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September 2008 Burnham-On-Sea News Archive

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New Italian restaurant to open
LOVERS of Italian food in Burnham-On-Sea are in for a treat when a brand new restaurant opens in the town this weekend. Bonomo restaurant is making final preparations for its grand opening at 30-32 Adam Street this Saturday evening (October 4th). The restaurant will serve authentic Italian food. More...

Badger blamed for A38 crash
THE A38 near Burnham-On-Sea was closed for almost an hour on Monday evening (September 29th) after the driver of this car swerved to avoid a badger and ended up careering off the road. The silver Ford Puma ended up on its roof, leaving the driver "shocked but otherwise not seriously hurt." More...

Brother and sister are UK champs
A BROTHER and sister from Burnham-On-Sea are celebrating after making a big splash at the British Waterskiing Championships. Toby Duggan, 12, won the Under 15s competition and sister Grace, 9, won the Under 12s competition after last week's final round of action. More...

Net gains for traditional anglers
CALM weather and high tides provided ideal conditions for a once-popular pastime in Burnham-On-Sea earlier this week. To the bemusement of some beach walkers, Highbridge angling enthusiast Martin Puddy used this unusually-shaped net to catch shrimps and other fish. More...

Two injured in separate crashes
PARAMEDICS treated a nine month old baby for cuts to her head and a leg after a two vehicle collision on Brean's Coast Road during a busy afternoon for local Burnham's emergency services on Monday (September 29th). Police and paramedics were called to Coast Road at 1.40pm after a camper van collided with a car. More...

Residents evacuated from flats
RESIDENTS at a block of flats in Highbridge were evacuated after a fire in the property on Sunday evening (September 28th). One resident was treated by paramedics for smoke inhalation following the blaze at Charlotte Court in the Highbridge Quay development at 6.45pm. More...

MP celebrates 25th year in role
BURNHAM-On-Sea MP David Heathcoat-Amory has marked his 25th year in parliament at a special function this week. Wells Town Hall was full when constituents, friends and family members of Mr Heathcoat-Amory gathered to celebrate the anniversary of his election. More...

Fire crew frees trapped lady
A BURNHAM-On-Sea fire crew was called to a seafront nursing home on Sunday afternoon (September 28th) after an elderly person became trapped following a fall. One fire engine was sent to Beverly Cottage Nursing Home on The Esplanade at 12.30pm, as pictured here. More...

Beach re-opens after bomb find
BERROW beach was fully re-opened to the public on Saturday morning (September 27th) after a team from the Royal Navy bomb squad declared this wartime bombshell found in the dunes "harmless". Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported on Friday how police had sealed off several hundred metres of the beach. More...

Town shop shuts after 15 years
A LONG-running Burnham-On-Sea shop selling collectables shut its doors for the final time on Saturday (September 27th). The owners of Aladdin's Cave in College Street have decided to close the shop after fifteen years of business, eleven in Burnham-On-Sea, due in part to booming trade online. More...

Storm over Hinkley expansion
'STOP Hinkley' campaigners have reacted angrily to the announcement that French company EDF has bought British Energy, the owner of Hinkley Point B, paving the way to the expansion of the nuclear power station near Burnham-On-Sea. The group is concerned about the plans. More...

In photos: Olympics concert
BURNHAM and Highbridge Town Band was the centre of attention on Saturday afternoon (September 27th) when they performed a special outdoor concert in the town to mark the start of the UK's four-year Cultural Olympiad during the run-up to the 2012 Olympics. We have a full photo review. More...

Book sale raises Legion funds
A TWO-day book sale raised hundreds of pounds has for Burnham-On-Sea's branch of the Royal British Legion this week. Good weather boosted the number of visitors to the annual outdoor book sale, which was held on Friday and Saturday (September 27th). Over £300 was raised. More...

Beach shut after 'bomb' is found
THE discovery of a suspected unexploded wartime bomb in Berrow dunes led police to seal off part of the village's beach on Friday evening (September 26th). These were the scenes as officers used police tape to restrict access to a large area of soft sand at the top of the beach near Berrow's Unity Farm caravan park. More...

