Bridgwater Mercury

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 09:37:09 +0000
Knife crime in Avon and Somerset has third-largest decrease as homicides fall
Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that knife crime has decreased in Somerset.

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Brewery near Bridgwater wants to add five more goods vehicles
Butcombe Brewery Ltd seeks to add five goods vehicles at its Bridgwater site. Local residents may submit objections to the Traffic Commissioner by Feb 16.

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Stallholders wanted for Bridgwater's 2026 events programme
Bridgwater Town Council invites stallholders to join its 2026 events programme. Food traders, craft makers, and local groups can apply for stalls now.

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000
RSPCA looking to recruit animal rescue officers in Somerset
The RSPCA is recruiting animal rescue officers in Somerset, Bristol, Essex, Durham, Hertfordshire, and Bedfordshire. Apply by 6 Feb 2026.

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Column: Council tax and the cost of adult social care
Somerset faces rising council tax and reduced local services as adult social care costs soar. Discover why social care funding strains council budgets UK-wide.

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000
NSPCC unveils Baby Steps hub to support South West parents
A redeveloped perinatal service is offering extra support to parents in the South West during the earliest days of parenthood.

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0000
Somerset Council confirms changes to communal waste collections
Somerset Council has announced changes to households who have a communal recycling collection.

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0000
Somerset Camera Club members capture reflections amid rainy weather
This week, the members of Somerset Camera Club have been taking photos of water and reflections as the wind and rain has battered Somerset.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Sir Ashley Fox: Here's how I have been lobbying the government recently
Sir Ashley Fox MP urges faster broadband for Bridgwater and rural Somerset, raises concerns over council tax hikes and Somerset Council’s financial management.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000
'Well-proportioned' five-bed bungalow for sale in Westonzoyland for £425k
Five-bedroom detached bungalow Hedgerow Haven in Westonzoyland, Bridgwater for sale at £425,000 via Charles Dickens Estate Agents.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 20:58:00 +0000
Somerset Council postpones budget following central government delays
Somerset Council has postponed its annual budget setting full council following delays from central government.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 20:54:00 +0000
11 low-cost homes approved in small village near Bridgwater
The Spaxton Community Land Trust can deliver 11 social rent homes on Peartwater Road in Spaxton - all of which will go to local residents

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 14:20:02 +0000
Former WHSmith could become 'Adult Gaming Centre'
Plans have been submitted for the former WHSmith site in Bridgwater to become an adult gaming centre.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 14:28:04 +0000
Major incident remains in effect for Somerset - as more rain to hit county next week
A MAJOR incident remains in effect in Somerset - as the rain continues to batter the south west.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 12:56:10 +0000
RECAP: M5 now open in North Somerset after incident
All lanes on the M5 Motorway have been stopped in North Somerset due to a police led incident.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 12:42:01 +0000
Large Somerset areas forecast new 21-hour weather warning
Large areas of Somerset have been forecast a new yellow weather warning for rain that lasts nearly a whole day.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000
Self-storage in the South West sees rapid uptake as UK market surpasses £1.2 billion
More people across the South West are turning to self-storage as the UK’s demand for extra space continues to grow

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:01:46 +0000
£1 Million Warm Fund offers free electric blankets and dehumidifiers to thousands
Thousands of low-income families across the UK could receive free electric blankets, microwaves and energy-efficient appliances, following the launch of a new £1 million emergency support fund.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:58:22 +0000
Train passengers missing out on £80m a year in delays compensation - how to claim
Train passengers are missing out on more than £80 million a year due to “unacceptable” compensation claims processes for delayed journeys.

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:53:35 +0000
Can you stop people parking outside your house? UK rules if there are no yellow lines
Here are the rules around people parking in front of your home if there are no yellow lines in the UK.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Aldi to give away £100 vouchers to families with newborns
Aldi is offering weekly £100 vouchers to families with newborns as part of its Mamia New Parent Fund.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Clinton Rogers: AI is making it harder to tell what's real
Concerns rise in the UK over AI-driven fake news, misinformation in Yorkshire elections, and deepfake scandals affecting trust in democracy and public figures.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Burnham Rugby Club scores ninth win on the bounce after new sponsorship
Burnham-on-Sea Rugby Club secures Unity Holidays sponsorship, extends winning streak to nine, and tops the league after 28-7 victory over Clevedon.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:00:12 +0000
Council warns that playgrounds are being misused as "dog agility areas"
Bridgwater Town Council warns of misuse of children’s play areas in Victoria Park, Bower Ponds and more, causing damage, safety and hygiene concerns.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:12:53 +0000
Boarding school could expand to host more international students
Yew Chung Yeh Wah Education Foundation, just outside of Bridgwate,r could expand to house more international students.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:10:03 +0000
Hung jury in trial of schizophrenic man accused of murdering his mother
The trial of a schizophrenic man accused of murdering his mother at her home in Westonzoyland has ended with a hung jury.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 15:12:00 +0000
Bridgwater KFC can serve food until 5am despite antisocial behaviour fears
KFC's Dunball outlet near junction 23 of the M5 can serve food until 5am daily despite fears it will lead to more noise and antisocial behaviour

