WELLINGTON has produced Somerset's first recruit for a charity abseil off one of the South-West's favourite stately homes. Cllr Valerie Byrne, of Richards Close, has put herself forward for the Drogo Dangle in aid of Cancer Research UK, next month. After
COUNCILLORS will hear an update on the progress of Wellington's Community Speedwatch scheme on Monday. The project, which got underway last month, sees 16 trained volunteers going out in pairs and using speed cameras to record the speeds of vehicles using
A RECORD-breaking steam engine will pass through Wellington to commemorate the centenary of the world's first 100mph rail run this weekend. The Great Western Railway engine 3440 City of Truro will haul rail enthusiasts from Bristol to Kingswear and back
TIVERTON Town are one game away, from securing a place in next season's new Conference Two South after beating Chelmsford City 1-0 at Ladysmead in the first play-off game on Monday. A 3-2 defeat at home to relegated Hednesford Town last Saturday meant
YEOVIL Town FC are expected to leave for Lincolnshire today (Friday) in readiness for tomorrow's big match at Lincoln City. The Glovers will be fired up for the game at Sincil Bank - which is expected to be watched by a full house. Yeovil know that a
SOMERSET Vikings have made a winning start to the new season in the South West Division of the Rugby League Conference. They opened with a convincing 42 pts-6 victory over local rivals Bristol Sonics at Hyde Park, Taunton, last Saturday. The Vikings led
MINEHEAD'S joint managers Charlie Lewis and Marc Antonelli will be taking a break from soccer before getting down to planning for next season. "We have a couple of months in which to chill out," said Lewis yesterday. Lewis, however, has already spoken
FORGET guns and knives, health bosses in West Somerset are staging amnesty for an all-together different type of weapon of mass destruction next week. The district's pensioners are being invited to hand over their worn or damaged slippers in a "Slipper
YOUNG shipmates braved the cut-throat world of a pirates weekend at Tropiquaria in Washford over the bank holiday. General manager Naomi Griffith laid on a host of activities to shiver the timbers of the youngsters, who entered into the spirit by coming
CHEFS at Butlins in Minehead are facing one of their biggest challenges yet with the task of keeping 30 world-class strongmen full up for the week. They have been forced to create a special menu to feed the giant-sized competitors of the 'Britain's Strongest
A WASHFORD woman has completed a remarkable climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, despite suffering from a debilitating illness. Jenny Genge is one of two million women throughout the UK suffering with endometriosis, a condition that, as
EXOTIC animals from a West Somerset tourist attraction were spared from eviction this week after national park bosses agreed to let them stay for the rest of their lives. On Tuesday, Exmoor National Park Authority's planning committee considered a report
SEVEN businesses across West Somerset could face prosecution after they were caught selling booze to under-age drinkers. In a sting by police and trading standards bosses last month, two traders in Minehead, and two others, in Carhampton and Watchet,
SEDGEMOOR Splash may soon be installing CCTV cameras after a spate of locker thefts at the Bridgwater leisure centre. See this week's Mercury for a full report.
