2005 Burnham-On-Sea News Archive

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2004 news archive

MBE for town St John volunteer
A BURNHAM-On-Sea St John Ambulance Brigade volunteer has been appointed MBE in the Queen's New Year Honours list. Pat Comer, of Rosewood Avenue, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "I was quite surprised - I had no clues whatsoever!". She will be handed the honour by the Queen during 2006. More...

Town panto tickets go on sale
FINAL rehearsals are underway at a Burnham-On-Sea drama group as it prepares to perform its 2006 pantomime. More than 30 local people of all ages are set to take part in Burnham District Pantomime Society's presentation of 'Sinbad The Sailor' during January and February 2006. More...

Young girl hurt in car accident
A SIX-year-old was rushed to Weston General hospital on Friday night (December 30th) after being hurt in a car accident on the A38 near Burnham-On-Sea. The girl, who was being driven home after a trip to the circus at Sanders Garden World, was treated by paramedics. More...

Pub quizes raise £700 for RNLI
MORE than £700 has been handed over to Burnham-On-Sea RNLI after a year of fundraising quiz evenings at The Berrow Inn. The money has been used to buy a new computer projector for the station so that it give slicker lifeboat talks and presentations to local groups and visitors. More...

Man dies after fall at night club
A 37-year-old Burnham-On-Sea man has died after apparently falling down the steps in a night-time accident at a High Street night club. Jonathan Cotton of Dyrham Close, Burnham, died after the tragic incident at Shakers Night Club during early December. He is beieved to have died the following day. More...

Snow sweeps into Burnham
BURNHAM-On-Sea got its heaviest fall of snow for several years on Thursday afternoon, December 29th, when the town was blanketed with a thick covering of the white stuff. Several hours of wintry weather left the town under 2cm of snow - and even the beach was white. More...

Brrrr-nham shivers in icy chill
SUB-ZERO temperatures left Burnham-On-Sea shivering on Thursday (December 29th) as the town got its first proper taste of winter. Temperatures overnight sank to their lowest of the year at -7°c. And even by lunchtime the thermometer had not got above a teeth-chattering -2°c. More...

Cash windfalls for town groups
BURNHAM-On-Sea and Highbridge comunity groups are among those who have received cash windfalls from Sedgemoor District Council's grants programme, it was announced this week. The council has given £62,270.79 to local groups during 2005, much to the delight of leaders at the organisations. More...

Garden centre's recycling plea
GO GREEN and recycle your Christmas tree and cards when you've finished with them this year - that's the message from a Burnham-On-Sea garden centre, which is launching its own festive recycling service. The free service runs from January 3rd-15th at Sanders Garden World. More...

Top photo moments of 2005
FROM a jellyfish invasion on our beach to a dramatic police accident in the town, we've picked the 20 stories of 2005 which produced the most powerful images. Burnham-On-Sea.com was there to capture the scene as the news happened. See our round-up of the best photos of the year. More...

Night search drama at Brean
A SEARCH of Brean Down was carried out by Coastguards during the early hours of Boxing Day, Monday December 26th, after reports of red emergency flares being seen in the area. Burnham-On-Sea's Coastguard search team were called to the scene at 1.15am and conducted a thorough search of the area. More...

£1,800 Christmas gift for Keith
A BURNHAM-On-Sea St John Ambulance worker who saved his father's life has been given the perfect Christmas gift - £1,800 for vital new kit. As exclusively reported earlier in December by Burnham-On-Sea.com, Keith Gough was called on to save his father Peter when he had a heart attack. More...

Market replacement unveiled
A £50million regional agricultural centre, which is set to replace Highbridge market, has come a step closer this week. After nearly four years of negotiations, the District Council has passed the planning permissions necessary for the developers to make a start at the site at North Petherton. More...

150 years of married life!
CORKS were popping when three married couples from Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge jointly celebrated their golden wedding anniversaries at a special party. The trio handed over money raised at the party, which marked 150 years of married life, to a grateful local group. More...

Car careers off road into ditch
A BURNHAM-On-Sea motorist had a lucky escape when the car he was driving careered off a country lane into a ditch on Wednesday, December 21st. The fire service, paramedics and police rushed to the scene at Stoddens Lane at 5.50pm after receiving an emergency call. More...

Best Xmas lights announced
THE best-decorated shops and homes across Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge were announced when judges unveiled the results of the annual Christmas Lights Competition. Two judges from Burnham and Highbridge Town Council scored the decorations to find the area's best lights. More...

Two arrested after disturbance
TWO people were arrested and a police officer was alleged to have been assaulted during a night-time 'disturbance' on Burnham-On-Sea seafront on Tuesday night, December 20th. Four police vehicles were called to the scene and two people were arrested during the incident. More...

New £155k river path opens
CYCLISTS and walkers in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge can enjoy a new traffic-free path between the towns after the first stage of building a brand new path was completed this week. Running beside the River Brue, the path provides a safe route for local people to wander along the river. More...

BAY Centre receives funds
MEMBERS of Burnham-On-Sea Round Table and the town's 41 Club raised money in aid of a very special event at Burnham's BAY Centre. The Burnham Area Youth (BAY) Centre hosted a dinner on Christmas Day for local people who might otherwise be on their own this Christmas. More...

Christmas warning from RNLI
BURNHAM-On-Sea RNLI has warned anyone planning to walk along the coastline or use the sea over the Christmas period to be on their guard and stay safe. The warning comes as RNLI crews across the south west can expect to be called out to save the lives of seafarers. More...

Football club's fire fundraiser
BERROW Football Club has published a 2006 calendar featuring its players to raise much-needed cash after the devastating fire which destroyed its changing rooms in November. The club hopes to raise thousands of pounds towards its appeal by selling the special desk calendars. More...

Ambulance boss saves father
THE BOSS of St John Ambulance in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge has saved the life of his father in his own ambulance, we can exclusively report. Keith Gough, the Divisional Superintendent for St John Ambulance, treated the 66 year-old after he suffered a heart attack. More...

Wind farm to 'hit house prices'
THE GROUP fighting a proposed wind farm on the outskirts of Burnham-On-Sea has released the findings of a survey which appears to back up claims that property prices in the area will be hit if the development goes ahead. The group says the farm would hit house prices. More...

Rumblestrips plan for seafront
PLANS to install rumblestrips along Burnham-On-Sea seafront have been discussed this week in a fresh bid to tackle the problem of 'boy racers'. The proposal is one of several options being considered by the County Council after a special open meeting on December 16th. More...

Cheeky Christmas card raises £1,800!
A BURNHAM-On-Sea hairdressing salon has been raising smiles and money for charity with a cheeky Christmas card featuring some of its male customers. More than £1,800 has been raised from the sale of the daring cards, which feature a photo of 11 customers in a state of undress! More...

Pub trouble makers warned
PUB bosses in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge have warned trouble makers to stay away this Christmas or face being banned from premises in the towns. The town's Pubwatch has seen 31 licensed premises come together with police to make a night out safer in the two towns. More...

Horror crash closes Love Lane
THREE people were injured on Thursday night (December 15th) after a horrific crash involving two cars on the outskirts of Burnham-On-Sea. Love Lane, the main road into town from the M5 motorway, was closed for four hours while police, paramedics and fire crews attended the scene. More...

Kids join the circus for a day
A GROUP of lucky youngsters had the chance to improve their big top skills at Sanders Garden World, near Burnham-On-Sea, this week. The budding young clowns, acrobats and trapeze artistes attended the first session of circus workshops hosted by Circus Americano at the garden centre. More...

New Asda store for Highbridge
MORE than 100 jobs are to be created when a huge new Asda supermarket - twice the size of Burnham-On-Sea's existing Tesco store - opens in Highbridge. Planning bosses have this week given outline planning permission to Asda to build a 40,000 square foot store. More...

Wheelie bins for 900 residents
MORE than 900 homes across Burnham-On-Sea may get free wheelie bins during 2006 as part of an effort to stamp out litter problems in the town. The district council hopes to distribute the bins to tackle the problem of seabirds pecking at bin bags during the summer months - leaving rubbish strewn across streets. More...

Seafront revamp gets started
A MAJOR project to smarten up part of Burnham-On-Sea's seafront has begun. Scaffolding has gone up along part of the terrace of homes near the pier so that work to paint them can get underway. The work is partially funded by a regional development grant and will be completed over several weeks. More...

Police appeal after accident
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to an accident on the outskirts of Burnham-On-Sea on Saturday night, December 10th. Paramedics treated one casualty on the roadside at the scene, following the accident taking place at around 11.10pm near the Edithmead Roundabout. More...

More gloom as gift shop shuts
ANOTHER shop has become the victim of a downturn in trade along Burnham-On-Sea High Street - the fifth in the last two months. The Blazing Saddles gift shop on the corner of Cross Street is to close at Christmas after eight years in business. Its owner blames charity shops for the store's demise. More...

Country fans' £2,300 donation
GENEROUS Country and Western music fans who held a series of fundraising events in aid of the Burnham-On-Sea Hovercraft have handed over a huge cheque for £2,300 to the group. The cash was handed over to grateful crew members during a special presentation at Home Farm. More...

Lib Dems win Burnham by-election
BURNHAM-On-Sea Liberal Democrats were celebrating on Thursday night, December 8th, after their candidate, Chris Williams, won a seat on the town council. The Conservative's Alan Miller was beaten by just 69 votes in the by-election to represent the Burnham East ward. More...

Police plea after robbery bid
BURNHAM-On-Sea Police have appealed for information after an attempted robbery at Apex Leisure Park. At around 5pm on Monday December 5th a 17-year-old boy was riding his bicycle on the Apex Park footpath when he was approached by an unknown man who asked him for his bike. More...

Rag Week raises fun and cash
FUN-loving pupils at King Alfred School in Burnham-On-Sea have been raising money for worthy causes during their annual Rag Week. The students were free to wear what they wanted during the popular event, which raises hundreds of pounds for charity each year. More...

Parking boost for Burnham
MORE than £45,000 has been spent on expanding two of Burnham-On-Sea's car parks to help meet peak summer demand for parking spaces. The car park off Lynton Road has had its number of spaces increased by 11%. It is to be called the 'Shoppers' Car Park' under the new scheme. More...

Burnham RNLI opens shop
BURNHAM-On-Sea RNLI has acquired a shop on the town's busy seafront in order to continue fundraising efforts all year round. The building, situated next to Sunspot Amusements, overlooks The Esplanade and jetty and sells RNLI souvenirs and merchandise. More...

Mayor's Christmas message
BURNHAM-On-Sea's Mayor, Eric Gill, has issued his annual Christmas message to residents in the town. He reviews the highlights of the year and looks forward to the year ahead in the town. He also has a special mention for volunteers in the area, especially those linked to youngsters in the town. More...

Woman cut from crash
A WOMAN was rushed to hospital after being cut free from her vehicle after a two-car accident on the A38, near Burnham-On-Sea. The road was closed for one and a half hours on Tuesday night, December 6th, following the incident involving a VW Golf and a Ford Escort. More...

Open meeting on 'boy racers'
AN OPEN meeting is to be held to debate how to tackle the problem of speeding motorists along Burnham-On-Sea seafront. Police officers, residents, local businesses and councillors will attend the forum on Friday December 16th to discuss ways forward and look at the options to tackle the problem. More...

Security scare at town's pier
TWO teams of police officers rushed to Burnham-On-Sea Pier late on Monday night amid fears that the building had been broken into. The Pavilion's burglar alarms were activated at around 11pm and a full security operation swung into operation - but fortunately it was all just a false alarm. More...

New art gallery for Burnham
A NEW gallery has opened in Burnham-On-Sea, offering a wide range of artwork and gifts from local artists. Called Sea Breeze, the Victoria Street premises is situated opposite the town's cinema and is run by Rhonda Mills and her husband. It sells a wide range of giftware and artwork. More...

Christmas Circus opens!
A TROOP of circus performers who are hosting Christmas shows at Sanders Garden World, near Burnham-On-Sea, have been busy putting up a big top tent as their performances began on Monday December 5th. Clowns, trapeze artists and fire eaters are featured in the 28-day circus. More...

Vehicle rescued from beach
A VAN was pulled to safety after it became stuck on Burnham-On-Sea beach - the second time in a fortnight that a vehicle has got into difficulties in the area. District Council dog warden Tina Kick was patrolling the beach when her van sank into 'sinking sand' near the pier. More...

Have your say on council tax
BURNHAM-On-Sea residents are being invited to air their opinions on how council tax is spent in our area. The District Council is asking residents for input in deciding where money should be spent - and has set up touch-screens in the town for people to give feedback. More...

Rotary Club's £500 donation
A CHEQUE for £500 has been handed to Burnham-On-Sea's hovercraft group after a series of successful Rotary Club fundraising events. Crew members from BARB attended a presentation evening where they received the money which will be put towards the £20,000 running costs of the craft. More...

Wind farm group goes green
OPPONENTS of the proposed wind farm outside Burnham-On-Sea are planning to promote 'green action' in the area in order to take the wind out of those who say they are hurting the environment. The kNOll to Wind Farm group is determined not to be labelled 'anti-green'. More...

Electrical fault blamed for fire
BURNHAM-On-Sea fire fighters have been tackling a large blaze at the rear of a property in Church Road, Brean. Three sheds and a workshop at the back of a property in the village were destroyed. Two pumps from Burnham were initially sent to the scene, and others joined them. More...

