Turnip art Prize winner for 2025 is bitter and twisted

Trevor PrideauxThis year's entry was entitled: 'Bitter & Twisted'The winner of the coveted 2025 Turnip Prize has been announced.Organised by a Somerset pub each year, the Turnip Prize is awarded to the person who has created a very bad artwork using the least amount of effort possible. It is a parody of the world-famous Turner Prize.At a special ceremony at The New Inn in Wedmore, Somerset, the prestigious art award, was given to 69-year-old Ali Can for his…

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Last rods of uranium removed from Hinkley Point B power station

Joe Skirkowski,West of EnglandandRoss Pollard,SomersetInside the control room at Hinkley Point BA nuclear power station which generated electricity for 46 years has had its final rods of uranium removed.Hinkley Point B became operational in 1976 and was once the most productive nuclear site in the UK. Its reactors were turned off three years ago when EDF - the firm which owns the plant - said the site had reached the end of its life.Its used uranium rods have…

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Woman sentenced for fail-to-stop collision in Bridgwater

A woman has been sentenced after she failed to stop following a collision which killed an 85-year-old.Jane Hill, from Bridgwater, previously pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving when she appeared in court in October.At Taunton Crown Court, on Tuesday 25 November, the judge said she "did not have the courage to do the right thing," and sentenced Hill to six months in prison, suspended for two years, banned her from driving for three years and ordered…

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Will Smeed: Somerset opening batter signs extension to 2027

Somerset batter Will Smeed has signed a contract extension to remain at the club until the end of the 2027 season.The 24-year-old starred during Somerset's six-wicket victory over Hampshire in September's T20 Blast final at Edgbaston, smashing 94 off just 58 balls to claim the player of the match award as his club picked up their third Blast title.The club also confirmed Smeed will be available for both red-ball and white-ball cricket after he amended his contract to…

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‘Dog soft play centre opens’ and ‘longest NHS strike continues’

Somerset Soft Play for DogsA soft play centre for dogs has opened in SomersetHere's our daily pick of stories from across local websites in the West of England, and interesting content from social media.Our pick of local website storiesA 106-year-old newsagents in Burnham-on-Sea, which has been run by the same family for over century, has closed, Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News reports.A thief who plagued a Greggs branch and stole from Home Bargains has been sentenced, the Swindon…

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‘Risk of serious injury’ at nuclear plant Hinkley Point C

There is a "risk of serious injury" at the first nuclear plant to be built in Britain for 30 years after regulators identified "inadequate fire controls".Inspections served civil engineering firm Bylor JV, which is run by both Laing O'Rourke and Bouygues Travaux Publics, with a fire safety notice for its work at Hinkley Point C in Somerset.The Office for Nuclear Regulation(ONR) said the company "did not meet the standards we require, particularly given the scale and complexity of…

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Teachers cycle to support community after Somerset bus crash

Cathy AlexanderWest of EnglandMoorland FederationThe head teachers said the air ambulance is a vital resource for their rural communityThe community left reeling in the aftermath of a school coach crash is coming together to raise funds for the air ambulance that played a key role in the emergency response.Three Moorland Federation headteachers will be cycling between its eight schools in Exmoor, Somerset, joined by the father of 10-year-old Oliver Price.Oliver died of a head injury when a coach…

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Birdgirl marks decade of helping minority children access nature

Oliver Edwards PhotographyDr Mya-Rose Craig says Black2Nature has helped hundreds of children over the past decadeAn environmental campaigner who founded a charity to help children from ethnic minorities access nature says the cultural landscape has "shifted" since she began her work a decade ago.Dr Mya-Rose Craig, 23, nicknamed 'Birdgirl', set up Black2Nature at the age of 13 to connect more children from Visible Minority Ethnic (VME) communities with the outdoors.Reflecting on the charity's 10th anniversary, she said the…

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Laurie Canter: Englishman turns down PGA Tour spot and rejoins LIV Golf for 2026 season

England's Laurie Canter has turned down a place on the PGA Tour and rejoined LIV Golf for the 2026 season.The 36-year-old finished seventh on the DP World Tour which earned him a spot on next year's PGA Tour via the Race to Dubai rankings.However, Canter has instead decided to return to the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV team competition, where he played from 2022 to 2024, and will represent Majesticks GC."The league's growth has been remarkable and my experience in…

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Langport caravan park owner fined for threatening bird habitats

Daniel MumbyLocal Demoracy Reporting ServiceNatural EnglandThe site near Langport is a crucial breeding site for birdsA caravan park owner has been fined more than £116,000 after admitting disturbing land used as a breeding ground for birds.John Holland, 59, of Moorlinch in Somerset, appeared before Taunton Crown Court on Wednesday 26 November after admitting two offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 at earlier hearings.A four-year Natural England prosecution showed Holland had created a permanent caravan park on…

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The Hundred: Heather Knight named women’s general manager of London Spirit

Former England captain Heather Knight has been appointed as general manager of London Spirit's women's team after opting out of playing in the 2026 edition of The Hundred.The newly created role will see Knight work alongside director of cricket Mo Bobat to provide elite perspectives into the women's game.She will continue to represent England alongside playing for Somerset on the domestic stage. Knight, 34, has been affiliated with London Spirit since the competition's launch in 2021, serving as…

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Adam May: Midfielder leaves Forest Green Rovers by mutual consent

Midfielder Adam May has left National League side Forest Green Rovers by mutual consent.The 27-year-old joined Rovers in July 2024 on a free transfer after departing Cambridge United, and went on to make 50 appearances at New Lawn. May made 115 league appearances across four years for Cambridge despite suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in October 2022.He started his career at Portsmouth, making his league debut in 2015, and was part of the squad which won the…

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