Dan Ayers
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Multimedia Journalist @bbcsomerset 💻📻🎤 • BBC apprenticeship grad 🎓 • @JSchofieldTrust Fellow 🗣️ • Got a story? 📧 dan.ayers@bbc.co.uk
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Articles by Dan Ayers
Apology as cuts to 10 young carers' youth clubs scrapped
A councillor says she feels "appalled" that an overturned motion to cut youth club services for young carers caused distress to families. The proposal would have seen funding cut for 10 youth clubs from April to save £185,000, as part of ongoing efforts to prevent Somerset Council going bankrupt. But at a meeting on Wednesday, the decision to cease both the Young Carers in Schools (YCIS) programme and the Young Carers Clubs scheme was thrown out.
NHS staff 'angry' at plans to move to private firm
Service assistant Maria Harris said there was uncertainty about what was happening Hospital staff said they were "angry and frustrated" at plans to transfer them from their NHS trust to a firm owned by that trust, their union said. Hundreds of porters, housekeeping, maintenance and facilities workers could be affected by the change in Somerset. Some protested against the proposals at a rally in Taunton.
NHS staff 'angry' at plans to move to private firm
Hospital staff said they were "angry and frustrated" at plans to transfer them from their NHS trust to a firm owned by that trust, their union said. Hundreds of porters, housekeeping, maintenance and facilities workers could be affected by the change in Somerset. Some protested against the proposals at a rally in Taunton. Unison South West regional organiser Helen Eccles said staff were "really concerned" the move would "fragment the NHS".
Scything volunteers trained to protect rare bees
Follow Scything volunteers trained to protect rare bees Emily Beament - PA Media; Dan Ayers - Somerset Thu, September 17, 2026 at 10:51 AM EDT Scything is a traditional way of mowing grass, weeds, or harvesting grain by hand using a long-bladed tool [PA Media] A new team of volunteer scythers are being trained to help restore historic meadows and save one of Britain's rarest bees.
Scything volunteers trained to protect rare bees
A new team of volunteer scythers are being trained to help restore historic meadows and save one of Britain's rarest bees. Muchelney Abbey in Somerset, which is managed by English Heritage, is encouraging the ancient method of cutting grass to maintain a historic meadow at the abbey as it is one of the few areas in the UK where the shrill carder bee can still be found. Ed McGregor from Muchelney Abbey told BBC Radio Somerset: "If you take mowers in here, there's a risk that you can hurt them.
Hospital's emergency stroke unit closes
Follow Hospital's emergency stroke unit closes Dan Ayers; Matt Faulkner - Somerset Tue, September 8, 2026 at 1:13 PM EDT The unit for the most serious stroke cases at Yeovil District Hospital is closing [BBC] Stroke patients requiring urgent care in part of the West Country will be taken to hospitals 20 to 30 miles away from Wednesday, an NHS care board has confirmed.
Collector wants to reinstate 1909 boundary posts
A road signs collector wants to reinstate old cast-iron boundary posts that used to mark a county border in the 1900s. Tim Beer from near Winsham, Somerset, rescues and restores roadside heritage signs dating back to the 1700s, and has two of the original posts that marked the line between Somerset and Dorset from 1909 until boundary changes in 1963. He said he wants to use them to have more posts reproduced and hopes to return them to the places they once stood.
Collector wants to reinstate 1909 boundary posts
Dan Ayers - Somerset Tue, August 25, 2026 at 9:45 AM EDT 2 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Add Yahoo on Google Tim wants to reinstate the old boundary markings sign between Somerset and Dorset [BBC] A road signs collector wants to reinstate old cast-iron boundary posts that used to mark a county border in the 1900s.
Collector wants to reinstate 1909 boundary posts
Collector wants to reinstate 1909 boundary posts Tue 25 August 2026 at 1:45 pm UTC Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Tim wants to reinstate the old boundary markings sign between Somerset and Dorset [BBC] A road signs collector wants to reinstate old cast-iron boundary posts that used to mark a county border in the 1900s.