Police road safety officer, PC Ian Tanner, will be working in partnership with Plymouth City Councils road safety officer, Peter Rockey on Monday May 10 conducting mobile phone surveys and enforcement. The date will mark the six-month anniversary since
ALEXIS Piper has been voted Player of the Year by his team-mates at Wellington Football Club. Piper, who is also on the books of Taunton Town, was presented with the Douglas Northam Cup at the Screwfix League club's annual dinner and dance last Friday
TAUNTON'S main Post Office is to become a convenience store - amid fears it could eventually close. Customers will be able to buy newspapers and confectionery alongside stamps and TV licences when the North Street outlet converts to a Spar franchise in
TAUNTON'S main Post Office is to become a convenience store - amid fears it could eventually close. Customers will be able to buy newspapers and confectionery alongside stamps and TV licences when the North Street outlet converts to a Spar franchise in
TOURISTS say Somerset is a great place to come back to again and again, according to a new survey. Two-thirds of holidaymakers say the quality of Somerset's environment is attractive and the most important factors when choosing to visit the county are
ONE of the world's most invasive plants, the Japanese Knotweed, is threatening to damage a number of flood banks along the River Tone in Taunton. The spread of the plant may also lead to a loss of wildlife as it will kill off native plants, altering the
CAMPAIGNERS pressing for vital improvements to the A358 between Taunton and Ilminster were left incredulous as the South-West Regional Assembly narrowly backed plans for a rival route over the Blackdown Hills. On Friday the assembly voted 42-41 to press
CASH has been pouring in for the Somerset County Gazette's 'Cash for Cancer Relief' campaign and the total now stands at £255,983. The total has been boosted thanks to a donation of £522 from John Watt's 50th birthday and £495 from an exhibition by Taunton
A SEMINAR will be held in Taunton later this month for people interested in the work of the British Institute for Brain Injured Children. The charity will be offering parents and professionals working with children suffering from conditions such as autism
A MAN was arrested in Taunton on Wednesday on suspicion of attempted murder. It followed a frenzied attack on a man stabbed five times and left for dead at his home in Wellington. A 31-year-old Wellington man was later arrested in South Road, Taunton
BEER lovers in Somerset are being encouraged to go to the pub and ask for a pint of mild ale in a promotion organised by CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale). CAMRA says that mild, which dates back 400 years, has completely disappeared from many pubs in Britain
COSTA Coffee, the largest chain of branded coffee shops in the UK, will be opening a store at The Quedam Centre in Yeovil this summer. The coffee operator will occupy approximately 50 per cent of the old Coffee Royale unit, which is now to be split into
A MEMORIAL bench commemorating workers who lose their lives each year at work has been unveiled at Taunton's Vivary Park. The bench was donated by the UNISON regional health and safety committee in memory of the two million people worldwide who lose their
A GLITTERING pageant to celebrate the refurbishment of one of Taunton's most historic buildings will be held in June. St Mary Magdalene Church, which has reopened after the first phase of a major revamp was completed, will form the backdrop to the event
A PAIR of Sir Cliff Richard's socks, an afternoon sailing trip and a helicopter ride helped raise £4,900 for St Mary's Church in Bishop Lydeard. An auction of promises and items, including the socks, which were snapped up for £300, was held in aid of
A THIRD of shops targeted by police in Taunton Deane were caught selling booze to under age drinkers, it was revealed this week. In an operation by police and trading standards bosses, three out of nine stores illegally sold alcohol to under-18s. The
CHRISTMAS may be 33 weeks away, but plans are taking shape in Taunton already. Budding writers are being asked to pen the script for the popular town centre nativity show. Last year's Living Nativity play drew in a crowd of over 2,000 and this year's
SHOPPERS in Taunton town centre will witness the launch of an anti-extremist campaign tomorrow (Saturday) at 11am. The Communication Workers Union and the Somerset Anti-Prejudice Movement will promote their new pamphlet, 'Somerset People: Don't Panic!
POLICE have moved to quell fears of rising violence in Taunton town centre. Figures showing the number of violent crimes in the centre rose by 9.3 per cent -- up from 622 to 680 incidents -- over the past year are misleading, according to Sgt Nick Frewin
COMBE St Nicholas need victory from their final game of the season this Saturday (May 8) to clinch promotion to Division One of the Somerset County League. Combe entertain fellow highflyers St George Easton-in-Gordano at Slades Cross, and a win will seal
A 26-SEATER bicycle -- complete with midwives, health visitors, mothers and babies -- will be ridden through Taunton tomorrow (Saturday) at the start of National Breastfeeding Week, which aims to encourage mothers to breastfeed their babies. There will
A MEMORIAL bench commemorating workers who lose their lives each year at work has been unveiled at Taunton's Vivary Park. The bench was donated by the UNISON regional health and safety committee in memory of the two million people worldwide who lose their
A CHARITY CD that was launched in Brean during a linedancing event is clocking up sales around the world. See this week's Weekly News for a full report.
