Thursday 28th May

Thursday, 28 May 2026 06:00

By Steve Haigh

People are being asked to take extra care in parks and open spaces as high temperatures and dry conditions increase the risk of fire. Plans to build hundreds of new homes in Yeovil can now go ahead after a High Court challenge by Mudford Parish Council was dismissed. A Somerset bakery chain has sparked a reaction after it stopped making iced buns... and more

Somerset Council is urging people to take extra care in parks and open spaces as high temperatures and dry conditions increase the risk of fire. The council says discarded barbecues, cigarette ends and even glass bottles can spark a blaze. They're asking people not to use portable barbecues, to dispose of litter responsibly, and make sure ash and cigarettes are fully extinguished.

Plans to build hundreds of new homes in Yeovil can now go ahead after a High Court challenge by Mudford Parish Council was dismissed. The Up Mudford development on land north of Primrose Lane in Mudford includes 760 homes, commercial space and community facilities. Campaigners had raised concerns about flooding, traffic and infrastructure, but the High Court has ruled that Somerset Council acted lawfully in granting the scheme planning permission. The parish council says it won’t appeal.

Somerset’s recycling centres are handling 25 per cent more black bin waste since three-weekly collections were introduced. Somerset Council says more rubbish is being taken directly to recycling sites as residents change their habits.

The Royal Bath and West Show opens today and runs until Saturday at the Bath and West Showground near Shepton Mallet. Actor, Martin Clunes, is a guest at the show today, and the Wurzels are playing live.

A Somerset bakery chain has sparked a reaction after it stopped making iced buns. Burns The Bread says changing tastes has meant the once reliable iced bun is no longer popular but fans have taken to social media, demanding the sticky favourite be put back on sale.

More from News

Wednesday 3rd June

A Yeovil man has appeared in court charged with assaulting three police officers. Somerset Council has begun legal action to recover more than £320,000 owed by housing developers. The line-up has been announced for this year’s Ilminster Midsummer Experience...and more
Tuesday 2nd June

Somerset Prostate Cancer Support Group says a decision not to introduce mass screening for prostate cancer is the wrong one. A Martock woman has been banned from driving for 28 months. Somerset Council is marking Volunteers’ Week by thanking the volunteers who help deliver council services... and more
Monday 1st June

People in Somerset with Football Banning Orders are being reminded they must surrender their passports by the end of today ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup tournament. A road in Yeovil will close for nine days later this week. Farmers from Somerset were among the winners of this year's ITV Britain's Got Talent final...and more
Friday 29th May

South Western Ambulance Service is struggling to cope after a surge in 999 calls during the hot weather. Glastonbury and Somerton MP Sarah Dyke says a shortage of rental homes is making it harder for rural employers to attract workers. The National Trust is warning that changing weather patterns are making it difficult to maintain the Cerne Abbas Giant... and more
Wednesday 27th May

The UK Health Security Agency has increased its heat health alert for Somerset to amber. Trading Standards officers have shut down three shops in Taunton after illegal cigarettes and vapes were discovered on the premises. Bridgwater Town Council is considering running its own bus services...and more
Tuesday 26th May

A Martock agricultural machinery business has gone into administration, putting around thirty jobs at risk. A new sensory room has opened at a Yeovil schook to support neurodiverse pupils. The headteacher of a Chard primary school is stepping down... and more
Friday 22nd May

The National Farmers Union in Somerset has welcomed the government’s new trade deal with six Gulf countries. Campaigners say Somerset’s canals and locks are in urgent need new investment. The Liverpool comedian John Bishop is heading to Somerset later this year...and more
Thursday 21st May

Police are being asked to cut the time the M5 is closed following accidents. Plans to build a major solar farm near Chard have been thrown out. Aldi is asking shoppers to help find locations for new stores in Somerset...and more