Illegal encampment waste 'worst seen' in 15 years
Illegal encampment waste 'worst seen' in 15 years Leigh Boobyer - Somerset; Dan Ayers Fri, August 21, 2026 at 2:15 p.m. UTC Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. A council director has said that 18 tonnes of waste was left at an illegal encampment when it was vacated. "There was a multitude of waste - probably the worst waste we have ever seen in traveller evictions for this council," said Scott Mason, director of amenities at Bridgwater Town Council.
Illegal encampment waste 'worst seen' in 15 years
Follow Illegal encampment waste 'worst seen' in 15 years Leigh Boobyer - Somerset; Dan Ayers Fri, August 21, 2026 at 10:15 AM EDT A council director has said that 18 tonnes of waste was left at an illegal encampment when it was vacated. "There was a multitude of waste - probably the worst waste we have ever seen in traveller evictions for this council," said Scott Mason, director of amenities at Bridgwater Town Council.
Sculpting sandcastles 'more tiring than you think'
A woman competing on a new BBC show in which competitors sculpt sand art said it was a "brilliant" and "tiring" experience. Athena Cauley Yu runs a stationery and calligraphy business in Bath, Somerset, and features in BBC Two's Race Against the Tide alongside professional sand sculptor Rachel Stubbs. The series sees seven teams battle it out to build spectacular sand sculptures before the tide washes them away in St Andrews, Scotland, with all episodes available on BBC iPlayer.
Woman 'buzzing' to join carnival with support dog
Follow Woman 'buzzing' to join carnival with support dog Fri, August 14, 2026 at 1:28 AM EDT Chloe Hammond and her assistance dog Ocho will be in a new accessible cart at carnival [Chloe Hammond] A woman has shared her excitement about a carnival club building a specially-adapted cart so she can take part.
Centuries-old lost gardens revealed by heatwave
Follow Centuries-old lost gardens revealed by heatwave Dan Ayers - Somerset; James Diamond - West of England Thu, August 13, 2026 at 1:18 AM EDT Drone shots at the Bishop's Palace in Wells reveal signs of an old garden, never seen before [Bishop's Palace] Traces of centuries-old gardens and buildings have been revealed by months of hot, dry weather.
'My baby overheated during M5 closure'
A mother says she would think twice before travelling on a hot day after her baby overheated while they were stuck in heavy traffic on the M5. Siobhan, from near Tiverton, Devon, was taking her nine-month-old daughter, Adora, to a swimming lesson in Taunton, Somerset, on 17 July when traffic ground to a halt following an incident on the motorway. "I started to panic because she was getting overheated and she was going bright red in the face," she said.
Air con demand 'unprecedented' as stocks run low
Dan Ayers - Somerset Homeowners face lengthy waits to have air conditioning units installed amid "unprecedented" demand and low stocks, business chiefs say. Leaders at Storm Gas, based in Bridgwater, Somerset, said since this summer's two heatwaves, their phone has not stopped ringing. But due to low stock, people are having to wait until September or October.
Chance of wildfire ignition 'never been so high'
A wildfires expert says she has never seen the UK be so at risk of a fire breaking out as the area experiences a record-breaking heatwave. Claire Belcher, who is an Exeter University professor, explained a fire prediction system built by a group of universities recorded the likelihood of a fire being ignited by a spark in Somerset at 100% on Wednesday.
Frustration as towns miss out on culture prize
Follow Frustration as towns miss out on culture prize Fri, July 10, 2026 at 12:57 PM UTC Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Nine places across the Somerset Council area have missed out on being the UK's first Town of Culture [BBC] A tourism boss has said it is "frustrating" that no places across the West Country have been shortlisted for the UK's first Town of Culture.
Frustration as towns miss out on culture prize
Dan Ayers - Somerset Fri, July 10, 2026 at 12:57 p.m. UTC 2 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Nine places across the Somerset Council area have missed out on being the UK's first Town of Culture [BBC] A tourism boss has said it is "frustrating" that no places across the West Country have been shortlisted for the UK's first Town of Culture.
Extra defence funding gives 'certainty' to businesses
Follow Extra defence funding gives 'certainty' to businesses Dan Ayers - West of England Tue, June 30, 2026 at 8:20 PM UTC Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. The government said there would be more of a focus on AI, autonomous and unmanned technology [PA Media] Defence manufactures say an extra £15bn in government military spending has given them greater confidence to invest and grow.
