Military veterans sought for new coastal rowing club in Minehead

Sandra MurisonSandra Murison (far left) wants to create a "sister club" to EPIC in SomersetA military wife is looking for people connected to the armed forces to become the first members of a new amateur rowing club.Sandra Murison, 77, from Porlock, Somerset, is setting up the group in Minehead to bring together servicepeople, veterans and their families.Mrs Murison, whose late husband was a naval officer, says the new club will take to the Bristol Channel in traditional wooden…

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‘Life-changing’ surgery gives Bath boy ‘first ever sleepover’

Beth Cruse,West of England and James Diamond,West of England, BathBBCWilliam has Treacher Collins syndrome, which affects around one in 50,000 childrenThe mum of a seven-year-old boy with a rare genetic condition says "life-changing" surgery means he is finally able to have "his very first sleepover".William, from Bath in Somerset, has Treacher Collins syndrome which is a condition that affects the growth of a child's skull and facial bones.In May, he underwent an eight-hour surgery where doctors rebuilt his…

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Bridgwater MP calls for new one-way route to be scrapped

An MP has called for the new one-way system to be dropped claiming it has led to "traffic chaos".Bridgwater MP Sir Ashley Fox said making East Quay and Salmon Parade in the town one-way and scrapping a major upgrade to the Cross Rifles roundabout has made traffic "intolerable". Mike Rigby who is in charge of Planning on Somerset Council said there is always a period of "bedding in" with any new scheme, but "elements seem to be working…

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‘It would be terrible if pensioners had to pay tax’

Ruth BradleyPolitics reporter, BBC SomersetBBCBarbara her dog Dolly have been looking ahead to the Budget"I'm not really perhaps the right one to ask because I'm 85 on Saturday and I've never voted once in my life."Barbara Merrick may not be interested in elections, but she's got plenty to say about how those who are elected should be running the country."The Conservatives blame Labour, Labour blame the Conservatives - they're like a load of children," explained Ms Merrick.She was…

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St Erth railway footbridge fully open after 10-month delay

A new footbridge at a rail station has fully opened after 10 months of delays.The bridge at St Erth station in west Cornwall opened to passengers in February but the lifts have not been working.Network Rail said the delay had been caused by the need to provide a new power supply including a new substation which National Grid said required legal agreement from several interested parties causing "significant delays".Great Western Railway said the delays had been "very frustrating"…

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Archie Vaughan: Somerset teenage prospect signs new deal to 2028

Teenage all-rounder Archie Vaughan has signed a new deal with Somerset that keeps him at the club until the end of the 2028 season.The 19-year-old son of former England Ashes-winning captain Michael broke into Somerset's first team in 2024 and was named England Under-19 captain during their tour of South Africa in January.Vaughan, who has been part of Somerset's academy since 2020, has taken 40 wickets and scored 1,094 runs in 35 List A and first-class matches for…

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Michael Eckersley ‘bought silence’ of Wells sex abuse victim

Avon and Somerset PoliceMichael Eckersely, 86, was jailed for 16 yearsAn 86-year-old man has been jailed for 16 years after being found guilty of 14 historic sexual offences against a child.Michael Eckersley, from Warrington, was said to have lavished gifts on the child during his "campaign of abuse" which began in the 1980s in Wells, Somerset.His victim, who cannot be named, said the abuse "broke him" and he had suffered "psychological damage".After he was sentenced on 4 November,…

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Man taken to hospital with burns after Devon yacht fire

A man has been taken to hospital with burns after a yacht caught fire, firefighters have said.The blaze broke out on a boat on a pontoon in the Wellswood area of Torquay at about 03:15 BST, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue said.The man suffered burns to 5% of his body, said the fire service, while the private yacht was completely destroyed in the fire.Firefighters said the cause of the fire was believed to be accidental. Source link

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‘Gutless thieves steal’ motocross bikes from Evercreech home

Dickon Hooperin Evercreech, SomersetFamily handoutThe kids bikes were stolen from the family's garage"Gutless" thieves have stolen seven motocross kids' bikes worth £20,000, a father has said.Leighton Holmes from Evercreech near Shepton Mallet in Somerset said his children have had their "freedom ripped away" after their bikes were taken from the family's garage.Mr Holmes said his sons were "devastated" by the theft on 9 November, but added police have not yet visited his home.An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson…

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North Somerset Council’s recycling bags are ‘falling apart’

A council has admitted that by trying to improve its recycling bags, they had "made it worse" after people reported them falling apart. North Somerset Council was now in contact with its supplier after some of the bags began "falling apart at the seams."Council cabinet member for planning and environment Annemieke Waite told a full council meeting on 11 November that the red bags ordered for the trial of the scheme last November were fine and had remained…

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Clevedon parking charges ‘will lead to business closures’

John WimperisLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceMichael PrykeResidents in Clevedon are calling for a stop to on-street paid parkingA street could be boarded up within five years if the council introduces parking charges, shopkeepers have warned.A petition signed by 4,351 people was delivered to a full meeting of North Somerset Council on 11 November, urging the council not to introduce parking charges on Hill Road in Clevedon. At the meeting, Tristan Merriam of Doghead Designs told councillors on-street parking charges…

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Formula 1 tech used to improve train Wi-Fi on GWR

Laura CressTechnology reporterGWRSome of the Great Western Railway fleet will use a hybrid system including low earth orbit satellites in space to create a more-reliable wi-fi connectionA new UK-first pilot scheme is aiming to create fast and more reliable train wi-fi, using technology originally developed for Formula 1 cars.It will see a train in the Great Western Railway fleet use a hybrid system of both signals from mobile phone masts on the ground and low earth orbit (LEO)…

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