Just over 100 sign Cove petition
Exclusive: JUST over a hundred people have signed an online petition calling on the Prime Minister to back plans to revamp Burnham-On-Sea's Marine Cove Gardens. A total of 107 people had added their names to the official Downing Street petiton by the time it closed earlier this week. More...

Man arrested after police swoop
POLICE swooped on an address in West Huntspill on Thursday evening (September 25th) and arrested a man for violent conduct. Officers were called to Ringstone, near Withy Road, at 6.20pm after what police called a "domestic incident" in the area. One man was taken away by police. More...

Top awards for St John cadets
THREE cadets from Highbridge and Burnham St John Ambulance have this week been presented with sought-after awards for their work. James Biggs, Rhiannon Parsons and Lucy Westlake were handed Grand Prior awards during a St John Ambulance event in Highbridge. More...

Gas leak drama in town centre
A ROAD in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea was closed for almost two hours on Thursday afternoon (September 25th) following a suspected gas leak at a property in Victoria Street. Fourteen firefighters were sent to investigate the incident at a flat above a chemists shop, as pictured here, after a local resident reported a strange gas, thought to be Carbon Monoxide, leaking shortly after 2pm. More...

Top awards for St John cadets
THREE cadets from Highbridge and Burnham St John Ambulance have this week been presented with sought-after awards for their work. James Biggs, Rhiannon Parsons and Lucy Westlake were handed Grand Pior awards during a St John Ambulance Cadets evening in Highbridge. More...

High-tech police camera in Brean
Exclusive: A HIGH-tech number plate recognition camera that will help police identify travelling criminals in just seconds is to be switched on in Brean over the next few weeks. Burnham-On-Sea.com was first to report in January that roadside number plate cameras were set to be introduced in Burnham, Brean and Highbridge. More...

London 2012 concert for town
THE start of the UK's four-year Cultural Olympiad during the run-up to the 2012 Olympic Games is being marked with a free outdoor concert in Burnham-On-Sea this weekend. Burnham and Highbridge Town Band will be playing in the Manor Gardens on Saturday afternoon (September 27th). More...

In photos: Play Ranger sessions
THE first of a series of 'Play Ranger' sessions which encourage children aged five and over to take part in outdoor activity play sessions was held at Highbridge's Apex Park on Wednesday (September 24th). The sessions are aimed at helping children have fun outdoors. More...

Finance firm celebrates award
A FIRM of Burnham-On-Sea financial advisers is celebrating being awarded a prestigious 'Chartered Financial Planners' title from the Chartered Insurance Institute. Positive Wealth Creation Limited has been given the sought-after title after years of hard work by its directors. More...

Public meeting on Hinkley plans
Exclusive: A PUBLIC meeting is to be held in Burnham-On-Sea next month to give residents the chance to quiz British Energy about its controversial plans to extend Hinkley Point nuclear power station. The meeting will be held at 6.30pm on Thursday October 16th in the town's Princess Hall. More...

Mean thieves steal RAF plaque
Exclusive: MEAN thieves have stolen a seafront plaque that was installed on Burnham's sea wall two years ago to celebrate 60 years of the town's Royal Air Forces Association. The plaque was officially unveiled at a ceremony in 2006, but has been stolen from the sea wall this week. More...

Joe picked for county elections
Exclusive: HIGHBRIDGE resident and local councillor Joe Leach has this week been chosen as the Liberal Democrat's candidate for Somerset County Council's elections in the Huntspill district. Cllr Leach was announced as the candidate following a local poll of Lib Dem party members. More...

Bike contest winner is named
THE lucky winner of a Tour of Britain cycle race competition in Burnham-On-Sea has been named this week. Mrs Jewel Larcombe, from Burnham, won the 'bike bits' competition and has been presented with her prize by the Chairman of Somerset County Council, Alan Gloak. More...

