A GROUP of parishioners have taken the rare first step towards getting rid of their vicar. They want the Bishop of Bath and Wells to remove the Rev David Manning from St Michael's Church, Creech St Michael, due to "pastoral breakdown". Mr Manning, the
TAUNTON Town manager Gary Domone has warned the club their great season could be a one-off if they do not keep the players who took them to the brink of promotion to the BGB Southern League Premier Division. The Peacocks' promotion bid finally came to
THE Taunton Sunday League representative side lifted the Mavis Tate Cup for the fourth consecutive year after defeating the Perry Street League on penalties in the final at Glastonbury last week. Perry Street started the game better and after a couple
THE Taunton Sunday League representative side lifted the Mavis Tate Cup for the fourth consecutive year after defeating the Perry Street League on penalties in the final at Glastonbury last week. Perry Street started the game better and after a couple
NORTON Fitzwarren gave themselves a massive boost in their bid to avoid the drop on Tuesday night thanks to a 6-0 victory away to Bishops Lydeard Reserves who look certain to be relegated from Division One. Darren Bonsall led the way for Norton with
STAPLEGROVE started the season with victory away to Chew Magna in Division One, but it was a close run thing. In his first league game as skipper, Will Penny won the toss and chose to bat and his team reached 179-8. Dave Penny led the way with 43, while
CHAMPIONS Ashbrittle started the new season in ruthless fashion by defeating Winsford by 146 runs on Saturday. Batting first, Ashbrittle reached 203-7, but the visitors were never in the hunt and were bowled out for just 57. Andy Hill was the star with
TAUNTON have unveiled the new player-coach team they hope will set them on their way to National League rugby. Flanker Danny Thomas, 30, has signed a three-year deal to become head coach after joining from National One club Plymouth Albion, where he
BARBARA Clark, of Monkton Heathfield, has been included in a national list of Women We Love'. She was included for her fight for women to receive breast cancer drugs on the NHS - her battle resulted in her being prescribed Herceptin to treat her breast
NUMBERS of children using Alcombe's Cheeky Cherubs nursery have tripled in the last three years, with staff numbers rocketing to match. The nursery moved from a ground floor flat in Irnham Road, Minehead, into the newly-built Alcombe Childrens' Centre
SOME 400 mountain bikers are due to set off from Dunster in August for the annual Exmoor Explorer Mountain Bike Marathon. Local riders, as well as visitors from all over the country will mount up for a full day of mountain biking taking them over the
AN exhibition by the Highways Agency will give more information about the proposals for dualling sections of the A358 and A303 in Somerset. The exhibition will be held at Ile Youth Centre, Frog Lane, Ilminster between 12noon-7pm on Friday, May 11.
WATCHET Sea Scouts got into a lather to raise around £200 washing cars in the town's Swain Street car park. The money is to go towards the cost of a replacement engine for the group's safety boat. Leader Simon Bale said: "It was a very successful morning
A WELLINGTON-based company has been shortlisted for prestigious business communications awards. Aerosol company Swallowfield has been shortlisted for three awards, including chairman communicator of the year and best commitment to environmental and social
A GROUP of people in Watchet are attempting to force a local referendum on controversial plans for the development of the town's East Wharf. The group has posted notices in the town announcing a public meeting next Thursday, May 17, at which they hope
THROUGH your pages we would like the opportunity to say a sincere thank you to all those Lyngford ward residents who voted for us last Thursday. While the outcome was disappointing for us, naturally we respect the decision to elect new representatives
PLANS for a gypsy site between Trull and Corfe have raised concerns for residents and councillors. An application from John Birch for the siting of six gypsy caravans with associated car parking at Fosgrove Paddock, Shoreditch, is in the process of being
I WOULD like to thank all those who voted for me on Thursday, May 3, but to be truthful in view of the voting system as it was I was not confident I stood a chance. No matter what the candidates stood for or which party they supported, I would ask why
JEAN Court-Stenning and I would like to thank all of our supporters in Norton Fitzwarren in the recent Borough Council elections. We will work hard in the interests of all Nortonians. Challenging times lie ahead with the building of up to 800 new houses
I, AND the UK Independence Party, would like to thank those people from the Eastgate Ward who voted for me in last Thursday's local election. Although these electors were just over 8% of those voting, they have signalled that policies which focus
