February 2009 Burnham-On-Sea News Archive

January 2009 news archive

Youth's motorbike seized
Exclusive: POLICE have seized this mini-motorbike after angry residents complained it was being riding on play equipment at Highbridge's Apex Park. Police swooped on the 17 year-old rider this week and issued him with a warning, before seizing the bike because it had no insurance. More...

Scout band appeals for members
BURNHAM-On-Sea Scout Group's concert band has launched an appeal for new and former members to get in contact to help with the group's upcoming performance. The small group of Scouts and Guides is set to perform The Lion King medley later in the year and wants to boost the numbers taking part. More...

Mayor opens new internet cafe
BURNHAM-On-Sea's Mayor cut the ribbon to officially open a new Internet cafe in the town on Friday afternoon (February 27th). Cllr Peter Burridge-Clayton was joined by Alex Turco, Burnham's Chamber of Trade Chairman, to open the new venture called The Link in Cross Street. More...

Duo prepare for 10,000ft jump
TWO Burnham-On-Sea residents whose families have been affected by Cancer are preparing to do a 10,000ft parachute jump to raise funds for a charity that helps people affected by the disease. Danny Sutton and Andy Low, who both work at Burnham's Tesco store, are raising money for Marie Curie Cancer Care. More...

Wrinkly Rappers set to perform!
A GROUP of rapping pensioners who are set to appear on ITV's Britain's Got Talent later this year will perform in a Burnham High Street shop this weekend. Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported on 'The Wrinkly Rappers' in January as they headed off to perform in Cardiff. More...

Talks held on town ferry plans
Exclusive: THE prospect of a multi-million ferry service coming to Burnham-On-Sea moved a step closer this week when ferry bosses met councillors in the town for talks. The group, which included businessman Chris Marrow and senior officials from Sedgemoor District Council, were spotted on Burnham's jetty. More...

Foley Parkway work to start
Exclusive: THE long-awaited construction of the final part of the partially complete Frank Foley Parkway in Burnham-On-Sea will begin next week, Somerset County Council announced on Thursday (February 26th). This final section of the Burnham Eastern Distributor Road will complete the link between Love Lane in Burnham and Pepperall Road in Highbridge. More...

MP's "delight" at Foley Parkway
BURNHAM-On-Sea's MP, David Heathcoat-Amory, has expressed his "delight" at the news that work to complete the Frank Foley Parkway will finally get underway next week. He said on Thursday evening (February 26th) that the County Council's announcement was very welcome. More...

Frail pensioner robbed of savings
Exclusive: A FRAIL, elderly pensioner was robbed of her savings in a sickening distraction burglary in Highbridge on Wednesday afternoon (February 25th). Police were called to Grange Avenue at 3.20pm, as pictured here, as their investigations into the crime got underway at the scene. More...

New problems hit town pool
Exclusive: NEW problems have been found with the floor of Burnham-On-Sea's swimming pool this week. Mark and Sara Cox-Conklin, owners of the Burnham Swim and Sports Academy, discovered a large 15x3 metre area of tiles had become dislodged on Tuesday night, requiring more repairs. More...

Apex lake project is opened
A £30,000 project to create new fishing platforms and two new islands at Highbridge's Apex Willdlife Park was officially opened on Wednesday (February 25th). Dennis Davey, Chairman of Sedgemoor District Council, and Iain Turner, the Environment Agency's Fisheries Technical Officer for the Wessex Area, were at the opening. More...

O2 in fresh bid to build mast
Exclusive: MOBILE phone giant O2 has this week submitted a formal appeal in its bid to build a five metre tall phone mast on top of Burnham-On-Sea's Ritz Cinema. Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported in 2007 that O2 had submitted an application to build the mast, disguised as a flag pole. More...

Phone box may go for good
Exclusive: BRITISH Telecom has this week admitted it may not replace a Highbridge phone box that was badly damaged after a car accident. The phone box in Walrow was left severely dented and mangled last week, as pictured, after a car smashed into the structure. Now, BT says it may not replace the box. More...

In photos: Action-filled holiday!
A GROUP of sixth form students from Highbridge's King Alfred School spent part of their half-term holiday at the Outward Bound Trust in Wales where they enjoyed various challenges that tested their own survival skills and their ability to work together. We have a full photo round-up from the trip. More...