Vandals attack two town shops
VANDALS caused more than £1,000 worth of damage by smashing the windows of two High Street shops in Burnham-On-Sea at the weekend. A front window at the Burnham Pet Shop was smashed and in a second attack a large pane of glass at Tickle Your Taste Buds was broken. More...

Lack of fish hits angling event
MORE than 60 anglers lined the water's edge at Burnham-On-Sea on Sunday to compete in a beach competition - but the fish stayed away and made it one of the group's worst afternoons on record. Just six flounders were caught during the five hour event. Ogranisers blamed the cold weather. More...

Tree weekend attracts crowds
HUNDREDS of people attended a Tree Weekend at Sanders Garden World, near Burnham-On-Sea, on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th November. During the free event, which tied in with National Tree Week, experts were on hand to answer tree-related questions. More...

Art attack on drink drivers
POLICE in Burnham-On-Sea are using the artistic talents of local youngsters to bring home the 'Don’t Drink and Drive' message this Christmas. Pupils at Berrow School have designed a poster to publicise the dangers of drink driving in a new bid by the police to stamp out road accidents caused by drink. More...

Knoll race is runaway success!
A LAST-minute hitch failed to mar the popular Brent Knoll Run on Sunday November 27th, when 92 runners took part in the gruelling race from Burnham to the top of the Knoll and back. Organiser Brian Beale of Burnham Harriers said extra marshalls were drafted in in order to ensure the event went ahead safely. More...

Warehouse blaze 'was arson'
FIRE crews were called to a warehouse blaze in Tyler Way, Highbridge, at 4pm on Sunday November 27th, which they believe was set alight deliberately. Four appliances from Bridgwater and Burnham, plus one support appliance from Street, were mobilised during the incident. More...

Mayor turns on Christmas lights
SANTA Claus dropped in to help Burnham-On-Sea Mayor Eric Gill switch on the town's Christmas lights on Saturday November 26th. Mr Gill signalled the start of the switch-on by ringing a handbell in a simple ceremony at the top of Burnham-On-Sea's High Street in front of onlookers. More...

Police: 'Robbers were not local'
POLICE investigating an armed robbery at Tesco’s in Burnham-on-Sea believe the robbers are not local. At 2.15pm on Monday, November 21, 2005, a Securicor guard was transferring cash from the store to his nearby van when he was confronted by three masked men. More...

Regeneration edges forward
PLANS to regenerate Burnham-On-Sea edged a step closer this week after two high-profile meetings in the town between councillors, regeneration bosses and local businesses. The consultants looking into the benefits of regeneration presented their findings during the special events. More...

Town election race heats up
THE race to win the vacant seat on Burnham and Highbridge town council heated up this week with both candidates taking to the streets of Burnham. The Conservative's Alan Miller and the Liberal Democrat's Chris Williams have both been canvassing support as the election day edges closer. More...

New armed raid at Tesco store
ARMED thieves have again struck at Burnham-On-Sea's branch of Tescos, stealing a large sum of money from the supermarket's cash office. A staff member said the store had been the victim of an incident on Monday November 21st in which a Securicor guard was targeted. More...

Huge fire at Berrow sports club
FIRE crews from across Somerset tackled a big blaze at Berrow Football Club overnight on November 22nd. Two appliances from Burnham-On-Sea and two from Weston-Super-Mare attended the scene, along with a further two appliances from Bridgwater and Street. More...

Two more shops close in town
BURNHAM-On-Sea has suffered a double dose of bad news after two shops in the town announced they were closing, just weeks after others also pulled the shutters down. Crandon Computers in Cross Street and the Little Brum gift shop in the High Street closed. More...

Hovercraft Charity Night rocks!
HUNDREDS of supporters of Burnham-On-Sea's hovercraft flocked to a special charity event in the town on Saturday November 19th for a lively mixture of fun and fundraising. More than 300 people crowded into the Burnham Holiday Village for the BARB hovercraft group's first Charity Night. More...

Stranded car pulled from sea
RESCUERS came to the aid of two fishermen after their car became stuck on Burnham-On-Sea beach early on Saturday morning, November 19th. The anglers were setting off for a day's fishing at 6.30am when their vehicle became trapped on a sand bank near the jetty. More...

Highbridge man died on M5
AN INQUEST has heard how a Highbridge man was killed on the M5 motorway while trying to drive to Weston-super-Mare despite being nearly twice over the legal alcohol limit. Billy Cribbon, 20, died at the scene when he was hit by another driver while standing next to his car. More...

Festive fundraising in town
HUNDREDS of pounds was raised for local groups and charities at a popular Christmas bazaar held in Burnham-On-Sea this week. The event, run by Burnham and District Lions Club, attracted crowds of visitors to the town's Methodist Church in College Street for the group's first Xmas bazaar. More...

Burnham art exhibition opens
A UNIQUE exhibition of Burnham-On-Sea paintings, video and sounds has opened in Bristol at the city's annual Totterdown Art Trail. Formed in 2001 by a group of local artists, the event has grown steadily year on year and attracts more than 3,000 visitors to the front rooms of houses in the area. More...

Seagull feeders face £50 fines
HOLIDAYMAKERS and reisdents in Burnham-On-Sea who feed seagulls or pigeons could face fines of up to £50 from next spring. The district council is considering whether it can use new powers under the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act to introduce fines for those who feed sea birds. More...

Tourism bosses meet in Brean
TOURISM bosses from Burnham-On-Sea, Berrow and Brean gathered together to look back at a busy summer holiday season and discuss plans to further promote the area during 2006. There was a packed audience for the AGM of Sedgemoor Tourism Association at the Farmer's Tavern in Brean. More...

18 year-old dies after accident
A BURNHAM-On-Sea woman has died after being involved in a road traffic accident on Highbridge Road. The 18-year-old was formally identified by police as Stephanie Shaw of Highbridge Road, Burnham-On-Sea. Police have once again appealed for witnesses to the Carnival Night accident. More...

Hundreds at wind farm open day
CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a wind farm between Burnham-On-Sea and Brent Knoll were on display at an open day attended by several hundred people on Tuesday. Scores of residents visited the ten-hour event at Burnham's Scout HQ when the plans were on view for the first time. More...

Big-hearted Debbie's donation
A SCHOOL girl who was so moved by the tragic death of five-year-old Lelaina Hall in the mud at Berrow three years ago has raised more than £1,500 for Burnham's Spirit Of Lelaina hovercraft by performing at Country and Western events in Brean over the last two years. More...

Town carnival club celebrates
MEMBERS of a Burnham-On-Sea Carnival club are celebrating after being crowned county champions, having won in their class at SIX events on the carnival curcuit. Hillview Juvenile Carnival Club picked up the sought-after county award on Saturday November 12th at Glastonbury Carnival. More...

MP lays wreath for war dead
MORE than 200 dignatries, war veterans and residents gathered at Burnham-On-Sea's war memorial on Sunday November 13th to mark Remembrance Day. In a ceremony led by Rev Graham Witts, wreaths were laid by Burnham MP David Heathcoat-Amory and leaders of various groups in the town. More...

Store unveils £500k revamp
MORE than £500,000 has been spent on revamping Somerfield's store in Burnham-On-Sea and creating 10 new jobs, the supermarket chain announced this week. The Pier Street store has just completed work to refit the premises with new facilities. It comes at a time of fierce competition for shoppers in the town. More...

Police seal off street after raid
POLICE closed off Adam Street in Burnham-On-Sea late on Friday, November 11th, after an armed robbery at a High Street amusement arcade. Police were investigating reports that a staff member at the arcade beneath Shakers had been threatened with a knife shortly after 10.15pm. More...

Wind farm plans are delayed
PLANS to build a new wind farm between Burnham-On-Sea and Brent Knoll, as pictured, have been delayed. Ecotricity, the company behind the scheme, had intended to submit its plans for five 65m tall turbines to district planners by the end of November but this won't happen until later in the year. More...

Town falls silent for war dead
BURNHAM-On-Sea war veterans and local residents joined millions of people across Britain in remembering those who have died at war during a two-minute silence to mark Armistice Day on Friday November 11th. A brief ceremony was held in the High Street and at St Andrew's Church. More...

Recycling centre wins acclaim
HIGHRBIDGE'S waste recycling centre has won a national award to become the "UK's Best Recycling Centre", it was announced this week. The Highbridge site, operated by Wyvern Waste on behalf of Somerset County Council, beat off the challenge of several other centres. More...

New 'health campus' for town?
AN AMBITIOUS proposal for a regional 'health campus' - which could be based in Burnham-On-Sea and include a brand new swimming pool - was unveiled this week. A decision on the future of Burnham's existing swimming pool has been put on hold until January while more information is gathered. More...

Final rehearsals for BEES group
FINAL rehearsals are underway at a Burnham-On-Sea drama group in preparation for one of their biggest ever performances. More than 30 members of BEES, the Burnham Excellent Entertainment Society, will be performing 'Hood: The Musical' on Saturday, November 19th. More...

Hover boss to run for council
BURNHAM-On-Sea Conservatives have selected Alan Miller as their candidate for the Town Council by-election in Burnham East on 8th December. Alan is the chairman of BARB, the group that runs Burnham's rescue hovercraft, and was the winner of the 2004/5 Heathcoat-Amory Endeavour Trophy. More...

'Lives at risk' from snow policy
LIVES will be put at risk in Burnham-On-Sea this winter because many roads in the town will not be treated with salt, councillors have warned this week. The stark message came after the County Council revealed plans to grit far fewer roads in the town in order to make cash savings. More...

Seal rescued on Brean beach
ANIMAL rescuers have been recounting how they treated their first ever seal casualty after storms drove the pup ashore at Brean. The stricken animal was found on the sand by walkers, who called local animal rescue volunteers from Secret World, near Burnham-On-Sea to help. More...

18-year-old injured in town car crash
POLICE have appealed for witnesses after a car accident in Burnham-On-Sea left an 18 year-old woman from the town in hospital with head injuries. Highbridge Road was closed for three hours on Monday November 7th after a Rover 214 collided with her at approximately 5.20pm. More...

Burnham Carnival results 2005
ILMINSTER's Gemini Carnival Club took the top spot at Burnham-On-Sea's 58th annual carnival with its enchanting float, Lion King The Show. Although there was a mix-up over where the participants were able to get off their carts at the end of the parade, the results stand. More...

35,000 fill town for Carnival
UP TO 35,000 people descended on Burnham-On-Sea on Monday night, November 7th, to watch more than 90 carnival floats wend their way through the town's streets to the sound of cheers and loud music. Burnham-On-Sea.com has a full photo and news round-up. More...

Fireworks wow the crowds!
MORE than 4,000 people flocked to Burnham-On-Sea on Sunday night, November 6th, to watch a stunning firework display that marked the start of the town's annual Carnival festivities. The display cost more than £5,000 and was one of the best seen in the town. More...

Couple to appear on ITV1 show
A BURNHAM-On-Sea couple who were forced to have their baby in Basingstoke, rather than a local hospital because no facilities were available, will campaign for change by appearing on the ITV1 current affairs programme West Eye View this week. The show features others mums as well. More...

Royal Clarence Hotel on sale
A well-known seafront hotel in Burnham-On-Sea that went on sale this week has already attracted interest from several potential buyers. The Royal Clarence Hotel at 31, The Esplanade, is up for sale at £595,000 with Garry Berryman estate agents and is attractin interest from local businesses. More...

Wind farm action group formed
AN action group has been formed to oppose the proposed development of a wind farm between Burnham-On-Sea and Brent Knoll. The action group, which is called 'kNOll to Windfarm', has been created by concerned residents of Brent Knoll, to campaign against the wind farm plans. More...

Youth council's litter clean-up
A GROUP of community-minded youngsters from Burnham-On-Sea had an unusual start to their half-term holiday by picking up rubbish around the town. The Youth Town Council members tidied up the streets around King Alfred School and the BAY Club after noticing lots of rubbish. More...

Pub to serve alcohol from 9am
A BURNHAM-On-Sea pub is to serve alcohol from 9am when new drinking legislation comes into force later this month. JD Wetherspoon said virtually all its 650 pubs across the country, including The Reed's Arms on Burnham seafront, will allow alcohol to be sold from 9am. More...

Xmas lights boost for Burnham
BURNHAM-On-Sea's streets will have an extra dose of festive sparkle this Christmas season, thanks to the town's Chamber of Trade. For the first time in more than five years, extra lights will be switched on along Victoria Street in addition to the High Street in central Burnham-On-Sea. More...

Tory David Cameron in town
DAVID Cameron, the front-runner in the race to become Conservative party leader, visited Burnham-On-Sea on Monday afternoon to meet supporters. In front of a capacity audience in the Princess Hall, he addressed a crowd of several hundred Tory members. More...

Huge fireworks display planned
THE organisers behind next Sunday's Burnham-On-Sea seafront fireworks display say the event will be one of the most spectacular shows ever. The popular display attracted more than 4,000 spectators last year and is sure to be another success when it starts at 6.30pm. More...

BARB fundraiser tickets on sale
THERE are still a few tickets remaining for Burnham-On-Sea hovercraft group's charity evening, to be held during November. The event will include music, a finger buffet, raffle and a charity auction. The event is open to all and will be held on November 19th at 7.30pm. More...

