An oil spill which closed a busy route has forced two dogs (and their owner) to find an alternative route to their vets appointment.The A39 in Washford, Somerset, was closed on Tuesday after a van and lorry collided and emergency services worked to contain a fuel leak.Instead of battling the busy, narrow, twisting back roads on the outskirts of Exmoor to visit the vets in Minehead, Christopher Wade decided to hop on the heritage steam railway to complete their journey from Watchet.Mr Wade said golden retrievers Henry and Daisy "loved" their…

A hydropower system could be built at a beauty spot to raise money for community projects.As part of plans put forward by volunteers for the site on the River Yeo in Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, new car charging points would be installed that are powered by the system.The river's power has been harnessed for centuries, with a peak of 13 mills, for uses including milling paper and corn.Huw Robson, one of the project leaders, said the new system would be a "good way to promote renewable energy whilst bringing money in to…

Tess de la MareWest of EnglandBBCDr Fiona Gibson has been appointed Bishop of TauntonA new bishop has been appointed in the West after the departure of the incumbent who held the post for 10 years.King Charles III approved the nomination of Dr Fiona Gibson, who was previously Archdeacon of Ludlow in Hereford, for the post of Bishop of Taunton in Somerset on Wednesday.Dr Gibson replaces Reverend Ruth Worsley, who held the role from 2015 before becoming interim Bishop of Liverpool.She said she was delighted at her appointment, adding she had "many…