Latest news with #BBCRadioSomerset
BBC News
25-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Weeks-old badgers picked up in 'miracle' Somerset rescue
Three badger cubs, thought to be only weeks old, have been rescued after being found on the side of a village road.A driver spotted them on the 7 April in South Petherton in Somerset, while the body of what was believed to be the cubs' mother was spotted further down the cubs were handed over to be cared for at Secret World Wildlife Rescue near Highbridge and named Dr Pepper, Pepsi and they arrived at the rescue centre, they were malnourished and covered in fleas, with Secret World staff adding it was a "miracle" the cubs survived so long. Katie Gibbs, a supervisor at the centre, said: "I've never seen that many [fleas] on a single animal before."They were weak, frightened, and desperately in need of help. It's a miracle they survived as long as they did on their own." Wildlife carer Yas Bennett told Vicki Clark at Breakfast on BBC Radio Somerset the team at the centre were initially sceptical about three cubs being found together."We asked for video and bless them, we found out their mum had passed away and those poor babies had been running up to the mum's body to find food from her."Luckily we were able to go out and collect them and they've been here ever since."Ms Bennett said the cubs were initially bottle fed and are slowly being introduced to solid foods. The charity has launched an appeal in recent weeks to raise £20,000 towards its vet costs, saying in the last two years, those outgoings have increased by 27%.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Millions wasted' if new rail station does not open
Millions of pounds will be wasted if plans to open a new railway station are cancelled, an MP has claimed. Proposals to build Wellington station in Somerset were paused last year by the government. Gideon Amos, the Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton and Wellington, said land has already been bought, meaning axing the project could end up costing the taxpayer. He will lead a delegation from the town to meet Lord Peter Hendy, the rail minister, later. "Millions of pounds has gone into it already, including land contributed... the access road has been contributed," Mr Amos said. A Department for Transport spokesperson said the authority is "committed to delivering transport infrastructure that will boost growth and opportunity across the whole country". "The government inherited an extremely challenging financial position, and these projects will be subject to the upcoming Spending Review," they added. More news stories for Somerset Listen to the latest news for Somerset Mr Amos told BBC Radio Somerset that the addition of a station would bring a financial benefit to the town, believing it has the highest cost-benefit of any station reopening project in the country. He added that all of the millions of pounds already sunk into the project will be wasted if the station is now axed. Town councillor Keith Wheatley, who is part of the delegation, said the main benefit of a station would be taking pressure off local roads for commuters. "Wellington is becoming a town full of new housing, and a lot of the people living there commute to jobs in Bristol or Exeter, so there's congestion on the M5 - they don't really have an alternative," he said. Mr Wheatley added there would also be aspirational benefits, allowing more young people to travel to nearby universities without the expense of renting accommodation. Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. New rail station will have 'very basic facilities' Calls for rail stations to be built amid urgent need MP wants clarity over plans for station reopening
BBC News
23-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'Millions wasted' if Wellington rail station is cancelled
Millions of pounds will be wasted if plans to open a new railway station are cancelled, an MP has to build Wellington station in Somerset were paused last year by the government. Gideon Amos, the Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton and Wellington, said land has already been bought, meaning axing the project could end up costing the taxpayer. He will lead a delegation from the town to meet Lord Peter Hendy, the rail minister, later."Millions of pounds has gone into it already, including land contributed... the access road has been contributed," Mr Amos said. A Department for Transport spokesperson said the authority is "committed to delivering transport infrastructure that will boost growth and opportunity across the whole country"."The government inherited an extremely challenging financial position, and these projects will be subject to the upcoming Spending Review," they added. Mr Amos told BBC Radio Somerset that the addition of a station would bring a financial benefit to the town, believing it has the highest cost-benefit of any station reopening project in the added that all of the millions of pounds already sunk into the project will be wasted if the station is now axed. Town councillor Keith Wheatley, who is part of the delegation, said the main benefit of a station would be taking pressure off local roads for commuters."Wellington is becoming a town full of new housing, and a lot of the people living there commute to jobs in Bristol or Exeter, so there's congestion on the M5 - they don't really have an alternative," he Wheatley added there would also be aspirational benefits, allowing more young people to travel to nearby universities without the expense of renting accommodation.
BBC News
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
BBC Radio Somerset presenters launch epic flag challenge
Four BBC Radio Somerset presenters are putting their friendship aside to celebrate Somerset Day with an unusual Charlie Taylor, morning host Simon Parkin and afternoon presenters Andy Bennett and Mel Everett will be pitting their flag-raising skills against each other in a celebration of all things winner, after three weeks of displaying the flags far and wide, will be crowned the king or queen of the public has also been asked to get involved to suggest places that the presenters could visit. Between now and Somerset Day on 11 May, the team will have to get their Somerset flags in front of the biggest group of people they can – anywhere in the will be looking for who can fly the flag in the most places, how far away it is, and how many people can get their eyes on the flag in the location it's in. Mel Everett, who can usually be heard on Charlie Taylor's show and is currently presenting on afternoons, got proceedings under way by flying her flag on the SS Great Britain in Bristol, just an hour or so after the challenge Charlie ran one of his flags up the flagpole at (the empty) county cricket ground in who has an idea for a location for the presenters to fly the flag from can use the links below to send their suggestions Simon ParkinSupport Mel EverettSupport Andy BennettSupport Charlie Taylor
BBC News
03-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Cat named after sitcom celebrates 25th birthday
Named Dibbley, due to the white mark below his chin which resembles a dog collar, he has been in the same family since a kitten, but came in to the home of Caroline Riley and her son ten years ago, after taking him in from an ex-partner. Rean Douglas, her son, mostly looks after the feline, and told BBC Radio Somerset's Charlie Taylor at Breakfast he has slowed down a lot in older age. "He does like to sleep, but he will... stretch around in his sleep and scare himself awake. "He still will jump up on me and cuddle - he's still a very cuddly guy." Ms Riley said: "I didn't think he'd go this long!" She added the secret to his long life is a famous brand of cat food, specifically the fish selection, and he also eats salmon oil to protect his coat. He has been given a bag of dreamies to celebrate his 25th, as well as a tin of tuna, a new collar and some cat licks. The oldest known cat in the country is 27, and lives in London, while the oldest cat ever was Creme Puff, from Texas in the US, who lived to be 38. And given Dibbley's clean bill of health, he is right on their tails.
