Weston-super-Mare news, events and sport

Nearly 250 homes secured for Locking village

12:00 Mellissa Dzinzi

248 homes to be built at Handley Place in Locking Parklands

St. Modwen Homes has secured planning permission to build 248 'high quality' homes in Locking Parklands.

Myra takes on charity skydive in husband's memory this spring

11:00 Lily Newton-Browne

Myra Birdsall will skydive in memory of her husband David in aid of The PSP Association.Picture: MARK ATHERTON

A 79-year-old woman will skydive for charity in memory of her husband in May.

Readers debate Weston's making Top 10 'most welcoming' places

11:00 Gareth Newnham

Weston's seafront.

Picture: MARK ATHERTON

Mercury readers have debated Weston's being named one of the most 'welcoming' places in the UK.

Picture Past: Burnham ablaze and Cheddar growing pains

Yesterday, 11:00 Gareth Newnham

Sunday afternoon's scene on slopes above Burrington Coombe. There was no snow in Weston, but by contrast the Mendips were a winter fairyland. Picture: WESTON MERCURY

Councillors in Cheddar said the village needed to be able to grow after new population caps were proposed by the Weston settlement policy.

Flood prevention works start next week

Yesterday, 10:00 Gareth Newnham

Works to protect homes in Highbridge from flooding start on Monday.

Public invited to stargazing event next month

Yesterday, 08:00 Mellissa Dzinzi

People are being invited to learn about the effects of light pollution

A star-gazing session to educate people of the effects of light pollution on the environment is to be held next month.

Community fight to keep village shop open

Yesterday, 07:00 Lily Newton-Browne

Caroline Chennells and John Mathews standing beside Brent Knoll Village Shop.Picture: John Mathews

A village shop will close next month after its owner faced a 'major challenge' to keep it open.

World Book Day returns next month

10:00 Gareth Newnham

Libraries across North Somerset are inviting families to celebrate World Book Day with them next month.

Five things to do in Weston this weekend

Fri, 13:47 Mellissa Dzinzi

Jess from Splat Messy Play running a slime workshop at Weston Museum.

Picture: MARK ATHERTON

From speed dating to messy workshops, everyone can find something to take part in.

Cycling festival to return to North Somerset

Fri, 10:42 Henry Woodsford

Keen cyclists and families are invited to take part in the Gert Lush vintage bike festival in Bristol this spring.

Win WIN: Dubliners tribute Seven Drunken Nights returns to Weston

Fri, 08:49 Gareth Newnham

Prestige Productions' Seven Drunken Nights.

A tribute to one of Ireland's most beloved bands returns to Weston on March 15, and readers could win tickets to the show that promises audiences a Rare Auld Time.

Opera Boys return to The Playhouse

Wed, 15:00 Gareth Newnham

The Opera Boys appear at Weston Playhouse on February 22

Vocal harmony quartet The Opera Boys return to Weston's Playhouse Theatre with an all new show this weekend.

Imaginarium owner releases first issue of his own comic anthology series

Tue, 19:00 Gareth Newnham

The owner of Meadow Street comic shop, Imaginarium. Alan Holloway has written and released the first issue of anthology comic series, Sentinel. Picture: Gareth Newnham

A Weston comic shop owner is celebrating the launch of his very own series this week.

Win tickets to The Red Shoes at Bristol Hippodrome in March

Tue, 18:00 Lily Newton-Browne

Bristol Hippodrome will host The Red Shoes production in March. Picture: New Adventures

Matthew Bourne's double Olivier award-winning musical The Red Shoes will be performed at Bristol Hippodrome next month.

In The Dock

Monday, February 3, 2020 Vicky Angear

The following cases were heard at North Somerset Courthouse in St Georges from January 6-29.

Paedophile who sent picture of his penis to '13-year-old girl' jailed

Thursday, January 30, 2020 Henry Woodsford

Peake was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court.

A Weston man who encouraged a girl to teach her eight-year-old sister to masturbate has been jailed.

Public invited to stargazing event next month

Yesterday, 08:00 Mellissa Dzinzi

A star-gazing session to educate people of the effects of light pollution on the environment is to be held next month.

Housing developer offers young people behind-the-scenes access to sites

Fri, 14:00 Mellissa Dzinzi

The week-long event will be taking place across the country

A housing developer is to open its doors to young people in a bid to inspire them to consider a career in construction and development.

Darren Palmer, who is registered blind, had to undergo a number of surgeries to save what little remains of his sight after opticians noticed there was high pressure on his eyes caused by traumatic glaucoma from an accident years prior.

Sport News

Dean Dodge remains undefeated after beating Sean Davis

Yesterday, 14:51 Josh Thomas

Dean Dodge with Sean Davis after picking up his ninth win from his last 10 fights. (Picture: Josh Thomas.)

Dean Dodge was "on top of the world" after beating Sean Davis at the Wellsprings Leisure Centre in Taunton on Friday.

Cycling festival to return to North Somerset

Fri, 10:42 Henry Woodsford

Keen cyclists and families are invited to take part in the Gert Lush vintage bike festival in Bristol this spring.

