News in Midsomer Norton and Radstock

Got a broken fridge freezer or need to get rid of some fence panels? These are two of the big waste items that you will be able to get rid of - for a fee - from Monday.

Bath & North East Somerset Council's bulky waste collections are restarting after a temporary pause due to the cronavirus pandemic.

MIDSOMER NORTON BRIEFING: Friday April 17

TODAY'S MIDSOMER NORTON: Sunrise 06:09 Sunset 20:10

RADSTOCK BRIEFING: Friday April 17

TODAY'S RADSTOCK: Sunrise 06:09 Sunset 20:10

More than 10,000 breaches of the coronavirus lockdown have been reported to Avon and Somerset Police.

Chief constable Andy Marsh said his officers get hourly updates of hotspots to speak to anyone not following the rules, handing out fines if they have to.

More than 10,000 breaches of the coronavirus lockdown have been reported to Avon and Somerset Police.

Chief constable Andy Marsh said his officers get hourly updates of hotspots to speak to anyone not following the rules, handing out fines if they have to.

Cancer counselling charity We Hear You (WHY) is continuing to offer free professional counselling to anyone affected directly or indirectly by cancer and life-threatening conditions. This includes those affected by coronavirus.

In addition to one-to-one counselling delivered by telephone or the Zoom video platform, WHY are going ahead with a planned taster day for their popular WHYoutdoors nature-based therapy courses on 6th May and an eight-week mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) course, led by Chris Barker of the University of Exeter.

Cancer counselling charity We Hear You (WHY) is continuing to offer free professional counselling to anyone affected directly or indirectly by cancer and life-threatening conditions. This includes those affected by coronavirus.

Clinical Manager Cath Wilkins says "It's been a challenging few weeks for everyone, but particularly for the people we support, who were already coping with the significant physical and emotional strain of a life-threatening diagnosis, whether directly or through someone close to them. Many are now also coping with disruption to treatment or the stress of increased vulnerability to the virus. Here at WHY we're delighted to say that despite having to close our face-to-face services, we're still supporting around 100 people each week over the phone or online."

The ban on plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds has been delayed due to coronavirus outbreak.

The government 's environment department DEFRA announced today (16 April) that the ban is being delayed until October.

Almost every family in Bath and North East Somerset has been offered one of their overall preferences for primary school places in 2020-21.

Figures out today show 98.08 per cent of applications received one of their overall preferences with 93.05 per cent getting their first preference of primary school.

There has been a media statement about the Midsomer Norton care home, Combe Lea.

The statement is as follows: