GFM wants to move out of 'too-hot, too-cold' premises

September 9, 2013, 6:23 am

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Too hot in summer. Too cold in winter. That is one of the problems with the temporary building housing GFM, the community radio station run by volunteers for Glastonbury, Street, Wells and surrounding villages. "We are working in a big black metal box with no heating," said station manager Bob Lloyd. "There is no soundproofing so we can't open the windows when we broadcast. "It is a sauna in the summer, an icebox in the winter. "Disabled access is almost impossible and dust from the Morlands industrial park where we are sited gets into the equipment." The solution is a purpose-built studio in the adjacent Red Brick Building at Glastonbury and work has already started. Cost will be £30,000 and £3,000 has already been raised. The weekend shift at Clarks warehouse in Street raised £750 with a sponsored walk from Wells to Glastonbury. A music gig at the King Arthur pub in Glastonbury brought £450 and £500 was donated by Glastonbury Festivals. A further £1,000 was raised by Mr Lloyd, a fireman with 30 years' experience, giving fire risk assessments and fire safety training across mid-Somerset. Other fundraising events include a music quiz at The Hawthorns in Northload Street, Glastonbury from 8.30pm on September 18 (entry £2 on the door) and a dinner dance at Compton Dundon Village Hall on Friday, October 25. "Please help us raise the rest of the money," said Mr Lloyd. "You can phone us on 01458 835299 with fundraising ideas, details on donating or tickets for the dinner dance. "Or email me on admin@glastonburyfm.org.uk." GFM can be heard online at www.glastonburyfm.co.uk and on

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The Railway Inn Rev Up £1700 for charity

September 9, 2013, 7:18 am

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THE Railway Rev Up in Meare raised a whopping £1,700 over the weekend all in aid of a good cause. The fundraising event, held at the Railway Inn, Meare, displayed vintage tractors, steam engines, fire engines, ambulances, motorbikes and classic cars as well as held a Tombola and raffle. raises money for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Organiser Ivan Sparks said: "We had a fantastic weekend, we had fantastic weather, even though the forecast wasn't great. "We had a very good turnout." The Sparks family of Street had the idea for the event when attending a rally. It started as a get together with vintage tractors and other engines on display in 2007. They raised £600 from a raffle, which they donated to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and decided to make it an annual event. Ivan's father owns and runs the Railway Inn.

Slow start proves costly for Midsomer Norton 2nd XV

September 9, 2013, 9:50 pm

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North Petherton RFC 2nd XV 48 Midsomer Norton RFC 2nd XV 26 Midsomer Norton 2nds paid the price for being too slow to get up to speed after the summer break as they were beaten by North Petherton in Somerset 1. They conceded three tries in the opening 30 minutes but Norton slowly clawed their way back into contention and showed what a good side they can be in the remainder of the game. The front row of Adam Wilkinson, Tim Sheppard and Darren Barnes were powerful all afternoon, repeatedly driving bigger opposition backwards, which allowed scrum-half to score their first points from a five-metre scrum. Fly-half Steve Penny added the conversion and was only narrowly off target with a penalty which came back off the post, while debutant winger Dan Teare was equally unlucky not to score a try after rounding his man but just stepping into touch. The second half saw Julian Hawkins go over for Norton after a fine run by fellow flanker Tyrone Moss. A delicate chip in behind from captain Ian Tiley then forced Petherton to concede a five-metre lineout. From this, the pack did the work as they drove number eight Jamie Rose over another try. But as in the opening stages, Norton were guilty of losing concentration at key moments and this allowed their hosts to gain two quick tries to ensure they were out of reach. The visitors responded with a bonus-point try, though, as the Norton lineout again worked to perfection to drive hooker Sheppard over for a well-deserved try on his return to action after a long lay-off. Penny again converted but Petherton had the final say when their centre, from a suspiciously offside position, gained an interception and raced the length of the field to touch down. Norton entertain Wells 2nds on Saturday.

