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Hundreds of Santas in Weymouth charity beach pudding race

Hundreds of Santas in Weymouth charity beach pudding race

More than 200 runners dressed as Santa have taken part in a seaside town's festive Chase the Pudding charity race.The sprint along Weymouth beach, saw a pudding pursued by the Santas along a three-mile (5km) route from the Pavilion to Greenhill and back again.The annual event in Dorset raises funds for the Will Mackaness Trust, in memory of sportsman and Wey Valley School student Will Mackaness after he lost his battle with cancer in 2008.His mother Pamela Govier,…

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Russell Howard revisits his Somerset and Bristol roots

Russell Howard revisits his Somerset and Bristol roots

Claire Carter,BBC Radio BristolandKirsten Robertson,West of EnglandRussell Howard on growing up in the West"The south-west just has a warmth to it; a twinkle, a bit of lunacy."Russell Howard is proud of his Somerset roots. The combination of "madness" and "warmth" in his upbringing helped him take his first steps down the winding road of stand-up.Born in Bath and raised in Radstock, the comedian - who later moved to Bristol - still has family based in Midsomer Norton, Radstock…

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Underweight seal pup recovering after Seatown beach rescue

Underweight seal pup recovering after Seatown beach rescue

Ros TappendenSouth of EnglandAllan CummingsThe seal pup was found underweight and exhausted near SeatownAn underweight and struggling seal pup rescued from a litter-strewn beach after Storm Bram is recovering very well, rescuers have said.The juvenile seal was spotted covered in mud and surrounded by debris near Seatown, Dorset, on 9 December.A member of the public alerted British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) which rescued the animal and it is now being cared for by the RSPCA at West…

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Villagers group together to try and buy Somerset pub

Villagers group together to try and buy Somerset pub

Rachel Candlin,West of EnglandandAndy Bennett,BBC Radio SomersetGoogleThe Cat Head Inn closed in May and is currently on the marketA group of villagers are trying to buy their local pub after it closed suddenly.Chiselborough had a pub in one form or another for 400 years - until The Cat Head closed in May. Its owners said the "rising costs of running a business in today's economy" had made it "impossible" to continue.The Somerset pub is now on the market…

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‘Bristol Bears spread joy’ and ‘Wookey Witch’

‘Bristol Bears spread joy’ and ‘Wookey Witch’

Bristol BearsExcitement has been growing across the West this week as Christmas draws closer and many people have been getting into the festive spirit at events across the region.Bristol Bears have been spreading some seasonal cheer by visiting 15 different charities, schools and care settings to lend a hand and deliver presents.Here is our weekly round-up of photographs from across the region.BristolBristol BearsGiving Back Day: More than 60 players and staff from Bristol Bears took part in what…

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Rainfall helps West Country recover from prolonged dry spell

Rainfall helps West Country recover from prolonged dry spell

Bea SwallowWest of EnglandPA MediaEngland experienced the second driest six-month period (from March to August) since records began in 1871Recent heavy rainfall has pulled the west of England into "recovery" status following an extensive dry spell.Prolonged dry weather status – a precursor to drought – was announced on 10 July by the Environment Agency (EA) for its Wessex area, which includes Bristol, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and parts of south Gloucestershire. The warning followed the driest spring in a…

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Santas limber up for festive Weymouth Beach charity pudding chase

Santas limber up for festive Weymouth Beach charity pudding chase

Dozens of Santas are due to gather on Weymouth beach for the resort's festive Chase the Pudding charity race.The annual sprint along the beach sees a pudding pursued by about 200 runners along a three-mile (5km) route from the Pavilion to Greenhill and back again.The festive run in Dorset also features a Chase the Elf 1.2-mile (2km) run for under-14s, and raises funds for the Will Mackaness Trust. Running Santas need to register for the race on Sunday…

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Free Christmas parking ‘a nice surprise’ say Taunton shopkeepers

Free Christmas parking ‘a nice surprise’ say Taunton shopkeepers

Independent businesses have welcomed a town council's decision to foot the bill for parking charges for central car parks in the run-up to Christmas.Taunton Town Council is paying Somerset Council a fee so that people can use 10 of their car parks free of charge for the final Saturdays before Christmas.The move is part of an effort to support local shops and boost the festive atmosphere in the town and has been welcomed by business owners."It's a nice…

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Daniel Sams: Somerset sign Australia all-rounder for 2026 T20 Blast

Daniel Sams: Somerset sign Australia all-rounder for 2026 T20 Blast

Australia's Daniel Sams will join Somerset as one of their overseas players for the 2026 T20 Blast. The 33-year-old has played in all the major T20 competitions around the world including the Indian Premier League, Australia's Big Bash and the Caribbean Premier League. He has played 206 T20 matches in his career, taking 250 wickets at an average of 24.63 with a best of 5-30. The former Essex and Nottinghamshire player has also scored 2,170 runs with a…

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Somerset drug ringleader William Free gets more jail time

Somerset drug ringleader William Free gets more jail time

The ringleader of a gang has been given extra jail time for supplying drugs while he was being investigated by police for other crimes.William Free, formerly of Bossington Drive in Taunton, who is already serving an 11-year sentence for conspiracy to supply cocaine, has been sentenced again for committing the same offence while he was released under investigation.The South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) said Free, 30, had worked with gangs in the Midlands and Essex to…

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Max McCusker: Swimmer defends Enhanced Games switch as a ‘no-brainer’

Max McCusker: Swimmer defends Enhanced Games switch as a ‘no-brainer’

Swimmer Max McCusker said joining the Enhanced Games was "a no-brainer" in order to compete in something "that no-one's done before". The 26-year-old, who represented Ireland at the Olympics last year, announced earlier this month that he was joining the Games, a new multi-sport competition that allows athletes to use performance-enhancing substances.McCusker, who was part of the Irish men's 4x100m medley relay team in Paris, defended his position, pointing to the financial attraction of making the switch and…

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