Penelope Keith 'was like part of the family'
Dame Penelope Keith starred alongside Peter Bowles in the TV series To the Manor Born The former owner of the estate where Dame Penelope Keith filmed hit BBC television series To the Manor Born has paid tribute to her after she died at the age of 86. John Taylor used to own the Cricket St Thomas estate and wildlife park near Chard in Somerset, where the show was filmed during the late 1970s and early 1980s He said: "There was no bad side to Penny, she was just an ordinary nice girl.
M5 delays after falling cable risk sparked closure
Dan Ayers - Somerset Fri, 26 June 2026 at 2:11 pm UTC 1 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. The M5 in Somerset has now reopened between J22 and J23 [National Highways] Delays remain on the M5 in Somerset after it was closed for more than an hour due to the risk that overhead electricity cables could fall into the road. The motorway was closed between junction 22 (Burnham-on-Sea) and junction 23 (Bridgwater North).
Risk of overhead cables falling leads to M5 closure
Follow Risk of overhead cables falling leads to M5 closure The M5 is shut in both directions in Somerset [National Highways] The M5 in Somerset is closed in both directions due to a risk that overhead electricity cables could fall into the road. The motorway is shut between J22 (Burnham-on-Sea) and J23 (Bridgwater North) with National Highways reporting delays of at least 45 minutes and four miles of congestion.
Could heatwaves eventually be the death of festivals?
If Glastonbury Festival had not been taking a fallow year, revellers would have been arriving during a rare red alert for heat and then faced days of extreme temperatures. Scientists are warning even hotter temperatures are likely in the years ahead, leaving some to fear for the future of major festivals. Susan Tanner is the CEO of the National Outdoor Events Association and was the events director at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta for 16 years.
Proposal to close Grade-II listed bingo hall
Dan Ayers; Kelly Withers - Taunton Sat, June 6, 2026 at 6:30 a.m. UTC 3 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. The Gaumont Palace used to be an entertainment venue before becoming a bingo hall in the 1980's [BBC] A Grade-II listed venue in a town centre could soon close after the operators say maintenance costs have made it "challenging" to continue.
Proposal to close Grade-II listed bingo hall
A Grade-II listed venue in a town centre could soon close after the operators say maintenance costs have made it "challenging" to continue. The Mecca Bingo hall in Taunton, Somerset, which opened as the Gaumont Palace Theatre in 1932 and has been a Bingo hall for 45 years, could close as early as Sunday. Mecca Bingo, who are still consulting on the plans, said the end of its lease on the venue, which "requires considerable repairs", was imminent.
Proposal to close Grade-II listed bingo hall
A Grade-II listed venue in a town centre could soon close after the operators say maintenance costs have made it "challenging" to continue. The Mecca Bingo hall in Taunton, Somerset, which opened as the Gaumont Palace Theatre in 1932 and has been a Bingo hall for 45 years, could close as early as Sunday. Mecca Bingo, who are still consulting on the plans, said the end of its lease on the venue, which "requires considerable repairs", was imminent.
Proposal to close Grade-II listed bingo hall
Dan Ayers; Kelly Withers - Taunton Sat 6 June 2026 at 6:30 am UTC 3 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. The Gaumont Palace used to be an entertainment venue before becoming a bingo hall in the 1980's [BBC] A Grade-II listed venue in a town centre could soon close after the operators say maintenance costs have made it "challenging" to continue.
Rare Roman ring found in field will go on display
The gold Roman ring found near Ilminster is thought to date back to 297 AD [BBC] An "extraordinary" Roman gold finger ring has been acquired by a heritage trust and will go on display at a museum. The ring, along with a hoard of coins, were discovered as part of an archaeological dig at land near Ilminster, Somerset, in 2018 by metal detectorist Kevin Minto.
Rare Roman ring found in field will go on display
Dan Ayers - Somerset Tue 2 June 2026 at 12:58 pm UTC 2 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. The gold Roman ring found near Ilminster is thought to date back to 297 AD [BBC] An "extraordinary" Roman gold finger ring has been acquired by a heritage trust and will go on display at a museum. The ring, along with a hoard of coins, were discovered as part of an archaeological dig at land near Ilminster, Somerset, in 2018 by metal detectorist Kevin Minto.