Man ordered to court for motoring offences

September 9, 2013, 10:00 pm

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A GLASTONBURY man has been ordered to appear in court on September 23 to be sentenced on motoring charges as he could face being given a driving ban. Raymond Neale, aged 48, of Ferryman Road, pleaded guilty by post to charges of driving without insurance and without a licence after he was pulled over by police on June 10. Somerset Magistrates were told that the defendant was driving a Citroen van in Ferryman Road when police carried out checks on his vehicle. During these checks they found he was not insured and had an expired provisional licence. After hearing that the defendant already had six penalty points on his licence the case was adjourned for him to appear before the court at Yeovil later this month as he could be disqualified from driving under the totting up procedure.

Family harvest celebration in Street

September 9, 2013, 10:00 pm

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A FAMILY fun day and harvest celebration was held on Saturday by Street Baptist Church. The event took place at Church field, Glaston Road, and included a lunchtime barbecue followed by afternoon tea. There was entertainment for all ages with demonstrations, sports, quizzes, craft tent, face painting and more. A music concert was held from 5.30pm to 7pm, before starting again at 8.15pm, after the harvest celebration and hog roast was enjoyed.

Midsomer Norton RFC up and running with Cirencester victory

September 9, 2013, 10:15 pm

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Midsomer Norton RFC 1st XV 14 Cirencester RFC 1st XV 9 Midsomer Norton 1st XV began their first-ever season in Western Counties North with an important win against a strong Cirencester side on Saturday. The hosts found themselves under the cosh from the off, with Cirencester taking advantage of the wind and slope to keep Norton pinned down in their own half. The visitors' early pressure earned them a kick at goal after five minutes but the attempt drifted wide, after which Norton tightened up and conceded fewer kickable penalties. Strong runs from Cirencester's big forwards and their lively centre were met with strong tackles by lock Jamie Gimson, flanker Matthew Denning and centre Jack Rowles, who often left their opponents stunned on the floor as Norton's defence held firm. On the occasions that Norton were able to break into the opposition half and threaten the line, Cirencester were often forced to concede penalties to stop the onslaught. Scrum-half Ben Moon converted two of them, in the tenth and 20th minutes, to put the hosts ahead before Cirencester's number eight was shown a yellow card for persistently killing the ball. Despite this setback, the visitors were able to get on the scoreboard just before half-time with a penalty following a high tackle. Cirencester started the second half as they did the first, by missing a penalty, but Norton fly-half Ben Taylor was more accurate when presented with the same opportunity and increase the home side's lead to 9-3. Plenty of pre-season set-piece training allowed Norton to achieve domination in the scrum and, combined with a strong lineout and good breakdown skills, they took control of the game. Winger Jamie Verden was fed quick ball from a breakdown in the home side's half and proceeded to outstrip the defence to score the game's solitary try. Cirencester infringed again but this time Ben Taylor hit the post as the opportunity to increase Norton's advantage was squandered. The visitors closed the gap and, with the match entering the final 15 minutes, stepped up their game but Norton's defence was strong, with hooker Gareth Williams and winger Lee Withers putting in important tackles. The pressure eventually forced Norton to give away a penalty close to their line. Needing a try to win the game, Cirencester decided to run it but their prop dropped a pass from his scrum-half. Norton won the resulting scrum and cleared their lines, finishing the game back in Cirencester's half. Having got used to the standard expected, Norton should take great confidence from their both the result and their performance on the opening day. They are on the road this weekend as they travel to Drybrook. To celebrate their promotion to a higher division, Norton were presented with new playing kit before Saturday's game by sponsors Jayla Wilcox and Kiki Moyle of Simple Recruitment.

