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Shell collectors in for a treat
SHELL collectors wandering along Burnham's beach have been rewarded with some impressive finds this week after the recent heavy storms. The gales have resulted in a wider than normal range of shells being washed up along several parts of the town's shoreline.
Vandals in overnight attack
ANGRY residents in a Burnham-On-Sea street were beginning a clean-up operation on Saturday morning (December 16th) after vandals caused damage in the area. Several concrete flower pots were removed from the front gardens of properties along Worston Road before being smashed on pavements.
Spring planting starts at Apex
CHRISTMAS may be just a week away, but Spring was on the minds of a Burnham-On-Sea group on Saturday morning (Dec 16th) when its members planted scores of bulbs in Apex Leisure Park. Members of The Friends Of Apex Park took part in the annual planting session.
Festive cheer at town store
A GROUP of Burnham-On-Sea singers hit the right note with Tesco shoppers when they performed a line-up of Christmas songs in the store on Friday evening, December 15th. The local group, called Musically Challenged, performed a range of festive carols at the entrance to the store.
Mayor's Christmas message
BURNHAM-On-Sea and Highbridge Mayor Eric Gill, pictured, released his annual Christmas Message on Friday (December 15th). "I am inordinately proud and privileged to have been selected Mayor for a second year and my wife and I are delighted to be able to wish all a very Merry Christmas."
Curtain Call's £820 charity boost
PAULINE Kidner, founder of Secret World, and Debbie O'Keefe, fundraiser from the wildlife rescue centre, met some of the members of Burnham-based performing arts group Curtain Call this week as they handed over a cheque for £820 following a successful year.
Rotary steers funds to charity!
OVER £600 was raised for charity when Burnham-On-Sea Rotary Club members held an unusual fundraising competition at Highbridge Fatstock Market. Visitors to the market were encouraged to guess the distance between the horn tips of a huge steer.
Coroner names beach body
THE West Somerset Coroner said on Thursday (Dec 14th) that the body of a man found on Berrow Beach, near Burnham-On-Sea, last weekend had been identified. A spokesman said analysis of finger prints had confirmed that the man was a 60 year-old from near Cardiff.
CCTV appeal follows M5 theft
POLICE have issued a photo of two men who they think may be able to help them with their enquiries into the theft of money from several fruit machines at the M5 Sedgemoor Services, near Burnham-On-Sea. One of the men is white, in his early 20s and 5'6"-5'8" tall.
Town Council 'may move to Princess'
BURNHAM-On-Sea and Highbridge Town Council may move from its current home in Jaycroft Road into the newly-acquired Princess Hall in the centre of town. The move is one of several options on the table after yesterday's news that months of talks about the future of the hall had come to a successful conclusion.
| Grant decision 1981 storm - Your memories
YESTERDAY (Dec 13th) was the 25th anniversary of the devastating 1981 storm which struck Burnham-On-Sea. We asked readers to get in touch with their memories of the storm and have published a selection of the most interesting stories from that period... 25th anniversary of 1981 storm
WEDNESDAY December 13th marks the 25th anniversary of the devastating 1981 storm which struck Burnham-On-Sea. A huge trail of damage was left along the town's seafront after waves and water caused widespread damage. Today, Burnham-On-Sea.com takes a special look back at that fateful day... More... Body found on Berrow beach
POLICE confirmed this week that a man's body had been found on Berrow Beach, near Burnham-On-Sea, at the weekend. The unpleasant discovery was made on Saturday morning (December 9th) by a dog walker who immediately contacted police. Officxers are trying to identify the man. More...
Anthony celebrates again!
BURNHAM-On-Sea paralympic swimmer Anthony Stephens is celebrating this week after winning his event during the IPC World Swimming Championships in South Africa. The former King Alfred School student won the 200 metres freestyle race in his S5 disablement group.
Wind farm appeal gets started
Exclusive: ECOTRICITY, the controversial company behind the failed bid to build a wind farm on the outskirts of Burnham-On-Sea, has this week submitted its appeal against the decision. The appeal documents arrived during the last few days, a district council spokesman told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
Man arrested after accident
A MAN was arrested after failing a breath test following a two-car accident in Queen's Drive, Burnham-On-Sea, on Tuesday morning (Dec 12th). Motorists travelling out of the town towards the M5 faced lengthy delays after the accident, which happened at 8.20am.
Town railway station re-opens
THERE was good news for commuters who use Highbridge & Burnham-On-Sea Railway Station on Monday (Dec 11th) when a three week closure to renew tracks was completed on time. During the work, six miles of rail, 26,000 tonnes of ballast and 10 points were renewed.