CAMBORNE and Redruth Motor Club staged a South West Championship Hare and Hounds on a newly laid tracka t Nancemellion near Camborne on Sunday. It proved a beautifully sunny day for racing and spectating. In the championship the racing was excellent and
CORNWALL 37pts HERTFORDSHIRE 17pts A SPIRITED Hertfordshire were no match for a new-look Cornwall side in the opening match of this season's Tetley's Bitter County Championship at Camborne on Saturday. Success at the Recreation Ground now sets up Cornwall
ILMINSTER A played Crewkerne away in the County League in their first competitive game of the season. In a good match, Ilminster won on two of the three rinks and gained ten points. Scores: Rink One: P. Bromfield, K. Holmes, M. Rowe, N. Rowe 17-19; Rink
ILMINSTER Town are setting their sights on double glory this Tuesday (May 11) when they take on top-flight team Paulton Rovers Reserves in the final of the Somerset County League Premier/Div One Cup at Shepton Mallet FC. The Blues' first success of the
MILVERTON went football crazy on Bank Holiday Monday. And the excitement and good weather even saw the pitches invaded by a male streaker. The village's second Annual Challenge Shield five-a-side Football Tournament saw 20 teams competing for glory. Fancy
A PAIR of Wiveliscombe-based cyclists are swapping the rolling hills of Somerset for the Highlands of Scotland on a 1,100-mile adventure. Kingsmead Community School students, Hal Roberts and Tom Lowday, both 16, have their sights set on the ultimate cycling
A WELLINGTON man was stabbed five times and left for dead in a frenzied attack at his home this week. Despite his injuries, the victim managed to stagger from his flat opposite the fire station to the town centre where he was found on a bench, covered
SPIRITUAL healing has miraculously saved the life of a horse medical science had written off. Blackdown Hills-based healer Julia Spencer was devastated when vets told her that 31-year-old mare Tammy should be put down after sustaining four fractured bones
PLANS for Wellington Sports Federation's second Summer Spectacular are already taking shape. Set for the August Bank Holiday (August 30) the Somerset County Gazette-backed event promises to be even bigger and better than last year's popular family friendly
SWIMMERS in Wellington can take the plunge for free later this month. Wellington Sports Centre is one of the chosen venues for The Sharron Davies Swim a Mile Challenge in aid of the Variety Club. The TV presenter and former Olympic swimmer said: "I'm
A LONG-AWAITED and much-needed youth facility is all set to be built in the east of Wellington. A play wall, aimed at giving youngsters somewhere positive to go and spend time rather than hanging around on the streets making mischief, is planned for land
WELLINGTON Town Councillors will give their verdict on plans to rebuild the town's terrible toilets next week. As revealed by the Somerset County Gazette last week, Taunton Deane Council has produced a new £100,000 'pavilion'-style design, featuring a
THE first Saturday of Devon Cricket League matches was more like November than May. Of the matches that did at least start, Sandford made 188-9 against Paignton in the Premier Division with Richard Baggs top scoring with 44. In reply the seasiders were
EXETER City will entertain Premiership outfit Birmingham City in a pre-season friendly thanks to their sponsors Flybe. The Exeter-based airline, who also sponsor Birmingham, have arranged for the teams to meet at St James' on Tuesday, August 3, with all
Boxer Scott Dann from Plymouth takes on Danny Thornton in Bristol on Saturday, May 8, for the vacant middleweight champinship of England. The 29-year-old southpaw is currently rated second in the British rankings.
