Tuesday 20th August

Tuesday, 20 August 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Cameras connected to artificial intelligence that catch law-breaking drivers are being introduced on Somerset's roads. Police patrols have been stepped up at Millennium Wood in Castle Cary. A Somerset man has written a book about his father's role in the Battle of Arnhem in 1944...and more.

Cameras connected to artificial intelligence that catch law-breaking drivers are being introduced on Somerset's roads. It follows trials in Devon and Cornwall in which 117 mobile phone offences and 180 seat belt offences were detected within the first 72 hours of the system being switched on. Two cameras are used to take high-speed front-facing and overhead images of vehicles with AI detecting potential offences. The images are then verified by a real person to determine whether an offence has taken place.

Police patrols have been stepped up at Millennium Wood in Castle Cary after bird boxes and a memorial bench seat were vandalised. Police are treating the incident as criminal damage and ask that anyone with information, call the non-emergency number 101.

A Somerset insect expert says while there haven't been a lot of bugs around this summer, that's likely to change. Entemologist, Dee Patel says for the time of year, the combination of rainfall and heat has meant more ants, wasps, mosquitoes and slugs are now surfacing.

Young people struggling with their mental health are being offered extra support over the summer. Somerset MIND is running an out of hours youth safe space service for 13-to-25 year olds. Vicky Pool from Somerset MIND says it's teaching young people de-escalation techniques to reduce anxiety and stress.

A Somerset man has written a book based on his father's role in the Battle of Arnhem in 1944. Frank Hughes was part of Operation Market Garden in the Glider Pilot Regiment, where he silently flew behind enemy lines. ‘Veteran’ by Tan Hughes a month ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem.

A Chard woman's planning a skydive to raise much-needed cash for the Ferne Animal Sanctuary at Wambrook. Jackie Dennis, who describes herself as a devoted animal lover, will descend the 15,000 feet from the skies over Somerset on September 20th.

Yeovil Town have a game tonight. They take on Ebbsfleet United in a National League fixture at Huish Park, kick-off at 7.45 pm.

More from News

Friday 27th September

Bleed kits have been installed in Yeovil this week. Herne View Primary School has been awarded the Skills Builder Partnership Gold Award. Somerset's Trading Standards says there are new scams doing the rounds linked to parking charges... and more.
Thursday 26th September

A body has been found in the search for missing Michael Wheeler from Yeovil. The Met Office has issued another yellow rain warning for the region. Ilminster’s hopes for a banking hub has been raised... and more.
Wednesday 25th September

Five men have been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with a missing Yeovil man. The purchase of Glover’s Walk has been successfully completed by Somerset Council. A new ‘silent book club’ is coming to Chard next month. A special school is celebrating 20 years of being rated as Ofsted 'Outstanding'...and more.
Tuesday 24th September

Somerset doctors are urging us to look out for children with asthma as temperatures begin to drop. A local organisation is celebrating an award of nearly £20,000. A new traffic management system will affect drivers on the A303 this weekend... and more.
Monday 23rd September

Police are searching sites across South Somerset in an ongoing investigation into a missing man. Engineering work is taking place on local train services. Yeovil Town's Community Sports Trust have attempted a Somerset version of the Three Peaks Challenge...and more.
Friday 20th September

According to new data, the Environment Agency is attending fewer incidents in Somerset than before the pandemic. Leonardo Helicopters says winning a major share of £435 million in investment in Leonardo’s UK operations will secure hundreds of jobs in Yeovil. Latest figures show that Yeovil was the cheapest place to buy a home in Somerset over the last 12 months...and more
Thursday 19th September

Yeovil's MP Adam Dance has officially opened a new £30 million logistic hub at Leonardo Helicopters in Yeovil. Somerset Council says more parents are looking to move their children out of private schools and into state schools due to the addition of 20 percent VAT to private school fees. Star of TV’s Clarkson’s Farm, Kaleb Cooper, will be appearing at next month’s Yeovil Literary Festival...and more.
Wednesday 18th September

BT is reassuring customers in Somerset who are worried about the upcoming digital switchover for landline phones. Somerset Council could lose 13 percent of its elected members as part of an upcoming boundary review. Castle Cary has been named as the best place to live in the UK in an online poll...and more.