Archive
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Motorists warned of delays
RESURFACING work on the motorway south of Wellington begins on Monday. Replacing the M5's original concrete road surface between junctions 26 and 27 with a bitumen surface is expected to take nine weeks and cost £3.2 million. As well as providing a smoother
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Albion's biggest test
BRIDGWATER & Albion's Powergen-South-West-One match at Truro on Saturday is a real four-pointer for both sides. Albion's narrow victory over Cheltenham on January 10 lifted them off the bottom of the table above Truro, but only on points-difference
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Teams fume after cup lock-out
BRIDGWATER Duke and Cossington football teams had to change out in the cold for their Somerset intermediate Cup tie on Saturday, because the changing rooms at Victoria Park, Bridgwater were locked. It's the second time this season that it has happened
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Trewennack road improvements a step nearer
Residents who attended a series of workshops in Trewennack last week have been assured they will continue to be consulted on plans to improve highway safety on the main road through the village. Despite poor weather, more than 50 people took part in the
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Helston School to get new uniform
Helston School are adding further changes to their uniform, following the change from white shirts to navy blue polo shirts for students in years 10 and 11, two years ago. Pupils from years seven, eight and nine will now also be allowed to wear white
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Rugby round up
Exeter Chiefs ran out 31-26 after being sent to Coventry at the weekend. Tony Yapp scored 16 points for the visitors and first-half tries from Haydn Thomas and Stephen Ward set them on their way. The result sees them in seventh place in the National League
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Wins for Plymouth and Torquay - but not City
Exeter City lost their 1-0 lead to a late goal at St James' Park on Saturday, when Manny Omoyimni curled in a 90th minute free kick. City had worked hard and Sean Devine put them a goal ahead in the 32nd minute, but for their dominance, they were unable
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Plilgrims progessing nicely
Argyle got back to winning ways on Saturday by putting three past Rushden and Diamonds at Home Park. And Ian Stonebridge marked his return to the starting line-up with a fine display and a 57th minute second goal. The Pilgrims had to wait until the second
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Volunteers in training
PLANS to set up a Credit Union for West Somerset are being pushed forward with specialist training days for its team of volunteers. Organisers are still on the look out for more people who would be willing to give up some free time and join the group.
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Protests over school building plans
Plans to covert the former Nine Maidens School near Four Lanes into a residential unit for 10 to 18-year-olds with difficulties, has caused uproar. More than 20 residents from the village crowded into a village hall on Monday when Wendron parish councillors
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Heart boy fights for squad place
A teenager from Lanner who has battled against heart disease is now fighting for a place in the national Tae Kwon Do squad. If Simon Richards is successful he will be off to Korea for the world championships. Full story and picture in this week's Packet
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Anger over injured boy
ROAD safety at a Bridgwater school has been slammed by an angry father whose son was left with a broken leg after being involved in a collision with a teacher's car. Mason Clothier ran out into the busy road outside Hamp Infant School after he saw his
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Junk mail 'did not damage' Dachshund
The owners of a dachshund have branded junk mail 'the scourge of the 21st century' after losing a court case in which they claimed their pet had been partially paralysed jumping for a Safeways leaflet left hanging in their Devon home's letterbox. 'If
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Violent Night
TWO Mid Devon men have been jailed for a night of violence among the drug community on a Cullompton estate. At Exeter Crown Court, 30-year-old Nicholas Dymond, of St Andrews Estate, Cullompton, and 37-year-old Stephen Dunn, of McKenzie Way, Tiverton,
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Welcoming council tax reform
Dark clouds are gathering on the horizon for the Government on their system of council tax as one by one authorities step forward to criticise the current system and call for reform. This week, it is the turn of the Local Government Association, (LGA)
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Goal drought forgotten
Torquay scored three goals for the second consecutive game and finally put to bed their eight-hour goal drought when they beat Lincoln 3-1 on Saturday. Leroy Rosenior gambled with David Graham as a non-starter, after his non-appearance last week through
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Expansion for CMA
THE recent boom in the UK accountancy industry has led to Chard-based CMA Financial Recruitment expanding its public practice division and taking on new consultant Antony Mason. Antony joined the company - which has its head office in London Road - to
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Chefs in cook off
Chefs from a village pub and a sea-front hotel will battle with other chefs in this year's Cornish Challenge being held at Cornwall College next month. Teams representing the Trengilly Wartha, near Constantine and the Royal Duchy Hotel, Falmouth, will
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Mawnan character dies