CHAMPIONS! Plymouth Argyle, the new champions of Nationwide Football League Division One, entertain Colchester at Home Park on Saturday, May 8, in the last game of their successful season. The Pilgrims will receive the championship trophy in front of
SOMERSET Sabres will be looking to maintain their impressive start to the season when they take on Yorkshire Phoenix in the Totesport League at the County Ground on Sunday. The Sabres won their opening home match in the competition when they comfortably
HOLNICOTE, near Minehead, hosts the last of its three 2004 meetings when the Minehead Harriers and West Somerset Hunt stage their point to point tomorrow (Saturday). Competitive racing looks assured with 128 horses entered for the seven race card which
MINEHEAD will be looking to get off the mark when they play away to Peasedown St John in the first division of The Shrubbery Hotel Somerset Cricket League tomorrow (Saturday). Both sides enjoyed plenty of success last season and won promotion, with Peasedown
BRAVE Boxer dog Benson was brought back from the brink this week, eight days after apparently plunging to his death in Devon. Benson, affectionately known as West Somerset District Council's 'youth engagement officer', was missing presumed dead after
A MINEHEAD waterway is still a dumping ground for shopping trolleys -- five months after supermarket giant Tesco set up a "trolleys" hotline to deal with the problem. The hotline was introduced following pressure from Lib-Dem parliamentary spokesman James
RUMOURS of job losses at one of West Somerset's biggest employers were emerging as the Somerset County Gazette went to press yesterday (Thursday) afternoon. The Gazette understands that three employees at Watchet's Wansbrough Paper Mill, lost their jobs
A MINEHEAD paedophile escaped justice for almost a quarter of a century -- even though the victims' parents and the Crown Prosecution Service knew about his crimes a number of years ago. Douglas John Baker was spared prison when he appeared before Taunton
THE fabled 'paper-free' office can't come soon enough for West Somerset District Council, where the stationery bill dropped in at nearly £15,000 over budget this year. Higher than expected paper costs are to blame for an overspend of £14,959, which is
JUDGMENT day is looming for Minehead's Clanville car park. West Somerset District Council will on Monday meet behind closed doors to determine the future of the loss-making car park. The car park, on North Hill, has been marketed by Somerset County Council
ARSONISTS damaged a marquee at Minehead Football Club in Irnham Road, on Sunday night. The marquee had been set up in readiness for a football tournament. A NUMBER of sheds and a vehicle in Withypool were broken into overnight last Thursday. Among the
Police in Plympton are asking for help from the public following a number of serious arson attacks in the town. Three suspicious fires have occurred since April and have caused thousands of pounds worth of damage. The first was at Plympton Library on
A PENSIONER was left angry and upset this week after callous thieves stole £100 from her bag when they distracted her in a Tiverton shop. Beryl Short, 70, from Oakford, told the Mid Devon Star: "I want to warn people. If they've done it to me so easily
NORTH Devon roads are to benefit from a £340,000 resurfacing programme to help prepare them for summer. Work to replace worn-out road surfaces in ten locations will be carried out by Devon County Council's contractors South West Highways and is due to
WELLINGTON go into tomorrow's (Saturday's) home game against Evercreech as one of only two sides to have already won a game in Division 1 of The Shrubbery Hotel Somerset Cricket League this season. The others are Evercreech! Wellington watched most other
APPLE AM, the new Musgrove Park Hospital Community Radio Station in Taunton, was launched on Saturday. Over 75 guests were invited, including Taunton Deane Mayor and Mayoress Andrew and Jackie Govier, MP Adrian Flook and Tommy Banner, of The Wurzels.
