August 2008 Burnham-On-Sea News - Highbridge News - Burnham & Highbridge news

August 2008 Burnham-On-Sea News Archive

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FolkFest hailed as 'best ever'
ORGANISERS of Burnham-On-Sea's annual FolkFest have hailed this year's event the 'best ever' after huge crowds flocked into the town to watch 100 hours of live music over the weekend. The three-day event opened on Friday evening when Dragonsfly took to the stage at the Ritz Social Club in front of 200 people. More... | Video | Photos

Town restaurant owner retires
THE owner of a Burnham-On-Sea restaurant hung up his apron for the final time on Sunday afternoon (August 31st) after 45 years in the restaurant trade. Costas Partakis, 61, has run Regency Joes on the town's High Street for the last six years but has decided to retire to spend more time with his family. More...

Head shave raises BARB funds
OVER £500 was raised for BARB, the Burnham-On-Sea charity that runs the town's two life-saving hovercrafts, when holidaymakers at Brean held a sponsored head shave. Members of the Brean Diamond Farm Fundraising group held the event on Saturday (August 30th). More...

Juggernaut damages vehicle
TOWN centre residents in Burnham-On-Sea looked on in disbelief when a huge articulated lorry was driven through narrow streets in the town, leaving a parked vehicle dented in the process. A car parked at the junction of Victoria Street and College Street was left with side damage. More...

Highbridge Action Team update
HIGHBRIDGE'S recently-formed Local Action Team has just finished a number of summer holiday sessions for local youngsters in partnership with King Alfred Sports Centre using funding from the Town Council. Five sessions were held at Highbridge's Morland Hall over the last two weeks. More...

Missing boy found after search
BURNHAM-On-Sea's rescue hovercraft was called out by Coastguards on Saturday evening (August 30th) to join the search for a six year-old boy who had been missing for four hours. The Light of Elizabeth hovercraft, run by Burnham rescue charity BARB, scoured the tideline along Brean beach from 5pm. More...

Fire crews called to M5 services
TWO fire crews from Burnham-On-Sea rushed to Sedgemoor Services on the M5 motorway near Burnham-On-Sea on Saturday afternoon (August 30th) after a camper van fire. Burnham fire brigade, along with a gas detection monitor from Bridgwater, were sent at 3.17pm. More...

Car careers into shop window
A CAR careered into a shop window in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea this week after a motorist accidentally hit the accelerator pedal on her car. Two shopfront windows and a brick panel were destroyed in the accident at Carpets and Flooring in Victoria Street, pictured here. More...

FolkFest fun gets underway
CELTIC folk band Dragonsfly opened Burnham-On-Sea's third annual FolkFest in front of a capacity audience on Friday evening (August 29th). Dragonsfly, pictured here, took to the stage at the Ritz Social Club in front of around 200 people to perform the opening gig at the three-day festival. More...

Run Burnham's Half Marathon!
RUNNERS hoping to take part in this autumn's Burnham-On-Sea Half Marathon have just a few weeks remaining to complete their entry forms. Organisers from Burnham Harriers running club are inviting entries for the annual 13 mile run, which will be held on October 5th starting at 11am. More...

Accidents cause long M5 delays
THIS motor home was left with one side badly damaged following a collision with a lorry on the M5 motorway near Burnham-On-Sea on Friday afternoon (August 29th). Although no-one was injured, it was one of several incidents that led to long delays for motorists during the day. More...

Vandals in petty crime spree
A WAVE of petty crime has left residents in Burnham-On-Sea cleaning up this week. Several litter bins were set alight along Berrow Road in the town by vandals in the middle of the week, leaving unsightly melted plastic surrounds, as pictured here on Friday (August 29th). More...

Burnham's FolkFest starts today
MORE than 100 hours of live music from 60 different groups is set to be played in Burnham-On-Sea this weekend, as the town's third annual FolkFest gets underway on Friday evening (August 29th. The three-day event will see pubs, clubs and other venues across the town laying on a quality line-up of live entertainment. More...

Bike race day events announced
A HOST of events and activities is to be held in Burnham-On-Sea on September 9th to celebrate the arrival of the world’s best cyclists, including British Olympic Gold medal winners, as they race into the town to complete the South West Stage of the Tour of Britain cycle race. More...

Car fire brings town to halt
THE centre of Highbridge briefly came to a halt on Thursday afternoon (August 28th) as Burnham firefighters tackled a car blaze. One fire engine was sent to Market Street at 1.56pm, as pictured here, after local police raised the alarm that a blue Rover 214 was smoking outside the Coopers Inn. More...