Villagers fundraising to stop clock chiming at wrong time

September 10, 2013, 12:33 am

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COLEFORD villagers are raising money to mend their idiosyncratic church clock. Puzzled villagers are often confused by the clock which strikes odd times, sometimes a dozen strikes at 2.25pm or one strike at 11am. Reverend Clarissa Cridland said: "We have been anxious to have our beloved clock mended, and working automatically so that we no longer have to climb the incredibly steep ladder to wind it." Two years ago, after obtaining quotations, the village set about fundraising. The set amount was raised through events organised by Shirley Newton, donations following funerals and from three generous parishioners. Rev Cridland said: "We thought we were there and we are now ready to obtain the faculty, the equivalent of church planning permission but we have been caught by the VAT. "New regulations affecting listed buildings came into effect in March this year." Due to these new regulations, parishioners need to raise more than £2,000. They have organised a number of fundraising events beginning with a quiz on Friday, September 13 at the Royal British Legion in Coleford, from 7.30pm. To book a table, call Shirley Newton on 01373 813451. To donate to the fund, contact Rev Cridland on 01373 812705 or visit www.colefordchurch.co.uk

New teacher's pet at Ansford Academy

September 10, 2013, 12:42 am

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OSIAN the puppy is the new 'teacher's pet' at Ansford Academy, and will feature in lessons following an intensive summer of training. The border collie, poodle crossbreed will play an active role in a wide range of educational projects and student welfare initiatives, including next year's Duke of Edinburgh expedition. The introduction of a school pooch is a pioneering venture supported by Crown Pet Foods that builds on the success of the Ansford Academy's earlier introduction of chickens, pigmy goats and bees. Alyson Evans, head of DT and art at Ansford Academy and the owner of Osian, said the initiative is a regional first and signs are encouraging that the new canine addition will prove to be a success. She said: "We're absolutely delighted with the enthusiastic response from students and the way that Osian has settled into his new academic surroundings. "It's still early days, but student interaction is already really good and I'm sure he'll have a very active role to play in everyday life at the school in the years ahead. "Now, after lots of puppy training during the summer holidays, we're confident Osian will be contributing to curriculum subjects as diverse as nutritional studies and art. "And we also believe he'll play an important role in everyday student welfare and helping our young people to develop their skills and responsibilities in other non-academic areas." The school's decision to proceed with the initiative followed a presentation of research findings by Year 11 students to the rest of the school and a thorough student consultation. The chosen breed was selected for intelligence, reliable behaviour and a very low risk of allergy. Ansford Academy headteacher Rob Benzie said: "The staff and pupils have really thought this through and there's been a great deal of planning behind the scenes. "We're determined to show what can be achieved and, as we start a new year at the academy, I'm sure all of his recent training will see Osian really come into his own – in academic areas as well as in the everyday welfare of all our young students. "I know many other schools across the region are watching our progress in this area with interest and very much hope to follow our lead."

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Children's Centres under threat

September 10, 2013, 2:30 am

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Somerset's children's centres could fall victim to county cuts. According to Andy Lewis, branch secretary of West Somerset Labour Party, Somerset County Council has already drawn up plans to shut most of the children's centres that provide support to families with young children. He said that little or no publicity has been given to this and that minds in county hall are already made up, with 27 of the 41 county-supported children's centres earmarked for closure. Mr Lewis says that voluntary organisations have been told this, with the suggestion that they can pick up the slack, despite the funding uncertainties they already face. A public consultation on the children's centres began on September 2 and is due to end on October 28. The consultation form is available on the county council's website. However unless you happen to look at the consultations section of the website you are unlikely to be aware of this. Mr Lewis called it a "public but secret consultation". The outcome will help determine the future of the county's children's centres. The potential closures come at a time when planners have warned of a boom in the number of young children that will cause childcare services to be overstretched. County council has denied accusations that a decision on closing children's centres has already been taken. A council spokesman said: "Somerset County Council wants to make it clear that there are no plans in place to close any children's centres in Somerset but it is our priority to ensure that a greater proportion of our resources goes on front line delivery, rather than management and buildings. "We are proposing to continue all the activities our children's centres provide but will be looking hard at where potential savings can be made and this may lead to delivering the same services in a different way. We are looking at how to do this in the most efficient way and that might mean sharing buildings such as village halls, libraries or GP surgeries to keep costs down. "We are in the process of a public consultation that will last until the end of October. The results will be collated and a recommendation will be put forward to Cabinet in November. We are asking parents and members of the public for their views by visiting http://www.somersetconsults.org.uk/consult.ti and completing our on-line questionnaire." The council came in for heavy criticism last month when Ofsted's report on Children's Services in Somerset graded them as inadequate and highlighted serious shortcomings in leadership and governance. Somerset County Council at any one time has more than 1,500 children in need of support, with around 300 subject to child protection plans. The latest inspection took place at the end of June and looked at Arrangements for the Protection of Children. Lib Dems were quick to point out that in 2009 under their administration services were judged as "outstanding" and said it was unacceptable for standards to have plummeted.

