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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Storm Force Day

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 .
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.
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.
£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.
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.
£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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
'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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

WEATHER

Burnham-on-Sea
moderate rain
10.9 ° C
12 °
10.3 °
92 %
8.1kmh
100 %
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