Cinema phone mast rejected
Exclusive: MOBILE phone giant O2's plan to build a five metre tall phone mast disguised as a flag pole on top of Burnham-On-Sea's Ritz Cinema has been rejected by district council planners this week. Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported in 2007 how O2 wanted to build a mast on the roof of the cinema in Victoria Street. More...

Funding boost for Xmas lights
Exclusive: ORGANISERS of Burnham's Christmas lights display have been handed an early festive gift, with a cash injection from a local county councillor. Cllr Mike Facey, who represents Burnham North, has given £1,000 from his community fund to Burnham-On-Sea Chamber of Trade. More...

TV comedian spotted on seafront
CHANNEL 4 TV presenter Justin Lee Collins was spotted on Burnham-On-Sea's seafront on Wednesday evening (August 27th). The comedian, who presents The Friday Night Project on terrestrial TV, was visiting Burnham-On-Sea during a holiday in the area. We spoke to him on the seafront. More...

Counterfeit cash shock for group
Exclusive: A BURNHAM-On-Sea Carnival Club is counting the cost of crime after receiving £100 of counterfeit bank notes at a street party held in the town on Sunday (August 24th). Hillview Carnival Club raised more than £700 towards the cost of building its float during a street party in the town, but found had been given several fake £20 notes. More...

Police called to town incident
POLICE were called to a Highbridge home on Tuesday evening (August 26th) amid concern for the welfare of a resident inside. A long line of police cars and six officers was seen outside a property in Main Road, Highbridge, at 11.30pm, as pictured here. The man was later taken to hospital for treatment. More...

New homes planned for Berrow
PLANS to build four new homes on a patch of derelict land at Berrow, near Burnham-On-Sea, have this week been unveiled by a property development firm. Raglan Housing Limited has applied for permission to build four new homes on land to the south of 181 Berrow Road. More...

Hundreds stage Coast Rd protest
BANK Holiday traffic ground to a halt in Berrow on Monday morning (August 25th) when 200 protesters staged a march to call on the County Council to complete a much-needed footpath along Coast Road. Residents have been campaigning for safety improvements along the busy road for many years and Monday's protest was timed to cause as much disruption as possible. More...

Hospital fete attracts big crowds
TRADITIONAL fairgound games and stalls were among the many attractions which attracted large crowds to Burnham-On-Sea's annual hospital fete on Bank Holiday Monday (August 25th). Hundreds of holidaymakers and residents crowded into the town's Manor Gardens in glorious sunshine. More...

Cash boost for tennis courts
PUBLIC tennis courts in Burnham-On-Sea have received a £650 funding boost from the district council to repair recent vandalism. The tennis courts in Manor Gardens, pictured here, were previously managed by Burnham Swimming Pool when it was operated by Sedgemoor. More...

In photos: Burnham Civic Service
FIVE residents from the Burnham-On-Sea area were presented with awards for their service to the community during the annual Civic Service in the town on Sunday afternoon (August 24th). The Mayor of Burnham and Highbridge, Peter Burridge-Clayton, handed over the awards during the Annual Civic Service at St Andrew's Church. More...

Motor home fire tackled
A smoldering cigarette has been blamed for starting a fire that completely destroyed the interior of a £45,000 motor home in Brean on Saturday night (August 23rd). Two fire crews from Burnham-On-Sea rushed to Warren Farm Holiday Park at 10pm after several holidaymakers raised the alarm. More...

Jet skier rescued by lifeboat
BURNHAM-On-Sea's lifeboat crew was back in action for a second launch of the Bank Holiday weekend when they were called to help a jet skier in difficulty on Saturday morning (August 23rd). Burnham RNLI's Staines Whitfield was launched at 11.57am to assist the disabled jet ski in the Bristol Channel, south of Brean Down. More...

Mayoral wedding in Burnham
BURNHAM and Highbridge's Mayor married his fiancé in a colourful, medieval-themed wedding on Saturday (August 23rd). Cllr Peter Clayton and Jo Burridge tied the knot in a ceremony at Bridgwater Registry Office on Saturday morning before a blessing in Highbridge. More...

Stolen van found in ditch
A VAN found deserted on its side in a ditch near Burnham-On-Sea on Saturday morning (August 23rd) had been stolen from Weston earlier this week. Thieves are believed to have careered off the road in the Astra (pictured here) while negotiating a sharp bend along Wick Road on the outskirts of Berrow. More...

Video: East Brent Harvest Home
HUNDREDS of people gathered in East Brent, near Burnham-On-Sea, on Friday (August 22nd) for the village's annual harvest home. Over 400 people crowded into the event's show tent to tuck into a hearty meal and enjoy a day of traditional entertainment, which included live music and fairground rides. More...

Missing woman found by river
TWO lifeboats and a team of Coastguards from Burnham-On-Sea were called out on Friday evening (August 22nd) to search for a missing person at West Huntspill. Both Burnham RNLI's lifeboats were launched from the jetty (pictured) after a 54 year-old female went missing. More...

Light aircraft crashes near Cheddar
A FIRE crew from Burnham-On-Sea was among the emergency services called to a light aircraft crash near Cheddar on Friday evening (August 22nd). Fire engines from Cheddar, Weston, Bridgwater, Street and Burnham were mobilised to the crash site near Perrow Farm in Clewer (pictured). More...

Car crime warning from police
BURNHAM-On-Sea police issued a warning on Friday (August 22nd) to local residents to keep their cars locked following a series of thefts from vehicles in the area. Since Sunday August 17th, there have been 19 reported incidents relating to car crime in Burnham-On-Sea and Cheddar. More...

Yacht aground sparks alarm
BURNHAM-On-Sea Coastguards were called to West Huntspill on Friday afternoon (August 22nd) after a yacht ran aground on the banks of the River Parrett, prompting concern for the person onboard. A dog walker spotted the large yacht on the top of the banks at 3.30pm. More...

Highbridge bus fire tackled
THESE were the scenes in Highbridge on Thursday afternoon (August 21st) when fire crews tackled a bus fire in the centre of the town. A Burnham-On-Sea fire engine was called to the bus stop outside The George Hotel, in Church Street, at 4.11pm after reports of smoke emerging from the vehicle. More...

GCSE success at King Alfred School
DOZENS of students at King Alfred School were celebrating their GCSE results on Thursday morning (August 21st). 51% of the year group achieved five or more passes at grade C or above, much to the delight of teachers. He added that there were some outstanding individual performances. More...

Ex-world champ wins town run
A FORMER world triathlon champion won the final 5km seafront run of the summer season on Burnham's seafront on Thursday evening (August 21st). Spencer Smith, pictured, narrowly won the third race of the summer series from Burnham Harriers runner Kevin Crenol, who has won two previous races. More...

Burnham art exhibition begins
AN exhibition of arts and crafts from seventeen Burnham-On-Sea artists is set to be held in the town's Community Centre over the Bank Holiday weekend. Sedgemoor Arts Society is holding the three-day art show and exhibition in the Burnham Centre in Berrow Road (pictured). More...

Town economy faces '£4m dent'
Exclusive: BURNHAM-On-Sea's economy could lose up to £4million per year if plans to expand a local garden centre get the go-ahead, the Chairman of the town's Chamber of Trade warned on Wednesday evening (August 20th). Alex Turco said the plans to extend Sanders Garden World would have a major impact on trade. More...

Take-away plans for newsagent
PLANS to convert this former newsagent shop in the centre of Highbridge into a restaurant and take-away were given a luke-warm welcome by town councillors on Wednesday evening (August 20th). The former Highbridge News in Church Street could become a take-away. More...

Street party to be held in town
BURNHAM-On-Sea High Street will be closed to traffic on Sunday evening (August 24th) when a pub holds a fundraising street party. A huge lorry will stretch across the street to become a stage for live musicians outside the Somerset and Dorset pub in the town centre. More...

Burnham Mayor to tie the knot
Exclusive: BURNHAM-On-Sea and Highbridge's Mayor is set to marry his fiancé in a ceremony in Bridgwater later this week. Cllr Peter Clayton and Jo Burridge, pictured, will tie the knot in a ceremony in Bridgwater on Saturday morning (August 23rd). The pair initially announced their engagement earlier this year. More...

Liam's Olympic dream is over
BURNHAM-On-Sea BMX cyclist Liam Phillips represented Great Britain at the Olympic Games in Beijing during the early hours of this morning (Wednesday August 20th). Liam, 19, competed in the seeding runs and made it through to the quarter finals where he took part in a series of action-packed, thrilling races. More... | How it unfolded

Road accident causes delays
BURNHAM-On-Sea police and ambulance crews rushed to the Edithmead roundabout besides the M5 motorway on Tuesday evening (August 19th) after a rush-hour accident. A long tailback of traffic stretched back onto the motorway's northbound carriageway at junction 22. More...