WE are writing to say a big thank you' to all those people who voted for us in the local elections last Thursday. We all feel very honoured to have been elected and promise to work hard on behalf of the residents of Wellington and Rockwell Green. We
FOLLOWING the elections for Taunton Deane Borough Council in which Conservatives were successful in Ruishton & Creech, we would like to thank all those who voted for us. We also particularly thank those who helped directly with our campaign. The local
THOUGH naturally disappointed not to have been elected as Lib Dem Councillor for Trull Ward, I am indebted to all those who gave me their support, both local residents and party colleagues. Many thanks to you all. KEN SANKEY Spearcey Lane, Trull
THIS is the face of murderer Jason Jay, who has been jailed for life for killing a former pub landlord. Jay, 40, formerly of Mulberry Close, Taunton, brutally battered to death Roger Denslow, also 40, of Wheatley Crescent, before robbing him. After
THROUGH your Postbag column I would like to thank all those residents of Burrowbridge, Durston, North Curry and Stoke St Gregory for the support that they have given me through the recent election period. This is not only for the resounding vote on May
WELLINGTON Medical Centre has said it welcomed the views and feedback about the proposed Mantle Street centre after campaigners joined forces in protest last Thursday. An application for a new centre to replace the existing Bulford centre will come before
THE largest hoard of Bronze Age gold ever discovered in Somerset went on public display at the County Museum in Taunton today (Wednesday, May 9). Believed to date from 1300-1100 BC, the hoard was found using a metal detector at Priddy, on the Mendip
A BUS and coach company based near Wellington is changing hands after many years. Cooks Coaches, on Greenham Business Park is being taken over by the transport giant Stagecoach. Cooks runs a fleet of over 50 coaches and buses from four sites at Wellington
SOMERSET and England cricket legend Ian Botham was back in Taunton today (Wednesday) to plug his latest book. Botham, the country's greatest ever all rounder who now comments on cricket for TV, was in Waterstone's signing copies of My Illustrated Life
A CHELSTON nursing and residential home is adding a further 24 bedrooms to cater for more clients. Camelot House, a 42-bed home near Wellington, serving people with dementia is due to complete the additional rooms by November this year. The car park
A NEW housing development will provide more affordable homes for people of Wellington. Summerfield Homes, in operation with Taunton Deane Council, started work last month on a 36-home development at Chelston. The houses will be two and three-bedrooms
SPORT and community groups in Wellington are being urged to join a scheme which promotes the care of young children. The Child-Safe scheme was pioneered by Avon and Somerset Constabulary and is a registered international charity involved in travel, sport
EXTRA money is being put into a scheme to help more people on low incomes in West Somerset benefit from free or discounted energy-saving home improvements. West Somerset Council is extending its funding of the Somerset Warm and Well scheme to help people
TAUNTON School has a couple of open-air events coming up this year. Start the summer with a bang and join others at the Taunton School Fireworks Concert this month. On May 23 Taunton School will be hosting a night of music and sparkle with special guest
FOLLOWING a concert at St Mary's church Uffculme when £275 was raised for the Karen Action Group Hemyock Singers returned to their own village the following evening to give a superb performance of The Creation' which raised £280 for St Margaret's Somerset
MINEHEAD Dramatic Society presents Echoes of the Great War by Claire Jones from May 17-19 at the Regal Theatre. The production is based on the events around the time of the Battle of the Somme in 1916, both at home and at the front in France. As well
BANK cards, a watch, cash, a purse, a mobile phone and personal papers have been stolen from a changing room at Butlins, Minehead. The theft happened while a visitor was looking for her locker key. The items, which were in a sports bag, vanished at
Taunton Sinfonietta Concert : St James' Church Saturday, May 5 THROUGHOUT this splendid concert the live acoustic of St James' church gave added lustre to the fine ensemble playing of the Taunton Sinfonietta under the inspiring leadership of Mary Eade
Taunton Deane Male Voice Choir - Cornwall Festival LAST Saturday, May 5, the Taunton Deane Male Voice Choir travelled to Cornwall to participate in the Third Cornwall International Male Voice Choral Festival. The Festival featured sixty choirs from thirteen
