Tuesday 28th January

Tuesday, 28 January 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Work continues to clean up from the floods in Chard, Ilminster, Somerton, South Petherton, and parts of Yeovil. A man who threatened to kill a support worker at the mental health unit in Yeovil has been sentenced to a community order. A competition that gives new musicians the chance to play at this year's Glastonbury festival has opened for entries...and more

Work continues to clean up from the floods in Chard, Ilminster, Somerton, South Petherton, and parts of Yeovil. The major incident, declared by Somerset Council, remains in force this morning to ensure a multi-agency approach to the emergency. 12 flood warnings for Somerset, including along the catchments of the Rivers Isle, Parrett and Brue, issued by the Environment Agency also remain in force. Yeovil MP, Adam Dance, is asking for people’s experiences of dealing with floods, as part of his campaign to get more money invested by the central government in flood prevention.

A man who threatened to kill a support worker at the mental health unit where he lived in Yeovil has been sentenced to a community order. Matthew Hunniset, aged 23, of Bladen Valley, Briantspuddle, in Dorset, pleaded guilty to assaulting Hannah Martin and using or threatening unlawful violence towards her. After receiving a pre-sentence report from the Probation Service, magistrates in Yeovil told Hunniset they had come close to sending him to prison. Instead, they sentenced him to a 12-month community order, with 30 rehabilitation activity days, and a 120-day tagged alcohol treatment order. He was also ordered to pay the victim £250 compensation.

A former 40 Commando and triple amputee from Somerset is waiting for a new world record to be verified by the Guinness Book of World Records. At the weekend, Mark Ormrod became the first person to pull a two-and-a-half-ton truck more than 100 metres.

Somerset Sight is looking for volunteers to support blind and partially sighted people in Yeovil. The roles involve visiting people at home for companionship, helping with their correspondence, and accompanying them on shared outings. Details of how to apply as a volunteer can be found on the Somerset Sight website.

The first of a series of face-to-face dementia clinics takes place in Yeovil today. The sessions, hosted by Dementia UK's Admiral Nurses, offer practical and emotional support for dementia patients. The clinics are taking place at the Yeovil branch of Nationwide in Middle Street over the next 3-days, starting from today.

A competition that gives new musicians the chance to play at this year's Glastonbury festival has opened for entries. The winners of the Emerging Talent Competition will play one of the main stages and be awarded a five thousand pound Talent Development prize. The closing date to apply is February 3rd.

More from News

Wednesday 5th February

The Lib Dem Leader of Somerset Council, Councillor Bill Revans, says they had no choice but to ask the government to allow them to lift the 5 percent cap on raising Council Tax. Two teenagers have been released on bail following the stabbing of two people in Yeovil. More than six thousand pounds has been awarded to local groups by Chard Carnival Committee.... and more.
Tuesday 4th February

Somerset has been permitted to increase its Council Tax share by 7.5 percent. An Ilminster man, forced out of his house by last week's floods, says he doesn't know when he will be able to return home. Ilminster Literary Festival has launched its annual children’s writing competition, designed to encourage local children to write creative literature...and more.
Monday 3rd February

Five men have appeared in court charged with the murder of a man in Yeovil. A 16-year-old is the second person to be arrested in connection with a stabbing in Yeovil. Yeovil’s new outdoor entertainment space in Lower Middle Street has been officially opened by the town’s MP... and more.
Friday 31st January

A teenager has been arrested following a stabbing in Yeovil. Water bills in Somerset are set to go up on average by £123 from April. Yeovil MP, Adam Dance will officially open Yeovil’s new outdoor performance space later today...and more
Thursday 30th January

Lloyds bank is closing its branch in Chard. A Sherborne man has been jailed after defrauding a Yeovil woman of £40,000. A volunteer group in Chard is urging people to sign up to a flood victims register. A councillor in Shepton Mallet has become the first Reform UK member on Somerset Council... and more
Wednesday 29th January

New mums in Somerset could soon be offered a cervical screening test six weeks after giving birth. Police are asking for help in finding a Yeovil man wanted on recall to prison. The government has given half a million pounds towards planting more trees in Somerset, including 100 new trees in Yeovil...and more
Monday 27th January

A major incident has been declared by Somerset Council to ensure a multi-agency response to the flash flooding that's affected Chard, Crewkerne, Ilminster, South Petherton and parts of Yeovil. Police believe a 4x4 pick-up truck, found submerged in the River Yeo at Yeovilton at the weekend, may have been stolen. An appeal to raise £2 million to restore the Grand Organ at Wells Cathedral has raised over £1 million in less than 18 months...and more
News Friday 24th January

Plans have been submitted to build a David Lloyd Health and Fitness Club in Yeovil. Carers in Somerset say spending cuts to mental health support services will be hugely damaging. People with memories of Somerset women's cricket side are being asked to take part in a project to preserve its history. Two of our local restaurants have been listed in the top 100 restaurants in the UK...and more