Mum's legal fight starts in city
A BURNHAM-On-Sea mother who says her daughter was born disabled because she was exposed to industrial toxins during her pregnancy has this week begun giving evidence at the High Court in London. Barbara Mallin, from Highbridge Road, blames her 22-year-old daughter's birth defects on an industrial clean-up. More...

Break-in at Highbridge school
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a break-in at a Highbridge school at the weekend. Staff at Beechfield School in Highbridge found that the property had been broken into when they arrived to open up on Monday morning (February 23rd). Police have asked for the public's help. More...

Centre 'needs urgent repairs'
Exclusive: BOSSES at Burnham-On-Sea Community Centre have this week launched a campaign to raise thousands of pounds to pay for urgently needed repairs at the 150-year-old property. The campaign, backed by Burnham-On-Sea.com, aims to generate enough cash to modernise the popular building in Berrow Road. More...

Fire crew tackles rubbish blaze
PLUMES of smoke and flames soared into the sky above Burnham-On-Sea on Monday evening (February 23rd) as fire crews tackled a large rubbish blaze. One Burnham fire engine was called to Players Lane, off Berrow Road, in the town at 8.05pm after a garden fire burnt out of control. More...

Post boxes stolen in our area
POLICE are appealing for information following the theft of three Royal Mail post boxes in villages surrounding Burnham-On-Sea over the weekend. The traditional red boxes were stolen from Cornmoor Crescent in East Huntspill, The Causeway in Mark and Mudgley Crossroads near Wedmore. More...

RAF in Brean rescue exercise
BURNHAM-On-Sea Coastguards are preparing for another busy summer of rescues, and on Sunday (February 22nd) they took part in an airborne training exercise with the Royal Air Force next to Brean Down. The RAF's 169 rescue helicopter flew in to Uphill from Devon to work with Coastguards from Burnham and Weston. More...

Police seize illegally parked car
POLICE swooped on this illegally parked vehicle in Highbridge after it brought the town to a complete standstill on Sunday (February 22nd). Incredibly, its owner had parked opposite the roadworks in Church Street, preventing larger vehicles from getting through the town centre. More...

Blazing car could not be saved
AN electrical fault caused a serious fire that destroyed this car at East Huntspill on Sunday afternoon (February 22nd). Burnham-On-Sea firefighters were sent to the B3141 at 12.04pm to extinguish the blazing vehicle - but it could not be saved, as our exclusive photos show. More...

Store to be rebranded in April
SOMERFIELD has announced the date when its seafront supermarket in Burnham-On-Sea will close in order for refurbishment work to begin as it becomes a Morrisons store. Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported in January that the Somerfield store in Pier Street is being rebranded after a change of ownership. More...

Bowling reward for youngsters
YOUNGSTERS from Highbridge who have been taking part in a week of community work as part of the town's new 'Dreamscheme' project were rewarded with an afternoon of ten pin bowling on Saturday (February 21st). Dozens of youngsters travelled to Stardust Amusements. More...

Youth cafe names opening date
THE opening date of a brand new youth cafe in Burnham-On-Sea has been announced this week. Final preparations are being made for the launch of the cafe at the Burnham Area Youth Centre at 4pm on March 6th. As well as refreshments, it will offer access to PCs with Internet access, games consoles and a pool table. More...

Cyclist hurt in road collision
A BUSY roundabout in Burnham-On-Sea was briefly closed by police on Friday evening (February 20th) after an accident involving a cyclist. The Esso petrol station roundabout at the junction of Love Lane was shut at 8.10pm for several minutes while emergency services were at the scene. More...

Fire alert on Brean Down
BURNHAM-On-Sea fire crews rushed to Brean Down on Friday morning (February 20th) after a walker reported seeing large plumes of black smoke on the rocky outcrop. Fire spokesman Paul Slavin told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "Two fire engines from Burnham were sent to Brean Cove at 11.15am." More...

Five shops attacked by vandals
Exclusive: POLICE are appealing for witnesses after five shops in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea had windows smashed in the early hours of Thursday (February 19th). One shop, The Esplanade Fish Bar, had three windows smashed and a back door kicked in, as pictured here, as the vandals went on a wrecking spree. More...

Call for Civic Awards nominees
BURNHAM-On-Sea and Highbridge town councilors are inviting nominations for the towns' annual Civic Awards. The awards are given to local people who are deemed to have rendered outstanding service to the community and they will be presented at the Civic Service, held each summer. More...