One of the few remaining village characters in Mawnan Smith, Lilian Maud Rickard, who met General Montgomery, has died at her home aged 81. Maud worked hard and was a very contented woman throughout her life, but in line with her character let it be known
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Reunion at hospital
The death of a former sister from Falmouth Community Hospital before Christmas has prompted friends and colleagues to try and organise a reunion in her honour. Retired nurse Ann Walton was killed by a train near Penmere Station last month. Friends and
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Student's 'eye exploded in nightclub attack'
A Bristol nightclub bouncer pushed his walkie-talkie into a student's face so hard it caused his eyeball to explode, a court has heard. David Lowe was celebrating the end of his legal practice course exams at Bristol's University of the West of England
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Police looking for bus attack victim
Police are trying to trace a woman who may have suffered head injuries during an attack on a bus in Bristol. The woman was sitting on a bus travelling along Sherrin Way, Withywood when a youth threw a piece of masonry through the bus window. The brick
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Man in court over freezer body murder
A 27-year-old man accused of murdering a victim whose body was found in a freezer near Bath was remanded in custody when he appeared in court. Matthew Sidney Roberts, of no fixed abode, spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth at Bath Magistrates
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Taunton MP speaks out
TAUNTON MP Adrian Flook has joined the growing clamour for answers from Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon. Mr Flook has accused Mr Hoon of giving him false assurances that British troops would be properly equipped for action in last year's Iraq War. The Taunton
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Junk mail 'did not damage' Dachshund
The owners of a dachshund have branded junk mail 'the scourge of the 21st century' after losing a court case in which they claimed their pet had been partially paralysed jumping for a Safeways leaflet left hanging in their Devon home's letterbox. 'If
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Tommy aims for the top
PURITON boxer Tommy Marshall has turned professional. The 19-year-old member of Sydenham Amateur Boxing Club has signed up for well-known manager Chris Sanigar's Bristol Boys group. Marshall, whose younger brother Billy is a Sydenham amateur, hopes to
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Head speaks out about town youths
AN ILMINSTER headteacher has called for strong action to tackle vandalism, intimidation and anti-social behaviour by youths in the town. Paul Birbeck, head at Swanmead Middle School, believes boredom and a lack of respect for authority is at the root
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Winger is back in action
YEOVIL Town winger Nick Crittenden has resumed training after missing the Glovers' Nationwide League Division Three fixture at Carlisle United on Saturday due to injury.
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Parishes fight cuts
PARISH council power is to be used to fight the withdrawal of grants for open spaces and play areas across South Somerset, amid fears the elderly will be left to foot the bill. Winsham Parish Council have written to other town and parish councils to rally
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Fond farewell to Cyril
Hundreds of people poured into Camborne town council chamber at the weekend to pay tribute to mayor Cyril Waterhouse who died suddenly earlier this month. Over 200 people paid their respects at a civil celebration held in the Basset Centre. Full story
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Thugs jailed for violence
Six men from Redruth have been sent to prison for what has been described as "appalling violence" in the centre of town. Truro Crown Court heard that during the incident in July last year a billiard ball wrapped inside a sock was used as a weapon. Video
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Save Haygrove!
CHILDREN at a feeder primary school have spoken out against the possible closure of Haygrove to make way for a super school in Bridgwater. Charlotte Vearncombe wrote to the Mercury on behalf of her friends in year six at Otterhampton School. The 11-year-old
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Arson and abuse fears
A WOOLAVINGTON resident has launched an astonishing attack on the police, who she blames for failing to deal with a village crime wave. According to Carol Wood, crimes ranging from anti-social behaviour to attempted arson have made life hell for village
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Preliminary by-pass design reaches final stages
Final amendments to the design of the proposed Kingskerwell by-pass will be considered by members of Devon County Council's Executive today. Local people's views have helped to shape the final design which includes changes at the major junctions at Aller
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New coach bay will reduce congestion
Traffic congestion caused by tourist coaches dropping passengers in the centre of Exmouth should be reduced this coming summer season. Devon County Council has succeeded in making a bay available at the bus station for excursion coaches to prevent them
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Green light for affordable homes
Exeter City Council has secured government funding to build 218 new affordable homes in Exeter. Members of the Council's Scrutiny Community committee will be told of the £4.38 million boost for city housing at a meeting last week. The homes will be built
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Murder probe: Man arrested
POLICE confirmed this afternoon that a young man had been arrested as part of their ongoing inquiries into the murder of a 74-year-old woman in North Cornwall. Joan Roddam was found dead at her home at West Brow, West Downs, near Delabole, on November
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Was French trawler run down?