Bath City offering additional training for youth footballers

September 10, 2013, 4:00 am

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Additional coaching sessions for footballers aged 15 and 16 are being offered by Bath City. Designed to supplement regular club training, they get under way on Monday and will run every week from 5.30-7pm at Writhlington School, in Radstock. Bath City head of youth Billy Clark, who will lead the sessions, said: "Most clubs train a couple of times a week but not on Mondays, so this gives players another chance to get some coaching. "It also provides us with the opportunity to spot some talent for the future." Anyone interested in attending should call Billy Clark on 07968 086836 or bclark@wsbe.org.uk.

Solar farm scheme wins approval despite fears over visual impact

September 12, 2013, 6:30 am

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A SOLAR farm on the outskirts of Frome has been given the go-ahead, despite many residents objecting to the scheme.

The application, which was submitted by Monksham Power, is based at Monksham Farm, in Marston Bigot, and had been recommended for approval by Mendip planning officer Laura McKay.

But last month a decision on the proposals was deferred so that councillors could conduct a site visit.

On Wednesday evening's planning board meeting, held at Kilver Court, in Shepton Mallet, councillors heard from planning officer Laura McKay that her previous recommendation to approve the scheme still applied, with the applicant adding more trees to try to alleviate the visual impact element of the plans.

The application had received more than 60 letters of objection, with two in support.

Angle Yeoman spoke against the application and said there should be no compromise in protecting the valley.

She said: "The whole of the valley is unspoilt and deserves to remain so. Why not put these sort of things on brownfield sites along the side of a motorway. 30,000 solar panels is criminal and there should be no compromise in dispense of our heritage."

Mrs Yeoman added that the added tree screening would not come into affect for more than 15 years and urged councillors to vote for it to be refused.

Trudoxhill parish councillor John Salmon said its main concern was to protect the beauty of the valley.

Mr Salmon said: "The size of this is just unacceptable.

"We who are custodians should protect it.

"Although solar panels has its place it should not be at any price."

Jonathan Thompson, of Green Nation, who had put together the proposal, said the land was of low agricultural grade, would be re-instated when it expires in 25 years time and the company had agreed additional planting to lessen the visual impact.

Mr Thompson said the impact to the nearby Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty would be minimal and said it was the right proposal in the right location.

Councillors were divided on the application, discussing at length the visual impact and the possible harm to the countryside.

After much debate they voted in favour by seven votes to five, with one abstention.

Memorial bench tribute to birthday boy Drew Eastaff

September 12, 2013, 6:30 am

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A FROME man has been honoured by his colleagues with a memorial bench.

Drew Eastaff, who would have celebrated his 21st birthday on Monday, died suddenly in April after a night out with friends in Frome.

He had been a care worker for several months at Somerset Care before his death and made many friends in that short space of time.

His colleagues began a collection soon after hearing the sad news and decided to honour him with a bench. It was unveiled on Monday in front of his colleagues, family, including mother Teresa Payne, cousin Lina, aunt Sharon and grandparents.