FA football coaches visit town
YOUNG football players in Burnham-On-Sea can get playing tips from the pros this Friday (August 22nd) when The Football Association holds an FA Skills Coaching Roadshow in the town. The event will be held at Burnham's Tesco store in Ben Travers Way from 11am-3pm. More...

Stolen PCs will be replaced
COMPUTER equipment stolen from the Burnham Area Youth Centre looks set to be replaced by the district council. Burnham-On-Sea.com was first to report how the Burnham Area Youth Centre in Casis Close had been broken into on Saturday August 9th. A large amount of PC equipment was taken in a break-in. More...

Fireworks display 'fully insured'
THIS year's Burnham-On-Sea seafront fireworks display will be fully insured just in case bad weather forces another cancellation like last year, organisers said on Monday (August 18th). The display will take place on November 9th thanks to the support of local residents. More...

Traffic calming plan rejected
Exclusive: BURNHAM-On-Sea councillors reacted with dismay on Monday evening (August 18th) to the news that Somerset County Council has rejected calls for a traffic calming scheme on the town's Esplanade. We recently reported how police and town councillors were pushing for road safety improvements. More...

Charity appeals for cat food
POOR weather means animal carers at Secret World Wildlife Rescue centre, near Burnham-On-Sea, are being kept busy with an influx of hedgehogs and birds and they have this week appealed for donations of cat food and kitchen roll to keep up with their demands. More...

Coast Rd campaigners hold walk
WEARY Berrow residents who have been campaigning for safety improvements along a busy stretch of road in the village will hold a special 'community walk' on Bank Holiday Monday (August 25th) to draw attention to long-running concerns about safety along the narrow roadway. More...

Olympic stars to visit Burnham
THREE of Britain's Olympic cycling stars will be in Burnham-On-Sea next month, it was announced by the organisers of The Tour of Britain on Monday (August 18th). Cycling fans will have the chance to welcome home the Beijing stars when the tour visits Burnham on September 9th. More...

Concert in aid of wildlife charity
INTERNATIONALLY known musician Neil H will be performing a special concert in aid of Secret World Wildlife Rescue at East Huntspill, near Burnham-On-Sea, next month. The concert will be held at 7pm on Saturday 13th September in East Huntspill Village Hall. Tickets have just gone on sale. More...

Lib Dems enter recycling debate
BURNHAM-On-Sea and Highbridge Liberal Democrats have called on the Somerset Waste Partnership and Sedgemoor District Council to address the issue of the 'appalling' conditions around the Highbridge recycling facilities in Bank Street car park. It comes after a Burnham-On-Sea.com story last week. More...

Trader hits out in sign row
Exclusive: THE owners of a Highbridge angling shop have hit out at the "heavy-handed" tactics of the district council after being told to remove a small promotional sign outside their store or face legal action. Sedgemoor District Council asked the owners of 'The Fishing Tackle Man', to remove a yellow advertising sign placed on a fence near the entrance to the Morland Industrial Park. More...

Fire drama at Ritz Social Club
A BURNHAM-On-Sea town centre club was evacuated on Sunday evening (August 17th) after a fire broke out in a kitchen. Two Burnham fire crews were sent to the Ritz Social Club in Victoria Street, as pictured here, after an electrical fault in a extractor fan unit caused a small fire. More...

M5 re-opens after car blaze
LONG queues developed on the M5 motorway at Burnham-On-Sea on Sunday morning (August 17th) as emergency services tackled a car fire. Fire crews were called to the southbound carriageway, several hundred metres south of junction 22 at Burnham, at 9.30am after the car was well alight. More...

Big crowds attend vehicle show
Photo Special: DELIGHTED organisers have hailed their second International Vehicle Festival held in Mark, near Burnham-On-Sea, on Sunday (August 17th) a success. Over 250 vehicles were on display at the show, which is run by the members of Mark Community Association. More...

In photos: West Huntspill Show
WET summer weather led to a drop in the number of entries at the annual West Huntspill Show on Saturday (August 16th), but the event was still declared a success by organisers. The quantity of entries fell from 775 last year to 600 this time, but the quality was still high. More...

Crash brings traffic to a halt
MOTORISTS faced lengthy queues in Burnham-On-Sea on Saturday morning (August 16th) after an accident on a busy town centre roundabout. One car was badly damaged, as pictured above, after colliding into a motorhome on the roundabout besides the Esso petrol station. More...

