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Shock over animal cruelty
SHOCKED animal carers at Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre, near Burnham-On-sea, have been left reeling this week after a spate of a cruelty cases reported to them in recent days. A duck brought in last Thursday had been stoned in Burnham, followed by a herring gull. More...

Church holds open weekend
HUNDREDS of supporters flocked to Burnham-On-Sea's Baptist Church when it opened its doors for an open weekend including a flower festival and various live music events. The special event marked the church's successful completion of various improvements. More...

We're short-listed for award!
BURNHAM-On-Sea.com has again been recognised as one of the region's top Web sites by being short-listed for 'Web Site of The Year' in the 2007 South West Media Awards. The awards recognise the very best of the West Country's newspapers, Websites and journalists. More...

Busy day for town's rescue crews
BURNHAM-On-Sea's emergency services had a busy afternoon on Sunday (April 29th) after being called to two simultaneous incidents. A lady had to be air-lifted from Brean Down and, separately, a tractor got stuck in treacherous mud on Burnham beach. More... | Video

Vandals strike at town firms
BURNHAM-On-Sea shopkeepers are once again counting the cost of crime after vandals struck three businesses in the town on Friday night (April 27th). The Kebab Kitchen in the High Street, pictured above, had a large pane of glass smashed, leaving its owners with a repair bill of several hundred pounds. More...

New cycle service for seafront!
WHY walk along Burnham-On-Sea's seafront when you can enjoy the fresh sea air and glide along it in style? That's the question being asked by an enterprising company which has this week launched a new cycle transport service on The Esplanade, pictured. More...

Lighthouse day helps RNLI
DOZENS of lifeboat supporters flocked to Burnham-On-Sea's lighthouse keepers' cottage on Saturday (April 28th) when the property was opened to the public in aid of RNLI funds. The historic house in Berrow Road is currently up for sale and the public was able to view it. More...

Fire crews called to hospital
FIRE crews were called to Burnham-On-Sea hospital twice in the space of an hour on Saturday evening (April 28th). Three engines from the town rushed to the main hospital building in Love Lane at around 5.45pm after a fire alarm was heard by anxious staff. More...

Council chief visits BARB AGM
KERRY Rickards, the Chief Executive of Sedgemoor District Council, enjoyed a flight in the Spirit Of Lelaina hovercraft on Friday (April 27th) before he attended the AGM of BARB, the life-saving rescue charity, as its VIP guest. Mr Rickards was flown along the beach. More...

Car boot sale under scrutiny
Exclusive: TRADING standards bosses are keeping a "close eye" on a Burnham-On-Sea car boot sale amid claims that hundreds of counterfeit CDs and DVDs have been on sale there during recent weeks. Somerset County Council is closely monitoring the sales. More...

O2 plans new Brean mast
Exclusive: Mobile phone operator O2 has this week submitted a controversial planning application to install a new phone mast in the centre of Brean. Burnham-On-Sea.com learns the proposed 12.5 metre tall mast is earmarked for land near South Road. More...

Is cancer cluster linked to Hinkley?
A ROW has broken out over claims that an unexpected cluster of cancer cases in Burnham-On-Sea may be connected to Hinkley Point nuclear power station. Anti-nuclear campaigners this week claimed the death rate from breast cancer in part of Burnham-On-Sea is 70 per cent above the national average. More...

Burger chain opens in Brean
WIMPY, the nationwide fast food chain, has just opened a new outlet in the centre of Brean, near Burnham-On-Sea. The well-known burger company has opened a restaurant at Brean Leisure Park in time for the start of the busy summer tourist season. More...

Top award for town officer
A BURNHAM-On-Sea police officer has this week been presented with a commendation award for going beyond the call of duty. PC Chris Guest was driving through Highbridge towards Burnham Police on his way to work when he spotted a male who is known to be violent and dangerous. More...

Wind farm appeal date announced
Exclusive: The date has been announced this week for the appeal hearing to decide whether a controversial wind farm on the outskirts of Burnham-On-Sea can go ahead. Burnham-On-Sea.com learns a four-day hearing will open on August 7th at 10am and be held in the town's Princess Hall. More...

Old town buoy to be restored
WORK has got underway this week on restoring a 150-year-old buoy which once marked the shipping channels off Burnham-On-Sea. Burnham Marine Limited in Love Lane has been handed the task of bringing the historic buoy back to its original condition. More...

New row over bridge closure
A FRESH row has broken out over the closure of Walrow railway bridge in the centre of Highbridge. MP David Heathcoat-Amory, who visited the bridge last Saturday, has received a reply from Network Rail placing the blame for the closure on Somerset County Council. More...

Zapcat pilots ready for action!
TWO daring Burnham-On-Sea water enthusiasts are making final preparations to compete in this summer's national zapcat championships. Ashley Chappell and Ryan Jones were training in Bridgwater Bay on Tuesday (April 24th) as they trained for their first race. More...