Somerset County Orchestra bring their season to a triumphant close with the famous classic Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. The concert is on Saturday May 19 at St James Church, Taunton. As well as the Beethoven, they are playing Haydn's Symphony no. 102
THE Sunrise Festival, held on Bearley Farm, South Somerset from May 31- June 4, is produced by Glastonbury-based Family Gathering Ltd and includes much of the content of Glastonbury Festival's Green Fields plus a whole load more! The line up is inspirational
ON Saturday, May 12, Led By Zeppelin are performing at The Barn at the Square and Compass, Windmill Hill, near Ilminster at 9pm. Expect all the classics from the rocking sounds of Plant, Page and Co by this Led Zeppelin tribute act. Doors open at 8pm
THE Andy Hague Quintet is one of the most popular modern jazz groups in Bristol. They visit Taunton as part of their national tour funded by Jazz Services and the repertoire combines Andy's catchy original compositions with fresh treatments of jazz standards
HEMYOCK Pre School Summer Bingo is taking place on Thursday June 28. Doors open at 7.15pm ready for eyes down at 7.45pm. The event will be held at Hemyock Vill
THREE former Richard Huish College students have hit the big time securing a demo recording deal with their band Showing Off To Thieves. Bass player Phil Maggs, drummer Tom Lloyd and guitarist Andy Bradshaw are all from Taunton and with fellow band member
THE launch of the FLUX Festival, a celebration of Disability Arts and Arts and Disability, was held at the Brewhouse Theatre on Friday, March 4. The festival is taking place in arts venues and community settings throughout Somerset during May. This
A WEEKEND of entertainment kicks off tonight (Thursday, May 10) with Rick Winter at the Master Thatcher and Finally Everything, supported by Sangreal at Rockers Live. Tonight also sees two of the country's most cutting edge young bands appearing at Mamba
POLICE in Taunton are appealing for the public's help to trace a car and property stolen during a burglary in the town. Sometime overnight on Monday, May 7 to Tuesday, May 8, unknown offenders broke into the property on Bacon Drive and stole the keys
WILL you be sorry to see Tony Blair resign? With the media full of speculation as to when the prime minister might announce a timetable for his departure, that's the question we asked people in West Somerset. We have got used to ten years of Mr Blair
A SERIES of drop-in sessions to explain the new smokefree legislation which comes in on July 1 are being held in the Taunton and Wellington area. The law will ban smoking in all enclosed and substantially enclosed workplaces and public places. The following
PEST control officers hope to cut the seagull population in Taunton by duping the birds into sitting on plastic eggs. The ruse was dreamed up after continued complaints about the nuisance caused by aggressive birds in and around the town centre. Officers
A PUBLIC meeting to discuss the future of Tonedale Mill in Wellington is being held onThursday for local residents and neighbours. Hydon, the company that bought the site from Courtleigh Services, will be on hand to answer queries, along with representatives
MENTAL health charity organisers in West Somerset are hoping dozens of people will turn out with home-made kites in a stress-busting exercise tomorrow (Thursday). Mind wants people to take their bin bag creations to Lutterall Gardens, North Hill, Minehead
TEARS and cheers were mixed together as a group of firefighters from Somerset took part in an international football tournament in New York. The competition attracted 12 teams from eight countries, with the Somerset squad of 30, captained by Andy Burridge
MUMS-to-be can meet mothers and babies who completed a course in hypnobirthing, which helps decrease pain and stress during childbirth. Midwife and hypnobirthing educator Eleanor Copp said: "The mums-to-be will be able to discover that easy, comfortable
THE Somerset Water Management Partnership has been set up to tackle all water issues affecting the county's three main river catchments - the Parrett, Axe and Brue. It replaces the Parrett Catchment Project and Levels and Moors Partnership, has 14 partners
PUPILS regularly turning up late or playing truant are to be encouraged to turn up for school - with dancing classes. Youngsters who don't take part in sports such as football and cricket are to be given the chance to use dance mats. The Tone School
URGENT behind the scenes talks are going on in the wake of the Independents' rout of the Tory old guard' on West Somerset council. Following last week's election success by the Independents, which saw them take 16 council seats - more than half - to
A THREE vehicle accident on the A358 at Ashill, (Stewley Cross) has been cleared. The incident involving a Volkswagon Polo, a Peugeot 206 and an articulated lorry occurred at around 5.20am. The lorry swerved causing the road to be completely blocked