Over-spilling rubbish causes outcry
Exclusive: ANGRY Highbridge residents are calling for action after rubbish littered streets in the town this week due to overflowing recycling bins. This was the scene in the town's Bank Street car park on Thursday (August 14th), a sight that is not uncommon according to nearby residents. More...

FolkFest concert tickets on sale
TICKETS have gone on sale for the opening event of this year's Burnham-On-Sea FolkFest. Dragonsfly will perform at the Ritz Social Club on Friday August 29th from 7pm and tickets are already selling quickly, organisers confirmed to Burnham-On-Sea.com this week. More...

Pool visitor numbers soar
Exclusive: THE number of people visiting Burnham-On-Sea swimming pool has soared since the facility re-opened as the Swim and Sports Academy almost a month ago. The new bosses, Mark Conklin and Sara Cox-Conklin, told Burnham-On-Sea.com this week they have been overwhelmed by the support shown. More...

Coastguards find missing man
COASTGUARDS from Burnham-On-Sea joined a major search for a missing elderly man in Weston which stretched into the early hours of Thursday morning (August 14th). The 71-year-old was reported missing from his holiday accommodation, sparking a full search of the beach at Weston and surrounding areas. More...

OFSTED praises sports centre
Exclusive: STAFF and youngsters at Highbridge's King Alfred Sports Centre are celebrating this week after being praised by inspectors from OFSTED. The centre's holiday club opened just 12 months ago and operates from sports halls, courts, and rooms at the centre. More...

Vehicle festival set for Sunday
HUNDREDS of vehicles will be on display in the village of Mark, near Burnham-On-Sea, this weekend when the third annual International Vehicle Festival is held. Organisers are busily putting final arrangements in place for the festival for this Sunday (17th August). More...

A-Level pass rate celebrated
WHOOPS of delight were heard from A-Level students in Burnham-On-Sea on Thursday morning (August 14th) when they received their eagerly-awaited exam results. Pupils from King Alfred School gathered to receive their A Level and AS results - and most were pleased. More...

Jack is named funniest student
A STUDENT from near Burnham-On-Sea has this week been crowned Britain’s funniest student of 2008. Jack Heal, 21, took the 'Chortle Student Comedy Award' at this week's Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He said after the awards ceremony: "It was a real surprise to win - it hasn't sunk in." More...

Local man air-lifted after crash
Exclusive: A MAN from West Huntspill was rushed to hospital in an air ambulance after breaking six ribs and puncturing a lung in a motorbike accident in Wales. Steve Evans, 54, was riding a three wheeled motorbike at Cwmavon, near Port Talbot, when he lost control of the machine. More...

Cycle race bosses visit Burnham
Exclusive: OFFICIALS from the Tour of Britain cycle race visited Burnham-On-Sea this week to see for themselves the quality of roads in the town. It comes after Somerset County Council last week reassured town councillors that they should not be concerned about Marine Drive. More...

Hospital's food has star appeal!
THE standard of food hygiene at Burnham-On-Sea's War Memorial Hospital has been praised as 'five star' in the latest survey by Sedgemoor District Council’s Food Safety Team. Under the 'Somerset Food Scores' scheme, every food premises in the district regularly gets inspected. More...

Police to reward safe cyclists
POLICE in Burnham-On-Sea and the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust have launched an initiative this month to reward youngsters for wearing a bicycle helmet. 'Helmet Watch' aims to promote children's bicycle safety during the school summer holidays in Burnham and other parts of Somerset. More...

Manhole dispute finally resolved
NETWORK Rail and Sedgemoor District Council have resolved a dispute over who is responsible for repairing a damaged manhole outside Highbridge Railway Station. The manhole on the green in the station car park had been left in a dangerous state, but has now been fixed by Network Rail. More...

Liam heads to Beijing Olympics
BURNHAM-On-Sea BMX cyclist Liam Phillips is making final preparations to fly out to compete in the Olympic Games in Beijing later this week. Burnham teenager Liam, 19, who made the cut for Team GB earlier this year, flies out to China this Friday (August 15th) to represent his country in BMX, which is making its Olympic debut this year. More...

Roadside cameras 'on track'
Exclusive: PLANS to introduce new roadside number plate recognition cameras in Brean are on track despite lengthy delays in getting them set up, frustrated councillors in the village have been assured this week. The cameras were to be introduced this summer, but have been delayed. More...

In photos: Vintage farming show
A VINTAGE Hay and Harvest Show in Highbridge showed visitors how farming was done 50 and 100 years ago during the weekend. The show at Isleport Farm was held on Saturday and Sunday to raise money for the Somerset and Dorset Air Ambulance. We have a full photo round-up. More...