£50,000 of fake goods seized
COUNTERFEIT goods worth £50,000 have been seized by Somerset Trading Standards Officers at a market in Brean. Trading Standards Officers announced on Friday October 28th that they had shut down two stalls at Brean outdoor market that had been selling fake DVDs and CDs. More...

RNLI Xmas sale pulls in crowds
LIFEBOAT supporters flocked to the first of a series of Christmas sales of RNLI-themed merchandise on Saturday, October 29th, at Burnham-On-Sea lifeboat station. Organised by members of the RNLI Supporters' Group, a wide selection of items was on sale during the morning. More...

Two arrested after Pontins fire
TWO youths were arrested after what police described as a "suspcious fire" at Pontins holiday centre in Brean on Wednesday, October 26th. Firefighters from across Somerset tackled the blaze in the early hours of Wednesday, when several buildings were damaged. More...

Sale raises restoration funds
SEVERAL hundred Burnham-On-Sea residents visited St Andrew's Church Hall on Saturday morning, October 29th, to support a town church's restoration fund. St Andrew's Church is holding various events to raise funds for the restoration of the well-known seafront building. More...

Council slams wind farm plans
CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a huge new wind farm on the outskirts of Burnham-On-Sea have been slammed by the leader of Burnham and Highbridge town council. The proposal involves the construction of five 65 metre turbines on land at Edithmead near to Brent Knoll. More...

Seafront beauty salon opens
BURNHAM-On-Sea has become one of Britain's only coastal resorts to have its own seafront beauty salon! Lyndsey Redstone has opened Beautylicious, a nail and beauty studio, on The Esplanade to tempt holidaymakers and seafront walkers in for a range of hair, face and body treatments. More...

Weston to use lifeboat tractors
SIMILAR tractors to those used to launch Burnham-On-Sea RNLI's lifeboats from the beach are to be used in Weston-super-Mare too. At the end of September inspectors from the RNLI visited the existing Weston lifeboat station, based on Birnbeck Island, and noted a number of repairs were needed. More...

Mountain rescue for teenagers
NINE teenagers from Burnham-On-Sea, some reportedly suffering from hypothermia, were rescued by an RAF helicopter from the Black Mountains in Wales this week. The group from King Alfred School were taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme when they got lost. More...

Town council seat up for grabs
NOMINATIONS are now being accepted for the vacant seat on Burnham and Highbridge town council, following the resignation of Cllr Joyce Smith. Nomination papers can be obtained from the offices of the Returning Officer at Bridgwater House or from the town council clerk. More...

New wind farm plans unveiled
CONTROVERSIAL proposals for a huge new wind farm near Burnham-on-Sea were formally unveiled on Monday October 24th. The proposal involves five 65 metre turbines being built at Edithmead which will produce enough electricity for more than 8,000 homes. We have full details. More...

Leisure Park owners' donation
BREAN Leisure Park has presented the Highbridge and Burnham Division of St John Ambulance with a bumper cheque for £2,500 this week. The money was raised at the Park's Donkey Derby and Pig Racing events throughout the summer months when large crowds flocked to watch and take part. More...

Burnham councillor resigns
A BURNHAM-On-Sea town councillor has resigned from her post in order to spend more time with her family. Liberal Democrat Joyce Smith has been the ward councillor for Burnham East for almost two years but has decided she needs to spend more time with her family and has therefore stepped down. More...

Bloom winners pick up awards
GREEN-fingered Burnham-On-Sea residents of all ages gathered together over the weekend to receive the awards they won in this year's Britain In Bloom competition. More than 30 children, residents and business owners were handed their awards at a ceremony in the council chambers. More...

Town celebrates Trafalgar Day
BURNHAM-On-Sea marked the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar on Friday, October 21st, with the unveiling of a new plaque and a special lunch for VIPs from across the town. The plaque was unveiled at Marine Cove between the two seats by the town's MP and councillors. More...

High Street phone shop closes
BURNHAM-On-Sea's High Street was dealt a blow this week when one of its leading stores closed for the final time. Bridgwater Communications, on the corner of the High Street and Cross Street, shut down just 13 months after coming into Burnham, blaming poor local support. More...

Carnival club unveils huge float
THE finishing touches are being made to one of the largest-ever carnival floats to be built in Burnham-On-Sea or Highbridge. Members of the Hillview Juvenile Carnival Club are adding the final light bulbs and applying a final coat of paint to their giant 100ft long float whihc will be on show in November. More...

Fire crews tackle house blaze
A WOMAN was treated by paramedics for smoke inhalation as firefighters from Burnham tackled a house fire in Briar Close on Monday. A 45-year-old female was found collapsed at the scene and an ambulance was called to help her after fire broke out on the first floor of the house. More...

Drifting powerboat helped
BURNHAM-On-Sea's Atlantic 75 lifeboat was called out this week after a power boat got into difficulties in Bridgwater Bay. Burnham Coastguards called on the Staines Whitfield lifeboat to assist the boat after it suffered power failure and began to drift quickly out of the bay. More...

Driving ban for police officer
A BURNHAM-On-Sea police officer involved in a dramatic accident on Marine Drive in the town has been suspended from driving police vehicles. Marine Drive was closed for almost an hour on October 15th after the patrol car crashed and flipped over near the Catholic Church. Further details are not yet known. More...

New plaque to be unveiled
BURNHAM-On-Sea will mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar this Friday, October 21st, with the unveiling of a new plaque. The Town Council will be unveiling the specialplaque at Marine Cove on the wall between the two new seats outside the 'Nelson' gates. More...

Core blimey! Apple event fun
HUNDREDS of people visited Sanders Garden World near Burnham-On-Sea at the weekend to see one of the largest collection of apple varieties in the South West. Staff, in association with local apple growers and cider makers, put on a display of 500 apple varieties at the garden centre. More...

Night rescue for man at Berrow
BURNHAM-On-Sea's hovercraft was at the centre of a major mud rescue at Berrow during the early hours of Monday October 17th. A 33-year-old man from Brean had become stuck in waist-deep mud half a mile from the shoreline at Berrow – prompting a night-time rescue. More...

Police crash shuts Marine Drive
A BURNHAM-On-Sea police officer was rushed to hospital on Saturday, October 15th, after a dramatic accident. Marine Drive was closed for almost an hour after the patrol car flipped over near to the town's Roman Catholic Church. The officer involved suffered minor injuries. More...

Ammonia alert was false alarm
MORE than 30 firefighters from across Somerset rushed to the Isleport Business Park in Highbridge on Saturday, October 15th, amid fears that an ammonia leak was underway. Several alarms at the Brake Bros factory had been activated and staff requested the help of the Fire Service. More...

Police issue Tesco robbery e-fit
POLICE in Burnham-on-Sea have released an e-fit description and further details about an armed robbery at the town's Tesco store. The robbery took place at the Love Lane store at 5.54pm on Tuesday October 11th, when a Securicor guard was delivering cash to ATM machines. More...

Traders back Sanders proposal
TRADERS in Burnham-On-Sea have this week offered a cautious hand of friendship to Sanders Garden World by voting to work with the store rather than against it in the coming years. At a packed meeting of the Chamber Of Trade, the vote was made to back a promotion proposal. More...

Group's wheelchair donation
KIND-hearted members of the Burnham-On-Sea branch of Moose International have donated two new wheelchairs to Weston Hospital's Quantock Rehabilitation unit. It comes after lodge member Chris Harris’s wife Rita was undergoing long-term treatment at Weston Hospital. More...

Armed robbery at Tesco store
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a dramatic hit and run robbery at Burnham-On-Sea's Tesco store on Tuesday evening, October 11th. A large area at the northern side of the store, next to two cash machines, was cordoned off by police for several hours. More...

MP reveals Tory vote plans
BURNHAM-On-Sea's Member of Parliament has revealed in a national newspaper interview who he WON'T be voting for in the upcoming Tory Leadership election. David Heathcoat-Amory is one of several MPs who have not yet publicly declared their intentions, but he has said who he won't be backing. More...

Austism home's cash boost
RESIDENTS at a home for adults with autism in Burnham-On-Sea have recently benefited from an unusual swap between an artist from the town and a local garden centre. Ann Lovell has exchanged some of her paintings for a £500 cash donation to the NAS to help the group. More...

New owners for popular pub
THE new managers of a popular restaurant and pub in the centre of Brean, near Burnham, say they have big plans to grow the business. Carol Doble and her partner Bill Fawdrey of Flaming Jaes Grill House have pledged to overhaul the pub in the next months and add new facilities. More...

Kids enjoy 'Storm Force Day'
DOZENS of children got to see the work of Burnham-On-Sea's lifeboat, hovercraft and coastguard up close on Saturday October 8th during a special awareness-raising day. The 'Storm Force Day' saw groups of local children given tours of each organisation's station. More...

Call to improve public toilets
A BURNHAM-On-Sea resident has called on councillors to improve public toilet facilities in the town's Manor Gardens, pictured. Mike Lang of Gloucester Road has won the backing of town councillors after calling on the District Council to improve the facilities in the popular gardens. More...

Sailing Club expansion begins
A HUGE crane towered over Burnham-On-Sea this week as work got underway to double the number of berths for yachts and boats at the town's Sailing Club. Rising demand for additional moorings at the mouth of the River Brue has prompted the expansion, and two pylons were lifted into place this week. More...

Skittlers aim to raise RNLI cash
HIGHBRIDGE Social Club will be holding an open skittles weekend on Saturday 22nd October and Sunday 23rd October when all will be welcome to participate and help raise funds for Burnham-On-Sea RNLI at the same time. The event is open to everyone and there's a chance to win a £200 prize. More...

Civic Quarter moves forward
AMBITIOUS plans for a huge Civic Quarter in Burnham-On-Sea moved a step closer this week when town councillors voted in favour of pushing the application forward. The proposal would see a cultural centre, new apartments, community buildings and a new civic square outside the Princess. More...

Town man assaulted in Weston
A BURNHAM-On-Sea man was rushed to Bristol Royal Infirmary with multiple fractures to his face following an incident in Weston. Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident outside Yates’ Wine Lodge in York Street in the centre of Weston-super-Mare, late on Saturday evening. More...

Busy summer for lifeboats
BURNHAM-On-Sea RNLI followed the national trend by having an incredibly busy summer of rescues. RNLI lifeboats in the south division launched a record 682 times. In Burnham, the RNLI was called out by the Coastguard a total of nine times during the period, which was actually slightly down on 2004. More...

Bus service is 'unacceptable'
BUS services in Burnham are "totally unacceptable" and must be improved, transport pressure group Transport 2000 claimed this week. Speaking at Monday's Town Council meeting, David Redgewell criticised the "totally unacceptable" operation and said changes must be introduced. More...

Big crowds join hovercraft pull
COUNTRY and Western music fans pulled Burnham-On-Sea's Spirit Of Lelaina hovercraft through the streets of Brean on Monday October 3rd to help raise funds for the rescue service. The crowds pulled the vessel 1.5 miles along the seaside strip to the sound of cheers from the watching spectators. More...

Burnham half marathon results
MORE than 300 runners pounded the streets of Burnham on Sunday October 2nd when the town's half marathon was held after a 10-year absence. 21-year-old Peter Grist of Frome (pictured) won the 13 mile event in a time of 72 minutes and 33 seconds. He was delighted to have won. More...

CJ Hole shuts Burnham branch
A WELL-known Burnham-On-Sea estate agent has become a victim of the depressed property market and closed its branch this week. CJ Hole has shut its Victoria Street premises, blaming "difficult" property trading conditions in the town, but said its overall operation continues across Somerset. More...

Major A38 safety work to start
MAJOR work to make a dangerous stretch of the A38 near Burnham-On-Sea safer is to begin this month, we can reveal. A new speed limit, brand new traffic islands, a new anti-skid surface, and new road safety markings are to be introduced between Pople's Bow and Edithmead. More...

New swimming pool for town?
A QUESTION mark is hanging over the future of Burnham-On-Sea swimming pool, with a review underway that could recommend it be knocked down. Consultants for Sedgemoor District Council are giving it a check over before advising the authority on what to do - and that could include bulldozing the site . More...

Cinema celebrates first year
FILM fans and staff at Burnham-On-Sea's Ritz Cinema are this week celebrating its first full year since re-opening for business in September 2004. The cinema in Victoria Street closed in 2002 before local businessman Patt Scott took over it and re-opened it, turning it into a thriving business. More...

Awards for green fingered kids
FOUR budding young gardeners from Burnham and the surrounding area have won prizes after entering a plant growing competition organised by staff at Sanders Garden World. The kids took part in a competition to grow the largest marrow or sunflower plant and recived their prizes this week. More...

£700 raised by town's Ritz Club
HUNDREDS of pounds has been donated to charity following two successful fundraising events organised by Burnham-On-Sea Ritz Club. A cheque for £706 was this week handed over to cancer charity Tenovus after the club's craft fair and beach fun day both pulled in funds. More...

New warning signs for seafront
NUISANCE drivers in Burnham who cause alarm, distress or annoyance to the general public will risk having their vehicles seized by police officers. That's the stark warning featured on a set of new signs unveiled this week for The Esplanade and the town's Somerfield supermarket. More...

£200,000 flood scheme begins
WORK is to start next week on increasing the height of part of the flood defence embankment on the Brue Estuary near Apex Park at Burnham-On-Sea. The scheme will also involve the creation of a surfaced path linking Burnham and Highbridge, helping to regenerate one section of the town. More...

