WELLINGTON'S world champion gunman, Ed Ling had his Olympic hopes dashed this week. But disappointment in Athens has only inspired him to go for gold at the 2008 games in Beijing. The 21-year-old from Nynehead, who is coached by his dad, Steve, and shoots
A WELLINGTON man has told the Somerset County Gazette of his five years of hell with a drugs dealer as his neighbour. Paul Hirst, 58, of Howard Road, says he and fellow residents were terrorised by junkies visiting Paul Kitto at all hours of the day and
BURNHAM & Berrow golfer Lee Corfield will try for his PGA Tour card next month, despite the fact he is now in the Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup training squad. The 21-year-old, from Brent Street, Brent Knoll, has nust been named also in the
ANTONY Lynch headed a last-gasp equaliser for Taunton Town who drew 1-1 at home with Southern League new boys Paulton Rovers on Wednesday night. For more on this story see the Somerset County Gazette this Friday (Aug 20).
CRICKETING superstar Ricky Ponting has said his fond farewells to Somerset and returned to the international scene with Australia to prepare for the ICC Trophy in September. For a full write up of this story see the Somerset County Gazette this Friday
MINEHEAD Barbarians, whose 1st XV will be captained this season by scrum half Dan Bishop have lined up only one trial - against Wellington at home tomorrow week. For more local sporting news see the West Somerset edition of the Somerset County Gazette
TRAFFIC chaos was caused yesterday (Thursday) when a 44-ton lorry tipped over under a railway bridge on the A358 at Combe Florey. As the County Gazette went to press, Avon and Somerset Police were co-ordinating with Network Rail to work out how they were
HEARTHROB Matt Goss has announced a one-off live gig at Butlins in September. The ex-Bros star will perform tracks from his latest album when he visits Minehead on September 18.
MORE than 100 classic cars set off from Watchet for the 11th Classic Car tour of Exmoor on Sunday morning. A gleaming cavalcade of cars from the 1920s to the present day, including Porches, MGs, Triumph Stags and Austin Healeys, drove away from Watchet
KNIGHTS and maidens are set to bring medieval mayhem to the grounds of Dunster Castle on Bank Holiday Monday. There will be games, trails and competitions for all the family. Visitors can try their luck at fun-sized jousting and target practice or courageously
MINEHEAD is to get two new police community special officers to help fight anti-social behaviour. Interviews took place on Tuesday, and they could be patrolling the town's streets before the end of the year. The move comes in the wake of your Somerset
HUNTING and walking are the two most popular activities on Exmoor. A vote of 60 per cent was split down the middle for the two activities, according to a survey by the Exmoor National Park Authority. A quarter of respondents watched wildlife and a sixth
FIERY fiddle player Gundula Gruen brought her brand of wild gypsy music to Minehead this week when international musicians La Strada played at Blenheim Gardens. Playing violins, accordion and double bass they performed an energetic and colourful set bringing
The father whose child died at birth on Christmas Eve at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, as midwives went out to collect a Chinese takeaway, claims the report into the death a whitewash. But as the findings of an independent inquiry were made public this
FUTURE plans for Bridgwater's Castle House may spread onto land alongside the "Concrete Castle" - according to a SAVE Trust spokesman. Adam Wilkinson, secretary for the trust which owns the building, has revealed to the Mercury that the use of areas nearby
THE death of a six-year-old boy on Sunday has sparked renewed calls for speed restrictions on the B3181 outside the Quad World leisure park near Cullompton. Craig Farwell, from Horton Heath, near Wimborne in Dorset, was fatally injured after a Toyota
A woman aged 72 has decided to take the plunge and make a 10,000ft parachute jump for charity. Betty Froud, from Teignmouth, will be making her first ever jump above Dunkeswell airfield near Honiton on September 11 to raise money for age concern. Mrs
IT was definitely a day for celebrations yesterday. Thousands of students across the Taunton area collected their A-level and AS-level results, many of them achieving some of the best results yet for their schools and colleges. Pictured with their long-awaited
CASH has been pouring in for the Somerset County Gazette's 'Cash for Cancer Relief' campaign this week and the total stands at £314,469. The County Gazette has teamed up with charity Macmillan Cancer Relief to run the 'Cash for Cancer Relief' campaign
A DOCTOR from Taunton, who is alleged to have had sex with patients WAS fairly dismissed, an employment tribunal has ruled this week. Dr Christopher Gillen, a consultant gastroenterologist at Musgrove Park Hospital, has lost his claim for unfair dismissal
SUPPORT is coming in thick and fast for the Somerset County Gazette's Action Sports Appeal. We have thrown our weight behind exciting plans to bring a world-class action sports park to the heart of Taunton. The Community Skatepark Project (Taunton) wants
A REVISED train services timetable for the last ten days of August is now available on the internet. The amended times available at www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk apply to high-speed First Great Western services, and both long-distance and local First Great
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to the early morning theft of cash from a telephone box in Yeovil. The incident took place in Abbey Manor Park at 5.20am yesterday (Thursday) morning. The offender is described as a white man 30-35 years, 5ft 8ins of
IT was definitely a day for celebrations yesterday. Thousands of students across the Taunton area collected their A-level and AS-level results, many of them achieving some of the best results yet for their schools and colleges. Pictured with their long-awaited
TRAGIC Taunton mum Lisa Taylor could be given up to half a million pounds in compensation as a victim of crime. Lisa, 25, was left severely brain damaged after being repeatedly kicked in the head by former boyfriend Steven Clark after a row four years