Acoustic music concert in town
ACOUSTIC music fans flocked into Highbridge on Sunday (August 10th) for an afternoon of live outdoor music. The event, called 'Acoustic Music On The Green', was held next to the Community Hall by Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge Cultural Arts and Development Society. More...

Serious M5 accident near Burnham
A PREGNANT woman had to be cut free from the wreckage of this vehicle after a serious accident caused major delays on the M5 motorway near Burnham-On-Sea on Sunday afternoon (August 10th). These were the scenes on the motorway at 4pm as fire crews, police and paramedics from Burnham were called to a two car collision involving a silver BMW estate and a red Nissan Micra. More...

Wet weather hits show entries
POOR growing weather was blamed for a reduction in the number of entries at Burnham-On-Sea & District Horticultural Society’s 41st annual show on Sunday (August 10th). The two-day event was held at Sanders Garden World at Brent Knoll and attracted around 450 entries, which was down on last year. More...

Awards given as Regatta ends
ORGANISERS of this year's Burnham-On-Sea Regatta have celebrated the end of another successful event. The winners of the annual ten-day event (pictured right) were presented with awards on Sunday afternoon (August 10th) as this year's regatta came to a close. More...

Burnham pub sets world record
REGULARS at a Burnham-On-Sea pub have broken the world record for the largest-ever synchronised wine tasting, it was confirmed this week. Burnham-On-Sea.com was first to report in May how more than 30 wine lovers had gathered at The Reeds Arms to take part in the nationwide feat. More...

In photos: ESCAPE Day 2008
TORRENTIAL rain failed to dampen the spirits of the sixteen emergency services taking part in Burnham-On-Sea's annual safety awareness day on Saturday (August 9th). While the number of spectators was down on previous years, the organisers hailed it a success. More...

PCs stolen from youth centre
MEAN thieves have stolen hundreds of pounds worth of computer equipment in a break-in at the town's youth centre. The Burnham Area Youth Centre in Casis Close was broken into overnight into Saturday morning (August 9th). "A window was smashed in the cafe, and a large quantity of computer equipment was stolen," said a spokesman. More...

Double grant boost for group
Exclusive: A GROUP of community-minded residents in Highbridge who have launched a new police-backed Local Action Team to tackle problems in the town have this week been handed a funding boost. Over 20 local people have joined the new action group, which aims to resolve a variety of social issues. More...

Regatta 'try a sail' day cancelled
THE forceast of bad weather for Saturday (August 9th) has prompted Burnham-On-Sea Sailing Club to cancel its 'try a sail' day. Ken Sowden, Burnham Sailing Club Vice Commodore and Sailing Master, said on Friday: "I am afraid that winds are predicted force 5 - 7." More...

Man trapped in loo is released
AN embarrassed man who locked himself in a lavatory at his Highbridge home was released by a Burnham-On-Sea fire crew on Friday (August 8th). One fire engine from Burnham was sent to Wessex House in Highbridge at 10.24am after residents reported the man was trapped. More...

'Save Burnham's phone boxes'
BRITISH Telecom's plans to remove several telephone boxes in the Burnham-On-Sea area as part of a cost-cutting programme have this week been criticised by town councillors. Burnham-On-Sea.com was first to report in June that call boxes in Rectory Drive (pictured) and the Walrow in Highbridge are under threat because, according to BT, they are used too infrequently. More...

Short circuit caused kitchen fire
AN electrical short ciruit is being blamed for a kitchen fire at a Burnham-On-Sea pub in the early hours of Friday (August 8th). Burnham fire crews were called to a pub in Love Lane at 1.36am after the owners reported a kitchen microwave on fire. The microwave was slightly damaged by heat and smoke. More...

Fire alert at Highbridge Hotel
EMERGENCY services from Burnham-On-Sea rushed to the fire-damaged Highbridge Hotel on Thursday evening (August 7th) after a local resident spotted smoke rising from the area. Three fire engines, a police car and an ambulance rushed to the rear of the former hotel at around 10.40pm amid initial fears of a new blaze. More...

Oh buoy! It's the end of an era
Photo special: THESE were the scenes on Burnham-On-Sea beach on Thursday (August 7th) when a huge buoy that has been in place for many years in the waters off the town was 'retired'. 'Number two buoy' has been a familiar sight for boat owners and anglers off Stert Island. More...