Police hunt fuel theft suspect
POLICE are appealing for help in identifying a motorist who allegedly stole petrol from a filling station near Burnham-On-Sea. They want to identify a man who they think may be able to help with their enquiries into a case of bilking from the garage at Bristol Road in Brent Knoll on October 29th.
Mick Jagger's brother in town
MICK Jagger's brother took to the stage at Burnham-On-Sea's Ritz Social Club on Saturday night, December 9th. An audience of over 100 people crowded in to the Victoria Street club where Chris Jagger performed two 50-minute sets, pictured here, to the delight of the crowd.
Bowling club bids to extend opening hours
A controversial application to extend opening times until 2am at Burnham-On-Sea Bowling Club is set to be decided by Sedgemoor District Council's Licensing and Registration Committee this week. The town's bowling club, in St Andrew's Road, wants to extend its opening hours from 11.30pm to 2am.
Poor turnout at regeneration AGM
FEWER than 25 people attended the annual general meeting of the Burnham and Highbridge Regeneration Partnership this week when the group gave an update on improvements to the area. Regeneration Partnership chairman Mike Murphy (pictured) led the meeting.
GMTV features street's lights
BURNHAM-On-Sea was in the national spotlight on Friday morning (December 8th) when a cul-de-sac's Christmas lights were mentioned during ITV's breakfast programme. This year's display of lights at Trinity Rise were featured by GMTV during a feature on exceptional Christmas decorations.
Mayor opens new learning centre
A NEW Active Living Centre for people aged over 50 was opened in Burnham-On-Sea on Friday December 8th by the town's Mayor. The facility, overseen by Somerset County Council and Age Concern, was launched at Burnham's Community Centre by Cllr Eric Gill.
Shoppers back pedestrianisation
Exclusive: ALMOST half of Burnham-On-Sea shoppers want the town's High Street to be pedestrianised, according to the results of an official survey carried out by the Chamber of Trade. The study - which included leaflets being handed out in shops across the town and an online survey.
Police crack down on car crime
BURNHAM police have this week been cracking down on vehicle crime during their ongoing 'Operation Relentless' initiative. Burnham Town Centre's Beat Officer pulled over the driver of this vehicle in College Street as part of the drive. The motorist was charged with several alleged offences.
Death 'no longer suspicious'
BURNHAM-On-Sea Police said on Thursday afternoon (December 7th) they are no longer treating the death of a 59-year-old woman on the town's seafront as suspicious. It follows a second post mortem by a Home Office Pathologist earlier in the day.
M5 re-opens after lorry crash
POLICE closed the M5 at Burnham-On-Sea on Thursday afternoon (December 7th) after a lorry accident at Weston. Traffic was being directed off the northbound carriageway and onto the A38 after the accident involving a HGV carrying compressed gas canisters.
Mike turns on 20,000 lights!
A BURNHAM-On-Sea resident has this week lit up his home and garden with an incredible display of 20,000 Christmas lights! Mike Perrin of 76 Gielgud Road has put in a special effort this year to make his home one of the best decorated in the town - and raise cash for charity.
Gales give town a battering
BURNHAM-On-Sea took another battering on Thursday (Dec 7th) as further strong winds and heavy rain hit the town, leading the Environment Agency to put the coastline on Flood Watch. A large area of the Bristol Channel - from Porlock to Avonmouth - was put on a Watch.
Police probe 'suspicious' death
A section of Burnham-On-Sea seafront was sealed off by police this evening (Wednesday December 6th) as they investigated the suspicious death of a 59-year-old woman. Several police teams are on the scene at the top of Sea View Road as officers carry out door-to-door enquiries regarding the matter.
Regeneration group holds AGM
PLANS to modernise Burnham-On-Sea will be discussed at the AGM of the town's Regeneration Partnership on Wednesday (Dec 6th). In October, the plans to revamp various parts of the town moved a step closer with the news that £350,000 in regeneration cash had been awarded to the town.
Council bids for £75k hall grant
Exclusive: A DECISION about the future of Burnham-On-Sea's Princess Hall looks set to be made next week when the town council hears whether its bid for a £75,000 grant has been successful. We learn the town council is seeking a special 'reducing grant' to help defray its costs in running the hall.
Budding young chefs do battle!
BUDDING young chefs from Burnham-On-Sea battled it out when they took part in a nationwide Rotary Club Young Chef Competition this week. The event saw Year 11 students from King Alfred School prepare a two-course healthy meal for two teenagers with a budget of £5.
Warning on 'over development'
CONCERNED town councillors have this week warned that hundreds of homes being built in Highbridge are leaving the town at a 'tipping point'. The comments came as 169 new homes are set to be built on land at Springfield Road and 45 homes are earmarked nearby.
New PCSOs join town police
THREE new Police Community Support Officers have started work in Burnham-On-Sea this week as part of an ongoing crackdown on local crime. A total of 11 PCSOs are now patrolling the Burnham and Cheddar police sector, with five having joined in the past four months.