Speedway: Somerset Rebels rocked by rider injury

Fri, 08:31

A sign at the entrance to the Oaktree Arena (pic Lily Newton-Browne)

Somerset co-promoter Garry May has been rocked by the news that Bradley Wilson-Dean has withdrawn from the team on medical advice.

Barrie bags top prize as Brean seniors survive Storm Dennis at February medal

Fri, 08:00

New women's captain Linda Edmondson (left) receiving her jacket from Lyn Bird at Brean Golf Club

The senior February medal was the only event to survive Storm Dennis at Brean Golf Club last week.

Weston set new date for their Somerset Cup Quarter Final with Taunton

Thu, 19:33

Weston have won the last two Somerset Cups including victory over Taunton Town last year. (Picture: Will.T.Photography.)

Holders Weston have announced a new date for their Somerset Premier Quarter Final tie with Taunton Town.

Netball: Trailblazer Bass enjoys Neville meeting

Thu, 16:00

Angela Bass with Tracey Neville before the filming session.

A member of Trailblazers Walking Netball Club was invited to a filming session with Tracey Neville to help promote the sport to the older generation after the completion of her UKCC Level One coaching course.

Lessons learnt says Weston boss Bartlett ahead of Dorchester trip

Thu, 14:00 Josh Thomas

James Waite celebrates scoring a hat-trick duirng Westons last game with Wimborne Town. (Picture: Mark Atherton).

Weston manager Scott Bartlett says his side have 'learned' how to cope with the disappointment of consecutive postponements ahead of the visit to Dorchester Town this Saturday.

Community fight to keep village shop open

Yesterday, 07:00 Lily Newton-Browne

A village shop will close next month after its owner faced a 'major challenge' to keep it open.

North Somerset businesses join forces to fight climate crisis

Fri, 17:15 Carrington Walker

Lee Savage, Aspen Services Sales Manager, Kay Thomas, Puxton Park Manager and Ian Sweeten, Aspen Services Managing Director

Two North Somerset businesses have banded together to help tackle the current climate crisis.

Poll Nationwide chain to close its Weston High Street unit

Wed, 09:34 Henry Woodsford

The Body Shop will close in the Sovereign Shopping Centre. Picture: Henry Woodsford

A High Street store has announced its closure in Weston town centre.

Imaginarium owner releases first issue of his own comic anthology series

Tue, 19:00 Gareth Newnham

A Weston comic shop owner is celebrating the launch of his very own series this week.

Readers discuss council's Super Weston initiative

Sunday, February 16, 2020 Gareth Newnham

Chris Fisher, from Weston Museum, Nicola Antaki from Turner Works and Alicja Borkowska from You & Me Architecture.

Readers discussed the launch of the council's new Super Weston initiative,

New care service opens in Weston

Friday, February 14, 2020 Vicky Angear

Owner, Grant Attwood, and registered manager Micala Small.

A new personalised care service for older people and adults with disabilities has opened up in Weston-super-Mare.

Nightclub to be refurbished after closure in Weston

Wednesday, February 12, 2020 Lily Newton-Browne

Club Vision will close at the end of the month. Picture: Lily Newton-Browne

A Weston nightclub will close at the end of the month.

Gallery PICTURES: eat:Weston team put on Christmas food festival

Tuesday, December 17, 2019 Tom Wright

Cocoa's hand made chocolates by Jemma Bristow at eat:Christmas festival. Picture: MARK ATHERTON

Somerset food producers filled the Winter Gardens as a festive food festival went down a storm.

Campaigners fighting for Lord Nelson call on 'icon' to be saved

Thursday, December 12, 2019 Tom Wright

Campaigners celebrating planning permission being refused for Lord Nelson at Cleeve to be turned into petrol station.

Picture: MARK ATHERTON

Campaigners fighting to protect a closed pub being bulldozed believe its historic significance should not be sacrificed for the benefit of a commercial venture.

Ad Feature Simply the best: award-winning fish and chips to take away - or delivered to your door

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 Lauren Knight

Blue Fish Co has just won the 2020 regional Good Food Award for Fish and Chips, thanks to its customers who voted for them. Picture: The Blue Fish Co / Coralie Kyriacou

Worle fish and chip shop has won a top regional food award. We spoke to the man behind the success, who has brought a convenience store spin to takeaway meals.

Gallery Weston pub reopens after refurbishment

Tuesday, December 10, 2019 Sarah Whitchurch

Stephen Metcalf and staff of the Landing Light pub after its refurbishment. Picture: MARK ATHERTON

The Landing Light in Weston has officially reopened with a ceremony for veterans.

Opinion REVIEW: Guardian food writer Felicity Cloake gives insightful talk at Wells Festival of Literature

Monday, October 28, 2019 Lily Newton-Browne

Felicity Cloake talks French cooking at Wells Festival Of Literature.Picture: Donna Kynaston

Award-winning Guardian food columnist, Felicity Cloake, gave a passionate talk about her latest book at Wells Festival of Literature this month, where she spoke about her tour around France by bike to sample the best of the country's culinary offerings.