Football legend visits Highbridge
FORMER Scottish World Cup football player Tommy Hutchison was the VIP referee at a special soccer event held in Highbridge on Thursday (August 7th). The Football Fun Day was held at Highbridge Football Ground and was supported by dozens of youngsters from across the area. More...

McFly in secret Berrow visit
CHART-topping boy band McFly made a secret visit to Berrow Beach on Wednesday (August 6th) to film a segment for the group's forthcoming new music video. The multi-million selling band used the beach for the video, which is based around the theme of Mad Max. The filming was overseen by the district council. More...

Police in CCTV photo appeal
Exclusive: BURNHAM-On-Sea police have this week released this CCTV image of a man they want to identify in connection with an investigation into a series of local shoplifting incidents. A police spokesman said: "We would like help with identifying him." It follows several recent shoplifting incidents. More...

Cycle road is 'not a problem'
Exclusive: SOMERSET County Council has moved to reassure anxious town councillors in Burnham-On-Sea that they should not be worried about the state of the surface along Marine Drive, which will be the finishing line for the south wesrt stage of the Tour of Britain cycle race in Septemer. More...

In photos: Apex Park Playday
HUNDREDS of children and their families flocked to Highbridge's Apex Park on Wednesday (August 6th) to take part in an annual fun day. The Sedgemoor Playday, which this year had the theme of 'Give us a Go', was run in conjunction with Sedgemoor District Council and the County Council. More...

Highbridge crash causes delays
BURNHAM-On-Sea police rushed to West Huntspill, near Highbridge, on Wednesday morning (August 6th) after a three car collision left the road partially closed. The incident, on the A38 Main Road, occurred near the junction with Withy Road at 11.30am, but police said there were fortunately no serious injuries. More...

Take aim, fire! Archers on form
THESE were the colourful scenes in Berrow at the weekend when the village's Coastal Archers hosted the fifth Somerset meeting of the British Longbow Society. Archery enthusiasts from as far away as Kent, Cheltenham, Pembroke and Exmoor travelled to join in the event. More...

£30,000 cash boost for Apex
Exclusive: Highbridge's Apex Willdlife Park is to get a £30,000 cash injection to develop it into one of the west country's leading angling facilities. Burnham-On-Sea.com can reveal the park has been picked to receive £25,000 of funding from the Environment Agency and a further £5,000 from Sedgemoor District Council towards creating a range of new angling facilities. More...

Photo contest winners unveiled
THIS eye-catching photo of a group of bicycles in the River Brue has this week been declared the winner of a competition to capture scenes of Burnham and Hghbridge. HaBA, the Highbridge and Burnham Artists group, invited entries earlier this year to mark the Brue Arts Festival. More... | Photos

Concerns over race road surface
ANXIOUS town councillors in Burnham-On-Sea have this week expressed fears about the state of the road surface along Marine Drive, which this autumn will be in the national media spotlight when it becomes the finishing line for the South West Stage of the Tour of Britain. More...

Men arrested after air search
A POLICE helicopter and dogs were involved in a four-hour search in Brean in the early hours of Tuesday morning (August 5th). Police cars cordoned off roads and the force's performed sweeps over the village with its infra-red camera after a wanted man was reported to be in the village. More...

Giant Burnham mural completed
THE finishing touches have been made to a colourful painted mural on a wall outside Burnham-On-Sea's Sailing Club. The painting was co-ordinated by Cora Stock, a local artist, with the help of her artist daughter Catherine Metcalf and pupils from the InAura School in Godney. More...

Seafront regeneration 'on hold'
PLANS to regenerate Burnham-On-Sea's seafront as part of multi-million pound plans to upgrade the town have been put on hold, Sedgemoor District Council revealed on Monday evening (August 4th). Doug Bamsey, Corporate Director at Sedgemoor District Council, told a meeting of town councillors that the Esplanade is no longer included in the plans to regenerate Burnham. More...

Ritz cinema to get a new look
BURNHAM-On-Sea's Ritz cinema is to get a fresh new look thanks a £6,000 grant from the UK Film Council, it was announced this week. The cinema has been awarded a cut of £475,000 of funding being handed out to 56 independent cinemas from Bournemouth to Glasgow. More...

Civic award winners announced
THE five winners of this year's Burnham-On-Sea Civic Awards were announced by the town's Mayor on Monday evening (August 4th). John Coombes, Bob Nicholson, Barbara Thorogood, Hilary Rose and Jean Whitehouse have all been nominated for their work in the Burnham and Highbridge community. More...