Operations manager Kim Dominey was given the honour of unveiling the bench.

Jenny Futcher, Drew's supervisor, said: "I only knew him for a short time but felt like we had known him for a lifetime.

"We wanted to mark his 21st birthday with something special and that is why we chose the bench.

"We started a collection soon after he died. We were a little bit short so contacted Whitehall Garden Centre, in Lacock, who donated the rest, for which we are very grateful.

"The bench is here for a reason and that is for anyone who knew Drew to come and sit and enjoy it."

His mother said she was deeply touched by what the staff had done.

Mrs Payne said: "I feel really humbled that the staff have done this for him.

"I'd like to thank Somerset Care and all the staff and colleagues who donated to the wonderful bench."

There is a birthday party in memory of Drew on Saturday from 8pm at Frome Rugby Club and anyone that knew him is welcome. It is in aid of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

Cricket match for Rusty nets £3,000

September 12, 2013, 7:30 am

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A CRICKET match held in memory of a man who played the game for more than 35 years has raised £3,000.

The match was held on Sunday in tribute to 50-year-old Michael Rustell, known as Rusty, who died in a car crash in February.

The father of four was born and brought up in Beckington and had played for the cricket club since he was 15, and was its longest serving member.

On the day there were eight teams of ten players in fancy dress. Players wore orange curly wigs, Hawaiian costume, there was the Class of 79 complete with pom pom cheerleaders, people dressed as Abba and Rugrats.

Up to 300 family and friends were there to support the teams and there was a hog roast, cricket teas, a bar and raffle.

During the event there was also the unveiling of a bench in memory of both Mr Rustell and his best friend Terry Ellis, who died a few months before the accident. The bench was paid for by Beckington Cricket Club and the Class of 79, past pupils for Frome Community College who staged a recent reunion.

Music and commentary was supplied by Mike Ford. There was a bottle of beer for everyone who caught a six behind the boundary, many tried but nobody caught a single catch.

The tournament was won by Julian's Pub Team, which included Mr Rustell's son Charlie who was following in his father's footsteps and blasted the ball to all parts of the boundary in the final to win the closely fought game.

One of the organisers, Gary Peters said: "It was a fitting tribute to a great servant to Beckington Cricket Club and a man that will be sorely missed by so many people.

"Next year the aim is to make it even bigger and better than this year's event if possible"

Jason Bryant's favourite: badgers at Glastonbury Abbey

September 12, 2013, 10:00 pm

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PHOTOGRAPHER Jason Bryant's favourite picture of the week is this image of badgers spotted in Glastonbury. Jason says: "I love badgers and foxes. I love cows too and most of the farmers I meet. "This picture was taken of badgers who live at Glastonbury Abbey – there are two setts housing 20 badgers. "My guide was top photographer Alison Hickman who has been giving badger walks at the abbey throughout the spring and summer. "On Friday night the abbey will be lit up and there will also be lots of entertainment, it's open at 6pm, £3 for adults and £2 for children, and well worth a visit."