20th birthday invite at library
BURNHAM-On-Sea library is to celebrate its 20th birthday on Friday September 30th with a special 'Wine and Words Celebration'. Residents are invited to join staff at the library in Princess Street from 7.45pm as the facility marks and celebrates 20 years in the building. More...

Knoll joins beacons light-up
A BEACON will be lit on top of Brent Knoll during a nationwide chain of lightings to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar in October. The beacon will be lit at 7:15pm on Friday October 21st as part of a synchronised celebration across the whole of the United Kingdom. More...

Hot meals for school's menu
A BURNHAM-On-Sea school is putting hot meals on its lunchtime menu provided by the County Council's catering service. Burnham Infants School is to join 87 schools across the county which receive hot meals from Somerset County Services (SCS), bucking the national trend for hot meal uptake. More...

Halifax to open in High Street
THE Halifax Building Society is to open a new branch in Burnham-On-Sea High Street later this year when an existing building society closes. The Birmingham Midshires branch at 56 The High Street is to close and the Halifax is to open a branch in its place - and is being seen as a further boost to the town. More...

Pedal power raises £10,000
THREE Burnham-On-Sea cyclists who hope to have raised more than £10,000 for charity by cycling to France have returned to the town this week. Bobby Hanscombe, Judy Salisbury and Pam Whitehead rode more than 280 miles over four days during their tiring trip to the French capital. More...

Big crowds attend VE/VJ event
LARGE crowds descended on Burnham-On-Sea on Sunday September 18th for a special event marking the 60th anniversaries of VE/VJ-Day and the 65th anniversary of the Battle Of Britain. We have a full round-up of news and photos from this special occasion, attended by large numbers of locals. More...

Burnham Cllr recounts war role
AS Burnham marks the 60th anniversary of VE and VJ-Day this week, we spoke to one well-known resident about his time in Japan in 1945 when he saw the first 500 prisoners of war released from captivity. Cllr Neville Jones OBE was a Sub Lieutenant on HMS Speaker and saw prisoners of war being released. More...

Beavers group visits RNLI
BURNHAM-On-Sea RNLI's lifeboats, the Staines Whitfield and Global Marine, were visited by Claverham, Cleve and Yatton Beavers group this week. The enthusiastic group were given a tour of the station and got a chance to see the lifeboats up close plus talk to crew members about their work. More...

250 sign up for half marathon
MORE than 250 runners have signed up for Burnham-On-Sea's half marathon, which is returning in October after a 12-year absence. The event was last run in 1993, but will return on Sunday, October 2, 2005 when up to 500 people will be participating. We have full entry details. More...

Blooming well deserved!
DAVE Perrett, the organiser of Burnham and Highbridge's entry into the annual Britain In Bloom competition, was celebrating this week after receiving a prestigious award for his years of effort. The green-fingered organiser was presented with a trophy to mark his sterling efforts over the years. More...

Jet skier rescued at Berrow
A jet skier has been rescued by Burnham-On-Sea's hovercraft crew after getting into difficulties in thick mud at Berrow. The crew were trialling a second smaller hovercraft on Berrow Beach on Saturday September 10th when the incident unfolded close to where Lelaina Hall died in 2002. More...

Western-style anniversary!
WEST Huntspill Church, near Burnham-On-Sea, was the setting for one of the area's most unusual wedding blessings this week. The Parish Church stepped back in time 140 years when a group of historical reinactors gathered to celebrate a 30th wedding anniversary. More...

Call for speeding crackdown
TOWN councillors are calling on the County Council to clamp down on speeding along a popular Burnham-On-Sea commuter route. Ever increasing traffic speeds between the Tesco roundabout and hospital are making Love Lane so dangerous that an accident is certain to happen, they claim. More...

Over 100 at diabetes screening
MORE than 100 Burnham-On-Sea residents took up the offer of a free diabates check this week when a mobile screening clinic visited the town. Some 112 people were tested during the three-hour period, and a total of nine were referred to their doctors, showing that the event was very worthwhile. More...

Historic ship passes Burnham
WALKERS along Burnham's seafront were treated to a glimpse of the historic 50 year-old ship Balmoral as it glided past the town on Friday morning. The ship was on its way to Bridgwater to collect dozens of people as part of an excursion around the Bristol Channel. We caught the ship on film as it passed Burnham. More...

Dredging 'threat' to beaches
CONCERN is growing that a huge new dredging scheme in the Bristol Channel could damage beaches at Burnham, Brean and Berrow. An excavation group wants to take one million tonnes of sediment each year from Culver Sands for 15 years which could strip away sand from around our coast. More...

'High Street is at risk' - council
WORRIED councillors have issued a blunt message to shoppers in Burnham regarding the town's High Street - 'Use it or lose it'. The warning came during a debate about the controversial decision by the government to give Sanders Garden World the go-ahead to expand. More...

Marine Cove revamp unveiled
PROPOSALS to overhaul Marine Cove Gardens on Burnham seafront have been unveiled by town councillors this week. The long-overdue revamp includes plans to introduce sea-view seating, repair the bus shelters, alter access to the facility and consider introducing CCTV on one side of the gardens. More...

Dog micro-chipping in October
DISTRICT Council Dog Wardens are offering pet owners in Burnham and Highbridge another chance to have their dogs micro chipped. Usual fees are between £20 and £30, but Sedgemoor District Council is offering the service at a cost of £12 in October at the two sessions in the town. More...

Woman rescued from rocks
BOTH Burnham-On-Sea's lifeboats were called out at 19:15 hours on Monday September 5th after a woman reported to be in a 'distressed' condition was spotted on rocks at Brean Down. The lifeboats were called to the scene along with a Coastguard Cliff Rescue Team. More...

Jazz In The Park draws crowds
HUNDREDS of jazz fans gathered in Burnham-On-Sea's Manor Gardens on Sunday, September 4 for the town's annual Jazz In The Park event. The popular event is organised by CADS, which holds three to four events a year for the benefit of people in both towns. More...

Rowing challenge for residents
BURNHAM-On-Sea sailing enthusiasts are being offered the chance to take part in a round-Britain rowing event to raise funds for the RNLI. The Victory Challenge 2005 began last month when a Cornish gig set off on Saturday 21st August bound for London, travelling cross country. More...

Over 200 entries at craft show
A PATCHWORK quilt which has taken ten months to make scooped one of the top awards at the annual Burnham-On-Sea Ritz Club Produce and Craft Show on Saturday September 3. Margaret Budden, pictured, said she was "delighted" to have won one of the trophies. More...

Second call-out for hovercraft
BURNHAM'S Spirit Of Lelaina hovercraft was called out for the second day running after a yacht ran aground at Stert Island in Bridgwater Bay, just yards from where a speedboat went aground the day before. The hovercraft was called out at 11.40am on Saturday morning. More...

Hover rescues three from Stert
THREE people who were stuck in mud at Stert Island, near Burnham-On-Sea, were helped to safety by the town's rescue hovercraft on Friday September 2. The Spirit of Lelaina was called out by Coastguards at 10:54am and launched shortly afterwards from the town's beach. More...

Toxic algae outbreak at Apex
FISHING has been temporarily banned at Apex Wildlife Park in Burnham-On-Sea after a new outbreak of toxic blue-green algae at the site. Bosses at Sedgemoor District Council put up warning signs around the lakes on Thursday, September 1st after receiving feedback from residents. More...

Reed beds recover after fire
IT IS exactly one year since a devastating fire tore through a half mile stretch of reed beds at Berrow but the area has recovered remarkably well and is now once again bursting with wildlife. We spoke to English Nature's Conservation Officer for Bridgwater Bay to see how it's sprung back to life. More...

Berrow dog owner fined £110
DOG wardens are stamping down on pet owners who let their animals foul streets and community areas in the Burnham-On-Sea area. A local resident has just been prosecuted for failing to pick up after his pet at the Recreation Ground in Berrow and given a fine of £110 by Sedgemoor District Council. More...

Unique 'Bible garden' on show
REVEREND Brian Milloy from Hope Baptist Church in Highbridge (pictured) was among the visitors at a unique display of plants devoted to the Bible at Sanders Garden World, near Burnham, this week. Biblically linked shrubs, trees and flowers were on show at the garden centre. More...

Big turnout at annual town fete
WARM weather and lots of stalls and attractions helped to attract large crowds to Burnham's annual hospital fete on Bank Holiday Monday, August 29th. Hundreds of holidaymakers and residents gathered in the Manor Gardens to support local charities, organisations and groups. More...

New sign warns of tide danger
A NEW warning sign has been put up on Burnham-On-Sea jetty alerting walkers about strong tidal currents in the area, just weeks after two people were almost swept away by the fast-flowing water. A lifeguard and boy were rescued in July after getting into difficulty in the fast flowing water. More...

Street party pulls in the crowds
HOLIDAYMAKERS and residents were quite literally dancing in the streets on Sunday night, August 28th, when a popular outdoor concert was held in the town. The Somerset and Dorset pub's annual Local Emergency Services family street party drew crowds to Burnham's High Street. More...

Model train enthusiasts gather
MODEL train enthusiasts from across the UK gathered at a two-day exhibition in Burnham-On-Sea this weekend. The popular event, now in its 27th year, was held on August 27th and 28th at King Alfred's School and attracted more than 1,000 people to see a wide selection of trains. More...

Crowds flock to Apex Open Day
APEX Wildlife & Leisure Park in Burnham-On-Sea held its first open day on Sunday August 28th when a host of local groups put on special displays. Crowds of families attended the event, organised by The Friends of Apex Improvements Group, and found out more about the Park. More...

Injured walker helped at Brean
COASTGUARDS were called to Brean Down on Saturday afternoon, August 27th, after a walker tripped and suffered a suspected broken ankle. The 32-year-old lady from Birmingham was walking near the highest point on the Down when she lost her footing and had to be rescued by Burnham Coastguards. More...

RNLI Open Day was a success
BURNHAM-On-Sea's lifeboat station held its annual open day on Sunday, August 28th, when visitors were able to meet the town's crew, see the lifeboats and watch the launch of a lifeboat on an exercise. A range of collectables and souvenirs were also sold in aid of the group. More...

Lucky's lucky cliff escape!
A DOG called Lucky lived up to its name when it was rescued by Coastguards this week after being trapped for two hours on cliffs at Brean Down. Burnham-On-Sea Coastguard's cliff rescue team leapt into action after people were seen climbing to the dog on the southern side of the Down. More...

Opticians moves into Burnham
ONE of the UK's largest High Street brands is to move into Burnham-On-Sea next month when it opens a new shop in the town. Specsavers, the opticians, has bought a vacant shop next to the Somerset & Dorset pub at the southern end of Burnham High Street. More...

Town artists show off talents
HUNDREDS of people have been flocking to Burnham-On-Sea Community Hall this week to see an exhibition of a range of art work from local artists. The week-long show is the first event organised by the Lighthouse Arts Group, a new organisation for local artists. More...

Hit-and-run raid at Somerfield
THIEVES have stolen hundreds of pounds of alcohol from Somerfield supermarket in Burnham-On-Sea during a daytime hit-and-run attack. The dramatic incident was seen by several RNLI crew members as they returned to the lifeboat station in Pier Street, Burnham following a call-out. More...

Dog rescuers praised by family
A FAMILY whose two dogs were saved by Burnham's Spirit Of Lelaina hovercraft returned to the town this week - one year on from the rescue - to thank the crew and hand over a cheque towards the upkeep of the craft. They told how they had almost given up hope but were so grateful that the hovercraft helped. More...

Rare 1930s film clips found
A COLLECTION of rare film footage of Burnham-On-Sea during the 1930s has been unearthed, prompting an appeal for local people who remember the scenes to come forward. The footage includes images from the 1934 Burnham & Highbridge Carnival and other local events of the time. More...

Sky News visits hovercraft
BURNHAM'S rescue hovercraft received national TV publicity on Monday (August 22nd) when Sky News broadcast a report about the work of the life-saving service. The three-minute feature about The Spirit of Lelaina was shown throughout the day after Sky reporter Andrew Moore visited. More...

Vintage poster up for auction
A VINTAGE poster showing a traditional Burnham-On-Sea beach scene from a bygone age is to be auctioned in London this autumn. The item, which has a guide price of between £500 and £700, is due to go on sale at a Christies auction of posters in the capital during September. More...

Council statement on Sanders
BURNHAM and Highbridge Town Council has issued a statement on the Secretary of State's decision to give Sanders Garden World the go-ahead to expand its site by 30,000 square feet. The council was one of the three objectors at the inquiry into the application and issued a statement through the clerk (pictured). More...

Sinking yacht helped to safety
A SINKING yacht with a seriously damaged keel was rescued by Burnham-On-Sea RNLI's lifeboat crew on Saturday August 20th after its skipper issued a May Day message to Coastguards one mile west of the low lighthouse in Bridgwater Bay. The yacht was brought to shore in the River Brue. More...

Helicopter river rescue drama
A YACHTSMAN was winched to safety by an RAF helicopter in the River Axe, near Brean, on Saturday afternoon (August 20th) after he ran aground in TWO boats within just ten minutes. Burnham's Spirit Of Lelaina hovercraft was briefly put on standby as the incident unfolded. More...

Brean test for sound system
A POWERFUL communication system used by the military and police to issue advice and warnings to people several hundred metres away was tested by Burnham's marine rescue services this week. The MRAD system could be used in mud and sea rescues if it were purchased in the future. More...