Zapcat racers return with a win
BURNHAM-On-Sea zapcat racers Ryan Jones and Ashley Chappell returned to the sport at the weekend in winning style. The duo took to the Cornish waters of Newquay on Saturday afternoon (September 20th) to compete in a round of the national zapcat championships. More...

Seafront speed scheme unveiled
PLANS to introduce a £29,000 traffic calming scheme to combat 'boy racers' and anti-social driving along Burnham-On-Sea's Esplanade were unveiled for the first time on Monday (September 22nd). Engineer Alan Lovell, pictured, was asked by the town council to draw up a scheme to convert the South Esplanade into a 'shoreline leisure drive'. More...

Fireworks cash is handed over
A CHEQUE for more than £3,000 was handed over to Burnham-On-Sea town council on Monday evening (September 22nd) to help fund this year's seafront fireworks display. The cheque presentation came after a campaign to raise enough money from local firms for the town council to hold the display. More...

Burnham MP visits local school
BURNHAM-On-Sea's MP, David Heathcoat-Amory, met with staff and pupils during a special visit to Lympsham First School. During his visit, the MP visited several classrooms and saw pupils taking part in a ‘Wake and Shake’ morning exercise programme. He was impressed by the range of activities at the school. More...

Hot weather boost for town
CROWDS of visitors flocked into Burnham-On-Sea over the weekend as late summer sunshine provided a boost to the town's traders. Visitors on the seafront and beach, pictured, basked in temperatures of 20°C (68°F) in Burnham-On-Sea on Sunday afternoon (September 21st). More...

Stranded 4x4 pulled to safety
A TRACTOR was used to pull this 4x4 truck to safety after its wheels became stuck in mud besides Burnham-On-Sea's jetty on Sunday afternoon (September 21st). Local tractor owner Simon Stroud of the Burnham Boat Owners Association pulled the stricken vehicle up the beach at 4pm, as captured here on these mobile phone pics. More...

£2,700 boost for hovercraft
A BUSY summer of fundraising at a Brean caravan park has raised a bumper £2,700 for Burnham-On-Sea's rescue hovercraft charity. Dozens of holidaymakers at Diamond Farm took part in a series of events, ranging from head shaves and auctions to dog shows, during the holiday season. More...

In photos: Brean Memory Walk
OVER 60 walkers strode out for charity during a fundraising beach walk at Brean, near Burnham, on Sunday afternoon (September 21st). Glorious sunshine provided ideal conditions for the 65 walkers, who took part in the annual Memory Walk, held on World Alzheimer's Day. More...

Police appeal after fuel theft
BURNHAM-On-Sea police have this week appealed for help in tracing this motorist who may have been involved in a theft of fuel from a petrol station in Highbridge. CCTV footage shows a silver Ford Puma with the registration number 'W374 WZA' being filled with unleaded fuel to the value of £37.92 by a man, who drove off. More...

New minister welcomed to town
A CONGREGATION of 120 people, including Burnham's Mayor, attended the induction of a new minister at a Highbridge church on Saturday (September 20th). Andrew Jackson became the new minister of Hope Baptist Church in Church Street during a special induction service. More...

No rise for Burnham taxi fares
TAXI fare charges in Burnham-On-Sea will not rise, it was decided this week. A request was made to Sedgemoor District Council by Sedgemoor's Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers Association to increase fares to cover rising fuel costs. It comes after Burnham-On-Sea.com reported earlier this year how drivers are bearing the brunt of soaring fuel costs. More...

Police appeal after motorbike crash
A MOTORCYCLIST was rushed to hospital following a collision with a car in the centre of Highbridge on Friday night (September 19th). Police were called to the junction of Church Street and Coronation Road at 11.15pm following the accident, which involved a white Volkswagen Golf Mk2 and the yellow motorbike pictured. More...

Crashes cause rush-hour delays
BURNHAM-On-Sea emergency services had a busy afternoon on Friday (September 19th) when two rush-hour accidents caused traffic delays. These were the scenes at 5pm on the M5 motorway's southbound carriageway near junction 22 at Burnham following a three vehicle collision. More...

Shops shut after poor summer
SEVERAL shops across Burnham-On-Sea are shutting down as the effects of the financial downturn and a poor summer of weather have hit trade. Seafront clothing store Rose and Amber told Burnham-On-Sea.com it would be closing at the end of September after a "disappointing" summer season. More...

Silver 'bloom' award for town
BURNHAM-On-Sea's Mayor has thanked the organisers of the town's entry into the Britain In Bloom competition after the town was awarded second place in its category in the south west regional awards on Thursday (September 18th). Burnham was awarded a silver gilt award in the Sergent Cup. More...

Ann retires after 25 year career
STAFF at a Burnham-On-Sea shop have this week bid farewell to a colleague who is retiring after a 25 year career. Ann Rogers has been a familiar face in Shickle Shoes on Burnham High Street, helping and serving customers in her role as the store's senior sales assistant. More...

Charity gives surgery a boost
BURNHAM-On-Sea's medical surgery has this week been handed a 'life-changing' piece of equipment by a charity in the town. Burnham Community Medical Equipment Fund's Chairman, Tom Ashton, handed the surgery's Dr Mike Wolfman a £1,000 syringe driver which is much-needed by the surgery. More...

Highbridge flat blaze tackled
FIRE crews rushed to Highbridge at 4.45am on Thursday morning (September 18th) after a fire broke out at a property with people inside. Crews from Burnham, Bridgwater and Street attended the incident at YMCA Riverbed House in Sparks Way to find that there was a flat fire. More...

Prominent shop could close
ONE of Burnham-On-Sea's longest-running shops looks set to close after its owners this week put the property's lease on sale. JPS Shoe Centre has been a familiar sight on the corner of Burnham's High Street and Pier Street for many years. Now, however, that the building's lease is available there are question marks about who will take over the premises. More...

Injured swans rescued at Apex
AN inshore rescue boat crew from Burnham-On-Sea teamed up with wildlife experts to retrieve two injured swans from a nearby lake on Wednesday evening (September 17th). Secret World called on the help of BARB after a walker spotted the struggling birds which had swallowed fishing hooks. More...

Help trace family album owners
A BURNHAM-On-Sea charity shop is appealing for help in tracing the owners of several family photo albums which may have been handed in by accident. Sue Ryder Care in the High Street is keen to get in contact with the owners of three photo albums full of old photographs. More...

Highbridge Hotel won't be demolished
THE owner of the fire-ravaged Highbridge Hotel has said this week there are "no plans to demolish the building." Derek Mead, who owns the property, told Burnham-On-Sea.com that he wants to restore the building to its former glory, rather than start from scratch. The building was left in an unstable condition following a fire in April. More...

Bomb-maker will live in town
AN AUTISTIC teenager who produced explosives in his garden shed and caused the evacuation of hundreds of homes in Wiltshire last year has been put on a community order with a mental health requirement in Burnham-On-Sea. Thomas Cowley will have to live under the care of a doctor at Stafford Lodge (pictured right). More...

Cinema revamp work underway
WORK to give Burnham-On-Sea's Ritz Cinema a fresh new look with £6,000 of grant funding from the UK Film Council is set to be completed during the next few weeks. Burnham-On-Sea.com reported last month how the 72 year-old building had been awarded a windfall. More...

Swimmer wins volunteer award
BURNHAM-On-Sea Swimming Club's Danielle Hembrough has this week been named the winner of a regional award for 'Young Volunteers In Swimming'. She was handed the sought-after accolade by the Amateur Swimming Association's South West President earlier this week. More...

Berrow Road re-opens to traffic
LONG queues of traffic built up along Berrow Road in Burnham-On-Sea on Tuesday afternoon (September 16th) after the road was closed by police investigating a car crash. Officers were called to 62 Berrow Road after a vehicle ploughed into a garden wall, sending debris onto nearby pavements. More...

