A 13-YEAR-OLD girl with a “contagious” and “beautiful” smile sadly passed away last Wednesday (March 17).

A MOTORIST caught behind the wheel three times while disqualified and suspected of drink or drug driving has been jailed for 26 weeks.

More regular testing is regarded as a key to avoiding further national lockdowns.

SCIENTISTS believe they have explained the cause of a 'sonic boom' heard across Somerset over the weekend.

A WOMAN is to face trial later this year accused of murdering her husband.

SOMERSET recorded a total of 40 positive Covid-19 tests in the latest 24-hour figures.

NEARLY all Somerset residents aged 55 and over have received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

THE Covid-19 pandemic continued its downward trend in Somerset over the weekend.

AVON and Somerset Police have announced there will be mobile speed camera checks in the following locations during the week commencing today (Monday, March 22).

A MAN appeared at Taunton Magistrates' Court on March 15 for drink driving.

THE site of the Glastonbury Festival could soon be open to campers - even when the event is NOT running - and also plans to hold up to two days of music THIS YEAR.

Here are some of the UK's biggest milestones in the year since we first went into lockdown.

The duchess said that she and Harry had a secret ceremony with the Archbishop of Canterbury in their “backyard” three days before their royal wedding.

SPECULATION is rife over what caused a mystery 'sonic boom' that shook Somerset yesterday (Saturday).

A MAN appeared in Taunton Magistrates' Court on March 15 and was found guilty of harassment.

BELOW are the planning applications received by Sedgemoor District Council between March 4 and March 10, 2021.

A PAINTING sold at auction in Taunton 20 years ago is returning to the same saleroom to go under the hammer once again.

More than 3.7m people in England can stop shielding on 1 April - new rules at a glance

WORKING together, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), Somerset Chamber of Commerce and the wider chamber network secured several important achievements for businesses in the 2021 Budget.

BELOW are our pick of pictures from the Somerset Camera Club for the week of March 15, 2021.

A MAN has been arrested after officers stopped a car driving at 122mph on the M5 - after GETTING A HAIRCUT IN WALES, police said.

A WRISTWATCH bought new by a sailor whilst serving on a ship at Singapore is expected to sell for more than £10,000 at auction.

A WOMAN from Frome has been fined £83 for speeding in Bath last January.

A SOMERSET council is to pay a private contractor up to £450,000 to build a new Costa Coffee outlet as part of its commercial investment programme.

A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD girl is raising money for a mental health charity by releasing her third single.

SEDGEMOOR residents are being asked to share their thoughts on Puriton, Woolavington and the surrounding area, through the launch of an interactive map.

FIREFIGHTERS tackled a chiney blaze in a village near Bridgwater last night (March 19).

IF everything goes to plan, it's just possible that things will be back to near normality in three months' time.

THE Covid-19 infection rate in Somerset has seen slight fluctuations in the latest figures.

THE Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Award winners have been announced for 2020/21, in a virtual ceremony on Thursday night.

MORE than 2,000 disadvantaged children across Somerset will be offered the chance to enjoy food, exercise and friends over the Easter school holiday.

OWNERS walking their dogs on the Quantock Hills are being warned to keep their pets on a lead - or potentially risk a heavy fine or see their animal shot.

A NUCLEAR power station has been given the green light to restart producing energy.

With an extensive network of distributors across the South West, Gallagher are leaders in temporary and electric fencing systems for all applications and types of livestock with an outstanding track record of innovation.

A MAN from Weston-super-Mare has been fined and handed a driving ban, after driving while unfit due to drugs.

THE latest Covid related death has been recorded in Somerset, despite the number of positive tests remaining low.

LOVE them or hate them - Wetherspoon has announced which of its Somerset pubs it is re-opening from Monday, April 12, pubs, when more Covid restrictions are eased.

A HOMELESS man has been ordered to pay £2,000 compensation for damaging a number of items at a hostel set up to protect rough sleepers during the Covid pandemic.

FIVE members of staff at a joinery in Somerset have tested positive for coronavirus.

A FORMER hotel where one of England’s greatest poets once lived could be ‘reincarnated’ into a Buddhist retreat centre.

A DUMPER truck was set on fire in what is believed to have been an arson attack late last night (Wednesday).

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will lead a Downing Street press conference on coronavirus this afternoon.

Vaccination sites across the country were warned volumes for first doses are going to “significantly constrained” at the end of this month.

WEST Somerset Railway (WSR) is planning to re-open in May.

THERE were 32 positive Covid-19 tests in Somerset in the latest 24-hour period.

A MAN who was arrested when police raided a suspected cannabis farm has been charged, and will appear at Taunton Crown Court next month.

PROLIFIC burglars, robbers and thieves in Avon and Somerset are to be among the first in the world to be tracked by satellite.

RESIDENTS in Sedgemoor are being asked to become ambassadors for climate change.

ANGLERS in Somerset are being reminded by the Environment Agency that the ‘close season’ for coarse fish in rivers is now in effect and runs until June 15.

More than 24 million people have now received their first dose of a vaccine, with an average of around 280,000 jabs being administered each day.