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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Reckleford in Yeovil is to shut for 15 days for essential drainage works. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has paid out compensation of £23 million for claims related to birth injuries. A Grade II listed building in Glastonbury has been converted into a health and wellbeing centre...and more
Monday 20th October

Somerton and Glastonbury MP, Sarah Dyke, says the government needs to get an urgent grip on the worsening dentistry situation in her constituency. Bridgwater Town Council has criticised plans by the Somerset Council to charge for Sunday parking. Somerset Council’s Libraries service has launched its Winter Coat Exchange scheme for a third year...and more
Friday 17th October

A new £7 million primary school and nursery is to be built in the grounds of Holyrood Academy in Chard. A public consultation has opened into plans to merge the parishes of Ansford and Castle Cary. The nomination papers that paved the way for Margaret Thatcher to become Britain's first female Prime Minister have been uncovered in a Somerset garage...and more
Thursday 16th October

Two mothers in Chard are calling on carnival organisers to make carnivals more accessible to children with special educational needs. 4,000 people have been put on a waiting list at a new NHS dental practice in Somerset. Channel 4’s ‘Love It or List It’ is looking to feature properties in Somerset in a new series... and more
Wednesday 15th October

The maternity unit at Yeovil Hospital is to reopen within the next six months. There’s been a further delay to reopening Yeovil’s Octagon theatre. No CrossCountry trains will run through Somerset this weekend due to planned industrial action by the RMT union...and more.
Tuesday 14th October 2025

Film and TV crews have given Somerset's economy a £4 million boost in the last 12 months. Around 100 people have objected to plans to build 325 new homes in Crewkerne. Somerset Council is asking the public to report anyone they see sleeping rough...and more
Monday 13th October

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is urging people to join a campaign for improved support for children with dyslexia. An opposition Conservative member of Somerset Council says businesses will suffer a ‘terrible blow’ if plans go ahead to sell off five Yeovil town centre car parks. A Yeovil man has been jailed for three years... and more.
Friday 10th October

Union members at Leonardo sites across the UK, including in Yeovil, have voted to go on strike after rejecting a 3.2 percent pay offer. GWR has apologised for not providing a visually impaired Yeovil women with an escort to cross between platforms at Pen Mill station. A walnut grower in Somerset is calling on supermarkets to stop importing the nuts from aboard and to sell the ones he grows instead... and more