Fire crews tackle kitchen blaze
THESE were the scenes in part of Highbridge on Thursday afternoon (February 19th) as two fire crews were sent to extinguish a kitchen blaze. Two Burnham-On-Sea fire engines were sent to Stiling Close, just off Paddock Drive, at 5.20pm, as pictured here, and the blaze was quickly brought under control. More...

Drug dealing crackdown urged
DRUG dealing in Highbridge is the top concern of residents in the town and will be the focus for police over the next three months, it was decided at a public meeting on Thursday evening (February 19th). Thirty residents crowded into Morland Hall for the town's first PACT meeting. More...

New Marine Cove group formed
A NEW group of volunteers was formed on Thursday (February 19th) to look after Burnham's vandalism-hit Marine Cove Gardens. Sedgemoor District Council held a 'Marine Cove Gardens Awareness Day' in the Princess Hall where regeneration plans were on show and the new group was formed. More...

MP's anger over road cutbacks
BURNHAM-On-Sea's MP, David Heathcoat-Amory, has this week criticised Somerset County Council for slashing its highways budget by £1.25m as part of a cost-cutting move. The MP said on Wednesday (February 18th): "It is inexplicable that they are cutting essential expenditure." More...

Third vehicle rescued in a week
THESE were the scenes on Burnham-On-Sea beach on Wednesday (February 18th) when a third vehicle in a week got stuck in mud and had to be rescued. A survey quad bike became trapped on the mudflats near the paddling pool on the town's beach at 10.30am, prompting a rescue. More...

Car park fees and council tax up
COUNCIL tax rates in Burnham-On-Sea will rise by an average of 4.5 per cent in the coming year at the same time as car parking charges in the town are also set to increase under budget plans approved by the district council on Wednesday (February 18th). More... | Council Leader's Speech

Students become newsreaders!
SIXTH form students from Highbridge's King Alfred School gave up a day of their half-term holiday on Wednesday (February 18th) to record news stories onto audio tapes for local blind and partially-sighted people. They recorded the tapes in a studio in Jaycroft Road, Burnham. More...

Morland Hall gets grant boost
HIGHBRIDGE'S Morland Hall received a welcome boost on Wednesday (February 18th) when a new dedicated development worker started her job, thanks to grant funding. Sedgemoor Community Partnership has received a 'grass roots grant' from the Somerset Community Foundation to pay for the dedicated worker. More...

£30,000 lake project completed
Exclusive: A £30,000 project to create these two new islands and 21 new fishing platforms at Highbridge's Apex Willdlife Park is nearing completion this week. Burnham-On-Sea.com was first to report last year how the park had been chosen to receive £25,000 from the Environment Agency and £5,000 from the District Council. More...

Teacher wins £26k on TV show
A FORMER Highbridge school teacher has won £26,000 on Channel 4's hit TV quiz show Deal Or No Deal this week. Nagib Ghafar will be a familiar face to former students of King Alfred School, where he taught maths for several years and ran an after-school chess club. He appeared on Tuesday's show. More...

Pool repairs 'progressing well'
WORK to repair Burnham-On-Sea's swimming pool is progressing well, its owners said this week. Burnham Swim and Sports Academy has drained the Berrow Road pool and temporarily closed it until next Monday (February 23rd) to allow much-needed repairs to its wall and modernisation elsewhere in the building. More...

Burnham store is top of the shops!
DELIGHTED Burnham-On-Sea shop owners John and Katherine Edwards are celebrating this week after scooping three top awards in a national competition. Material Needs in the High Street was voted 'South West Stitching Retailer Of The Year' at the 2009 Craft Hobby & Stitch International Awards for the third year running. More...

Youngsters in tidy-up operation
YOUNGSTERS in Highbridge tidied up the town's Apex Park on Monday (February 16th) as part of a new youth project that encourages them to improve their local community while earning rewards. Dozens of youngsters are taking part in the Dreamscheme initiative, in conjunction with local police. More...

Hundreds bid for holiday jobs
Exclusive: HUNDREDS of job seekers flocked to a Burnham-On-Sea holiday park's summer recruitment day on Saturday (February 14th) as the affects of the recession were clear to see. The Holiday Village's Josh Haywood said: "It was an incrediby busy day. We saw around 500 people applying for the 100 vacancies on offer." More...

Have your say on policing issues
RESIDENTS in Highbridge can have their say about the priorities for police in the town at a public meeting this week. Highbridge police are holding a Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting at Morland Hall in Pearce Drive at 7.30pm this Thursday evening (February 19th). More...