Sanders wins expansion bid
BOSSES at Sanders Garden World, near Burnham-On-Sea, are celebrating this week after hearing that the Secretary of State has granted them planning permission to build a 30,000 square foot extension to their site which will effectively double its size. Bosses had harsh words for local councillors. More...

Coastguard saves dinghy man
A 35 year-old man was helped to safety by Burnham-On-Sea Coastguard late on Wednesday night, August 17th, after a member of the public reported seeing him try to launch a dinghy from the town's beach in complete darkness. The Coastguard found the man by launching flares. More...

New O2 transmitter for town
MOBILE phone company O2 has given in to pressure from Burnham-On-Sea customers and emergency services and installed a new temporary mast in the town to try and resolve reception problems. A 12.5 metre transmitter is being installed this week in Marine Drive, we can reveal. More...

Apex Park to hold Open Day
APEX Wildlife & Leisure Park in Burnham-On-Sea is holding an open day later this month when a host of groups from the town will be getting involved with displays and demonstrations. The event is being held on Sunday August 28th and entry will be free. The event will be attended by many local groups. More...

Town's prison cells back in use
POLICE in Burnham-On-Sea will soon be keeping prisoners under lock and key in cells at the town’s police station for the first time in three years. Since the end of 2002 all prisoners have been taken to Bridgwater, but in a bid to save officer’s time Burnham's cells are to be re-opened. More...

Horticultural Show success
HUNDREDS of gardeners, cooks, handicraft hobbyists and photographers took part in the 38th annual Burnham-On-Sea Horticultural Show in mid-August. The two-day event was held at Sanders Garden World and attracted hundreds of entries from a range of local enthusiasts. More...

£2k river mooring expansion
THE number of berths at Burnham-On-Sea Sailing Club's pontoons in the River Brue is to be almost doubled. Increased demand for extra moorings at the site means a £2,000 expansion of the facility is going ahead over the next few weeks to allow up to 13 extra yachts and boats to moor there. More...

Hovercraft signs City deal
BURNHAM-On-Sea's Spirit of Lelaina hovercraft has scored a winner after being selected as Bristol City's official charity for the new football season. Bosses at Ashton Gate will be hoping to raise as much money as possible during a series of collections throughout the new footie season. More...

Fishing boat towed to safety
BURNHAM-On-Sea RNLI's Staines Whitfield lifeboat was called out by Swansea Coastguard at 11:45am on Friday August 12th to help a 14ft fishing boat in the River Parrett after it suffered engine failure. The craft was towed back to Burnham Sailing Club. The sailor was unhurt in the incident. More...

Christmas circus announced!
CHRISTMAS is still months away but that hasn't stopped Sanders Garden World from announcing its plans to hold a yuletime circus this December! A circus troop called Circus Americano will visit the centre, near Burnham-On-Sea, for 28 days throughout the Christmas season. More...

Quad biking ban edges closer
QUAD bikers and sand racers could soon be banned from Berrow and Brean beaches amid fears that they are causing environmental damage and may even cause potential court action. Parish councillors claim they damage wildlife and put people at risk - which could mean legal action. More...

Burnham welcomes RNLI VIPs
BURNHAM-On-Sea's lifeboat and hovercraft stations opened their doors to two VIPs from the Poole headquarters of the RNLI when Operations Director Michael Vlasto and Divisional Inspector Simon Pryce visited the two rescue services to meet the crews and see their life-saving kit. More...

Coast Radio to go full-time?
A NEW temporary radio station for Burnham, Brean and Berrow has got off to such a strong start that its owner is drawing up plans for it to become a full-time station operating around the year. Coast Radio is initially broadcasting on 105 FM for four weeks but wants to be available round the clock. More...

Money flies in for RAF group
VOLUNTEERS from Burnham-On-Sea's branch of the Royal Air Forces Association have been out in force this week during their annual fundraising drive. Their event is held every August and this year's is special because of an important anniversary which the group has been marking. More...

£1,500 damage to speedboat
A SPEEDBOAT suffered more than £1,500 of damage on Sunday evening (August 7th) after becoming swamped with sea water on Burnham jetty. The craft was battered by waves and had several holes punched in its hull when its crew got into difficulty. They were rescued by the Coastguard team. More...

Yacht runs aground in river
BOTH of Burnham-On-Sea's lifeboats were launched on Sunday, August 7th, after a yacht ran aground in the River Parrett. The D-Class and Atlantic 75 boats investigated after the yacht ran aground near Hunstpill. Two crew from Burnham and Weston were taken ashore. More...

Concern over new street kiosk
TOWN councillors have voiced concerns about the security of a new cash machine installed this week outside a busy Burnham-On-Sea night club. The structure consists of a phone kiosk on one side and a cash machine on the other. It has been installed outside Shakers in the High Street. More...

Big crowds flock to Fun Day
BUCKETS and spades were out in force when hundreds of families flocked to Burnham's annual Seaside Fun Day on Friday, August 5th. Scores of children took part in a variety of competitions and events, including a sand castle building competition and treasure hunt. We have the winners' details. More...

Double victory for yachtsman Graham
BURNHAM-On-Sea yachstman Graham Wills and his crew were celebrating this week after clinching a double victory in the town's annual Sailing Club Regatta. Strong winds provided challenging conditions for the yachtsmen during the two-day event, but the sea remained calm. More...

Appeal for town show entries
GARDENERS, growers, cooks, handicraft hobbyists and amateur photographers alike are being invited to take part in Burnham-On-Sea & District Horticultural Society's 38th annual show, to be held at Sanders GardenWorld on August 13 and 14. Entries cover a range of hobbies. More...

Seaside Fun Day this Friday
BUCKETS and spades will be out in force when Burnham-On-Sea's annual Seaside Fun Day is held this Friday, August 5th. A sandcastle building competition and beach treasure hunt are just one of the many attractions at the event, which runs from 11am-4pm, and also includes a street and craft fair. More...

Funeral held for police officer
THE funeral of Bernard Doolan, a Neighbourhood Watch pioneer and former community police officer from Burnham-On-Sea, was held on Monday (August 1). The 59-year-old tragically died after suddenly collapsing in the changing rooms at Burnham swimming pool last week. More...

Summer Moon photo review
TOP Weston group EvanFly entertained the large crowds at Burnham-On-Sea's popular Under A Summer Concert on Saturday, July 30th. The live five-hour music event, held at the BASC Sports Ground, offered a line-up of music for all tastes and attracted large numbers of families.. More...

Coach fire causes M5 chaos
A COACH fire caused traffic chaos on the M5 motorway near Burnham-On-Sea on Saturday afternoon (July 30). Smoke was seen pouring from the engine of the coach as it travelled north between junctions 23 for Bridgwater and 22 for Burnham. Several people were treated for smoke inhalation. More...

Cubs hear about mud danger
A GROUP of Bridgwater Cubs has visited Burnham's hovercraft station to learn more about the dangers of mud along Somerset's coastline. The group listened intently as they were told how the hovercraft glides out across the mud to save trapped people. They were also given a chance to feel the mud. More...

Tesco expansion dealt a blow
TESCO's expansion of its Burnham-On-Sea store has been dealt a severe blow after it emerged that a full inquiry into the proposal is to be launched. At a district council meeting this week, the decision to 'call in' the plans and launch the inquiry was announced, giving the public a second chance to air their views. More...

Huge barge passes Burnham
A HUGE 80 metre long barge manoeuvred its way past Burnham-On-Sea this week, providing walkers along the seafront with an unusual sight. The Terra Marique entered the Parrett Estuary to deliver some heavy machinery for Hinkley Point power station. It is one of the biggest vessels seen in Burnham Bay for many years. More...

Warning after seagulls shot
WILDLIFE experts have warned that people in Burnham-On-Sea could be injured if seagulls in the town continue to be the target of airguns. Several gulls have been rescued by Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre in recent weeks after being shot by airguns. It follows several attacks on people by seagulls. More...

BBC's John Inverdale in town
BBC radio and TV commentator John Inverdale visited Burnham's lifeboat station on Tuesday July 26. He took part in a Radio 5 broadcast of Any Sporting Questions at Cheddar on Monday and, as he was in the area, dropped in at Burnham's RNLI station the following morning. More...

New beach guide launched
BURNHAM-On-Sea.com has launched a brand new guide to the eight beaches in our area. Covering Burnham, Berrow and Brean, the page provides a range of useful information aimed at residents and visitors who are planning to hit the beach this summer. It also includes tips for staying safe. More...

Top acts at Burnham concert
TOP Weston group EvanFly are headlining Burnham's annual Under A Summer Moon concert on Saturday July 30th. The live five-hour outdoor music event at the BASC Sports Ground at Stoddens Road will offer a line-up of music for all tastes - and is sure to be a hit with large crowds again this year. More...

Booze ban proposed for beach
BURNHAM-On-Sea's beach could soon be added to the list of areas in the town where drinking alcohol in public is banned. Several Designated Drinking Orders came into force in parts of the town in June as part of a bid to stamp out anti-social drinking - and now there are plans to widen the ban. More...

Berrow death: two arrested
TWO MEN have been arrested following the death of a 32-year-old man in a hit-and-run accident at Berrow in the early hours of Saturday July 16th. Officers believe the victim, Mark Close of Weston, was walking along Barton Road with two colleagues when he was struck by a car. More...

Auction winners get hover trip
TWO Internet users who won a flight onboard Burnham-On-Sea's hovercraft in an online auction have enjoyed a day-long trip to the town to meet the crews and see how the rescue service operates. BARB, the group that runs the craft, held the auction in May. They took a trip along the coast. More...

Big crowds at Picnic in the Park
HOT summer weather and a foot-tapping line-up of music ensured the crowds at Burnham's annual Picnic In The Park had a fun time on Sunday (July 17th). Dozens of groups and families gathered in the town's Manor Gardens for the popular event, which is one of several music events in the town this summer. More...

Lifeguard and boy rescued
A LIFEGUARD and an eight-year-old child were rescued by Burnham-On-Sea's hovercraft crew at 1pm on Sunday July 17. Young holidaymaker Neil Carruthers, of Erdington in the West Midlands had been washing sand and mud from his legs when he suddenly fell from the jetty. More...

Boat on fire towed to safety
A 21-foot motor cruiser was engulfed with smoke off the Burnham-On-Sea coastline on Sunday after an electrical fault started a fire on board, prompting a call-out for Burnham RNLI, fire services and the Coastguard. The Staines Whitfield was called to the scene and towed the craft to safety. More...

Jon wins Stert island swim
CHEDDAR man Jon Rawlings beat more than 60 other swimmers to win the 2005 Stert Island swim on Sunday July 17. He completed the 2,400-metre sea swim race between Burnham and Stert Island in an impressive time of 25 minutes, 53 seconds. The first lady home was Burnham's Sara Hudghton. More...

Man dies in Berrow accident
A 32-year-old man was killed in a hit-and-run accident at Berrow in the early hours of Saturday July 16, police have revealed. Officers said the victim, Mark Anthony Close, was walking along Barton Road with two other men when he was struck by a car, thought to be a light blue Ford Sierra. More...

2,500 at rescue services day
A CROWD of 2,500 people descended on Burnham seafront on Saturday (July 16th) to support the county's leading emergency services and watch them perform several dramatic rescue demonstrations during the second annual ESCAPE Day. Hundreds of pounds are expected to have been raised. More...

Mayor leads bombings tribute
BURNHAM-On-Sea's Mayor led a period of silence on Thursday (July 14th) in memory of those who died in the London bombings. Residents joined Cllr Eric Gill in gathering at the town's fountain in Marine Drive at 12 noon for two minutes silence. He was joined by several other councillors. More...

First look at seafront lights
WALKERS along Burnham seafront had a first glimpse of the town's new illuminations last night. The colourful blue and white lights are not due to be officially switched on until July 20, but electricians installing them have been testing them out and that gave keen-eyed walkers a chance to see the new lights. More...

Town marks VE/VJ anniversary
PATRIOTIC residents across Burnham-On-Sea and surrounding villages have been celebrating the 60th anniversary of VE and VJ day this week. A three-day event was held in the village of Mark, near Burnham, involving a 1940s dance, numerous attractions and other events. More...

New online calendar launched
BURNHAM-On-Sea.com has launched a powerful new online calendar which provides visitors with an at-a-glance guide to what's on in the town today. The database-driven directory lists thousands of events and meetings from Burnham, Brean and Berrow for several months ahead. More...

Full house for theatre event
LOCAL theatre group Curtain Call attracted a full house at Burnham's Princess Hall on Saturday July 9th when it performed a foot-tapping line-up of songs from stage and film. The group performed 27 songs in aid of the National Blind Children's Society in front of a large audience. More...

Jellyfish stranded on beach
DOZENS of stranded jellyfish were washed up along Burnham-On-Sea beach at high tide on Friday and Saturday evenings - leaving paddlers to tip-toe their way around them. The creatures, believed to be harmless Moon Jellyfish, varied in size from 6 - 20cm in width and were spotted in several places. More...

New TV show comes to Berrow
AN EXCITING new reality TV series is to be filmed at Berrow for the satellite channel Living TV. Production company Shine Productions has picked our area to film an episode of 'The Biggest Loser', a weight loss reality show to be screened this autumn on the satellite and cable station. More...