Beach flats protest will continue
RESIDENTS in Burnham-On-Sea fighting plans by a developer to turn a seafront property into a block of 14 apartments will have to wait at least another two months before they find out whether the controversial scheme will be thrown out. The appeal has been delayed until October. More...

Registry Office is set to re-open
Exclusive: BURNHAM-On-Sea's Registry Office will re-open this autumn after a five-month 'temporary' closure, Somerset County Council announced on Monday (August 4th). We exclusively reported in July that the office, based at Burnham and Highbridge Town Council's chambers in Jaycroft Road (pictured), had been shut for over three months. More...

Olympic diver opens new shop
A FORMER Olympic diver joined Burnham-On-Sea's Mayor in officially opening a new shop in the town on Monday (August 4th). Tony Ally, three-time Olympic and Commonwealth champion and fitness coach for the British diving squad, opened The Hearing Room in Burnham's Victoria Street. More...

ESCAPE Day fun this Saturday
EMERGENCY services from across Somerset will be gathering in Burnham-On-Sea this Saturday (August 9th) to take part in a joint safety awareness day featuring a wide range of rescue demonstrations and displays. ESCAPE Day will be held on the seafront from 10am. More...

Boat race is sail-away success
BURNHAM-On-Sea's annual tender race saw a dozen colourfully dressed members of the town's sailing club take to the waters of Bridgwater Bay on Sunday evening (August 3rd). Showers of rain failed to dampen the sprits of the participants, who rowed from the beach to the sailing club. More...

Yacht aground causes alarm
COASTGUARDS were alerted after this yacht went aground on mudflats at the entrance to the River Brue estuary in Burnham-On-Sea on Sunday afternoon (August 3rd). The yacht, pictured, was spotted high and dry at the junction of the Rivers Brue and Parrett. More...

Arts festival hailed a success
THIS unusual sight of a huge upturned whale was among the artworks on display during Highbridge's three-day River Brue Festival this weekend. Dozens of people wandered along the river banks and seafront at Burnham to see a wide range of eye-catching art created especially for the inaugural two-day event. More...

What a blooming good show!
OVER 400 entries made this year's annual East Huntspill Horticultural Show the best-ever supported on Saturday (August 2nd). The show's President, Bill Fisher, told Burnham-On-Sea.com that the organisers had been delighted that the weather had not adversely affected the entries. More...

Hundreds raised at fun day
OVER 200 balloons soared into the skies above Burnham-On-Sea on Saturday afternoon (August 2nd) at the start of a fundraising race. The colourful spectacle was one of several events laid on during a fun day at the Rosewood Inn in Love Lane to raise funds for the Burnham and Highbridge Gateway Club. More...

Illuminated boats launch regatta
OVER a dozen boats took part in a colourful illuminated procession that marked the start of Burnham-On-Sea's annual sailing regatta on Friday (August 1st). This year, tide and daylight timings tested the Sailing Club's yacht and boat skippers to the limit, as they switched on their lights at 9.20pm. More...

Lifeboat called to help speedboat
A BURNHAM-On-Sea lifeboat was launched on Friday evening (August 1st) to help a speedboat that had broken down in Bridgwater Bay. The Staines Whitfield Atlantic 75 lifeboat was launched from Burnham-On-Sea jetty to help tow the stranded boat, with its occupants, to safety. More...

Police seize drugs in Highbridge
POLICE officers from Burnham-On-Sea executed a Misuse of Drugs Act warrants in Highbridge on Friday morning (August 1st). Police raided a home in Morland Road, Highbridge, where an unspecified amount of suspected Class C drugs, an imitation firearm and a machete were seized. More...

Eclipse watched from Burnham
LOCAL astronomy lecturer Greg Dye-Hodge Beardsley captured this image of the partial eclipse of the sun through his telescope from Burnham seafront on Friday morning (August 1st). "The conditions were very good to view today's partial eclipse," Greg told Burnham-On-Sea.com. More...

£4m garden centre plan logged
Exclusive: A HUGE £4million expansion of a garden centre near Burnham-On-Sea has taken a step forward this week with the planning application being formally registered. Burnham-On-Sea.com broke the news in March that Sanders Garden World wanted to extend its store. More...

Brue festival gets underway
HIGHBRIDGE'S River Brue Festival gets underway today (Friday August 1st) with a host of events taking place in the town. After vandalism in the early part of the week, artist Stefan Jennings moved his sculpture to Wall Eden Farm in East Huntspill and is now due to return it to the river banks on Saturday and Sunday. More...