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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
£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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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