Badgers in shock attack on walker and his dog

September 12, 2013, 10:00 pm

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ONE man and his dog had a nasty surprise when badgers attacked them during an evening walk. John Harvey, of North Wootton, was walking Dolly near his home when he was charged by one badger while another bit Dolly's tail. Mr Harvey said: "It was quite scary at the time. It was just after dark. I regularly walk the dog at that time and I see badgers often. Usually they are 10 to 20 yards away and they are passive. "But this time when we passed a storm drain a badger came out of it and charged straight towards us. "It charged into me and I put the torch on it and gave it a kick. It ran between my legs. "Then another badger came from the other side of the road and went for the dog. It bit her tail and she span round and growled at it. "Both badgers then rocketed off into the hedge. "It all took place in a few seconds." Pauline Kidner, founder of wildlife charity Secret World, has been working with badgers for 25 years. She was surprised to hear about the incident. She said: "I've never heard of badgers coming out and attacking someone. "Badgers are very shy. If they get the chance to run away they will. A badger would never fight a dog unless it had no choice. "The only thing I can think of is if it was ill but I can't think of an illness that would make it do that. "In my opinion this is very, very abnormal behaviour." Dolly did not need to go to the vet – but she was reluctant to go for a walk for some days afterwards. Mr Harvey said: "She just kept sitting down in the road and refusing to move. We're used to thinking of them as cuddly passive animals but they're not always. "I've got no explanation for it. Maybe it's an aggressive group or the area is over-populated. "My advice would be to take a torch with you. They didn't seem to like having it shone on them."

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Ten best things to do in mid-Somerset this week: September 13 to 18

September 12, 2013, 10:00 pm

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SEE how many of the top ten things to do in mid-Somerset you can get through this week: 1. Catch a film at Wells Cinema Center or Strode Theatre. 2. Have a laugh at Travestees Comedy Club in Glastonbury on Wednesday. 3. Enjoy some culture on the big screen with Puccini's Turandot at Strode Theatre on Tuesday. 4. Marvel at the circus comedy of Hors Piste with Take Art at Batcombe Jubilee Hall on Saturday. 5. Treat your other half to a nice bouquet from Acacia Flowers in Wells. 6. Clash swords with the Medieval Combat Society at Wells' Bishop's Palace on Sunday. 7. Tuck into the Incredible Incredible Edible Somerset Open Gardens Scheme on Saturday and Sunday around the county. 8. Join fellow horse riders for a historic tour of Black Down on Sunday. 9. Take a stab at this week's recipe. 10. Don't miss a thing with our comprehensive what's on and gig guide..

Lesson in renewables for Bruton kids

September 12, 2013, 10:00 pm

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PUPILS from Bruton Primary School were this week the first children to be given a lesson in sustainable farming by Wyke Farms. Children from Years 5 and 6 took a tour of the farm's newly constructed biogas plant, which will use waste material from the farm to produce energy. When the Biogas plant launches, Wyke Farms will be the first national cheddar company to be self-sufficient in green energy. The children were joined by Maureen Munkata and Josephine Chikuku, teachers from Mufulira Mine Basic School, Bruton Primary School's link school in Zambia. The schools are working on a sustainable development project together, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the partnership. The pupils will use their educational trip as inspiration to create centrepieces for Wyke Farms Green Initiative event which takes place on September 19. Mrs Munkata said: "It is a very good idea. We have similar centres in Zambia which use plants and natural material to create fuel. Recycling is very important in Africa – Nothing goes to waste and sustainability is taken seriously. "We will tell our school children about the visit to Wyke Farms when we return to Zambia. They will be very pleased to hear about it." Tara Hart, Maple class teacher at Bruton Primary, said: "It was a very informative visit and the children learned a lot about sustainable farming and cheese making. Wyke Farms is on our doorstep and we are all part of the same community so it's lovely to be involved in the project." Jennifer Gray, Wyke Farms' marketing manager, said: "It was a pleasure to welcome Bruton Primary School today and share our green vision with teachers from Mufulira Mine Basic School. We aimed for the visit to be fun and informative for the children, and teach them more about sustainable farming."