Yachts compete for trophy
A STRONG breeze, warm temperatures and a calm sea provided ideal conditions for the yachtsmen who took part in Burnham-On-Sea Sailing Club's annual Queen's Trophy event. Some 11 yachts set sail in Bridgwater Bay for the popular event. The event involved just one minor incident. More...

Concern for missing man
POLICE in the West Midlands are appealing for information to trace a 43-year-old man who went missing on June 3 and may be in the Burnham-On-Sea area. Andrew Coleman, of Queens Road, Tipton was reported missing on 20 June after failing to show up at work. More...

Berrow dunes in the spotlight
WILDLIFE enthusiasts are to hold a 'Dunes Discovery Day' at Berrow Dunes Nature Reserve to help raise awareness of the wildlife importance of the land. A range of activities for all ages - from children to adults - will be held at the event throughout the day on Saturday July 16th. More...

Top bravery award for Alan
A BURNHAM taxi driver who risked his own life by wrestling a sword-wielding man to the ground has received an award for his courageous actions. Alan Miller, who is also chairman of Burnham's rescue hovercraft, was parked in his taxi off Coast Road in Brean when he spotted a man wielding a samurai sword. More...

New radio station for Burnham
HOLIDAYMAKERS in Burnham, Brean and Berrow are to get their own radio station for four weeks during August. Coast Radio will be broadcasting on 105 FM from August 2nd to 29th and will provide a mixture of local news and information plus music. If successful, it could become a permanent fixture. More...

July 20th switch-on for lights
BURNHAM-On-Sea's seafront illuminations will officially be switched on at 8.30pm on Wednesday July 20th, it was confirmed this week. A "very well-known Somerset character who is no stranger to camera flash bulbs" will hit the switch at the long-awaited event on the town's seafront. More...

New bid to cut crime in town
PLANS for two new initiatives to cut down crime in Burnham were unveiled this week. Sgt Mark Nicholson of the town centre police team addressed councillors about a new ShopWatch scheme and, seperately, proposals for CCTV cameras at Apex were discussed. More...

Eight awards for cafe owner
A BURNHAM-On-Sea cafe owner is celebrating after winning no fewer than EIGHT awards at one of the West Country's most keenly contested shows. Joan White and her daughter Sarah, who run Tickle Your Taste Buds in the High Street, won an armful of rosettes at the 2005 Royal Bath & West Show. More...

St John's School visit RNLI
PUPILS from St John's School in Burnham-On-Sea visited the town's RNLI station this week, where they met some of the crew and heard about the life-saving work they do. The children enjoyed a tour of the station and a close-up look at several of the lifeboats and launching tractors. More...

Town sandcastle challenge
A GROUP of Venture Scouts who set out to build one of Burnham beach's biggest ever sandcastles was beaten by the weather. On what should have been a fine summer's evening, the group of 20 teenagers from Mid-Sedgemoor Explorer Scouts gathered near the town's jetty with spades. More...

Beach foam was "just algae"
THE Environment Agency has confirmed that a large quantity of brown foam washed up along Burnham's tideline last week was just harmless algae. Several concerned residents contacted Burnham-On-Sea.com after spotting the foam on the beach - and we asked the Environment Agency to investigate. More...

Mayor hands out civic awards
FOUR leading figures from Burnham and Highbridge received civic awards for their service to the community on Sunday June 26th. The awards were presented at the Annual Civic Service in St Andrew's Church, attended by Burnham's MP and more than 200 local dignatiries and residents. More...

Capsize training for RNLI crew
BURNHAM-On-Sea RNLI crew members have been rehearsing how they would react if a lifeboat flipped over or capsized out at sea. Some 20 crewmembers gathered at the mouth of the River Brue, near the Yacht Club, on Sunday to correctly run through the procedure and practise. More...

GardenWorld goes wild!
VISITORS to Sanders GardenWorld in Brent Knoll were able to meet some feathered and prickly gardeners’ friends and learn how to make their gardens wildlife-friendly. The event also marked the launch of a new Burnham animal group, The Acorn Project, which specialises in rescuing and re-homing animals. More...

Summer storm hits Burnham
FIREFIGHTERS were called to a Berrow home in the early hours of Friday (June 24) after it was struck by lightning during an electrical storm. The former Little Court residential nursing home at Berrow was struck at 6am, but no fire or damage was found after a search by the fire team. More...

Beach birds prompt rescue
BURNHAM-On-Sea RNLI's D-class lifeboat and the town's rescue hovercraft were both called out at 2pm on Wednesday (June 22) by Swansea Coastguard amid fears that a group of people had been spotted far out in the mud on Brean beach - but it was later found that the 'people' were just birds. More...

Folk In The Park pulls in crowds
DOZENS of folk music enthusiasts descended on Burnham on Sunday afternoon (June 19th) for the town's annual Folk In The Park concert. The crowds gathered in The Manor Gardens to enjoy a sweltering afternoon of weather and an equally superb line-up of music. More...

Brean cliff rescue rehearsed
BURNHAM'S Coastguard and hovercraft crews have rehearsed a dramatic cliff rescue at Brean Down as they gear up for another busy summer season of life-saving along Somerset's coast. The teams were put through their paces on the south side of the Down, the scene of many rescues over the years. More...

DJ Casper to headline concert
SINGER DJ Casper is to headline the annual Popstars On The Park concert at Brean Leisure Park on Thursday August 4th. The singer is best known for 'Cha Cha Slide', the song that climbed to number one in the Official UK Top 40 in March this year and will be the lead act at the popular event. More...

Make a splash at town's pool!
BURNHAM-On-Sea Pool and Tommy's, the baby charity, are inviting tots to take the plunge on Friday June 24 by taking part in the annual Tommy's Splashathon. The popular event will be held between 10.30am and 12.00pm at Burnham Pool for babies and toddlers. More...

Two briefly trapped in mud
BURNHAM'S hovercraft was called out shortly after mid-day on Saturday June 18 to help two people who were reportedly stuck in mud at Brean. The crew were stood down a few minutes later when it emerged that the pair had freed themselves - much to the relief of the BARB crew. More...

Injured swan captured at lake
THE crew of Burnham-On-Sea's hovercraft performed one of their most unusual rescues ever on Thursday June 16 by helping to capture an injured swan from a local lake. The bird was in a distressed state after swallowing a fishing hook and several inches of line. More...

New-look yacht club to open
BURNHAM-On-Sea's newly refurbished Yacht Club will be officially opened by the town's mayor this weekend.
The club's building at the southern end of The Esplanade has had £49,000 of improvements made to it during the last few months to bring it up-to-date. More...

£5,000 boost for Apex anglers
ANGLERS at Burnham's Apex Leisure Park can now fish in comfort following the opening of six brand new fishing platforms along the banks of the lake - which have costed almost £5,000 to build. The new platforms have been built next to the main lakeside path and will help prevent bank erosion. More...

River rescue drama for RNLI
BURNHAM-On-Sea's Staines Whitfield lifeboat was launched on Tuesday June 14 after a 16-foot powerboat with a crew of three onboard encountered engine problems in the River Parrett. The lifeboat was launched at 13:09 hours and brought the boat back to shore. More...

Police swoop on town home
A MAN was arrested after police swooped on a building in Abingdon Street, Burnham-On-Sea this week in what local residents say was 'a drugs bust'. A police spokesman confirmed that "a quantity of a suspicious substance was taken away for analysis" and the man was held in custody. More...

Jon wins triathlon for 5th time
BRIGHT sunshine and cooling winds provided ideal conditions for the 360 competitors taking part in Sunday's 2005 Burnham-On-Sea Triathlon. Cheddar's Jon Rawlings, 38, notched up his fifth win by completing the course in under one hour and an incredible Burnham pensioner also completed the course again this year. More...

Phone reception 'risks lives'
CONCERNED crew members at Burnham-On-Sea's rescue hovercraft fear lives could be put at risk because of a sudden drop in mobile phone reception across the town. An SMS pager system is used to muster shore-helpers and crew to launch the craft - but some messages have not been getting through. More...

School visits rescue teams
A GROUP of 60 children from St Joseph’s School in Burnham-On-Sea were given a guided tour of the town’s hovercraft and lifeboat stations this week. Two classes of children – all aged between 6 and 8 years old - met crewmembers from the rescue teams and saw the life-saving kit up-close. More...

Para-motorists fly into town
TWO flying enthusiasts took to the skies above Burnham-On-Sea this week using these high-tech para-motoring systems on their backs. John Hall and Pete Emery have each spent up to £6,000 on the revolutionary systems, which enable them to take off anywhere. More...

Town High Street is blooming!
MORE than £3,000 of colourful flower baskets were hung up along the streets of Burnham and Highbridge this week ahead of the start of the annual Britain In Bloom competition. Volunteers from Hillview Carnival Club helped lift 46 baskets into place along Burnham High Street. More...

Lights switch-on set for July
ILLUMINATIONS along Burnham's Esplanade will be switched on during July, according to the town councillor leading the project. Some 27 lights between the Reed's Arms and St Andrew's Church will initially be switched on with others to follow later in the year. The lights will be on in time for the busy tourist season. More...

Anger over mobile reception
ANGRY mobile phone users across Burnham-On-Sea have been left with poor reception quality after the main phone transmitter in the town was taken down. Signal strength for many O2 phone users has dropped significantly in the last few days after the main transmitter was decommissioned. More...

Hovercraft to start 24hr cover soon
BURNHAM-On-Sea's hovercraft will soon go on service 24 hours a day after modifications were made to the craft to help it perform rescues at night. Special searchlights have been fitted to the Spirit Of Lelaina to allow crewmembers to illuminate the mud around them. More...

Crowds flock to vintage display
HUNDREDS of people lined Burnham's seafront on Saturday evening (June 4th) to watch more than 200 vintage vehicles converge on the town for the 12th annual Vale of Avalon Vintage Vehicle Road Run. The South Esplanade was closed to public traffic for four hours. More...

Rescue crews hold joint event
SEVEN emergency services from across Somerset are to hold a joint safety awareness event in Burnham-On-Sea on Saturday July 16th, giving the public a chance to learn more about their vital life-saving work. ESCAPE will be held on Burnham seafront and will include displays and demonstrations by the groups. More...

Police hold security event
MOBILE phone owners in Burnham-On-Sea took the chance to get their handsets security marked at a special safety awareness police event in the town this week. Residents were able to have their handsets ultra-violet marked for free during the event on Saturday morning, June 4th. More...

Chaos predicted during roundabout repairs
PARTS of Burnham-On-Sea are likely to grind to a halt later this month when the town's Tesco roundabout is closed for repairs. Somerset Highways, a partnership between the County Council and Atkins, is replacing the 25 year-old road surface on Sunday June 19th. More...

Brent Knoll goes dotty!
MOTORISTS travelling along the M5 motorway near Burnham-On-Sea were forgiven for thinking they'd seen a crop circle on the side of Brent Knoll this week.
For on the hillside is a collection of nine spots in the shape of a circle or strange smiley face. More...

Hovercraft celebrates birthday
CROWDS flocked to Burnham-On-Sea hovercraft station this week when the crew celebrated the craft's first birthday with an open day, fundraising event and party.
It's exactly one year since the Spirit Of Lelaina went into service in Burnham. More...

Brean Beach wins praise
THE high standard of Brean Beach's sea water has earned it a recommendation in the 2005 Good Beach Guide, which has just been published by the Marine Conservation Society. The MCS recommended Brean for its high water standards and the fact that any sewage is treated adequately. More.

Family in River Axe mud drama
BURNHAM Coastguard has rescued a family of three who foolishly tried wading across the notorious River Axe estuary from Brean Down to Weston-super-Mare after missing their last bus home. A man (32), woman (28), and their son (7) were taken to Weston General Hospital suffering from the early signs of hypothermia. More.

Cars block RNLI station AGAIN
TWO cars were clamped and their owners forced to pay fines of £85 after Burnham-On-Sea RNLI's lifeboat was almost prevented from safely returning to its boathouse on Monday May 30 by cars parked opposite the lifeboat station gates. The crew had problems manoeuvring their tractor and trailer. More.

Disabled speedboat retrieved
BOTH of Burnham-On-Sea RNLI's lifeboats were launched on Monday May 30 to help in the recovery of a disabled speedboat which was drifting approximately half a mile up the River Parrett after encountering engine problems. The crews investigated and discovered the vessel was drifting in force three winds. More.

Thieves break into town shop
FIRE-FIGHTERS and police were called to Boots, the chemist shop, at Burnham-On-Sea on Tuesday night (May 24) after a smash-and-grab burglary. Thick smoke billowed out of the store at 15, The High Street after thieves smashed their way through a glass door at the front of the premises. More...

80 join Burnham to Brean walk
MORE than 80 people braved thunder and heavy rain to raise money for cancer charity Scope by taking part in a 15 mile sponsored walk from Burnham to Brean this week. Entrants lined up besides the pier in bright sunshine at the start of the walk before setting off for Brean Down. More...

Mini 'tornado' topples caravans
FIRE crews from across Somerset were called to Brean on Saturday night after a mini 'tornado' blew over several caravans and left one person injured. Engines from Burnham and Weston were called to Warren Farm at 9:40pm after three caravans were blown over during "strong localised winds." More...

First-aid drill for rescue crews
A TEAM of first-aiders from St John's Ambulance rehearsed how they would react to a speedboat accident at Apex Leisure Park in Burnham on Monday May 23. Four crew members from Burnham's hovercraft team became the 'casualties' during the hour-long exercise at the slipway. More...

