whose home was extensively damaged when a car drove into the front of it, have thanked the local people for their support. The house on Long Load Road was left in an unsafe state following the collision in early July. Owner, Mark Talbot-Phillips, says it will take at least a year to repair the damage.

Chard is set to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day later this month. The war in the Far East claimed the lives of nearly 30,000 British soldiers and will be marked with a display and candlelight service at Chard Museum on Saturday, August 16th.

A Red Kite, considered at one time to be on the brink of extinction, has been spotted in Somerset. It was photographed flying above Maunsel Lock on the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal near North Newton. The appearance of a Red Kite in Somerset is part of a wider pattern of sightings across the UK.

More from News

Tuesday 15th September

Police investigating an attack on a shop worker in Yeovil have released CCTV images of a man and woman they want to speak to. Farmers in Somerset are being warned to expect more cases of bluetongue. Ilminster Carnival Committee has announced the cancellation of this year's Children's Carnival due to a lack of entries... and more
Monday 14th September

Two new mobile NHS breast screening units have taken to the road in Somerset. More than 700 new homes are to be built alongside the M5 in Bridgwater. Dawes Twineworks in West Coker is one of several venues open to the public for free this month... and more
Friday 11th September

It’s going to cost more to park in Chard. Police have issued an image of a man they want to speak to in connection with two burglaries in Yeovil. Somerset Cricket Club is planning to stage performances by some of the world's biggest artistes at their Taunton ground... and more
Thursday 10th September

Work has begun building a new multi-million-pound David Lloyd leisure centre in Yeovil. NHS Somerset says a new system to handle emergency stroke care will lead to "better outcomes" for patients. Tickets for next year’s Glastonbury Festival will go on sale in October...and more
Wednesday 9th September

Police have released an image of a man they want to speak to following an assault in Yeovil. Businesses in Taunton say they're worried that planned changes to parking rules could put people off visiting the town. The Red Arrows will take to the skies near the Somerset border in a one-off display later this week... and more
Tuesday 8th September

Police in Avon and Somerset say they’re dealing with a big increase in reports of cloned vehicle fraud. A new video system designed to speed up stroke care has been launched in Somerset. Pilgrims are walking through Somerset this week to mark eight hundred years since the death of Saint Francis of Assisi... and more
Monday 7th September

Avon and Somerset Police are warning about a new scam involving criminals posing as police officers. Flu vaccinations are now available on the NHS ahead of the winter. Liverpool comedian John Bishop has cancelled his show in Taunton later this week after breaking his ankle... and more
Friday 4th September

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a vehicle near Shepton Mallet. New taxi charges come into force in Somerset later this month. The fire service is treating as accidental a blaze at a flat in Yeovil town centre... and more