Fire crews tackle car blaze
THESE were the dramatic scenes on the A38 at Burnham-On-Sea on Monday evening (September 15th) as fire crews battled a fierce car fire. The A38 at Edithmead, near to the Somerset Rebels speedway track, was closed by police at 8.30pm as two fire crews from Burnham tackled the blaze. More...

Luxury car plunges into rhyne
THE driver of this £58,000 Porsche Cayenne vehicle managed to scramble free without injuries after dramatically careering off the road into a rhyne near Burnham-On-Sea early on Monday morning (September 15th). The luxury 4x4 vehicle, which is only two years old, ended up partially submerged in the water. More...

Man injured in Brean incident
Exclusive: A MAN needed treatment for head injuries after an incident at a camp site near Burnham-On-Sea in the early hours of Saturday (September 13th). Police were called to Unity Farm holiday park in Coast Road, Brean at 12.45am after reports of an 'altercation' at the site. More...

£1.8m leisure centre edges closer
Construction work on a new £1.8m health club on the outskirts of Burnham-On-Sea is progressing well and the facility's bosses have this week said it is on track to open in January 2009. The roof of the new centre at Home Farm Holiday Park has been completed in recent days, as pictured, and internal work is due to begin shortly. More...

Bikers roar into action for BARB
ALMOST 70 motorcyclists roared into Burnham-On-Sea on Sunday (September 14th) to take part in a fundraising bike ride for BARB, the charity that runs the town's two life-saving rescue hovercrafts. Dozens took part in the 60 mile ride, which began in Highbridge. More...

Apex hosts 'learn to fish day'
A GROUP of professional angling coaches was on hand to help budding young anglers learn to catch prize specimems during a day-long event at Highbridge's Apex Leisure Park on Saturday (September 14th). Dozens of young anglers joined the 'learn to fish day' at the park. More...

Pilot boat takes to the sea again
A PROJECT to renovate Burnham-On-Sea's former pilot boat was completed on Saturday evening (September 13th) when the familiar orange vessel was hoisted out of the town's boat yard into the River Brue. The boat was a familiar sight in Bridgwater Bay around Burnham for over 30 years. More...

Five stars for more food outlets
TWO food businesses in the Burnham area have been awarded a maximum five stars for their food hygiene practices in the latest survey by Sedgemoor District Council’s Food Safety Team. Every food premises in the district gets inspected on a regular basis and the findings are published. More...

Artists open studios to public
A DOZEN artists in Burnham-On-Sea are joining over 270 people across Somerset in showcasing their work during this year's Somerset Art Weeks, which run from Saturday September 13th until Sunday September 28th. The artists are opening up their homes and studios to the public. More...

Apex play sessions announced
CHILDREN aged five and over in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge are being encouraged to take part in a range of outdoor activities in a new series of play sessions. The 'Play Rangers' sessions will help children have healthy fun outdoors and join in activities such as sports. More...

Fire crews tackle barn blaze
FIRE crews from Burnham-On-Sea have been tackling a big barn blaze in Chedzoy in the early hours of this morning (Saturday September 13th). The blaze at Sibleys Farm in Chedzoy first broke out at 2.30am and was still well alight at 8am, as pictured here. The cause of the fire was unknown. More...

Singer Fred Wedlock in town
TELEVISION presenter and singer Fred Wedlock will be performing a show in Highbridge on Saturday evening (September 13th). The West Country singer and comedian, who has been on many TV and radio programmes over the years, will be performing in the town at 7pm on Saturday evening. More...

Seafront road plan wins backing
Exclusive: A BURNHAM-On-Sea town councillor has this week stepped up his calls for traffic calming measures to be introduced along the town's Esplanade. Town and district councillor Neville Jones, who has long campaigned for safety improvements along the seafront, raised a formal resolution calling for action at this week's full meeting of Sedgemoor District Council. More...