POLICE have made a fresh appeal for witnesses after an elderly woman from the Taunton area died following a road crash near Bridgwater. Peggy Youngs, 89, died at Weston General Hospital on Sunday after being seriously hurt in the collision on the A39
COVER ups, rigged research and political pressures surrounding genetically modified crops are a few of the topics to be covered by Jeffrey Smith's talk at the Municipal Hall, Taunton, next Wednesday (May 12, 7pm). The author of the book, Seeds of Deception
SOMERSET College of Art and Technology has developed the first pack for tutors to teach numeracy and job skills to deaf adults. The Taunton-based college has worked on the scheme with the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, the largest charity representing
ABOUT 800 Royal Marines, based at Norton Manor Camp, may be ordered back to Iraq as soon as next month. Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to announce the deployment of the crack 40 Commando troops to quell an uprising in Najaf. The city is in the
SOMERSET motorists generally pay higher fuel prices than the rest of the UK, according to the Fuel-Cards.co.uk Regional Fuel Price Report out this week. The total cost of a typical tank of fuel can also vary across the county by more than £3 depending
TAUNTON'S main Post Office is to become a convenience store - amid fears it could eventually close. Customers will be able to buy newspapers and confectionery alongside stamps and TV licences when the North Street outlet converts to a Spar franchise in
ONE of the world's most invasive plants, the Japanese Knotweed, is threatening to damage a number of flood banks along the River Tone in Taunton. The spread of the plant may also lead to a loss of wildlife as it will kill off native plants, altering the
A FRENCH themed picnic organised by the new Taunton European Society will take place next Saturday (May 15). The picnic will be held in Vivary Park after Taunton Festival Fair and will mark the beginning of a programme of events aimed at promoting friendship
THE River Tone is to have its image spruced up with regular clean-ups in the centre of Taunton. A hit squad will move in at short notice to clear eyesore objects. The River Tone Partnership is officially launched today to ensure there are no repeats of
A MAN was arrested in Taunton on Wednesday on suspicion of attempted murder. It followed a frenzied attack on a man stabbed five times and left for dead at his home in Wellington. A 31-year-old Wellington man was later arrested in South Road, Taunton
TEENAGE golf sensation Becky Dowell is preparing to take America by storm with a sports scholarship in Florida. The 17-year-old from Thorncombe recently achieved a long held ambition to be crowned County Ladies' Champion, beating the cream of Somerset's
ABOUT 800 Royal Marines, based at Norton Manor Camp, may be ordered back to Iraq as soon as next month. Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to announce the deployment of the crack 40 Commando troops to quell an uprising in Najaf. The city is in the
PUBLIC transport services in Taunton have been slammed after a bus failed to turn up on four consecutive weekday evenings. Maureen Temple was left stranded after work when the number 5 service from The Parade to Blackbrook did not show. Mrs Temple, of
A LARGE travelling contingent of J24's made the trip down to Falmouth and joined the large local fleet who took part in the Spring Championships. For many this is the first J24 outing of the season and a great test with 30 boats on the start line. On
DID you grow up in a rural village in Somerset? If so, you might be able to help. I am currently researching a book which takes a nostalgic look at village life between 1930-70. I would love to hear from anybody who has photographs, or memories which
HAVING lived and worked in Taunton for nearly 50 years I am now retired and living in Mauritius. A group of expats have formed a play reading group and we are desperate for scripts of plays. It would be very much appreciated if anyone who has scripts
I AM seeking descendants of John Wyatt who married Caroline Hull (Parish of Winsham in 1847) and John Wyatt who married Emily Louisa La Feuillade who lived at Cranes Farm, Somerton as per 1881 census. Their son, Robert Evan, was my grandfather. I will
SOMERSET, Oh Somerset, basking in the sun, The Quantocks and the Blackdown Hills, where wildlife freely run. From Minehead East to Quantoxhead, along the coastal path, Wild flowers grow, the Blackbird sings, Too short the journey last. Below the hills
ALEXIS Piper has been voted Player of the Year by his team-mates at Wellington Football Club. Piper, who is also on the books of Taunton Town, was presented with the Douglas Northam Cup at the Screwfix League club's annual dinner and dance last Friday
TAUNTON Vale Sports Club's ground at Gipsy Lane is the venue this weekend for men's county hockey. In total, Vale will be staging ten matches over the two days - tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday. Gipsy Lane is one of seven venues being used for the preliminary
SOMERSET Vikings have made a winning start to the new season in the South West Division of the Rugby League Conference. They opened with a convincing 42 pts-6 victory over local rivals Bristol Sonics at Hyde Park, Taunton, last Saturday. The Vikings led
DEVELOPERS could face legal action if they fail to complete work on a site in Rockwell Green. Residents of Dobree Park are still waiting for white lines to be painted on the roads and their absence is making life dangerous for motorists, pedestrians and
AN adult learner from Wiveliscombe has turned her life around and won £200 in a national competition. Carlotta Wilson, 58, was named Senior Learner of the Year for the South-West, in the Adult Learners' Week Awards 2004 after she returned to education
