BBC Somerset

Two remain in custody after suspicious item confirmed as harmless

Two remain in custody after suspicious item confirmed as harmless

Two men remain in police custody after a suspicious item found in a rucksack was confirmed to be "harmless".Police officers found the bag just before 15:30 GMT on Sunday on West Street in Weston-super-Mare. The bomb disposal team was called and, once the item was found to be harmless, the road was re-opened by 21:10.A 39-year-old man, of no fixed abode, and a man in his 50s, from Weston-super-Mare, are now being detained on suspicion of causing a…

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Honiton Road in Taunton to close on weekdays for two weeks

Honiton Road in Taunton to close on weekdays for two weeks

GoogleA shuttle will run between Canons Grove and Trull Stores during the Honiton Road closureA road in Somerset will be closed on weekdays for two weeks while it is resurfaced.Work on Honiton Road, in Taunton, is due to start later and finish on 21 November.The road will be closed from 09:30 to 15:30 GMT on weekdays but will be open as usual on weekends.Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council's lead member for transport, said the team will do their…

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Man writes book based on 200 of his parents’ WW2 love letters

Man writes book based on 200 of his parents’ WW2 love letters

Steve KnibbsGloucestershire, SomersetMike GouldGrace and Les Gould rarely spoke of their time in the serviceA man has written a book based on more than 200 love letters he discovered his parents had written to each other during World War Two.Mike Gould, from Paulton in North East Somerset, found a suitcase in his parents' attic after his mum died, which contained letters, photographs and memorabilia he had never seen."I realised that not only are they love letters, but they're…

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Sao Paulo Grand Prix: Lando Norris produces ‘champion’s weekend’ but Max Verstappen ‘shines brightest’

Sao Paulo Grand Prix: Lando Norris produces ‘champion’s weekend’ but Max Verstappen ‘shines brightest’

If the championship had not taken such a decisive turn, the person in the spotlight after Brazil would have been Verstappen. Even in the circumstances, the Dutchman shone brightest of all, with one of the performances of his career.A year ago at this race, Verstappen put himself on the brink of a fourth world title with a quite brilliant comeback drive from 17th on the grid to win.It was one of the all-time great drives, but it was…

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Two arrests after suspicious item found in bag

Two arrests after suspicious item found in bag

Chloe HarcombeWest of EnglandGoogleA cordon was set up on West Street in Weston-super-Mare as a precaution, police saidTwo men have been arrested after a rucksack containing a suspicious item was left on a street.Avon and Somerset Police found the bag on West Street in Weston-super-Mare at about 15:30 GMT. A 39-year-old man of no fixed abode and a man in his 50s from West Street were in police custody in connection with the incident, officers said.A cordon was…

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Sao Paulo Grand Prix result: Lando Norris wins with Max Verstappen third after starting in pits

Sao Paulo Grand Prix result: Lando Norris wins with Max Verstappen third after starting in pits

Verstappen qualified only 16th after struggling with the performance of his car all weekend, and Red Bull decided to start him from the pit lane so they could fit a new engine and change the set-up of his car in an attempt to improve its pace.He was up to 13th by lap seven but then had to pit because he picked up a puncture.The world champion gained time by stopping under the VSC, but that dropped him to…

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‘Thoughts are always with those still serving’

‘Thoughts are always with those still serving’

Pippa RifkaBBC News, SomersetBlind Veterans UKJohn Hardy served in the Gulf War with the Royal Army Medical CorpsA blind veteran says he was "filled with pride" to lead a contingent for a Remembrance Sunday parade.John Hardy, from Bridgwater in Somerset, was asked to lead the Blind Veterans UK contingent at the Remembrance parade in London. The 69-year-old, who served in the Gulf War with the Royal Army Medical Corps, also laid a wreath at the Cenotaph for his…

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Jenson Button has ‘no regrets’ after final race

Jenson Button has ‘no regrets’ after final race

Button retired from Formula 1 at the end of the 2016 season as a world champion, a 15-time winner, and one of the leading lights of his generation.His post-F1 career, dabbling in all sorts of racing but most prominently in endurance racing, has not featured the same highlights. No Le Mans win for Button, for example, unlike his former McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso.Also unlike Alonso, Button will not be remembered as an all-time F1 great. But that's not…

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West of England falls silent to pay respects

West of England falls silent to pay respects

Chloe Harcombe,West of England and Ross Pollard,in BathBBCCapt John Ledgister is the parade commander and director in Bath, SomersetThousands of people across the west of England gathered to pay their respects and mark Remembrance Sunday.Parades, remembrance services and wreath-laying ceremonies were held in Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire this morning. The region fell silent at 11:00 GMT in honour of those that lost their lives in war.Capt John Ledgister, parade commander and director in Bath, said: "We're trying…

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Somerset church tomb collapse exposes 1700s stone crypt

Somerset church tomb collapse exposes 1700s stone crypt

Bea SwallowWest of EnglandHandoutThe collapsed box tomb sat upon a large underground crypt, thought to have been constructed in the 1700sAn ancient box tomb thought to be built in the 1700s has collapsed in a church cemetery, exposing a large underground crypt.The 12ft (3.6m) hole opened up at All Saints Church in Martock, Somerset, on Saturday afternoon, the day before Remembrance Sunday services were held inside.Rev Paul Fillery said the incident was likely caused by rain gradually eroding…

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Animal rescues and giant poppy restored

Animal rescues and giant poppy restored

Autumn has truly settled across the county, as trees were captured in all their colours.Meanwhile, BBC Radio Somerset excelled in this year's Children In Need challenge, and a wildlife rescue centre has saved several hedgehogs.Find this and more in our weekly picture roundup.Pudsey and presenters: BBC Radio Somerset joined BBC radio stations across the country walking 1,000 miles (1,609 km) for BBC Children in Need - three-legged.Mel and Simon from BBC Radio Somerset contributed more than 36 miles…

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