A mother from Chard has praised the work of medics who detected a heart defect in her unborn baby. Somerset residents are being encouraged to take part in a "test-a-thon", raising awareness of high blood pressure. Ferne Animal Sanctuary is looking for volunteers...and more
A mother from Chard has praised the work of medics who detected a heart defect in her unborn baby which could have killed him. Stacey Davies found out at her twenty-week scan that her son had transposition of the great arteries or TGA, but it meant doctors were ready to operate right after he was born. Jon Arnold's daughter had the same condition which led him to set up the charity Tiny Tickers which supports families like Stacey's.
Meanwhile, Somerset residents are being encouraged to ‘take the pressure off’ as a 24-hour test-a-thon takes place in the county to raise awareness of high blood pressure. Checks will be available on September 5th in Yeovil’s Quedam Centre between 11 am and 2 pm, alongside sessions at workplaces across the region. The campaign started in March and has provided over 2,000 free checks since its launch. The organisers remind us that high blood pressure is a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes, with many people unaware they have it.
Ferne Animal Sanctuary is looking for volunteers at its premises near Chard. If you’re an animal lover, there are opportunities to help care for the animals, fundraise and guide visitors around the centre. You could also help the charity raise money by volunteering in one of its shops. Full details, along with a list of roles, can be found at their website.
And it’s less a case of green and white but more red-faced at Yeovil Town after fans discovered their team’s name had been misspelt on the packaging of the club’s new merchandise. A video has gone viral online, showing two letters missing from the branding. The club blames human error.
New figures have shown that registering as a new patient with an NHS dentist in Somerset is still just as difficult as it was six months ago. The go-ahead has been given to build 160 new houses on Station Road in Castle Cary. A sailor from South Petherton has been chosen to lead a team in the round-the-world Clipper Race...and more.
Somerset Council is being criticised for taking too long to re-open Yeovil's Octagon Theatre. The Liberal Democrats have won a seat on Chard Town Council by one vote. Dates have been announced for this year’s illuminated carnival processions in South Somerset...and more.
Police are investigating the theft of a motorbike in Ilminster. Tributes have been paid to the former Yeovil Town player-manager, Cecil Irwin, who has died aged 83. Town criers from across the South West will be in Yeovil tomorrow competing for the loudest voice in the Yeovil Town Crier Competition 2025...and more
Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident in which a child was struck by a car in Yeovil. This week, a planning inquiry is being held into plans to turn a Somerset shopping centre into a retirement complex. A Somerset woman is planning to walk the 70-miles of Hadrian's Wall to mark her 90th birthday...and more.
Tourism bosses in Somerset say they feel confident the County will have a good summer for visitors this year. A group representing care providers in Somerset is warning that some residential homes are at risk of going out of business due to rising costs. A Somerset animal charity has taken into care, three orphaned badger cubs...and more.
The Care Quality Commission has given two GP practices in Yeovil a 'good' overall rating. According to insurers, AXA, thefts at commercial premises in Somerset are on the rise. Bus users in Somerset could see changes to the frequency of services when the new West of England mayor takes office. Martock is to host its first Pride event in June...and more.
The father of a one-month-old baby boy in Chard is to stand trial for the murder of his son. New figures show that just under 1300 crimes were reported to the Police in Yeovil during the final quarter of last year. A night in a prison cell is offered at Shepton Mallet Jail to those who want to be alone this Easter...and more.
Big changes are being made to where taxi ranks in Yeovil are located. Farmers are being told to keep an extra lookout for people acting suspiciously following the latest livestock theft near the Devon and Somerset border. Channel 4’s Location Location Location is coming to Somerset, with anyone looking to buy a property locally invited to apply to be in the show...and more