Have your say on Shepton

September 12, 2013, 10:00 pm

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SHEPTON Mallet residents have a chance to shape their neighbourhood over the next five weeks. A consultation is being held in Mendip to allow people to have their say on the boundary of the new Neighbourhood Plan, which is being prepared by Shepton Mallet town council. The Localism Act 2011 introduced new rights and powers for communities to shape new development by preparing Neighbourhood Plans for their areas. This will make it easier for local people to influence how new development takes place in their communities. Shepton Mallet Town Council decided last year to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan and since then a number of consultation events have been held to find out the views of the public on the issues that are important in the town. The Neighbourhood Plan regulations state that Parish and Town councils should formally apply to the district council to agree an appropriate Neighbourhood Area which the plan will relate to. In making a decision, the district council must first notify potentially affected parties and invite comments as part of a consultation. The consultation, which will began on September 12 and runs for six weeks, will allow the local people of Shepton Mallet and the surrounding areas to notify Mendip District Council of any comments they have on the extent of proposed Neighbourhood Plan areas. The consultation exercise is seeking views from people who live and work in Shepton Mallet as to whether the area that has been identified is considered to be appropriate. At this stage, the consultation is concentrating on the Neighbourhood Plan boundary with future consultations being held to allow local residents to comment on the content of the plan. Anna Blackburn, senior planning policy officer at Mendip District Council said: "We would urge local residents to respond to this consultation if they think that the boundary being used should be different from what is now proposed. "Shepton Mallet will be consulting directly on their draft plans in coming months and at that time local people will be asked to comment on specific local sites, projects and policies being proposed. Cllr Nigel Woollcombe-Adams, portfolio holder for built environment, said: "The new Localism Act is of great benefit to smaller communities as it will allow them to work with their local parish or town council to shape development in their area. "Consultation is a vital part of this as it allows everyone a chance to become involved at any stage of the process. This is an opportunity that I urge other towns and villages to get involved with before it's too late." The proposal is available to be viewed online at www.mendip.gov.uk/neighbourhoodplanning as well as at the district council offices. If you wish to comment on the applications you can do so by emailing planningpolicy@mendip.gov.uk or in writing to Mendip District Council, Cannards Grave Road, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5BT.

Autumn 10k runs in Shepton and Castle Cary

September 12, 2013, 10:00 pm

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RUNNERS from across the south west will head to Somerset next month for two events in Shepton Mallet and Castle Cary. The towns will each host a 10k run. Castle Cary's takes place on October 13 and Shepton's on October 27. The Castle Cary 10k has become a firm fixture in the endurance running circuit. 146 competitors took part in 2012 and many more are expected to participate in this year's event. The Castle Cary 10k has become popular with runners since its launch two years ago as the route takes in a tough terrain with breath-taking views of Glastonbury Tor, King Alfred's Tower and Bruton Lodge Hill Fort. The event also prides itself as a great day for families as it hosts a 1k junior event for children and a programme of gym challenges, racquet sports and a bouncy castle at Caryford Fitness & Leisure Centre. New for 2013 is the Shepton Mallet 10K which starts at Shepton Mallet Leisure Centre and leads runners past the famous prison and through the town's winding streets and out into some scenic country lanes. The 1K junior event for children is also part of the activities on the day at the leisure centre. The Castle Cary 10K and Shepton Mallet 10K are part of the new 1610 Triathlon and 10K race series which is being organised in partnership with Total Buzz events. Competitors in both races are invited to run for Macmillan Cancer Support which is the designated 1610 Charity of the Year. Both runs start at 10am from their respective leisure centres and entry costs £10 for unaffiliated members. No refunds will be made for cancellations and entrants must be over 15 years old. For more information contact Emma Warr on 01823 410228 or at ewarr@1610.org.uk

The brothers who hit double centuries 25 years apart

September 12, 2013, 10:05 pm

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Double centuries are rare in any form of cricket but Midsomer Norton CC can boast two brothers to have achieved the feat – 25 years apart. Chris Tabb smashed 201 not out off 153 deliveries, including 26 boundaries and four sixes, as Norton's 2nd XI beat Nationwide House CC in the final match of the 2013 West of England Premier League Wiltshire Division season. In reaching the milestone, he matched the achievements of brother Nigel, who hit his double century in a 1988 fixture against Blagdon CC. Nigel, who ended his knock on 205 not out, was at the wicket with Chris in his recent innings when the brothers shared a partnership of 133 for the second wicket.