Wednesday 19th March

Wednesday, 19 March 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

A new report says survival rates from ovarian cancer in Somerset are among the best in England. Farmers say it’s only a matter of time before someone is killed due to criminal gangs using farmland for illegal hare coursing. A Victorian chemist shop, originally situated on the High Street in South Petherton, is being moved to a theme park in County Durham...and more

A new report says survival rates from ovarian cancer in Somerset are among the best in England. Somerset’s success is attributed to patients being diagnosed quicker, and treatments being made available locally, avoiding the need for patients to travel long distances for treatment.

Following an Ofsted inspection, Little Beeches Nursery in Crewkerne has been rated ‘Good’. The nursery at Maiden Beech Academy was praised for its education and management quality.

Fourteen new detectives have started work at Avon and Somerset Police. The officers, recruited from the Police National Training Academy, will investigate complex cases within the Criminal Investigation Department.

Somerset Council is being asked to allow people with learning disabilities to use concessionary bus passes at all times. Bus users are campaigning for the change after Bath and North East Somerset confirmed that concessionary passes, held by people with learning disabilities, can be used at all times. Somerset Council says it has no plans at the moment to change the guidelines for using concessionary bus passes.

Farmers say it’s only a matter of time before someone is killed due to criminal gangs using farmland for illegal hare coursing. Avon and Somerset Police has increased patrols in the Mendip area following an increase in illegal hare coursing by organized gangs.

A 20-year-old cherry orchard at a farm in Chard has been cut down due to the owner's retirement. The owners of Whitehouse Farm in Knowle Lane say after “much consideration” they have decided to grub the orchard after failing to find someone to take over running the orchard.

A Victorian chemist shop, originally situated on the High Street in South Petherton, is moving to County Durham. The inside and front of the shop was collapsed and re-built as part of a Victorian village at Flambards theme park in Helston that closed last year. Now, the village display, including the chemist shop from South Petherton, is being moved to an attraction in Bishop Auckland.

More from News

Tuesday 25th March

A teenage boy has been arrested following an incident in Castle Cary. Somerset Council has announced “wide-ranging improvements” to bus services. Work has started upgrading a doctor’s surgery in Chard. The finalists have been announced for this year’s Somerset Business Awards...and more
Monday 24th March

Numatic International Ltd in Chard has been given planning permission to build a giant solar farm off the A30 Crewkerne Road. The RSPCA says incidents of dropped litter impacting the lives of animals in Somerset is a growing problem. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is marking 25 years of saving lives across the two counties...and more
Friday 21st March

Leonardo in Yeovil is developing a new type of self-flying helicopter. A report into the creation of Somerset Council has found the case for it to be 'weak' and marked by 'poor decision making'. The village of Montecute has been told that it may have one of the country's oldest working clocks...and more.
Thursday 20th March

There has been a further delay to reopening Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre. Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident in Wincanton in which a motorcyclist was killed. A debt advice charity in Somerset is recruiting more volunteers to help with an expected increase in people going into debt...and more.
Tuesday 18th March

Police are appealing for witnesses to a ‘hit and run’ in Henstridge in which an 8-year-old boy was knocked off his scooter. People in Somerset wanting to hold street parties to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day won't have to pay for a road closure. Plans have been submitted to open a new farm shop in Sherborne...and more
Monday 17th March

A Yeovil woman, whose disappearance three weeks ago sparked a big police search, has been found safe and well. A new 3.2 million pound programme of flood risk reduction works has been approved by the Somerset Rivers Authority. Sexey’s School in Bruton has been voted Somerset’s happiest secondary school...and more
Friday 14th March

Four Somerset businesses, including one in Yeovil, have been handed a total of £170,000 in civil penalties for employing illegal workers. National garage chain ATS Euromaster has closed its branch in Wincanton. A farmer in Wincanton is being hailed as a hero after rescuing his pigs from a burning barn...and more
Thursday 13th March

A new campaign has been launched to persuade people in Somerset to stop smoking. Four people have been arrested in Chard in connection with the supply of Class A drugs. A dog from Yeovil has won the title of ‘best in breed’ at Crufts...and more.