Monday 19th February

Monday, 19 February 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

There's an increased risk of flooding on local roads today following a weekend of heavy rain. Police have issued an urgent appeal to find a missing teenager, thought to be in South Somerset. A new public clock was officially unveiled in Ilminster town centre at the weekend...and more

The Environment Agency is warning of floods in parts of South Somerset today following a weekend of heavy rain. The River Parrett at Chiselborough is reported to be bank-full with overtopping likely, threatening the road between Norton-sub-Hambdon and Stratton. The River Yeo at Huish Episcopi is also causing concern with the road between Langport and Muchelney, and the road at Ashford Mill at Fivehead at risk of flooding.

Police have issued an urgent appeal to find a missing teenager, thought to be in South Somerset. Segun, who also goes by the name of Joshua, was last in Castle Cary. He’s described as black, 5ft 11 inches tall, with short dreadlocks and brown eyes. When last seen he was wearing a shiny black puffer jacket and carrying a red and white striped man bag. Police say he has links to Chard, Yeovil, Bruton and Castle Cary. If you see him, you’re asked to call 999.

The Electoral Reform Society says the names of up to 12,000 people in the Yeovil constituency are missing from the Electoral Register. That’s around one in eight aged over 18 people living in Yeovil who currently are not entitled to vote in elections. Now, two Somerset councillors, Adam Dance and Tom Power, have launched a campaign to encourage younger people in particular to check that their names are on the Electoral Register. To check that you are registered to vote go to: elections@somerset.gov.uk

A new public clock was officially unveiled in Ilminster at the weekend. Positioned on the corner of Silver Street and East Street, the clock pays tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth and has been paid for with money raised by the town’s Rotary Club.

A long-standing British fishing record looks set to be smashed after a huge Pike was caught at Chew Valley Lake in Somerset. The catch, weighing forty-seven pounds, was landed by local angler, Lloyd Watson. If ratified by the British Record Fish Committee, it will beat the previous national Pike record of forty-six pounds and thirteen ounces, set in 1992.

A man in Chard has been doing his bit to reduce speeding traffic by cutting back overgrown hedges hiding a speed sign. Rob Culliford decided to trim the hedges on the A30 Crewkerne to Chard Road as they were blocking a 30 mph speed sign, making it difficult for motorists to see what the speed limit was on the road.

More from News

Friday 7th March

The Leader of Somerset Council has repeated his call for a reform of the way that councils are funded. Crimestoppers is stepping up efforts to help tackle violent crime in Somerset. A new radar satellite is playing a crucial role in collecting data about flooding in Somerset...and more
Thursday 6th March

Somerset Council has approved a seven-and-a-half percent increase in council tax. People are being asked to return boxes of paracetamol bought from Boots Chemists in Somerset. It’s been revealed that five members of staff at Somerset Council are being allowed to work from home outside the UK...and more
Wednesday 5th March

Somerset Council has been told that hundreds of millions of pounds in loans taken out by former district councils, including South Somerset, have to be paid back. A Somerset charity says it needs more volunteers to help with research into new treatments for dementia. A local shop owner has welcomed Somerset Council’s decision to scrap plans to charge for parking after 6 pm...and more.
Tuesday 4th March

The population of Somerset has reached record levels with nearly one in ten born outside the UK. Stanchester School in Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been rated as ‘requiring improvement’. Experts have been called in to appraise a 15th-century piece of artwork in Sherborne...and more.
Monday 3rd March

A woman from Crewkerne has been fined £280 for assaulting two emergency workers. Plans have been announced to open new NHS dental surgeries in Chard and Crewkerne. A Yeovil man has been thanked for raising £10,000 for the cardiac charity Heartbeat...and more
Friday 28th February

A local man has been charged after allegedly driving a tractor while under the influence of alcohol. One hundred bikes, collected with household waste in Somerset, have been donated to charity. The junction of the A37 Ilchester Road and Stiby Road in Yeovil will again shut this evening for resurfacing...and more.
Thursday 27th February

Fourteen hundred people have added their names to a petition against Somerset Council's plans to scrap free car parks. St Margaret’s Hospice has won a share of £25 million of government funding. A man from Charlton Adam is preparing to visit Ukraine as an Aid Worker for a tenth time...and more
Wednesday 26th February

A local man has been charged with possessing an air weapon following an incident in Yeovil town centre. The Labour government has removed funding to the Amulet Theatre in Shepton Mallet that the previous Conservative government had allocated. Entries are now open for this year’s Minster Miles 10K fun run with organisers aiming to exceed last year’s number of runners...and more.