Police reassure town traders
BURNHAM-On-Sea police have this week reassured businesses in the town that they are winning the battle against crime. Sgt Ian Kennett and Beat Manager Pete Wills addressed over 60 residents at the AGM of the town's Chamber of Trade on Tuesday (April 24th). More...

Shop contest winners unveiled
EAGLE-eyed shoppers who took part in a competition to find dozens of unusual items in shop windows across Burnham-On-Sea received their prizes this week. The eight winners were announced during the AGM of the Chamber of Trade on Tuesday evening (April 24th). More...

Spoonbill spotted on island
BIRD watchers in Burnham-On-Sea were teated to another rare sighting on Stert Island on Tuesday (April 24th). A Spoonbill similar to the bird pictured here was spotted on the island's muddy shore - just days after a large flock of Little Egrets was seen in the area. More...

Outgoing chairman praised
JOHN Edwards, the outgoing chairman of Burnham-On-Sea's Chamber of Trade, was praised for his 'sterling work' in promoting the town at the group's AGM this week. Mr Edwards, pictured, was presented with a gift on behalf of the group by President Gerry Germain. More...

Missing man found safe
A MISSING Burnham-On-Sea holidaymaker has been found safe and well following a police appeal for the public to help find him. Michael Vinton, 47, of Worcester, pictured right, had not been seen for a week since his visit to Burnham Holiday Village on April 15th. More...

New signs to cut skating noise?
A SKATING ban along Burnham seafront is to be reinforced with the introduction of a new sign reminding skaters that they are breaking byelaws. Town councillors have decided to proceed with the purchase of a new sign following noise complaints from residents. More...

Residents guide is launched
BURNHAM-On-Sea's Mayor has officially launched the town's new Residents Guide. More than 8,000 copies of the new 2007/2008 Residents Guide recently rolled off the presses and are now being distributed to homes across Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge. More...

Town Coastguard protest ends
BURNHAM-On-Sea Coastguards have ended their four-day protest over insurance compensation. We were first to report last Tuesday that five officers in the town had switched off their emergency pagers in support of an injured Coastguard from Wales. More...

Little Egrets spotted on Stert
A LARGE flock of 20 Little Egrets spotted on Stert Island, opposite Burnham-On-Sea, delighted bird watchers on Saturday (April 21st). Greg Dye-Hodge Beardsley, right, took a photo above of one of the birds in the flock wading in the mud on the island's shoreline. More...

New Polish twin for Burnham?
A TOWN in Poland could become the latest to be twinned with Burnham-On-Sea if a team of volunteers can be found to help set up the link. Officials from Miechow, a Polish farming town, have written to Burnham's Mayor asking whether we would consider the association. More...

Three arrested over car crime
THREE people have been arrested during a car crime crackdown in Burnham-On-Sea this week. Sgt Julian Brandon of Burnham-On-Sea Police said five vehicles had been taken off the road in a dangerous condition during the 'Operation Relentless' initiative. More...

Driver left 'shaken' by crash
A BURNHAM-On-Sea motorist was left 'shaken up' after her car careered off a road and ended up in a ditch on Friday morning (April 20th). Police and paramedics were called to Queens Drive near the town's Tesco roundabout at 8.25am after the lady driver lost control. More...

RNLI crews rescue 63-year-old
BURNHAM-On-Sea's two lifeboats were called to Berrow on Thursday evening (April 19th) after a catamaran got into difficulties. Both the Staines Whitfield and Puffin lifeboats were launched at 6pm after Coastguards received a report regarding a sailor in difficulties. More...

New cake shop for Burnham
A NEW specialised cake shop has opened in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea this week. Especially For You 2 in Cross Street offers a varied mixture of wedding cakes and decorative confectionery, and welcomed its first customers. We spoke to the store's owner about its plans. More...

Brean police get village base
A DEDICATED police team has been set up in Brean and Berrow to tackle crime in the two villages. Beat Manager PC Dominic Bryant and Special Constable Chris Guest, pictured, who were previously based in Burnham, now have a permanent base in the centre of Brean. More...

Hardware chain opens in town
HARDWARE shop Robert Dyas is preparing to open a new branch in Burnham during May. Burnham-On-Sea.com learns the nationwide company, which has 95 stores across the UK, will open a branch in Burnham's Somerfield supermarket in the centre of town in Pier Street. More...

Town Coastguards join protest
BURNHAM-On-Sea Coastguards have this week joined a nationwide protest in a row over compensation payments. Five Burnham Coastguards have switched off their emergency pagers in support of a Coastguard volunteer from Wales who was injured during a rescue. More...

