somerset

It is stressful being an influencer, says Somerset gardener

It is stressful being an influencer, says Somerset gardener

Ramona JonesRamona Jones shares videos from her bountiful cottage garden in SomersetThe stress of being a social media influencer can put significant pressure on mental health, a study has revealed.Influencers struggle with work-life balance and commercial pressures, as well as negative comments and the strain of appearing to be authentic, said researchers from the University of the West of England (UWE).Content creator Ramona Jones, 32, from Somerset, said she had to create strict work-life boundaries to stop certain…

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Fundraising 11-year-old from Dorset becomes youngest MBE

Fundraising 11-year-old from Dorset becomes youngest MBE

Curtis LancasterSouth of EnglandPA MediaCarmela Chillery-Watson has raised thousands of pounds for charityAn 11-year-old fundraiser has become the youngest person to receive an MBE.Carmela Chillery-Watson, from Dorset, has LMNA congenital muscular dystrophy - a progressive muscle-wasting condition.She has walked and wheeled hundreds of miles, raising thousands of pounds for Muscular Dystrophy UK and Julia's House Hospice, often dressed in superhero costumes.She met Prince William at Windsor Castle, where she was presented the Member of the Order of the…

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Girl, 12, sexually assaulted by man in Weston-super-Mare park

Girl, 12, sexually assaulted by man in Weston-super-Mare park

Avon and Somerset PolicePolice want to speak to the man dressed in black after the assault, as well as the driver of the car which passed him in Kenn Close, Weston-super-MareA 12-year-old girl has been sexually assaulted in a park, sparking a police CCTV appeal.The girl was in Byron Recreation Park in Weston-super-Mare when a man approached her, touched her waist and kissed her at about 21:20 GMT on Saturday, Avon and Somerset Police said. She ran away…

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Extra £81m to boost walking and cycling routes

Extra £81m to boost walking and cycling routes

An extra £81m is being invested to improve walking, cycling and wheeling routes across the south-west of England.Managed by the government's Active Travel, the money will be divided across local authorities depending on the councils' capability rating, which measures how well they can organise, plan and deliver travel schemes.Chris Boardman, commissioner at Active Travel, said the funding is not just about building infrastructure, but also aims to create communities where parents feel confident letting children travel independently.He added:…

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‘Record-breaking loss for Rovers’ and ‘mysterious light’

‘Record-breaking loss for Rovers’ and ‘mysterious light’

Getty ImagesBristol Rovers head coach Darrell Clarke described the team's performance on Tuesday as "diabolical" after the club suffered their ninth consecutive lossHere is 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 storiesAn inquest has found the death of John Henry Oates, known as Harry, was caused by a low-hanging cable which electrocuted him while he was running, ITV West Country reports.…

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‘People with MND dying before they are helped’

‘People with MND dying before they are helped’

Rhiannon YhnellandPippa Rifka,SomersetBBCNicky Jones was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in May but has given up waiting for financial supportSome people living with motor neurone disease (MND) are dying before they receive financial support to adapt their homes, families have said.Nicky Jones, 65, from near Frome in Somerset, said it is currently a postcode lottery and she has given up waiting after being diagnosed with the degenerative condition in May.Her daughter Katy Wyatt said: "When we've gone onto…

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Dorset Council needs more money for bus improvements

Dorset Council needs more money for bus improvements

A council has said it requires more funding for full bus service improvements despite securing £12m from the Government.Over the next three years, £6.8m in revenue funding will help Dorset Council make upgrades, such as restoring some Saturday services and improving frequencies.£5.2m in capital funding will pay for better bus stops and real-time information, with capital support continuing to 2029/30.Dorset Council's Cabinet Member for Place Services, Jon Andrews said: "It's clear Dorset needs a fairer long-term share to…

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Rumours refugees housed in new homes quashed by council

Rumours refugees housed in new homes quashed by council

Nearly 90% of a county's new council homes have been let to local residents, the council says, despite speculation on social media they would be used to house refugees.The 54 properties built for the Rainbow Way project on the eastern edge of Minehead, Somerset, are among the first to be built in the area for 30 years.All are now occupied, Somerset Council said, with 48 allocated to people from the town, while the remaining six homes were let…

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People rescued from flooding in the South West as Storm Bram hits

People rescued from flooding in the South West as Storm Bram hits

Richard BrassettA resident said lots of cars were underwater in Lostwithiel, CornwallTwo people have been rescued from floodwater as heavy rain and strong winds brought by Storm Bram have impacted travel across Devon and Cornwall. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said two people were "safe and well" after being rescued from the roof of their car after it got stuck in floodwater at about 06:45 in Teigngrace, Devon.Fire services have been dealing with other weather-related incidents,…

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Special needs school in Street will expand in 2026

Special needs school in Street will expand in 2026

A school that supports children with complex emotional and mental health needs is set to expand.Inaura School has been operating one of its four Somerset sites at Leigh Road in Street since 2023.Somerset Council has now approved plans for the school to extend into a neighbouring building on Leigh Road, creating places for four additional pupils. The project is scheduled to be completed by summer 2026.A school spokesperson said: "We are proud to have found this additional building…

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Drivers rescued as Storm Bram leads to flooding and fallen trees

Drivers rescued as Storm Bram leads to flooding and fallen trees

Ros TappendenSouth of EnglandHampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue ServiceA member of the public rescued a driver after their car was swept downstreamA driver has been pulled from their submerged car after being swept 50m (164ft) downstream from a flooded ford following Storm Bram.A member of the public came to the driver's rescue at Moyles Court Ford, north of Ringwood, Hampshire, at about 08:00 GMT.Four people were also pulled from their vehicles in Thornford, north Dorset,…

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‘Chaotic’ Glastonbury Red Brick factory project given more funds

‘Chaotic’ Glastonbury Red Brick factory project given more funds

Daniel Mumby,Local Democracy Reporting Service,Michelle RuminskiandRuth Bradley,Somerset politics reportersBBC NewsThe current state of the Life Factory building on Morland Road in Glastonbury after worked stopped in January 2024A £2.89m government-funded renovation project continued to receive payments months after the local authority overseeing the cash had put it on hold, according to financial experts.Somerset Council officially 'paused' funding for the Life Factory project in Glastonbury in January 2024 amid serious concerns about its management.Auditors have now revealed payments totalling…

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