Lib Dem leader visits Burnham
NICK Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democrat party, made a 'flying' visit to Burnham-On-Sea on Thursday (September 11th) when he joined crewmembers of the town's rescue hovercrafts for a training session. Mr Clegg met BARB crewmembers and was given a tour of the charity's seafront station before he clambered onboard the Spirit Of Lelaina hovercraft for a flight along the beach. More...

Country show comes to Princess
COUNTRY and western music fans in Burnham-On-Sea are in for a treat this weekend when a night of foot stomping entertainment comes to the town's Princess Hall. Neil Sands, pictured, and his Nashville Nights band and singers will be performing over 60 country hits. More...

Flats scheme gets thumbs down
PLANS to demolish a former church hall in Burnham-On-Sea and build a block of 14 flats and a house in its place have been given a 'thumbs down' by town councillors this week. Raglan Homes has applied for planning permission to knock down St Peter's Hall, opposite Burnham's Catholic Church, to create the development. More...

Van driver gets sinking feeling!
A FISHERMAN got a sinking feeling when his van became stuck in mud on Burnham-On-Sea's beach this week. The van owner was trying to load his angling boat onto its trailer on Tuesday afternoon (September 9th) when the back wheels of his vehicle became trapped. More...

Store expansion backed by poll
BURNHAM-On-Sea residents have backed plans by Tesco to extend its store in the town, according to a study by the supermarket giant. A poll of local people found that almost four out of every five want the store on Ben Travers Way to be expanded to make it easier to shop there. More...

Lib Dem leader to visit Burnham
LIBERAL Democrat leader Nick Clegg is set to visit Burnham-On-Sea during a visit to Somerset on Thursday (Sepetmber 11th). Mr Clegg will be accompanied by Tessa Munt, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for the Wells constituency, during the visit to Burnham. More...

Bronze medal joy for Anthony
FORMER Burnham-On-Sea resident Anthony Stephens won a bronze medal at the Beijing Paralympics on Tuesday (September 9th). Burnham-On-Sea.com reported earlier this week how Anthony, 22, a former King Alfred School pupil, had encountered a disappointing start to the Paralympics after narrowly missing out on a medal and then being disqualified from another race. More...

Cycle race 'hit trade in town'
Exclusive: TOWN centre shops in Burnham-On-Sea saw a 20 per cent downturn in trade on Tuesday (September 9th) when the Tour of Britain cycle race came to town. Cycle race organisers believe an estimated 10,000 people watched the race in town during Tuesday afternoon. More...

10,000 watch Tour cyclists arrive
A HUGE crowd of more than 10,000 people flocked into Burnham-On-Sea today (Tuesday September 9th) to watch many of the world’s top cyclists, including British Olympic medal winners, race into the town to complete the South West Stage of the Tour of Britain cycle race. Long lines of spectators, up to five people deep next to the finishing line in Marine Drive, saw Emilien Berges clinch first place. More...

Joby's set to make skydive bid
A FORMER Commonwealth Games cyclist who lives in East Huntspill, near Burnham-On-Sea, is aiming to set a new record for the world's highest skydive. Joby Ingram-Dodd has quit his job to concentrate on the attempt, which will see him making a 150,000ft jump from a balloon. More...

It's race day! Tour comes to Burnham
BURNHAM-On-Sea will take centre stage on Tuesday (September 9th) when many of the world’s best cyclists, including British Olympic medal winners, will race into the town to complete the South West Stage of the Tour of Britain cycle race. Burnham-On-Sea.com has compiled this essential guide to everything you need to know about the big race day. More...

PCSOs praised as robber is jailed
THE swift work of two PCSOs in Burnham-On-Sea has been praised this week after a Torquay man was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment following a robbery in the town in July. Simon Lewis Mortimer appeared at Taunton Crown Court charged with theft. More...