TAUNTON teenager Malcolm Lewis has become the youngest knight in the country. Malcolm, 14 from Bishop's Hull, was knighted Sir Richard the Earl of Cornwall on Sunday by the Medieval Jousting Company and has appeared with them at Powderham Castle, near
TAUNTON town centre may be transformed by a multi-million pound development either side of High Street. Proposals to completely revamp the area so it continues to compete with other major South-West shopping centres include: Flattening the Paul Street
IT was definitely a day for celebrations yesterday. Thousands of students across the Taunton area collected their A-level and AS-level results, many of them achieving some of the best results yet for their schools and colleges. Pictured with their long-awaited
PARENTS concerned that living alongside Hinkley Point nuclear power station could cause lasting health problems for their children are urging people to add their backing to a plan for a wind farm on the Somerset coast. Your Energy last week submitted
CASH has been pouring in for the Somerset County Gazette's Cash for Cancer Relief campaign this week and the toal stands at £314,469. The money will be used to aid the work of Macmillan in Somerset, which provides a range of servcies and care for cancer
REDRUTH Rugby Club will be staging an old players' reunion at the Recreation Ground on Thursday, August 26, at 8 pm. Preparations are well in hand for what should be a memorable occasion with players from all generations attending the function. As usual
CORNWALL Raceways hosted the 2004 South West Banger and Grasstox Championships on Sunday at their Trezemper track. The largest crowd of spectators this season were treated to some spectacular, full contact racing, with all the top local drivers determined
TAUNTON Deane and Bridgwater are set for a crunch match in the Bristol and Somerset Division of the West of England League at the Convent Field tomorrow (Saturday). The prize for the winners is an almost certain place in Premier 2 next seaosn. For more
TAUNTON Deane remain on course to win the Bristol and Somerset Division in the West of England League after gaining a comfortable victory over struggling Midsomer Norton last weekend. For more on this story see the Somerset County Gazette today (Aug 20
TAUNTON have continued their encouraging build-up to the new rugby season with a 19 pts-17 win over South West 1 club Clevedon. The match was played at Hyde Lane last Saturday and new coach Kevin Powderly commented afterwards: "We're heading in the right
ANTONY Lynch headed the equaliser for Taunton Town who drew 1-1 at home with Southern League new boys Paulton Rovers on Wednesday night. For more on this story see the Somerset County Gazette this Friday (Aug 20).
PLANS for a £500,000 family centre in Wiveliscombe have been backed by Adrian Flook MP. The centre, planned for a site opposite Croft Way car park, would provide affordable full-time childcare together with after-school and holiday schemes. But, while
A WOMAN from Appley, near Wellington, delighted patients at a Mid Devon hospital last week when she performed classical music. Mary Owen, 27, whose parents live in the village, and her musical duo partner, Jackie Cackett, 27, form Two's Company. The pair
SKATERS in Wellington were disappointed once again, this week. After a year-long battle between Wellington Town and Taunton Deane Councils, it was originally feared the new skatepark next to Wellington Sports Centre wouldn't be finished before the end
WELLINGTON Federation of Sports Clubs' second Summer Spectacular is on Bank Holiday Monday, August 30, from noon. Supported by the Somerset County Gazette, the event is at Wellington Rugby Club and promises to be even bigger and better than last year's
A CLAYHIDON pub has been awarded a silver award in a food and drink competition for the second year running. The Merry Harriers secured the award in the public house category of the Taste of the West Food and Drink Awards 2004. Owner and executive chef
TOWN Reserves cruised to a comfortable victory over poor opposition at Fairfax Park on Saturday in their first match of the season. "We missed some good chances, but took some good ones as well," said manager Paul Rich. Neil "Scholesy" Pedley, back at
POLICE are appealing for information following a road traffic collision in Ilminster on Friday morning. The incident happened at around 9.45am when a blue Ford Escort travelling on the road from Ilminster towards the A358 hit a wall at the side of the
YEOVIL Town visit Notts County tomorrow (Saturday) in their fourth game of the new season in the Coca-Cola League Two. The Glovers will go into the game with renewed confidence following their 2-0 success over Boston United at Huish Park last Saturday
A VITAL eighth wicket stand between Shane Warne and Lawrence Prittipaul enabled Hampshire to prosper on a rain-shortened second day at Taunton. The visitors totalled 301 in their first innings despite Andy Caddick taking 5-97 for Somerset. Resuming on
WELLINGTON Football Club are calling on former players to attend a special reunion next month. An over-35s side will be taking on South Woodham Veterans from Essex at the Playing Field on Friday, September 3 (6.30). For more information on this story
ANIMAL Rights extremists who attack anglers are to be treated like terrorists under new laws announced last week. The Home Office, fed up with continued attacks by protestors, has promised to tighten their grip in what is the biggest-ever crackdown on
A CHARD care home is pioneering work to bring greater independence to elderly dementia patients. Oak Lodge in Lordleaze Lane opened its new eight bed specialised dementia unit, last week, The Acorns. Since being taken over by Majesticare, who have similar
MINEHEAD'S joint manager Charlie Lewis was far from despondent despite his side's 3-1 defeat at Clevedon United in the SDL first division on Wednesday night. "You can't be critical of a side when you play well," he said later. For all your local sporting
WATCHET Town were held to a 2-2 away draw by Tunley Athletic in the first division of the Somerset County League last Saturday. For more local sporting news see the West Somerset edition of the Somerset County GAzette our today (Aug 20).