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 13:09:02 +0000
Somerset MP calls for urgent action on flood response
Bridgwater MP Sir Ashley Fox called for an urgent parliamentary debate on Somerset flooding.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 12:47:00 +0000
Nearly two-thirds of Somerset residents happy to pay more council tax
More than 1,400 people have given their views on Somerset Council's budget proposals - with a majority willing to pay a little more to protect public services

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 12:19:22 +0000
Three units go up for rent in Angel Place Shopping Centre
Three units at Angel Place Shopping Centre in Bridgwater have gone up for rent.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:34:16 +0000
Santander branch in Bridgwater set to close permanently with jobs at risk
A Bridgwater Santander branch will be closing down permanently in April, alongside 43 other branches across the UK, with 291 workers at risk of redundancy.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000
Clinton Rogers shares anger over lack of national prostate screening
Last week, it was confirmed that prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK. Some 64,425 men were diagnosed with the disease in 2022, compared with 61,640 for breast cancer, which had previously been the most common cancer.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000
Real stories highlight why knowing your blood pressure matters
Real stories highlight why knowing your blood pressure matters.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 09:53:28 +0000
Date announced for next Bridgwater 'Say No to Racism' demonstration
The date has been announced for the next 'Bridgwater - Proud to say No to Racism' demonstration.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:32:22 +0000
Warning to Brits heading abroad this year over travel insurance mistake
Holiday goers are being warned to check their 12-month coverage policies as buying in bulk may leave them uncovered on certain trips.

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:28:38 +0000
'Stop using it immediately': Tesco issues warning to shoppers over safety risk
Tesco said it is “sorry for any inconvenience caused” and reassured customers that no other Tesco products are affected by this recall

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:26:42 +0000
Drivers issued road markings warning but do you know what they mean?
Road markings can be confusing even for a confident driver as the shape, colour and location all affect their meaning.

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Four-bedroom house in Bridgwater on the market for £425k
Detached four-bedroom house for sale in Bridgwater, £425,000. Rosary Drive, spacious 1970s build, Charles Dickens Estate Agents, no onward chain.

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Brian Smedley: Time to stop feeling doomed and start doing good
Bridgwater’s Brick by Brick film tackles social media negativity, showcases local talent and community pride, as new ‘Pride in Place’ funding launches.

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 13:36:28 +0000
Multiple Somerset flood warnings remain in place as further rain is forecast
Multiple flood alerts and warnings remain in place after Storm Chandra wreaked havoc on Somerset from January 26 to 27.

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:52:32 +0000
Shocking drone shots show extent of flooding in Somerset
Storm Chandra has hit Somerset, with roads closed, floods, and evacuations felt across the county.

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:52:00 +0000
Somerset Council relying on enforcement officers from West Midlands council
Somerset Council is relying on a council-owned enforcement company 150 miles away in Staffordshire to carry out most of its enforcement activity

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0000
Nominate your senior champion of the year!
In every community there are older residents who quietly hold everything together – and here's your chance to give them some deserved recognition.

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000
Three-bed extended terraced home with garden listed at £199,950
A three-bedroom terraced house with two bathrooms is available for £199,950 in Bridgwater.

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:32:09 +0000
Storm Chandra havoc leads to waste collection delays in Somerset
Some bin collections in Somerset have been missed following adverse conditions caused by Storm Chandra.

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 15:19:24 +0000
Police officer accused of sending sexual messages to woman
An Avon and Somerset Police officer is to face a hearing accused of breaching the Standards of Professional Behaviour.

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:50:10 +0000
Somerset Council officer left £1,000 in will of elderly resident
Somerset Council could review its policies regarding gifts and hospitality after one of its officers was left £1,000 by an elderly man

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:34:24 +0000
Plans revealed for new £100-million M5 junction
A new £100 million M5 junction is set to be built to accommodate the new gigafactory just outside of Bridgwater.

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:30:00 +0000
New funding to help transform bus services across Somerset
Millions of pounds in new funding could help transform bus services across Somerset.

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:32:37 +0000
Nominate your environmental champion of the year!
All across our area there are people quietly rolling up their sleeves to protect and improve the environment – and here's how you can give them some recognition.

home