Nuisance alarm silenced
ANGRY residents on a Burnham housing estate called in the district council after being kept awake by a faulty burglar alarm which continued ringing while the owners of the house were on holiday. The Council had no alternative but to deal with the matter under the Environmental Protection Act. More...

Three rescued at Brean Down
BURNHAM Coastguard rescued three people at Brean Down late on Sunday evening (May 22) after they had become trapped by the incoming tide. A 35-year-old male from Gloucester and two boys, aged 8 and 10, got into difficulties at Howe Rock at the Western end of Brean Down. More...

Bowled over by town's support
BURNHAM-On-Sea hovercraft team members were bowled over with support during a Highbridge fundraising event. A short mat bowling competition held at Highbridge Community Hall on Saturday (May 21) attracted 48 players, with money raised going to BARB, the group that runs the hovercraft. More...

Muddy end to vehicle's trial!
BURNHAM hovercraft group's trials of a six-wheel multi-terrain vehicle came to a sticky end on the town's beach on Thursday (May 19) when the machine became trapped in the mud. The £6,000 vehicle was being put through its paces along the beach by its makers, Westland Special Vehicles. More...

Pre-school kids visit RNLI
MORE than 30 youngsters from Wembdon Sunshiners visited Burnham-On-Sea's RNLI station to see the lifeboats and meet crew members on Friday (May 20) as part of their annual trip to the seaside. The children were accompanied by teachers and parents during the visit. More...

£2,500 boost for youth centre
BURNHAM Area Youth (BAY) Centre has been handed a cheque for £2,500 following a successful charity golf day and race night at Brean Leisure Park. The events were organised jointly by Burnham-On-Sea Round Table, Lions and Rotary Clubs and is the first time the clubs have come together to raise funds. More...

Dog micro-chipping in town
SEDGEMOOR'S Dog Wardens are offering a cut-price micro-chipping service to help protect dogs in Burnham and Highbridge.
Usual fees are between £20 and £30, but Sedgemoor District Council is offering the service at a cost of £12 per dog at two special sessions in June. More...

Roof-top spectacle on Burnham pier
BURNHAM seafront briefly came to a standstill this week when walkers and motorists watched in awe as a brave man clambered across the roof of the town's pier. Burnham Pavilion has to change its flags every few months or the strong onshore winds tear them to shreds. More...

Town cyclist seriously injured
A CYCLIST was rushed to hospital with serious head injuries following a traffic accident in Burnham-On-Sea on Friday afternoon, May 13th. Police were called to Marine Drive, near the Lynton Road car park, at 12.56pm. Paramedics also attended the scene to give emergency first aid. More...

Autumn start for £25m scheme
BUILDING work to convert the former Woodberry Bros and Haines site in Highbridge into a £25 million shopping and residential complex is scheduled to begin in September. Derek Mead, chairman of the Mead Group, the company behind the scheme, has set the target for when the project will begin. More...

Appeal after vet surgery theft
BURNHAM-On-Sea police are appealing for information following a burglary in which thousands of pounds worth of pet products were stolen. Sometime between 7pm on Wednesday, May 11 and 8.30am on Thursday, May 12, offenders broke into a veterinary surgery in the Burnham area. More...

New town Mayor is chosen
ERIC Gill has been chosen to be the new Mayor of Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge. The 77-year-old, who has been a town councillor for two years, was elected by councillors during a meeting on Monday evening. His wife, Gillian, has become Mayoress and Cllr Davey has become Deputy Mayor. More...

Sunken speedboat retrieved
BURNHAM-On-Sea RNLI's crew helped to recover a partially-sunken speedboat near the town's jetty on Saturday evening, May 7th. The 4.5 metre Bayliner boat went down at around 6pm and the RNLI crew were called to help by the Coastguard and assisted in a full rescue of the craft. More...

Frank Foley statue unveiled
A STATUE honouring Frank Foley, the Highbridge war hero who saved the lives of thousands of Jews, has been unveiled in the town. The Highbridge-born hero helped Jews escape from Germany before the start of World War II by giving them visas to flee the country. More...

New sea safety guide launched
A NEW safety guide for boat owners, jet skiers and anglers who use Bridgwater Bay has been released by Sedgemoor District Council. The document has been drawn up to promote safe use of the waters of Bridgwater Bay and the Parrett Estuary, particularly off Burnham-On-Sea. More...

Anneka's beach buggy for sale!
THE beach buggy used by Anneka Rice during her 'Challenge Anneka' TV show in Burnham-On-Sea in 1994 is up for sale on auction Web site eBay. The vehicle was shown many times during the filming of the series, including during June 1994 when the town's hovercraft station was built by Anneka in just 72 hours. More...

Major just misses County post
BURNHAM Mayor Louise Parkin has missed out on becoming a Somerset County Councillor by the narrowest of margins - just 39 votes. She was beaten into second place by Liberal Democrat candidate Rosemarie Parsons in the Highbridge and Burnham-On-Sea South ward. More...

Virtual classroom praised by mother
A BURNHAM-On-Sea mother has praised a 'virtual classroom' service that lets children continue their education even if they are unable to attend school. Lynn Baker's 14-year-old daughter took part in the scheme when she was absent from a Burnham school for around six months due to illness. More...

Burnham goes orange crazy!
BURNHAM went orange crazy this weekend as thousands of brightly coloured wristbands were sold by the town's hovercraft and RNLI crews in aid of the Lelaina Rescue Appeal. Crew members issued a 'thank you' after more than 1,600 Western Daily Press wristbands - worth £1,600 - were sold in just 72 hours. More...

Missing Brean man found safe
BOTH Burnham-On-Sea RNLI's lifeboats were launched shortly after midnight on Sunday May 1 to help Avon and Somerset police and Coastguards search for a 45-year-old man who had been reported missing at Brean. The man was later found safe and well by police and the crews were stood down. More...

Burnham Carnival is saved
THE future of this year's Burnham Carnival is safe after a solicitor said the organisers will not face huge fees for licences. It comes after uncertainty has gripped carnival committees across Somerset since it emerged that a new licensing act could lead to charges of up to £64,000 being introduced. More...

World Cup trophy in Burnham
THE Rugby World Cup trophy won by the England Rugby Union team was on display in Burnham-On-Sea during a weekend in May. The famous Webb Ellis Trophy (pictured) was on show on the ground floor of Burnham Rugby Club's clubhouse at the BASC Ground in Stodden's Road. More...

Wristbands for Lelaina Appeal
WRISTBANDS are the latest 'must have' fashion accessory and now the Western Daily Press newspaper has had orange ones exclusively made to support the Lelaina Rescue Appeal. The wristbands are being sold throughout the weekend by Burnham's hovercraft and RNLI crew members. More...

Truck wash raises funds
WASHING trucks is an unusual way to spend your St George's Day - but these youngsters from East Huntspill Pre-school were more than happy to do it to help raise money. More than 20 children braved wet weather to gather at the Coastguard station, armed with buckets and sponges. More...

Tough police stance cuts crime
CRIME rates in Burnham-On-Sea have fallen by 14 per cent during the last year after police officers took a tougher stance in the town, it was disclosed this week. Speaking at the annual town meeting, Inspector Dale Baker said: "We have targeted the town's most prolific criminals and many are now in prison." More...

Town groups get cash boost
SEVEN groups from across Burnham-On-Sea have received donations from town Mayor Louise Parkin. She handed over the cheques from the Mayor's Youth Initiative Fund during the annual town meeting, held on Wednesday (April 27). Those receiving cheques included the Sea Cadets and Air Training Corps. More...

Seafront lights project on hold
A GRAND project to light up Burnham's seafront with over 80 attractive illuminations has been put on hold due to safety fears about some of the lampposts. The lights - which were due to be switched on during the May Day Bank Holiday weekend - were due to look similar to those shown here. More...

Major night-time mud rescue
BURNHAM-On-Sea's hovercraft has been at the centre of a major mud rescue operation in Weston-super-Mare during the early hours of Monday April 25. Swansea Coastguard asked for the assistance of the hovercraft at 02:24 hours to spearhead the rescue of a male who had attempted suicide. More...

Burnham beach wins again!
BEACHES at Burnham-On-Sea, Berrow and Brean have all received the 2005 EnCams Seaside Award, putting them among the top seaside resorts in the country. The award is only given to beaches that comply with current legislation, including the testing of bathing water, and the provision of facilities. More...

Town election poster defaced
A LIBERAL Democrat general election poster in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea has been controversially defaced by vandals over the weekend. Using black and white paint, they have altered the poster's words and added a Hitler-style moustache to the image of the party leader. More...

Burnham biker on top form
A TOP motorbiker from Burnham-On-Sea is in first place in a top national championship and is now gearing up to race at Silverstone during May. After a highly successful start to the season, Dean Nicholls is lying in first place in the North Gloucester Road Racing Sounds Of Thunder Championship. More...

Body retrieved from town pond
BURNHAM's hovercraft crew have helped the Police and Coastguard retrieve the body of an elderly man from a pond in the town. During the joint operation at Hunts Pond in Burnham, the Coastguard asked BARB to assist in the retrieval by providing its inshore rescue craft. More...

Hovercraft's £2,300 golf boost
BREAN Golf Club’s fundraising drive for the Burnham-On-Sea hovercraft has got off to a tee-rific start by raising £2,300 from its first big event of the season. More than 80 golfers putted, chipped and drove their way around the fairways to raise money for BARB, the group that runs the hovercraft. More...

Groups gather for race night
BURNHAM Lions, the Round Table and Rotary Club are making final preparations for a Charity Race Night which will be held at Brean Leisure Centre this Friday, April 22nd. The event starts at 8.00pm and all are welcome to attend, with proceeds going to the Burnham Area Youth (BAY) Centre's building fund. More...

Seafront pavements 'hazard'
CRACKS in Burnham's seafront pavements pose such a hazard to walkers that they could lead to claims for accident compensation being made, according to local residents. The cracks in the pavement near the Bay View cafe are singled out as being particularly dangerous by contributors to our forum. More...

Burnham gift shop closes
A BURNHAM-On-Sea gift shop has closed its doors to the public for the final time after its owners decided to call it a day.
The owners of 'Just Cats' in the High Street pulled down the shutters this week as they closed down the business and moved out of Burnham. More...

Coastguard appeals for crew
BURNHAM-On-Sea Coastguard is appealing for local people to come forward to join its search and rescue service. Three new recruits are needed by the team to work alongside the police, hovercraft and RNLI in dealing with searches, cliff and mud rescues, and other call-outs in the area. More...

Burnham TIC wins top award
BURNHAM-On-Sea's Tourist Information Centre has won a top award by delivering good service visitors to the town. In a recent National Mystery Shopper campaign carried out on behalf of VisitBritain, Burnham TIC upheld its excellent customer service record by coming top out of over 500 tourist offices. More...

'Suicidal' man rescued by RNLI
BURNHAM-On-Sea RNLI's Staines Whitfield lifeboat was called out at 10pm on Tuesday night (April 12) after a man was seen neck-deep in the freezing cold waters of Bridgwater Bay in the pitch dark. Working with the coastguard and police teams, the RNLI brought the distressed 21-year-old man ashore. More...

Tax bill 'annoys' cinema boss
THE angry owner of Burnham-On-Sea's Ritz Cinema has hit out after being told that his council tax bill is to rise by almost 50% because he has spent so much money on renovating the building. Patt Scott says his rates have just jumped from £7,500 to £10,000 a year after a visit by tax assessors. More...

Powerboat's visit turns heads!
A TURBO-charged power boat worth £30,000 was put through its paces in Burnham Bay this week, giving its crew a chance to brush up their skills before competing in the UK's national power boat championships. Walkers along the seafront were captivated by the 200 horse power craft speeding through the water. More...

Star's OBE to be sold for RNLI
THE OBE awarded to the late comic Frankie Howerd is to be raffled in order to raise money for Burnham-On-Sea RNLI and other charities in the region that were close to his heart, it has emerged. The Up Pompeii star, who died aged 70 in 1992, left the award to his manager Dennis Heymer. More...

New town manager hears traders' problems
BURNHAM'S new town centre manager, Anne-Marie Spalding, is vowing to tackle some of the town's biggest problems. During a special meeting with over 50 business representatives from across Burnham on Wednesday, she laid out her aims for the role, saying she intends to begin by tackling three key areas. More...

Webcam is a worldwide hit
AMERICAN tourists Eileen and Janine Cleary may be thousands of miles from home but, thanks to Burnham's recently-launched Webcam, they were able to wave to their relatives in the USA while standing on the town's seafront this week. New Yorkers Eileen and Janine love the new Webcam. More...

Anglers reel in fish and cash
MORE than 60 anglers took to the waters off Burnham in 25 boats on Sunday (April 3rd) to compete in a mammoth sea fishing competition - and they were rewarded with some bumper catches. The annual event, organised by the Burnham Boat Owners group, attracted competitors from as far away as Poole. More...

Ducklings herald start of Spring
SIGNS of Spring are emerging all around Burnham - and no more so than at Apex Leisure Park where this cute family of ducklings was spotted on Sunday. Walkers at the park have been transfixed by the 15 newly hatched ducklings and their two proud parents feeding in the reed beds at the edge of the lake. More...

