BBC Somerset

The Liberal Democrats have secured two seats on Somerset Council.A by-election was called after Conservative councillor for Dunster Christine Lawrence stepped down due to ill health in September and Lib Dem councillor for Glastonbury Nick Cottle died in August.Voters went to the polls on Thursday and Cara Strom won the Dunster seat with 1,142 votes. Ewan Cameron held the seat for the Lib Dems in Glastonbury after receiving 882 votes. Ms Strom said she would do all she…

Jack Killah,Wincanton and Chris Lockyer,SomersetBBCTom Ryall from Wincanton Racecourse says not enough rain has fallen this yearA race course in Somerset believes the weather conditions over the last year have contributed to it struggling to fulfil its full race calendar.Wincanton Racecourse has cancelled its meet on Sunday, because not enough rain has fallen to soften the ground. The venue said the lack of rainfall this year has meant its reservoir is not refilling enough, leading to a number…

ReutersStorm Benjamin is expected to bring lots of wet and windy weather to the westHere'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 storiesITV West Country has shared the story of how a seven-year-old boy with a rare genetic condition can now eat and breathe unaided following a remarkable surgery that saw doctors use other bones to rebuild his jaw.People in Somerset…

Dave HarveyWest of England business and environment correspondentBBCThe Somerset firm has become a world leader in producing date plantsPlant scientists at a world-leading firm that grows date palms in the UK hope to turn an Indian desert green as they open a new state-of-the-art lab.Although the British climate is too cold to grow the fruit, young date plants can be produced in climate-controlled labs and greenhouses.Date Palm Developments (DPD), near Glastonbury, Somerset, has been steadily expanding and now…

Matthew Hill,Health correspondent and Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley,West of EnglandBBCDarren Ashton-Lake says the NHS will not pay for a new "life changing" drugA man living with a rare genetic disorder says hope is being taken away because the drug he needs is not available in the UK.Darren Ashton-Lake, from Trowbridge in Wiltshire, was diagnosed with Friedreich's Ataxia (FA) as a teenager 15 years ago - a condition which progressively damages the nervous system.The drug which helps slow down the disease,…