A FIASCO and a disaster -- that's how West Somerset District Council's handling of a £650,000 public toilet refurbishment programme was described this week. The ferocious broadside came as embarrassed council officials attempted to explain a catalogue
A MOTHER who saw her six-year-old daughter break her collar bone on a bus has had her call for seat belts rejected. Bethany Newsome broke her collar bone when the bus in which she was travelling made an emergency stop. Bethany, of Bampton Street, Minehead
THE search is on for the tallest sunflowers in Minehead. Minehead in Bloom committee has put out a call to sunflower growers, young and old, to enter a competition for the Sunflower Trophy. Committee chairman Martyn Snell said: "Sunflower growing was
FIERY fiddle player Gundula Gruen brought her brand of wild gypsy music to Minehead this week when international musicians La Strada played at Blenheim Gardens. Playing violins, accordion and double bass they performed an energetic and colourful set bringing
A pioneering joint venture between Wessex Trains and the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership to promote travel on the Tamar Valley Line has been a real hit with local people. The carnet (book of tickets) went on sale in June at a total of seven shops
WELLINGTON boss DAve Sheehan has accepted Daniel Short's explanation for missing out on last Saturday's opening game of the season at Willand. Wellington will be in action tomorrow when they play Minehead at Irnham Road (7.30). For more on this story
EXPERT financial advice is being offered to young people about how to avoid getting into debt. This follows concerns that the number of young people in debt -- and the size of debts -- has grown in recent years. Connexions Somerset, the county-wide advice
GET your knitting needles at the ready for the national knit-a-thon organised by the Children's Society. The event runs from September 1 to December 31 with people being encouraged to join in the fun by knitting with friends and family in the comfort
TAUNTON teenager Malcolm Lewis has become the youngest knight in the country. Malcolm, 14 from Bishop's Hull, was knighted Sir Richard the Earl of Cornwall on Sunday by the Medieval Jousting Company and has appeared with them at Powderham Castle, near
THERE was traffic chaos yesterday (Thursday) as a 44-ton lorry tipped over under a railway bridge on the A358 at Combe Florey. As the Somerset County Gazette went to press, Avon and Somerset Police were co-ordinating with Network Rail to work out how
A NEW chairman has been named for the organisation running Somerset's mental health services. The Somerset Partnership NHS Trust has appointed Linda Nash, non-executive director with Taunton & Somerset Hospital. Mrs Nash said: "I'm looking forward
The father whose child died at birth on Christmas Eve at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, as midwives went out to collect a Chinese takeaway, claims the report into the death a whitewash. But as the findings of an independent inquiry were made public this
Falmouth A-level students are celebrating the results of their examinations. Pupils are now making last minute decisions over university placings. Full story and pictures in next week's Packet.
IT was definitely a day for celebrations yesterday. Thousands of students across the Taunton area collected their A-level and AS-level results, many of them achieving some of the best results yet for their schools and colleges. Pictured with their long-awaited
A TEENAGE tearaway from Taunton has become one of the first youths in the area to have an Anti-Social Behaviour Order stamped on her. The 17-year-old girl pleaded guilty to charges of being drunk and disorderly on three occasions this year at a court
THE night-time economy in Taunton will be the focus of a seminar next week. Civic chiefs, licensees and police will examine how to manage the town's thriving club and pub scene better. The seminar comes after late-night violence has been in the spotlight
A DOCTOR from Taunton, who is alleged to have had sex with patients WAS fairly dismissed, an employment tribunal has ruled this week. Dr Christopher Gillen, a consultant gastroenterologist at Musgrove Park Hospital, has lost his claim for unfair dismissal
PARTYGOERS in platforms and flares made their way to Vivary Park for a night of 70s disco fun on Friday night. The evening got underway with The Party Animals belting out a mixture of music old and new to get the crowd warmed up. The set included a classic
SUPPORT is coming in thick and fast for the Somerset County Gazette's Action Sports Appeal. We have thrown our weight behind exciting plans to bring a world-class action sports park to the heart of Taunton. The Community Skatepark Project (Taunton) wants
GIANT window stickers dominating the upper floor of a Taunton music store can stay after a planning inspector praised their "vitality." Taunton Deane Council planning officers took enforcement action over the Virgin Megastore's advertising (pictured)
Following the recent successes against Devon's Development XI and Minor County side Cornwall's Women's cricketers pulled off a unique County Club treble on Sunday, when they won their opening South West Counties Championship game of the season against