Travelling fundraiser visits town
A PENSIONER from Brighton who is using his free bus pass to travel around the UK while raising funds for the RNLI visited Burnham-On-Sea this week. Bill Walton, who is lifeboat Sea Safety Officer for Newhaven and Brighton, is making his month-long journey around the UK this month. More...

Festival finale axed by organisers
A FALL in donations has forced organisers of this year's Highbridge Festival of the Arts to cancel their grand finale show. The popular festival, which is now in its 62nd year, costs almost £7,000 to run and organisers say not enough cash has been collected this year to allow the usual grand finale performance to be held. More...

Stricken boat towed to safety
BURNHAM-On-Sea's notorious mud caught out this fisherman on Sunday afternoon (February 15th) when his boat and trailer briefly became stuck on the town's beach. They sank into the soft sand and mud near Burnham's jetty at 1.40pm as he returned from a day's angling. More...

Cars damaged by town vandals
VANDALS left a trail of damage in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea early on Sunday morning (February 15th). Several wing mirrors were smashed and broken in South Street, as pictured here, and nearby Adam Street. It comes after a recent spate of town centre crimes in recent weeks. More...

MP backs traders over roadworks
Exclusive: HIGHBRIDGE'S MP visited angry traders in the town on Saturday (February 14th) to see for himself the disruption being caused to their trade by major roadworks. As first reported by Burnham-On-Sea.com, businesses along Church Street say their trade has been badly hit by the three months of work. More...

£115k boost for BASC revamp
BURNHAM-On-Sea's BASC sports ground has been awarded £115,000 of grant funding towards a major refurbishment of its facilities. As first covered by Burnham-On-Sea.com last November, the BASC ground has embarked on an ambitious project to refurbish its existing sports facilities and create new changing rooms. More...

'Battle of the bands' hits town
UP-and-coming bands from the Burnham-On-Sea area will get a chance to win a day at a recording studio and a photo shoot during a 'battle of the bands' competition being held on Wednesday (February 18th). The event is being held at the Pier Tavern in Burnham's Pier Street. More...

Police appeal for witnesses
POLICE have issued an appeal for witnesses after a series of serious incidents in Highbridge this week. Police officers were first called to a disturbance at a property in Charlotte Court, Highbridge at 5pm on Tuesday (February 10th). This was followed by other incidents around the town soon after. More...

Accidents cause road delays
RUSH hour commuters in the Burnham-On-Sea area suffered delays on Friday evening (February 13th) after two separate road accidents. Burnham-On-Sea police were called to the A38 Bristol Road, as pictured here, after it was partially blocked in both ways by an accident at 5.30pm. More...

MP opens school's power scheme
BURNHAM-On-Sea's MP officially opened a new £24,000 solar panel power project at a school in Brent Knoll on Friday (February 13th). Brent Knoll Primary School has installed an array of solar photovoltaic panels on the south facing roof of its new school extension, thanks to grant funding. More...

Floods claim Burnham man's car
Exclusive: THE Burnham-On-Sea owner of this car was quite literally left with a 'sinking feeling' when his vehicle was written off during this week's floods. Jonathan Walter told Burnham-On-Sea.com how he was forced to abandon his Citroen Picasso after it was overcome by flood water in south Somerset, as pictured here. More...

Plane performs beach survey
A SURVEY airplane swept over Burnham-On-Sea's beach on Thursday afternoon (February 12th) as it carried out a study on erosion in Bridgwater Bay. The twin-engine aircraft performed several sweeps of the bay over the course of 15 minutes as it gathered data about the changing sands and mudflats. More...

Arrest after car park brawl
Exclusive: A FIGHT in a Highbridge car park involving up to 30 youths led to one person being arrested and another being rushed to hospital. Police were called to Bank Street car park in the centre of the town on Tuesday evening (February 10th) at around 6pm. Police arrested one man at the scene. More...

Crash outside town's Tesco store
THIS road sign was left badly damaged after a car accident outside a Burnham-On-Sea supermarket on Wednesday evening (February 11th). One eyewitness told Burnham-On-Sea.com a vehicle ploughed into the sign outside Tesco in Ben Travers Way, but fortunately no-one was injured. More...

Break-in at town centre shop
Exclusive: SMASH-and-grab thieves struck at a shop in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea late on Wednesday evening (February 11th). Police officers were called to Sentiments on the High Street at around 11pm after a front window at the premises was smashed. Two people were quickly held by police. More...