Cyclists complete second tour stage
MATT Goss led home an Antipodean one-two-three in Newbury to take his second stage win in The Tour of Britain on Monday (September 8th), which now moves on to Burnham-On-Sea on Tuesday. The Australian sprinted clear of Garmin, Chipotle's Julian Dean and Chris Sutton to take victory. More...

Power cut blacks out 35 homes
OVER thirty properties in Burnham-On-Sea were plunged into the dark by an electricity cut on Sunday (September 7th). Western Power Distribution confirmed to Burnham-On-Sea.com that a cable fault had occurred in Hawley Way, knocking out power to 35 homes in the surrounding area. More...

Anthony just misses bronze medal
FORMER Burnham-On-Sea resident Anthony Stephens narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at the Beijing Paralympics on Sunday (September 7th). Anthony Stephens, 22, a former King Alfred School pupil, is in Beijing competing in the 2008 Paralympic Games and on Sunday he took part in two races. More...

Tour of Britain excitement grows
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...

Community cafe set to open
A NEW community café is set to open its doors in Highbridge later this week with the aim of providing refreshments and advice about healthy lifestyles. The café will open in Morland Hall on Friday (September 12th) and is being run as part of a joint initiative by the Sedgemoor Community Partnership and Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge Regeneration Partnership. More...

In photos: Harvest Home parade
A COLOURFUL procession took part in East Huntspill, near Burnham-On-Sea, on Saturday evening (September 6th) to mark the start of the village's annual harvest home celebrations. Cheered on by a crowd of residents, over 40 people took part in the annual parade along Church Road from Bason Bridge. More...

Police probe airgun incident
Exclusive: SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has played down an incident at its Burnham-On-Sea store earlier this week in which an airgun pellet was shot through one of its windows. The overnight incident occurred at the front of the store in Love Lane. A large pane of glass at the northern end of the entrance lobby had to be boarded up and a small hole was punched in another pane by an airgun. More...

£13,000 face-lift for gardens
SEDGEMOOR District Council has this week completed a £13,000 face-lift of Burnham-On-Sea's Manor Gardens. The improvements include new fencing, kerbing, plants and seating, in addition to the repainting of barriers at the gardens. The work has been completed by the council over the last few weeks. More...

Heavy rain causes problems
HEAVY rainfall in the Burnham-On-Sea area left roads under water and delays on the M5 motorway on Friday morning (September 5th). Police put up warning signs along one part of Coast Road in Brean, as pictured, after heavy rain left large pools of standing water across the route. More...

117 new homes approved
Exclusive: Controversial plans to build 117 new homes in Highbridge have this week being given the go-ahead, Burnham-On-Sea.com can reveal. Raglan Housing Association applied for permission to build the huge 3.7 acre development of low-cost houses and flats next to the A38 at the entrance to the town's Asda supermarket. More...

BBC's John to visit quiz evening
BBC television and radio presenter John Inverdale will be the VIP guest at a fundraising quiz evening near Burnham-On-Sea next month. John, who recently led the BBC's coverage of the Beijing Olympics, will be the guest at a special 'quizzical evening' in Mark. More...

Local art on show at exhibition
A COLOURFUL new exhibition of paintings by two local artists opens in a town centre art gallery in Burnham-On-Sea next week. Local artists Margaret Micklewright and Linda Gee are displaying over 30 water colours and oils at Sea Breeze gallery from next Monday in Victoria Street. More...

Tap water returns to normal
TAP water supplies are starting to get back to normal across Burnham-On-Sea after two days of problems caused by a burst water main. Bristol Water spokesman Jeremy Williams told Burnham-On-Sea.com on Thursday evening (September 4th): "The water main which burst between Cheddar Treatment Works and Brent Knoll is now fully back in action." More...

Brean singer's X-Factor success
Exclusive: A SINGER who won a talent show in Brean, near Burnham-On-Sea, last year has this week made it through to the second stage of ITV1's talent show The X Factor. Marisa Billitteri wowed judges at Brean Leisure Park to be crowned the winner of a contest last October. More...

