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

Thursday 17th April

The father of a one-month-old baby boy in Chard is to stand trial for the murder of his son. New figures show that just under 1300 crimes were reported to the Police in Yeovil during the final quarter of last year. A night in a prison cell is offered at Shepton Mallet Jail to those who want to be alone this Easter...and more.
Wednesday 16th April

Big changes are being made to where taxi ranks in Yeovil are located. Farmers are being told to keep an extra lookout for people acting suspiciously following the latest livestock theft near the Devon and Somerset border. Channel 4’s Location Location Location is coming to Somerset, with anyone looking to buy a property locally invited to apply to be in the show...and more
Tuesday 15th April

A 36-year-old man remains in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of a sexual assault in Yeovil. Yeovil Labour Club has had its drinks licence revoked. NHS Somerset has been taking its physiotherapy team around the county to cut waiting times for patients. A men-only cooking course has been launched in Sherborne with all ingredients and equipment provided free of charge...and more
Monday 14th April

A new banking hub has opened in Crewkerne. South Western Ambulance is asking people to only dial 999 in a life-threatening emergency over the Easter weekend. £1.8 million is being spent improving walking and cycling routes around a major new housing development at Up Mudford in Yeovil...and more
Friday 11th April

Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident in Yeovil in which a man riding an e-bike was injured and later died in hospital. Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says the number of false alarm calls it receives is on the increase. A new micro-pub opens in Chard next week...and more
Thursday 10th April

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is calling for more targeted support for schools in Somerset. Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident near Wells in which a cyclist died. Plans have been approved to convert a former care home in Yeovil into a house of multiple occupation...and more
Wednesday 9th April

A man from Yeovil has been jailed for stabbing another man in a pub in the town. Work is underway to help minimize the flood risk at Chard Reservoir. Plans have been submitted to build thirty-six new homes at Sparkford. A new Town Crier is needed in Glastonbury...and more
Tuesday 8th April

Work is underway to demolish the Glovers Walk Shopping Centre in Yeovil. A Yeovil man has appeared in court charged with drink driving for a third time. Somerset Council has paid £35,000 in compensation for failing to deliver the right support to children with special educational needs. Another shop in Yeovil town centre is closing for good today...and more