National media attention on UFO
BURNHAM-On-Sea.com's exclusive story about a cylinder-shaped UFO being spotted in the skies above Brean, near Burnham-On-Sea, has generated national news headlines. Our story has been followed up by the Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, and The Sun plus many other regional newspapers. More...

17 new homes for Burnham
SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has this week been given a green light to build 17 new homes on land at the western end of its Burnham-On-Sea store in Love Lane. The company's planning application was considered by Sedgemoor District Council's planners on Tuesday and given a green light. More...

Town scouts given trailer boost
BURNHAM-On-Sea Scouts have been given a trailer-full of good news, thanks to the donation of £750 of funding. The group has received £500 from Burnham Lions, a £100 grant from Burnham and Highbridge Town Council, and £150 from Highbridge Caravan Centre to fund a new trailer. More...

Teenager in town jetty drama
THESE were the scenes on Burnham-On-Sea's jetty during the early hours of Wednesday (February 11th) after a teenager was spotted in the sea in a distressed state. Coastguards, police and RNLI lifeboat crews were called to Burnham's jetty at 12.40am to an 18 year-old man. More...

'UFO' mystery in skies over Brean
Exclusive: VIDEO footage of a cylinder-shaped object floating in the skies above Brean, near Burnham-On-Sea, has raised speculation that it could have been a UFO. The object, pictured here, was seen travelling over Brean whilst shocked onlookers at a caravan park watched on. More...

Attempted break-in shocks MP
POLICE are investigating an attempted break-in at the home of Burnham-On-Sea's MP, David Heathcoat-Amory. Mr Heathcoat-Amory, pictured, has praised police for their speedy action following an attempted break-in at his Pilton home at the end of last month while he and his wife were away. More...

Angry traders in 'ghost town' warning
Exclusive: FURIOUS traders in the centre of Highbridge say three months of disruptive roadworks are hitting their trade, putting their future in jeopardy, and turning the shopping area into a 'ghost town'. They claim trade has been badly hit in recent weeks by the major roadworks in Church Street, causing endless queues. More...

Garden centre expansion approved
CONTROVERSIAL plans for a 35,000 square foot expansion of a garden centre near Burnham-On-Sea were approved by district councillors on Tuesday (February 10th). Sanders Garden World boss Peter Burks told Burnham-On-Sea.com on Tuesday evening that he was "very pleased" by the news. More...

Burnham pupils receive awards
TWO of Burnham-On-Sea's brightest students have been honoured at a glittering awards ceremony held at Weston College. Eighteen year-old Emily Dodd of College Street in Burnham was awarded the 'Care and Early Years Student of the Year' prize and Helen Hurley, of Friars Way won the 'Animal and Equine Student of the Year' award. More...

Coastguard group's quiz fun
A NEW Burnham-On-Sea group set-up to help Coastguards, their widows and families in times of severe hardship held its first fundraising event on Tuesday evening (February 11th). The Burnham-On-Sea branch of the Coastguard Association held a quiz night at the S&D in the High Street. More...

Home saved from flood water
BURNHAM-On-Sea firefighters used water pumps to remove hundreds of gallons of flood water which threatened to swamp a home at Watchfield on Monday evening (February 9th). Heavy rain and melting snow from nearby fields surrounded the property near the Watchfield Inn. More...

Decision day for garden centre
CONTROVERSIAL plans for a 35,000 square foot expansion of a garden centre near Burnham-On-Sea could be given the go-ahead by district councillors today (Tuesday February 10th). Plans to extend Sanders Garden World at Brent Knoll were unveiled by store boss Peter Burks in March 2008 and are due to be considered by members of Sedgemoor's Development Control Committee. More...

M5 re-opened after accident
THE Highways Agency was carrying out repairs to a barrier on the M5 motorway near Burnham on Monday night (February 9th) after one lane had been closed earlier in the evening by an accident. A vehicle ploughed into a barrier on the northbound carriageway, causing delays to motorists. More...

Snow falls again in Burnham
A NEW downfall of snow was making driving conditions hazardous in Burnham-On-Sea this evening (Monday February 9th). Heavy rain had gradually turned into sleet and then snow by 9.30pm. With plunging temperatures and bitterly cold notherly winds, the snow quickly settled on cars and streets. More...

Teacher aims for TV quiz fortune
A FORMER Highbridge school teacher is appearing on Channel 4's hit TV quiz show Deal Or No Deal this week. Nagib Ghafar is a familiar face to former students of King Alfred School, where he taught maths for several years and ran an after-school chess club. He has already appeared several times on the show in recent days. More...