Late opening bid gets approval
Exclusive: CONTROVERSIAL plans for late night opening at a new take-away business in the centre of Highbridge were given the go-ahead on Wednesday afternoon (September 3rd). Sedgemoor's Licensing Panel considered a proposal by the owners of 16 Market Street. More...

Brean wallet theft - CCTV appeal
BURNHAM-On-Sea police have this week released this CCTV image of a man they want to trace in connection with the theft of a wallet in Brean earlier this summer. Police are keen to identify the man, pictured, who they think may be able to help them with their enquiries. More...

Taps run dry in Burnham-On-Sea
TAPS have run dry in homes across Burnham-On-Sea and the surrounding area as problems with a burst water main continued to affect the town early this morning (Thursday, September 4th). Burnham-On-Sea.com reported yesterday how Bristol Water had urged residents to use as little water as possible to conserve supplies following a water main burst at Rooksbridge. More...

In photos: Workmen repair burst main
THESE were the scenes at Rooksbridge, near Burnham-On-Sea, on Wednesday (September 3rd) as workmen from Bristol Water completed repairs to a burst water main in a field which cut supplies to thousands of homes across the Burnham area. The problems first emerged during the early hours of the morning. More...

Water supply cut in Burnham-On-Sea
WATER supplies to thousands of properties in the Burnham-On-Sea area were cut on Wednesday morning (September 3rd) following a major water main burst at Rooksbridge. Residents in the area are being urged by Bristol Water to use as little water as possible to conserve supplies following the burst. More...

Academy unveils 'phase 2' plans
PLANS to transform the outside of Burnham-On-Sea's former swimming pool with more high-tech sporting facilities are set to be submitted to Sedgemoor District Council during the next few weeks. The bosses of the Burnham Swim & Sports Academy, Mark Conklin and Sara Cox-Conklin this week told Burnham-On-Sea.com about their 'phase two' plans. More...

Biker injured in seafront crash
A MOTORCYCLIST was taken to hospital with a suspected broken arm after being thrown from his machine on Burnham-On-Sea's Esplanade on Tuesday evening (September 2nd). An eyewitness at the scene told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "The motorcyclist had been travelling along the front when he hit the curb and then a rockery." More...

Anthony heads to Paralympics
THE Olympics may be over for most sportsmen for another four years, but for one Burnham-On-Sea swimmer it's all just about to begin. Anthony Stephens, 22, is in Beijing in China this week to compete in the 2008 Paralympic Games, which open this Saturday (September 6th). More...

Road closure misery for Knoll
Exclusive: FURIOUS villagers in Brent Knoll are up in arms about a series of road closures that have caused months of disruption and hurt the trade of local businesses. Railway bridge works on the B3140 are finally to be completed this week after a three month closure, but new work is to begin in a few weeks' time. More...

Couple's anniversary donation
GENEROUS Burnham-On-Sea couple Terry and Yvonne Cornelius have handed a £435 cheque to Burnham's Community Medical Equipment Fund after raising the money at their ruby wedding anniversary celebration. The couple celebrated their 40th anniversary last week with a special event. More...

Town bus fares up six per cent
BUS passengers in Burnham-On-Sea will find fares on local services have risen by an average of six per cent this week. Operator First has blamed the need to introduce the increases - which came into operation on Monday (September 1st) - on rising fuel costs which it has tried to withstand for several months. More...

Huge 'no cold calling zone' starts
SOMERSET'S largest 'no cold calling zone', covering hundreds of homes, has just been launched in Burnham-On-Sea. Over 400 properties on the Rosewood Estate in the town are now covered by the zone, which seeks to deter rogue traders and bogus callers. More...

Youths arrested over vandalism
Exclusive: TWO youths were arrested by Burnham-On-Sea police on Sunday evening (August 31st) after local residents reported a large group of youngsters damaging shelters in the town's Marine Cove gardens. Six police vehicles rushed to The Esplanade at 7.25pm, as pictured here, and officers quickly broke up a large group of youths. More...