Russian group comes to town
A GROUP of Russian folk singers is set to return to Burnham-On-Sea next month when they perform a concert at a town church. St Andrew's Church in Burnham-On-Sea will play host to the highly successful St. Petersburg Blagovest Ensemble on 1st May at 7.30pm. More...

Youths arrested on estate
A VANDALISM-hit Burnham-On-Sea estate which was visited by town MP David Heathcoat-Amory during February has been the target of a police crackdown during recent days. Burnham-On-Sea.com learns that seven youths have been arrested on the Rosewood Estate. More...

Footie fundraiser raises £1,000
SHOPPERS at Burnham-On-Sea's Somerfield store have helped a junior football club raise over £1,000 towards the cost of much-needed new equipment. Players aged from 7-13 years from Burnbridge Wanderers welcomed customers to the Pier Street store. More...

Hopscotch story goes national!
A BURNHAM-On-Sea mother has been plunged into the national spotlight after police halted her child's hopscotch game, saying his chalk markings on the pavement were 'graffiti'. Lisa Badland's story first appeared in Burnham-On-Sea's discussion forums in March. More...

Appeal after town assault
BURNHAM-On-Sea police have appealed for witnesses after an alleged assault took place in a town car park on Easter Sunday evening (April 8th). One man aged 18 was arrested following the incident at around 7pm at the Lynton Road car park just off Marine Drive. More...

Easter bonnet fun raises £500
AN EGG-cellent £500 was raised for Burnham-On-Sea's hovercraft group when fun-loving holidaymakers at a Brean caravan park held their annual Easter bonnet parade at the weekend. The popular event, held each year, was well supported by families at Diamond Farm. More...

Could you join Coastguards?
BURNHAM-On-Sea Coastguards have a vacant place to fill on their team. Station officer Steve Bird said: "We are searching for an enthusiastic team player who can give two hours a week for training on Wednesday evenings, plus additional time for call-outs." More...

Busy Easter for town traders
LARGE crowds of visitors flocked into Burnham-On-Sea as warm spring weather meant the Easter holiday weekend was a prosperous one for local traders. The town's main beach was busy with families enjoying the warm weather while crowds of walkers thronged The Esplanade. More...

RNLI crews rehearse rescue
BURNHAM-On-Sea's lifeboat crews took part in a major helicopter training exercise in the Bristol Channel on Sunday (April 8th). The exercise involved scores of leading RNLI lifeboats from across the region working with the RAF's rescue helicopter from Chivenor in Devon. More...

Dolphin spotted in Burnham?
A 'DOLPHIN' which was seen in the waters of Bridgwater Bay at Burnham-On-Sea on Saturday evening (April 7th) was probably one of several porpoises spotted in the River Parrett earlier in the day. A group of residents on the Esplanade saw the animal splashing around in the water. More...

Ritz Club event draws visitors
A STEADY flow of visitors made a 'table top sale' in Burnham-On-Sea's Ritz Social Club a resounding success on Saturday (April 7th). Although the warm weather meant the crowds were not as large as organisers had originally hoped, they were still happy. More...

Dunes shock for tourists
BURNHAM-On-Sea police were called to Berrow on Friday afternoon (April 6th) after a family of holidaymakers reported seeing naked sunbathers in the dunes. Two officers were called to an area near Berrow Church at around 3pm amid reports of several naked men being spotted. More...

Town anglers land trophy haul
ANGLERS from a Burnham-On-Sea fishing club this week recalled some of the year's biggest catches - and the 'ones that got away' - when they met for their annual presentation night. Members of the 3Bs Sea Angling Association met at the Ritz Club in Victoria Street. More...

Narrow escape for beach car!
THESE were the scenes on Burnham-On-Sea beach on Friday morning (April 6th) when a car became trapped in soft sand. Several local came to the aid of the stricken car driver after the vehicle, which had towed a jet ski and trailer onto the beach, sank into the soft sand. More...

Fundraisers help Kenyan kids
GENEROUS fundraisers in Burnham-On-Sea are hoping to raise £2,000 towards a group of needy Kenyan schoolchildren. A temporary charity shop has been set up in the former CJ Holes premises in Victoria Street for eight days until Tuesday April 10th. More...

Eight mile tailback on M5
POLICE have re-opened part of the M5 motorway near Burnham-On-Sea following an eight vehicle accident on Friday morning (April 6th). Both carriageways were shut between junction 21 at Weston and junction 22 at Burnham to allow an air ambulance to land. More...

Water skiers unveil schedule
MORE details have emerged this week about the UK's national water skiing championships, which are set to return to Burnham-On-Sea this summer for the first time in over ten years. The UK's top water skiers will flock to the town during the regatta on August 5th. More...

Burnham beach wins top award
A NEW award highlighting England's best beaches has recommended Burnham-On-Sea as an ideal place for paddling and building sandcastles. The resort is one of 73 winners in the Quality Coast Awards run by the leading environmental charity, Encams. More...