Hovercraft charity needs volunteers
BARB, the charity that runs Burnham-On-Sea's life-saving hovercrafts and an inshore rescue boat, is to hold an open day for new helpers, crewmembers and fundraisers this Sunday (February 15th). The charity is encouraging new volunteers to come forward to help the organisation. More...

In photos: Race night fun-raiser
A TOTAL of £2,100 was raised for three good causes when more than 170 people attended a fundraising race night in Burnham-On-Sea on Saturday (February 7th). The event was jointly run for Burnham Medical Equipment Fund, the Burnham Lions and the Somerset Speedway Injury Fund. More...

Sip and surf at new internet cafe
BURNHAM-On-Sea visitors will soon be able to sip their cappucinos while surfing the Web when a new Internet cafe opens in the town centre. Final preparations are underway for the opening of The Link at 10, Cross Street which is scheduled to open during the final week of February. More...

Church hall demolition begins
WORK to demolish a familiar public building in Burnham-On-Sea has begun this week after its owners recently won permission to turn it into a block of 14 flats. Burnham-On-Sea.com reported in December how Sedgemoor District Council had approved the proposals by Raglan Homes to demolish St Peter's Hall, located opposite Burnham's Catholic Church, in Highbridge Road. More...

Club's centenary celebrations
BURNHAM-On-Sea's Avenue Tennis Club kicks off a year of centenary celebrations this week with a Valentines Day Buffet and Bar evening. The event, to be held on Saturday February 14th, will include refreshments for both members and non-members and will start at 7.30pm. More...

New police chief for Burnham
BURNHAM-On-Sea's new police inspector has been welcomed to the town this week by the town's Mayor and Town Clerk. Sam Williams formally takes on the busy post this week. "I'm delighted to be here and look forward to the challenges that I will be facing," he said when he met town councillors. More...

Berrow action group to meet
RESIDENTS in Berrow who recently formed a Local Action Team (LAT), supported by local police, to address issues affecting their community are holding a public meeting this week to discuss a raft of projects. The Berrow LAT will meet on Monday evening (February 9th) in the village hall to discuss more planned initiatives. More...

Bird's eye view of Burnham snow
Exclusive: NO-ONE got a better view of Burnham-On-Sea's snowfall than flying enthusiast Jeff Thomas on Saturday morning (February 7th). He took these two 'birds eye' photographs of the wintry scenes in a microlight 1,500 feet above the town. He told Burnham-On-Sea.com how he'd taken the photos. More...

Six jobs go as store set to close
Exclusive: THE recession and the high costs of business rates are being blamed by the owner of a long-running Burnham-On-Sea shoe store which announced its closure on Friday afternoon (February 6th). JPS Footwear in the High Street will close with the loss of six jobs on June 6th. More...

Fresh snow blankets Burnham
HEAVY snow has fallen in Burnham-On-Sea, causing the closure of roads and schools in the area today (Friday, February 6th). Schools closed include King Alfred School, Burnham Infants, St Andrew's School, Brent Knoll Primary School, St John's Junior School, Highbridge Childrens Centre and West Huntspill School Under Fives Group. More...

Restaurant re-opened after fire
A BRENT Knoll restaurant is still open for business despite a fire that destroyed one of its outbuildings on Wednesday morning (February 4th). As first reported by Burnham-On-Sea.com earlier this week, fire crews were called to the Brent House Restaurant at 5.20am on Wednesday. More...

Driver arrested after accident
Exclusive: A MOTORIST has been arrested after allegedly running away from his car after an accident in Burnham-On-Sea this week. Police were called to Marine Drive at 5am on Wednesday (February 4th) after a Ford Probe skidded across a grass verge, collided with a sign post, and ended up in a front garden. More...

Delays after traffic lights failure
TRAFFIC ground to a halt in Highbridge on Friday evening (February 6th) after the failure of a set of four-way temporary traffic lights. Long queues of vehicles built up along Church Street and the A38 for several hours after the lights became stuck on red during the roadworks. More...

Night scenes of Burnham in snow
THESE were the scenes in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea late on Thursday night (February 5th) as fresh snowfall covered roads and pavements in the town. The flurries began at 10.30pm and by midnight there was already three centimetres of snow covering streets in Burnham, with more still falling. More...

Crumbling jetty to be repaired
Exclusive: THOUSANDS of pounds worth of repairs are to be carried out to Burnham-On-Sea’s crumbling jetty to stop its condition further deteriorating. Sedgemoor District Council is drawing up plans to start a restoration project this September – with the overhaul expected to be completed by the end of 2009. More...

Fire crews at electrical blaze
TWO Burnham-On-Sea fire crews were called to a small blaze in the town on Thursday evening (February 5th). The crews were sent to Trinity Rise at 7.04pm after a shower caught fire in a bathroom. Crews checked the fire had not spread using a thermal imaging camera. More...

Town gets new dusting of snow
SNOW again fell in Burnham-On-Sea early this morning (Thursday February 5th). A severe weather warning was issued by the Met Office for our area, with further downfalls predicted during today. But while light snow fell in Burnham on Wednesday evening and overnight, there was not as much as earlier this week. More...

Now that's one cool postman!
Exclusive: BURNHAM-On-Sea postman Les Wadley clearly doesn't feel the cold... for even in this week's snow he continued to wear his familiar shorts! The postie got a few surprised looks when he was out delivering letters and parcels in the town this week, with severa inches of snow underfoot. More...

Marine Drive concerns debated
BURNHAM-On-Sea police held a public meeting on Wednesday (February 4th) in response to mounting concerns about vandalism, speeding and crime in Marine Drive. The 'street briefing' was held at the Park Ranger's Office in Apex Park and was attended by residents. More...

Fashion show attracts crowds
DOZENS of bargain-hunters filled King Alfred School's main hall in Highbridge on Tuesday evening (February 3rd) when a fundraising fashion show and sale was held. Almost 200 ladies flocked to the event, which was organised by Burnham Rotary Club and the Inner Wheel Club. More...

Awards delight for students
SILVER and bronze Duke of Edinburgh awards were presented to dozens of students at Highbridge's King Alfred School this week following a year of expeditions and community work. A total of 41 students received bronze awards and eight students received silver awards at a presentation night. More...

More snow for Burnham forecast
BURNHAM-On-Sea is bracing itself for more snow tonight and into Thursday (February 5th). A severe weather warning has been issued by the Met Office for our area, with further downfalls are predicted. Forecasters predict a band of snow will fall this evening and early tomorrow. More...

Fire crews at Brent Knoll blaze
FIRE crews from Burnham-On-Sea tackled a property fire in Brent Knoll on Wednesday morning (February 4th). Two fire engines from Burnham and Weston were sent to the rear of the Brent House pub at 5.20am after reports that an outbuilding near the property was alight. More...

Police probe 'deliberate' van fire
THIS van was deliberately set on fire in a quiet country lane near Brent Knoll during the early hours of Wednesday morning (February 4th). One fire engine from Burnham-On-Sea was sent to Wick Road at around 4.45am where they found this scorched van alight in a laybay. More...

'Better policing and CCTV needed'
Exclusive: BURNHAM-On-Sea's Chamber of Trade has this week called for more night time police patrols and an extension of CCTV coverage in the town centre following a spate of attacks on businesses. Chairman Alex Turco has written to Burnham police and local councils calling for action amid growing concern about rising crime during the recession. More...

Holiday park creates 150 jobs
A BREAN holiday park is creating 150 jobs, thanks in part to an expected upsurge in the number of holidaymakers buying low-cost British seaside holidays during the recession. Brean's Holiday Resort Unity announced on Tuesday (February 3rd) that it is about to start recruiting. More...

Accidents blamed on icy roads
SLIPPERY road conditions led to several road accidents in Burnham-On-Sea on Tuesday (February 3rd). A Peugeot parked in Southern Lea Road, pictured here, suffered hundreds of pounds worth of damage after being struck by another vehicle that seemed to lose control when coming out of a nearby road. More...

Volunteers to clean up dunes
BERROW'S sand dunes will be tidied up by a group of conservation volunteers later this month. The Sedgemoor Conservation Volunteers will make their annual visit to the nature reserve to plant marram and clear sea buckthorn on February 22nd as part of a day of conservation work. More...

Brent Knoll attracts sledgers
THE icy slopes of Brent Knoll turned into a hive of snow sports activity on Tuesday (February 3rd) when several inches of snow coated the hill. Youngsters were able to dust off their sledges for the first time in several years, and slide down the fields at rapid speeds, as pictured here. More...