FRENCH authorities claimed last night that one of their trawlers, which sank 19 miles off the South Cornwall coast, had been rammed by a larger vessel before sinking. Two bodies were recovered after last Thursday's emergency but three crew members remain
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Newsquest appoints new web designer
Following the recent promotion of Andrew Brittain to the Newsquest board, the Southampton office of the regional newspaper publisher has welcomed a new arrival to its IT department. kjg lks ghdksl hgdslg hsdgjhsdkghdjghsdlh
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Expansion for CMA
THE recent boom in the UK accountancy industry has led to Chard-based CMA Financial Recruitment expanding its public practice division and taking on new consultant Antony Mason. Antony joined the company - which has its head office in London Road - to
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New role for David at Confederation
TAUNTON recruitment expert David Winterburn has been appointed to a new role with the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, it has been announced. Mr Winterburn, a senior consultant with Taunton-based Ramsey Hall Executive Search and Selection, is
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City lose out to late goal
Exeter City lost their 1-0 lead to a late goal at St James' Park on Saturday, when Manny Omoyimni curled in a 90th minute free kick. City had worked hard and Sean Devine put them a goal ahead in the 32nd minute, but for their dominance, they were unable
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Attempted robbery in Burnham
Police are appealing for information after an attempted robbery on a 14-year-old victim in Burnham. The incident happened at about 3.15pm on January 16 on the junction of Pinter Close with Ben Travers Way. The 14-year-old was riding his bike when he was
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Motorway work to go ahead
MOTORISTS in Somerset are being warned of delays when resurfacing work begins on the M5 motorway next week. The concrete road surface between junctions 26 and 27 is being replaced and the work is expected to take nine weeks. As part of the £3.2 million
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Review of Yeovil mother's jail sentence
YEOVIL mother Donna Anthony has been given fresh hope that the two life sentences she received for the murder of her two children could be overturned. Anthony is one of nearly 260 women convicted of killing their babies who will have their cases investigated
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Man to face sex charges in U.S court
A Plymouth man is due in court in the US, accused of flying out to molest a six-year-old girl. John Brewer, 39, was due in court in Minnesota after being detained by customs and immigration officials last month. The officials allegedly found a sexually
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Teenager in court over Flo murder
A teenager charged with murdering a 69-year-old woman found stabbed to death at a Plymouth bus station is due to make his first Crown Court appearance. Ian Hartshorn, 18, appeared at Plymouth Magistrates Court last week charged with murdering Florence
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Attempted robbery in Burnham
Police are appealing for information after an attempted robbery of a teenager in Burnham. The incident happened at about 3.15pm on January 16 on the junction of Pinter Close with Ben Travers Way. The 14-year-old victim was riding his bike when he was
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Bideford go through to the fifth round
Bideford travelled to Billingham in the fourth round of the FA Vase on Saturday and won 4-2. But Torrington and St Blazey didn't do so well. Bideford's ex-Torquay professional Ellis Laight scored twice, after Ben Rowe had put the visitors in a mid first-half
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Closed circuit TV cameras help reduce crime
City centre crime is on the decrease in Truro as a result of CCTV cameras. Shoplifting and assaults have all shown a drop in the past year according to an annual report published this week. Camera footage was used in a number of court cases during the
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Preliminary by-pass design reaches final stages
Final amendments to the design of the proposed Kingskerwell by-pass will be considered by members of Devon County Council's Executive today. Local people's views have helped to shape the final design which includes changes at the major junctions at Aller
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Hospital scheme clears first hurdle
A £130 million pound plan to modernise Torbay Hospital was given the go-ahead in principle by planners. The plans, which include a pioneering park and ride scheme, went before Torbay Council's development control committee this week. Members granted outline
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Welcoming council tax reform
Dark clouds are gathering on the horizon for the Government on their system of council tax as one by one authorities step forward to criticise the current system and call for reform. This week, it is the turn of the Local Government Association, (LGA)
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Soccer friendly
DR MARTENS league club Taunton Town have arranged a soccer friendly at home to Frome Town tonight (Tuesday). Both sides are expected to include trialists in the match which kicks off at 7.45pm. Taunton have not played since they were beaten by Worthing