MP visits Burnham-On-Sea
LOCAL MP David Heathcoat-Amory stepped into the pilot's seat of Burnham-On-Sea's rescue hovercraft on Friday (April 1st) during a special visit to the station in which he met crew members and attended the group's annual general meeting. More...
ALSO: MP visits Burnham RNLI station

Were you fooled on April 1st?
OUR story about builders in Burnham unearthing a secret tunnel running underneath the town was indeed an April Fool's Day hoax!
Several readers contacted us about the article, believing it was true, while others saw the funny side and made suggestions for how it could be put to use! More...

Police free dog trapped in car
HORRIFIED Police officers in Burnham-On-Sea had to smash the window of a vehicle to free a traumatised dog that had been left inside for several hours in soaring temperatures. As condensation streamed down the windows of the vehicle and the Old English Sheepdog became more desperate, the police came to the rescue. More...

£330 fines for tow-away cars
BURNHAM-On-Sea RNLI has carried out its threat of getting vehicles towed away if they prevent the town's lifeboats from launching. The owners of a blue Peugeot 206 and a Renault Laguna face fines of £334.88 each after their vehicles were initially clamped and then later towed away on Monday. More...

New Trafalgar gates opened
NELSON'S victory at Trafalgar 200 years ago has been remembered in a special ceremony on the seafront at Burnham-On-Sea. Two wrought iron gates, complete with the initial 'N' in honour of the legendary Admiral, were installed at Marine Cove gardens. A number of VIPs were present at Saturday's event. More...

Hovercraft in Stert mud rescue
BURNHAM-On-Sea's hovercraft was launched on Saturday (March 26) to help in the rescue of a person trapped in mud at Stert Island. The hovercraft and RNLI were called out at 17:46 following a call from Avon and Somerset Constabulary reporting that a man was stuck up to his waist in thick mud at Stert Beach. More...

1607 flood on BBC2
THE huge 1607 flood disaster which killed 2,000 people along the Bristol Channel, including many in the Burnham area, is the focus of a major BBC2 TV documentary. The Timewatch programme, The Killer Wave of 1607, examines whether the disaster was caused by a tsunami. More...

Mud rescue drama in Burnham
A LANDROVER and a £5,000 twin-seater jet ski were rescued by Burnham-On-Sea's hovercraft team on March 19th following a dramatic incident in the mud near the town's beach lighthouse. Craig Morgan from the West Midlands was jet skiing in Bridgwater Bay when his machine became stuck in mud. More...

Jet skier helped to shore
THE crew of the Elsie Francis II, Burnham-On-Sea RNLI's D-Class lifeboat, were called out at 14:37 on Sunday 20th March to rescue the young female rider of a jet ski in difficulties, in the sea, near the Burnham lighthouse. The craft had suffered engine problems in Bridgwater Bay and had begun to sink. More...

Sign is 'inappropriate' for town
TOWN councillors have called on the District Council to investigate whether Burnham's new Lidl supermarket should be asked to reduce the size of its huge sign in Oxford Street. Burnham's Mayor, Louise Parkin, says the council thinks the structure is "inappropriate" for a residential area. More...

Burnham Scouts visit RNLI
BURNHAM and Highbridge Explorer Scouts visited Burnham-On-Sea RNLI station this week, seeing at first hand how the life-saving service operates. The group of Scouts were escorted around the station by Lifeboat training officer John Sampson who showed them around the two lifeboats. More...

New Chinese restaurant for Burnham
BURNHAM-On-Sea is to get a new Chinese restaurant later this month after the owners of an Italian restuarant sold their business.
Salvos in Abingdon Street has closed down and the new owner has decided to turn the building into a combined Chinese restaurant and takeaway. More...

Hovercraft fundraising deal
DELIGHTED Burnham hovercraft crew members were celebrating this week after Brean Golf Club announced it would be a major sponsor of the service during 2005. The club raised thousands of pounds for charity last year and plans to hold a series of events during 2005 with the Burnham hovercraft being the beneficiary. More...

Tesco expansion approved
TESCO'S application to expand its Burnham-On-Sea store has been given the go-ahead after the company made changes to its proposal. The supermarket giant's concesssions won the backing of councillors at a District Council planning meeting on Tuesday March 8th. More...

Torch-lit beach search
A TORCH-LIT search of Burnham beach was carried out after a member of the public rang police shortly after 9pm after hearing distressed voices between Burnham Pier and Burnham Jetty calling for help, shouting that they were stuck in the mud. The Coastguard requested the assistance of RNLI crew members to help conduct a search. More...

£3,000 car wheels stolen
POLICE in Burnham are warning residents to be on their guard after high specification wheels were stolen from a BMW in Brent Knoll. At around 11pm on Wednesday, March 2, 2005, the BMW X5 vehicle had three of its four wheels stolen while parked on a driveway in Burton Road. More...

Hovercraft in rescue drill
BURNHAM's hovercraft and coastguard teams rehearsed a joint rescue of a casualty stuck in the notorious mud at Brean on Sunday March 6th. Over 20 crew members from the two teams gathered on the beach - which last summer was the scene of many real incidents - to practise the rescue of a casualty. More...

RNLI in helicopter exercise
BURNHAM'S lifeboats joined other stations from the West Country in taking part in a major rescue exercise in the middle of the Bristol Channel on Saturday March 5. The four-hour event involved more than six lifeboats and dozens of crew members from RNLI stations based around the region. More...

Golf Club gets in the swing
PREPARATIONS are well in hand at Brean Golf Club to host a Charity Golf Day being organised jointly by Round Table, Lions and the Rotary Club. Some 22 teams will take to the greens in serious and not so serious competition on 22nd April. Proceeds will be donated to the Burnham Area Youth (BAY) Centre. More...

Songs Of Praise in Burnham
THE BBC's popular religious TV programme 'Songs Of Praise' could be filmed in Burnham-On-Sea this Spring, we can reveal. Burnham's Mayor, Louise Parkin, has been approached by the programme's producers about broadcasting the show from outside Burnham Pier and next to the town's lighthouse. More...

Youth Talent Fair to be held
MEMBERS of the Burnham and Highbridge Youth Town Council (YTC) arranged a sponsored 24-hour 'stay awake' event recently and raised money for Children in Need. The group is also planning a Youth Talent Fair on Saturday April 9th when many youth groups will be on hand to raise awareness of themselves. More...

'Body' sighting sparks drama
BURNHAM-On-Sea's lifeboat was called out on Friday 25 February at 8.42am after a resident reported seeing a suspicious object - possibly a body - floating near Stert Island in Bridgwater Bay. It turned out that the object was a large log and, as this was deemed to be a danger to shipping, it was returned to shore. More...

VIP visit to town for Aimee
BURNHAM'S hovercraft crew played host to a special visitor this week when a young girl suffering from an extremely rare chromosome disorder was given a VIP tour of the station. Five-year-old Aimee Gascoigne from Bridgwater is one of only a few people in the UK with Alfi's Syndrome. More...

Dredging survey underway
THE Environment Agency is conducting an investigation into the effects that sand dredging is having on Burnham's tidal estuary. A team from the Agency was spotted in a survey boat as the probe got under way. It comes amid some residents' concern that the removal of large quantities of sand and silt from the Bristol Channel could lead to Burnham's beach being starved of sand. More...

Anger as new Lidl store opens
ANGRY residents living next to Burnham-On-Sea's new Lidl supermarket are fuming after an 8ft tall fence was built around the store's perimeter - blocking garden gates of homes and even a garage nearby. Residents say the fence was built without them being fully consulted. More...

Bumper winter fishing season
SEA anglers in Burnham are celebrating the end of another bumper fishing season, having reeled in large numbers of Whiting and Cod during the winter months. Several large catches have been made from the beach between Burnham Pier and Lark Spit, near the lighthouse. More...

Burnham-On-Sea Web cam launches
LIVE images of Burnham's seafront are now being broadcast around the world 24 hours a day thanks to the launch of a Web cam on this site. The free service here gives Internet users the chance to watch constantly updated images of Burnham's pier, beach and Esplanade. More...

Half marathon returns to town
A HALF marathon that once attracted 1,000 runners to Burnham-On-Sea is returning after a 12-year absence.
The Burnham-On-Sea Half Marathon was last held in 1993. But its return on Sunday, October 2, 2005 is being hailed as another great sporting event for the town. More...

Cabbies help hit and run victim
TWO Burnham-On-Sea taxi drivers came to the rescue of a man left injured in the middle of the busy A38 after an apparent hit and run accident. Alan Miller from Custom Cars and a fellow cabbie from M Taxis were driving along the road early on Sunday when they saw the victim. More...

Huge waves batter seafront
HUGE waves battered Burnham's seafront early on Saturday morning when 60mph gales combined with some of the highest tides of the year. The spectacular storm was watched by walkers along The Esplanade as the waves and spume soared over the sea wall near the Tourist Information Centre. More...

Mud rescue first aid training
BURNHAM hovercraft's crew has been rehearsing how to give emergency first aid to casualties trapped in mud along the coasts of Somerset. Keith Gough, the local St John's Ambulance Manager, visited the station to give the team expert advice on how to help casualties. More...

Rising sea traffic in bay
OFFICIAL new figures show that 79 ship visits brought over 105 thousand tonnes of cargo to Dunball Wharf in Bridgwater, passing Burnham-On-Sea on the way, during 2004. The figure represents a 4% increase on 2003 and a huge 22% increase on the previous year. More...

Spate of burglaries in town
POLICE are asking people living in the Stoppard Road area of Burnham-On-Sea - known locally as the Tesco Estate - to be extra vigilant after a spate of burglaries. Burglars struck at six homes on the estate in the early hours of Friday, January 28, 2005 and stole valuables. More...

Dolphins seen in Burnham Bay
TWO DOLPHINS have been spotted swimming in the sea off Burnham by a group of local fishermen. Adam Picton told Burnham-On-Sea.com how he and fellow fishermen onboard a small offshore boat noticed the two dolphins - identical to the ones shown here - one morning this week. More...

Bay Centre issues open invite
IF YOU live in the Burnham area and want to meet new local people while learning new skills, a new group at the Burnham-On-Sea Bay Centre could be ideal for you. The Centre's new 'Go For It!' group has issued an open invitation to people of all ages to come along. More...

4x4 vehicle rescued from mud
BURNHAM'S hovercraft team helped rescue a 4x4 landrover stuck in thick mud near the town's old lighthouse on Wednesday, February 1. The Coastguard was initially called to the scene at Lark Spit, near the old lighthouse, but was unable to pull the 4x4 Shogun free. More...

Bravest men in Burnham!
BURNHAM-On-Sea residents were forgiven for taking a double take as they passed by the town's main lighthouse this week. For perched on top of the 30 metre tall structure were two brave workmen carrying out repairs. The famous landmark was being given some repairs to its roof. More...

Crash drama at Brean Rally
A DRAMATIC crash occurred during the first stage of the 2005 Brean Regency Stages rally, held on Saturday January 29th, but fortunately both the driver and co-driver escaped unurt. The event was won by Duncan Holder from Mark.
Day One round-up and crash coverage
Day Two coverage and final standings

Ship aground off Stert Island
A SHIP ran aground just off Stert Island, opposite Burnham-On-Sea, soon after 11am on Tuesday (January 25).
Walkers along the seafront watched as the ship - measuring approximately 20 metres in length - came to rest on a bank of sand. It stayed there until the incoming tide enabled it float off. More...

Town property prices rising
BURNHAM-On-Sea's property prices are predicted to continue rising throughout 2005 according to a survey by one of the UK's leading property forecasters. It believes the cost of homes in both of Burnham's postcode areas will rise during the next 12 months. More...

Helicopter rescue rehearsed
BURNHAM-On-Sea's Coastguard team have rehearsed a dramatic mud rescue by using an RAF helicopter to lift 'casualties' from a treacherous area near the River Axe at Uphill, near Brean Down. An RAF 169 helicopter from Chivenor was used by the Coastguard in the three-hour exercise. More...

£15k seafront illuminations plan unveiled
BURNHAM seafront is to be lit up with attractive illuminations following the town council's decision to gave the green light to a £15,000 project.
The lighting, which will run along the Esplanade, could be in place for the Spring Bank Holiday period this year. More...

Success for hovercraft appeal
A BRAVE new band of volunteers has joined Burnham-On-Sea's hovercraft group following a successful appeal for help. More than a dozen people have responded to an appeal in local newspapers and on radio, TV and the Internet. Many came along to Burnham's hovercraft station on Wednesday January 12. More...

Tsunami tragedy marked
BURNHAM-ON-SEA Town Council held a three minute silence in memory of the victims of the tsunami tragedy on Wednesday January 5th. They gathered besides the water feature in Pier Street, Burnham where the town flag was lowered. It follows the deaths of over 150,000 people in the Far East. More...

New launch vehicle arrives
A NEW £65,000 'Soft Track' lifeboat launching vehicle has been delivered to Burnham-On-Sea RNLI - and volunteer lifeboat crew members were able to use it for the first time during their latest training session. It was bought after a will bequest from a Berrow resident. More...

Vandals strike town shops
TWO popular Burnham-On-Sea retailers are counting the cost of crime after drunk Christmas revellers broke the front windows of their premises.
Burnham's fishmonger and a Chinese takeaway were targeted by the thugs, who caused thousands of pounds of damage. More...

Want a New Year resolution?
STUCK for a New Year's resolution? If so, why not put something back into the community this year and help Burnham-On-Sea's rescue hovercraft.
BARB, the group that runs Burnham's hovercraft, is appealing for new crew and shore helpers to come forward. More...

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