Wednesday 5th June

Wednesday, 5 June 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

World War Two veterans, including 99-year-old Stan Ford from Somerset, have arrived in Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. A project to encourage more sustainable travel for school children is underway in Somerset. Strawberry growers say the season's been delayed by around two weeks due to a lack of sunshine...and more.

World War Two veterans, including 99-year-old Stan Ford from Somerset, have arrived in Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Each of them is carrying a commemorative torch from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission that will form the centrepiece of a vigil at Bayeux War Cemetery. Stan Ford served with the Royal Navy during D-Day and was badly injured when his ship was torpedoed.

A project to encourage more sustainable travel for school children is underway in Somerset.

Strawberry growers in Somerset say the season has been delayed by around two weeks due to a lack of sunshine this year.

People eligible for a Spring Covid jab are being told they only have until the end of this month to get one. The vaccination booster is available to those aged 75 or over, along with older adult care home residents, and people with a weakened immune system.

A new adventure garden has been opened at Shepton Beauchamp Church School. Children at the school were involved in designing the new play area, with parents raising £8,000 to pay for it.

A ‘Pride in Parks’ five-star award has been given to Ninesprings Country Park in Yeovil. It’s the fourth time the Park’s been given the award by The Royal Horticultural Society. The judging panel singled out the park rangers and volunteers for maintaining the appearance of Ninesprings Country Park.

Firefighters at Yeovil Fire Station will embark on cycling 270 miles in just two days for charity later this month. Members of Yeovil Red Watch will be cycling to every fire station in Somerset, plus one in every neighbouring county, starting on Thursday, June 20th, raising money for The Little Princess Trust and The Firefighters Charity.

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Friday 31st July

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says July has been its busiest month ever for emergency calls. Police have recovered a 1970s Austin Mini pick-up stolen in Shepton Mallet. A specialist spinal injuries service at Yeovil Hospital has treated three hundred patients in its first year... and more
Thursday 30th July

The Environment Agency has declared a drought across Somerset as the hot weather takes its toll on the county's water supplies. Police are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic accident near Crewkerne. A bowls player from Yeovil has won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow...and more
Wednesday 29th July

Police have arrested two suspects in connection with a series of moped thefts in Chard. A combine harvester has been destroyed in a farm fire at Forton, near Chard. A bowls player from Yeovil has won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow... and more
Tuesday 28th July

The former Beales department store in Yeovil could be brought back into use as part of a wider masterplan for the future of the town. A yellow heat health alert is in place across Somerset from nine o’clock this morning until nine o’clock on Friday morning. A Somerset farmer says this year is the driest on his land since 1976... and more
Monday 27th July

Gooch and Housego, based in Ilminster and one of the town’s biggest employers, has been sold in a multi-million-pound deal to an American private equity firm. A father who shook his four-week-old baby to death at a house in Chard has been sentenced to life in prison. A doctor who works for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is one of five people to have jointly set a new world record for rowing around Great Britain... and more
Friday 24th July

Avon and Somerset Police are warning people to watch out for scammers posing as Amazon. The CEO of the company that provides Somerset's recycling is warning of a major incident if people continue to put used batteries in waste bins. A former Yeovil pub could be demolished to make way for a major hotel expansion.