Felled tree transformed into prayer sculpture
The tree now has been tuned into a prayer sculpture [Tim Pearn] A tree dating back to the 1850's, cut down to protect a church, has been given a new lease of life as a prayer sculpture. The town council left the trunk of the cedar tree at North Petherton Cemetery near Bridgwater, Somerset, after felling the rest of it on "safety grounds" after storms brought down another tree last year.
Teen's rail crossing death was accidental - coroner
Harry Basham, pictured with his mum Leanne Golding, died on his way to work in October 2025 [Family Photo] The death of a teenager who was struck and killed by a train on a pedestrian railway crossing was an accident, a coroner has concluded. Harry Basham, 17, was hit by the train in Taunton, Somerset, as he walked to work at about 07:00 BST on 24 October 2025.
Campaigners warn key canal locks at risk of failure
A campaign is aiming to protect Somerset's canals [BBC] A campaign has been launched to protect a historic canal network amid concerns the waterways are deteriorating. The Help Our Canal campaign says several key lock systems on Bridgwater and Taunton Canal in Somerset could fail without investment. Georgina Hooper leads the community campaign and said: "Without locks, the canals die because they silt up, you don't get any movement of boats.
Campaigners warn key canal locks at risk of failure
A campaign has been launched to protect a historic canal network amid concerns the waterways are deteriorating. The Help Our Canal campaign says several key lock systems on Bridgwater and Taunton Canal in Somerset could fail without investment. Georgina Hooper leads the community campaign and said: "Without locks, the canals die because they silt up, you don't get any movement of boats.
'There's a lot of stigma about men being checked'
The NHS check-ups are available for anyone aged 40 to 74 years old [BBC] Health professionals are urging people to get free NHS checks, as the latest data shows only a third of people invited actually take them up. The NHS offers everyone aged between 40 to 74 a free "midlife MOT", providing they do not have prior cardiovascular conditions.
'There's a lot of stigma about men being checked'
Health professionals are urging people to get free NHS checks, as the latest data shows only a third of people invited actually take them up. The NHS offers everyone aged between 40 to 74 a free "midlife MOT", providing they do not have prior cardiovascular conditions. Gareth Elmes, from Somerset, urged people to get checked out after saying his test was "one of the easiest" he could have taken and everyone should "just do it".
Volunteers clean up 'eyesore' fly-tipped rubbish
Rubbish at the site on the edge of Glastonbury had been building up for three years [BBC] Mummified rats, bank cards and a bath-tub were some of the items found during a volunteer-led clean up after a pile of fly-tipped rubbish created an "eyesore" in a Somerset town. About 40 volunteers in Glastonbury have been involved in clearing up the site by the A39 and Red Brick Building after more than three years of rubbish building up on a disused car park.
The lake which flooded an entire valley of villages and farmland
Construction of Chew Valley Lake in North East Somerset began in the 1950s [Bristol Water] Seventy years ago, Queen Elizabeth II unveiled a plaque at the brand new lake in the rural area of North East Somerset. Chew Valley Lake was open for business. The need for new drinking water had grown in the nearby city of Bristol and the decision was taken to flood a whole valley to make way for the reservoir. Farmland, villages, homes and even a church disappeared.
The lake which flooded an entire valley of villages and farmland
Meghan Markle swaps skinny jeans for a flattering, affordable wide-leg style: here's where to buy them now The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been on a four-day tour of Australia, during which time they've participated in a series of charitable and commercial events. Throughout the last few days, Meghan has exhibited a wardrobe full of Aussie brands, showcasing her own form of diplomatic dressing. …
Former seafront lido set to get new operators
Live Nation is expected to sign an "agreement for lease" to manage the Tropicana for the next 25 years. A new operator is expected to sign an agreement to lease Weston-super-Mare's Tropicana building for the next 25 years. After closing as a pool in 2000, the Tropicana has stood vacant for years with North Somerset Council currently refurbishing it with £22.7m of government funding to make it into an entertainment venue.
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