Schools shut as snow disrupts town
MANY schools in the Burnham-On-Sea area are closed today (Tuesday, February 3rd) due to the severe winter weather. Somerset County Council announced that King Alfred School, Beechfield, Burnham Infants, Highbridge Children's Centre, Berrow School and St John's would not open due to the slippery conditions. More...

Major revamp for Brean Pontin's
HOLIDAY firm Pontin's is to completely refurbish its holiday park in Brean, near Burnham-On-Sea, it was announced on Tuesday (February 3rd). The company is investing £50m into its six UK sites, creating over 2,000 new jobs, including many at the Brean camp, which was its very first. More...

Your photos: Burnham in the snow!
MOTORISTS are being advised to take extra care in Burnham-On-Sea after the town got a covering of snow on Monday (February 2nd). Burnham police urged motorists and pedestrians to take special care when using icy roads and pavements in the town after a downfall of the white stuff. More...

Grant cash windfalls for groups
REPRESENTATIVES from more than a dozen Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge groups received grant funding boosts from the town council on Monday evening (February 2nd). The town's Mayor, Peter Burridge-Clayton and Cllr Danny Titcombe handed over £2,250 to thirteen groups. More...

Three men sought in raid probe
POLICE revealed on Monday (February 2nd) that three men may have been involved in last week's attempted robbery at an antiques shop in Burnham-on-Sea. As first reported by Burnham-On-Sea.com last Friday (January 30th), the incident happened at 4.23pm in Victoria Street. More...

Welsh drivers win Brean Rally
WELSH rally drivers Peter Lloyd and Graham Handley roared to overall victory at the Brean Rally on Sunday (February 1st). The duo's newly-acquired Subaru Impreza S12 World Rally Car, previously owned by former World Rally champion Petter Solberg, proved too fast for the rest of the competitors. More...

Injured swan had hit power lines
A SWAN which flew into electricity lines, breaking one of its wings and a leg, is in the safe hands of animal carers after being retrieved by a rescue boat crew and wildlife experts from Burnham-On-Sea on Sunday (February 1st). An inshore rescue boat from BARB was called to help. More...

Burnham braced for snowfall
BURNHAM-On-Sea could see wintry scenes like these this week, when the town is forecast to get a covering of snow. The Met Office is predicting Burnham and the rest of the West Country could see temperatures falling well below zero on Monday (February 2nd) and Tuesday (February 3rd). More...

Shop shuts as recession bites
Exclusive: ANOTHER shop in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea has become the victim of the recession - and shut its doors for the final time on Saturday (January 31st). The photography shop in the High Street has closed after 12 years' business on Burnham's High Street, much to the sadness of its owner. More...

Cars queue up for RNLI washing
MORE than £300 was raised for Burnham-On-Sea's RNLI on Saturday (February 1st) when dozens of motorists got their cars washed during a fundraising event. Burnham-On-Sea lifeboat crewmembers in Pier Street took part in the RNLI's nationwide SOS Day - or 'Soap Our Saloons' Day. More...

Brean Rally - Day One photos
FREEZING cold weather reduced the number of spectators at the opening day of the annual Brean Rally on Saturday (January 31st), but the action on the track was just as hot as ever. Brean Leisure Park once again echoed to the sound of high octane engines for the thirteenth annual Brean Stages Rally. More...

Police meeting for Marine Drive
Exclusive: POLICE in Burnham-On-Sea are to hold a public meeting this Wednesday (February 4th) in response to mounting concerns about vandalism, speeding and crime in nearby Marine Drive. The 'street briefing' will be held on Wednesday at 12.30pm in Apex Park. More...

Attempted robbery at town shop
POLICE were investigating an attempted robbery at a shop in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea on Friday afternoon (January 30th). Officers rushed to Victoria Street at 4.23pm after two people burst into a shop. Police have appealed for witnesses to get in contact with any information. More...

MP in town for Conservative AGM
BURNHAM-On-Sea's MP was the special guest at the annual general meeting of the town's Conservative Party on Friday evening (January 30th). Over 30 people attended the AGM of the Burnham branch of Wells Conservative Association in the town's Princess Hall, where the MP spoke about his recent constituency work. More...

Police in town speeding crackdown
POLICE in Burnham-On-Sea are this week stepping up their efforts to rid the town of speeding motorists with the launch of a fresh crackdown on those that break speed limits. More speed checks are being introduced at known trouble spots, including The Esplanade (pictured here) and Marine Drive, where motorists are being pulled over. More...

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