just now (264+ words) A man from Somerset has paid for a defibrillator for his neighbourhood after discovering a lack of them in the area. Dennis Wood, 80, from Burnham-on-Sea, had a heart attack in 2016 and wanted to see where his nearest machine was just in case. He said: "I just thought why not get ahead and purchase a defibrillator? Everyone was so thankful in our street. "I have a weaker heart than most so I thought, the more defibs in the area, the merrier I suppose - they save lives." Mr Wood bought the defibrillator through the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance's Life Support initiative. Rosie Cornelilus-Light, who coordinates the Life Support project, said: "Our crew can be anywhere within Dorset and Somerset in approximately 20 minutes. "But the care a patient receives before we arrive can play a vital role in saving their life. "By…...

just now (283+ words) Plans to extend a house in multiple occupation (HMO) have been approved on appeal. The proposal concerned 4 Ivy Road in Abington, Northampton, where the owner wanted to increase the number of occupants from six to seven. Planning officers at West Northamptonshire Council had recommended the scheme for approval. But after an August committee meeting raised concerns over noise, parking and litter, members voted to refuse it. However, the applicant, Mr V Kryshinets, appealed to the government's Planning Inspectorate, which has now overturned the council's decision. At the August meeting, a local authority officer told councillors it would be difficult to argue that adding one bedroom would significantly affect parking or local amenities, saying he was "not convinced we can make a case for it" if the decision went to appeal. Reform UK councillor David Gaskell warned the committee was being…...

1+ min ago (323+ words) A celebration of life service is being held for a woman who blogged about her life with breast cancer. Felicity Rackstraw ran the My Traitorous Tit blog, talking of her epxeriences since being diagnosed in 2022. In a post published following her death in October she called for people to mark her passing by wearing their fanciest outfit and having a party. A service to celebrate the 48-year-old's life is being held in Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, later on Tuesday. "We are not calling it a funeral because that wouldn't be right for Flick, it's definitely a celebration of life," said her friend Janet Stanway, adding it would be "packed out" as she made an impression on so many people. Ms Rackstraw, known as Flick, was helped by Stoke-on-Trent cancer support group, Pink Sisters and Misters. In 2023 she told BBC Radio Stoke screenings…...

3+ min ago (481+ words) The new owners of a pub which shut over repeated flooding have said they fear a blocked pipe under the road outside could mean the building could be hit again. The Hope and Anchor in Syston shut in March 2024 after severe flooding but new landlady Lindsay Fitzhugh fell in love with the venue and reopened the Greene King pub in August. But she said a ditch to the rear of the pub and its car park which should take any excess water from the site is not draining through a pipe underneath Wanlip Road. A Leicestershire County Council spokesperson said it will "continue to work closely with the new owners to identify any required maintenance work". She said in the run up to Storm Claudia, she joked to customers they would have to bring a bucket with them to be…...

3+ min ago (290+ words) Repairs to a youth centre, which closed after a lorry crashed into it seven months ago, will get under way soon. a council says. The HGV crashed into parked vehicles, a railway bridge before hit the youth club building in Ludlow, in the early hours of 28 April. Shropshire Council, which owns the building, said a surveyor's report had been completed and shared with its insurer, and a loss adjuster review was under way. "Following this, it's anticipated that the insurance claim will be settled, with repair work then able to begin," the authority added. The damage affected systems including the fire alarm and electrical distribution, and as a result, most of the community and family hub services held there were moved to Helena Lane Community Centre. "Unfortunately, until repair work is completed it just isn't safe to occupy and we…...

6+ min ago (315+ words) A horse trainer responsible for a 100-1 winner at the Grand National has marked 30 years in the sport. Venetia Williams, who trained outsider Mon Mome when he won the Aintree-based race in 2009, said she was looking forward to "hopefully many more years still to come". The Herefordshire-based trainer said it was one of her most memorable wins. "It's the race people know the world over really. It's probably the only jump race that a lot of people have any recognition of at all," she added. More recently her horse Royale Pagaille just missed out on becoming the first horse to win the Betfair Chase (Grade 1) at Haydock Park three years running this weekend. Speaking before the race the Cornwall-born trainer said the achievement would have been a "big ask" but added that he had been "marvellous" for her. Her jockey career…...

6+ min ago (744+ words) Former gambling addict John Wade can trace the origins of his addiction back more than four decades to being drawn in to playing a fruit machine on holiday. John says most children would keep the cash and "head to the nearest sweet shop" but he felt "compelled" to put all the money back into the slot machine next to it and "promptly lost the lot". The 54-year-old, from Thurmaston in Leicestershire, says his "progressive addiction" saw him gambling for 46 years. "It culminated in me gambling on anything and everything. It was casinos, bingo, horse racing, football, it did not matter what," he says. Now John, who describes himself as a "recovering compulsive liar" is encouraging others to seek help like he eventually did from a new NHS service. "When you have a gambling addiction, your circle of friends goes so…...

9+ min ago (802+ words) A year after devastating floods left a Wiltshire town centre submerged in water, local businesses say they are still "nervous" every time it rains. On 25 November 2024, Chippenham experienced its worst flooding in 50 years when the River Avon burst its banks in the wake of Storm Bert. When Storm Claudia hit earlier this month, many worried business owners put out sandbags and raised furniture off floors to avoid further damage. An Environment Agency (EA) spokesperson said they know how important it is to reduce the town's flood risk and "additional measures" would be brought in to ensure Chippenham's floodgate "operates reliably and safely". G Hatto, a barbershop on the High Street, was left looking like a "scene from the Titanic" with sofas floating in the water. Self-employed barber Katy Gray said: "It was an absolute mess with stodgy, muddy leaves but…...

10+ min ago (258+ words) A charity which provides shoes to children is back in operation following a setback when a city retailer closed down. The Coventry Children's Boot Fund has been going since 1983, but its service was put under threat with the closure of the children's shoe section at one of its suppliers in December last year. The charity, which provides about 500 pairs of shoes per year, now has an agreement with shoe firm Clarks which will accept vouchers issued by the organisation. The charity was "really excited" to be back in operation again, said volunteer Janet McConkey who has been given an MBE for her work. She said families with children at schools in Coventry could ask for an application form, and once verified the charity would then issue vouchers to eligible applicants. Since the previous supplier shut they had not been able…...

10+ min ago (545+ words) A patient says he has "lost total faith" in the NHS after taking prescribed medication he did not need for a year " and still does not know what is wrong with him. Brett Durant, 50, from King's Lynn, Norfolk, was told his stomach pain was caused by the lack of an enzyme that digested food and was treated for that. He was one of 84 people who had pancreatic function checks between July and December 2024 at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) but had to be retested after they were wrongly told their enzyme levels were too low. Dr Bernard Brett, the hospital's medical director, apologised and said the hospital trust had addressed the "reliability of results". Mr Durant suffered from stomach pain and bloating, and was told the pain was being caused by his pancreas not producing enough of the enzyme....