Crash closes busy town street
A BUSY Burnham-On-Sea road came to a standstill on Monday afternoon (December 4th) after a two-car accident. The tea-time collision, pictured, occurred in Oxford Street during wet and windy conditions. It led to delays for commuters using the busy route as police temporarily closed off the road.
80mph winds cause damage
POWERFUL 80mph winds swept through Burnham-On-Sea in the early hours of today (Sunday Dec 3rd), causing major damage in several parts of the town. A shop front in the High Street was blown away by the gales and several trees were down in the area.
Town braced for strong winds
BURNHAM-On-Sea residents are being warned to brace themselves for heavy rain and gale-force winds overnight tonight, Saturday Dec 2nd. The Met Office warns we should expect extremely windy weather on Saturday night from midnight until Sunday at 6am.
Threshers vouchers being honoured
BURNHAM-On-Sea's Threshers wine shop was 'considerably busier than normal' on Saturday (Dec 2nd) as Internet users took advantage of a voucher offer that has exploded over the Web. Threshers, which has stores across the county, fears its profits could be hit.
'Jim'll Fix It' TV crew in town
A TV crew from UK Gold will be filming at Sanders Garden World, near Burnham-On-Sea, on Wednesday (Dec 6) for the re-launch of the popular TV show Jim’ll Fix It, which will be back on the air next spring. The crew will be recording inside the Circus Americano big top.
Trinity Rise lights up for Xmas!
A BURNHAM-On-Sea cul-de-sac whose impressive display of Christmas lights was featured on national TV last year has burst into festive colour again this week when residents lit up their homes. Crowds of onlookers watched the eight Trinity Rise homes on Friday (Dec 1st).
Tremor shakes Bristol Channel
A SMALL earth tremor briefly rumbled underneath the Bristol Channel on Thursday evening (Nov 30th). The British Geological Survey - a group that monitors UK earthquakes - said on Friday the small quake had measured 1.6 on the Richter Scale at 9.51pm.
Police warn on festive crime
CHRISTMAS shoppers in Burnham-On-Sea were urged on Thursday (Nov 30th) not to leave gifts on show in parked vehicles. The warning from Burnham Police came at the start of a fresh bid to reduce the number of car break-ins in the town during the run-up to Christmas.
Town's tourist centre praised
THE quality of customer service at Burnham-On-Sea's Tourist Information Centre has been praised in a new report out this week. The seafront-based centre finished in the top three places in an annual 'Mystery Shopper' test operated by the regional tourist board.
Mayor to open learning centre
A NEW Active Living Centre is set to be opened in Burnham-On-Sea during December by the town's Mayor. The facility, overseen by Somerset County Council and Age Concern, is to be opened at Burnham Community Centre by Cllr Eric Gill (pictured) on December 8th.
Family rescued from blaze
A FAMILY of four was rescued by firefighters on Wednesday night (Nov 29th) after being trapped by a blaze in their Highbridge home. Firefighters from Burnham and Taunton rushed to Morland Road at 9pm after two adults and two children became trapped in an upstairs bedroom of their home.
MPs debate unitary status
BURNHAM-On-Sea MP David Heathcoat-Amory took the debate on the controversial issue of local government reorganisation in Somerset to the House of Commons on Tuesday night (November 28th). The debate came just days after a County Council vote on the plan.
Brent Knoll goes back in time!
BRENT Knoll Parish Hall will be transformed into an old time Music Hall on Saturday (December 2nd) when villagers hold a night of music and fun from across the ages. The village's popular Christmas Review returns with the theme 'Olde Tyme Music Hall'.
45 new homes given the nod
DISTRICT planners have given the green light for Barratt to build 45 homes and an office block on land north of Worston Road in Highbridge. The proposal was given delegated permission at the latest meeting of Sedgemoor's development control committee.
Lelaina Hall case is settled
THE mother of five year-old Lelaina Hall, who died at Berrow, near Burnham-On-Sea, in 2002 has settled her legal case with Sedgemoor District Council out of court. A brief statement issued by the council on Monday said: "The matter has been settled out of court."
Photo special: Brent Knoll Race
BLUE skies and bright winter sunshine provided ideal conditions for the 77 runners who took part in the annual Brent Knoll Race on Sunday morning (Nov 26th) The athletes began the 5.5 mile course in Burnham-On-Sea and wended their way across the fields to the knoll.
Third crash at dangerous bend
A BURNHAM-On-Sea motorist had a lucky escape when his car skidded off a road and into a ditch. Police tape still marked the spot on Monday, pictured, where a Peugeot 306 ended up on its side in a ditch besides Stoddens Lane following the accident at 6pm on Friday.

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