Police are investigating a burglary in Locking are appealing for any witnesses to come forward. At some point between 6pm and 10pm on Thursday 18 December entry was forced to a property in Flowerdown Road in Locking Grove. A small amount of cash was stolen, along with several keys. Officers attended and carried out initial investigative work in the area, including a review of CCTV footage and house-to-house enquiries. They are now urging anyone who saw anything suspicious in

Poundland on Weston-super-Mare High St has been saved in a last minute deal which will see the store re-open on Saturday January 10th. A petition had been signed by hundreds of local businesses and residents calling for the store to stay open. Local MP Dan Aldridge, who has been campaigning to save the store said; “ It’s a Christmas miracle, Poundland's been saved! It will be reopening on 10th January, and I know this will be a huge relief and very welcome news for the brilli

Avon & Somerset Police have issued advice to residents to be on the guard against burglars this Christmas season. A spokesperson said; “ Don’t let burglars turn your Christmas into a nightmare, stay secure, stay smart and share these tips to help others do the same” ✅ Check that doors and windows are locked. ✅ Keep house and car keys out of sight and reach. ✅ Fit good quality locks or bolts to outside doors, garages and sheds. ✅ Invest in a signal blocking pouch (Faraday Bag

Moving tributes have been paid to nine-year-old Aria Thorpe by her family. She has been described as a ‘beautiful soul’ by those who loved her so dearly. Aria died at an address in the Mead Vale area of Weston-super-Mare on Monday 15 December and specialist officers are providing her family with support. Aria's family on her mother's side, said: "For those who didn’t have the privilege of knowing Aria, she was the most beautiful little soul — happy-go-lucky, full of light, an

Dan Aldridge, MP for Weston, Worle and the villages, has sponsored a Ten Minute Bill to help tackle the decline of high streets, both locally and across the country. The Vacant Commercial Properties (Temporary Use) Bill, introduced by Labour MP Luke Akehurst, would give local authorities new powers to compel landlords to make long-term empty shop units available for temporary use by charities, community groups, and small businesses. It aims to address the growing number of em

A Just Giving page launched by a famile friend has already received over £4000 in donations towards its target. Heather Prindiville who launched the page said; “As a close friend of the family and seeing first hand just how difficult the coming moments, days, weeks, months, and even years will be for them I just want to be able to do something to ease the road ahead. Tragedy has struck in the most unimaginable way and so close to Christmas. My beautiful friend Tori and her am

Police have released photos of nine-year-old Aria Thorpe, who was stabbed to death in Somerset. One image shows the girl in a white sleeveless top and wearing a hairband with Minnie Mouse-style ears. The other picture is of Aria in a pink dress, wearing a rosette and "happy birthday" headband, surrounded by balloons. Her family approved the release of the images. Photo: Avon & Somerset Police Photo: Avon & Somerset Police It comes as a teenage boy appeared in court charged wi

Cllr Catherine Gibbons, the Deputy Leader of North Somerset Council and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Families issued following statement this morning on behalf of North Somerset Council; "I have been shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Aria’s death. “On behalf of everyone at North Somerset Council, I offer our sincerest condolences to Aria’s family, friends and the school community. The pain of losing a child in such tragic circumstances is unimaginable

A boy has been charged with murder following the death of a nine-year-old girl in Weston-super-Mare. The 15-year-old has been remanded and will appear at Bristol Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday 17 December). Police have said that the formal identification process has not yet been completed, but they can confirm the boy has been charged with the murder of Aria Thorpe. It follows emergency services being called to an address in Lime Close shortly before 6.10pm on Monday 15

A murder investigation is being carried out following the death of a nine-year-old girl at an address in Weston-super-Mare. Police were called by paramedics to a residential address in Lime Close, in the Mead Vale area, at 6.09pm yesterday (Monday 15 December). The first officer arrived at the scene at 6.12pm. Sadly, the young girl was pronounced deceased at the scene. A teenage boy was arrested in Worle at 6.19pm. He remains in custody, arrested on suspicion of murder. Super

by Paul Howe Across the South West, the NHS is facing a sharp and accelerating rise in flu cases at a point in the winter when pressure is already high. Regional data shows hospital admissions linked to influenza have increased steeply in recent weeks, with far more hospital beds occupied by flu patients than at the same stage last winter. This surge is already placing strain on hospitals serving Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire — including those that support

North Somerset Council has warned that council tax will almost certainly need to rise above the usual government cap next year to protect essential local services amid unprecedented funding cuts. At a meeting of the council’s Cabinet today, Leader Cllr Mike Bell set out the stark financial reality facing the authority, driven by historic decisions to keep council tax lower than in similar areas, year on year reductions in national funding and sharp increases in costs and dema

10 December 2025 Avon & Somerset Police have released CCTV footage as part of an ongoing enquiry into a sexual assault that happened in Weston-super-Mare over the weekend.   An unknown man is reported to have approached a 12-year-old girl in Byron Recreation Park, at about 9.20pm on Saturday 6 December.   He is reported to have touched her waist and kissed her, before she ran away and disclosed what happened to a group of women close by.   The man was described as being in hi

Improvements have been made to bus passenger facilities at Weston General Hospital. A small transport hub has been created near the entrance to the hospital, including:  a new large bus shelter with improved seating an e-ink screen offering digital timetables and real time updates additional seating outside of the shelter and motorcycle parking facilities  This is the first of several small transport hubs being introduced throughout North Somerset, with larger transport hubs

Police Officers from from the Town Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team for Weston-super-Mare arrested a man this morning in connection with a series of criminal damage incidents that occurred at the end of November in prominent locations around Weston-super-Mare’s town centre. The suspect is believed to have used red spray paint to graffiti local businesses and public infrastructure. Avon & Somerset Police said; ” While we understand that some individuals may wish to express p

The police watchdog has reported that an 18-year-old man who exited an ambulance on a motorway was Tasered by officers before being struck by a vehicle and killed. Logan Smith, from Weston-super-Mare, died on the M5 in North Somerset late on Sunday night. According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), he was being transported to hospital when paramedics became concerned and pulled over on the hard shoulder of the northbound carriageway. Police were called afte

More than 100 people have been arrested across the South West after police forces came together to target illegal drugs and child criminal exploitation.  In total, across the South West:   112 people were arrested  More than £67,000 cash was seized  52kg of cannabis was confiscated, including 868 cannabis plants  Three guns were recovered, plus five imitation firearms  48 people were safeguarded, including five children In Weston-super-Mare, three people were arrested on susp

For the third consecutive year, on 24 November 2025, The Grand Pier’s resident Christmas menace, the Grinch, swapped his holiday-hating ways to become a certified spreader of seasonal joy!   The Grand Pier team packed up their sleigh, or perhaps just a very big van, and headed straight for the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children .   The mischievous Mr. Grinch stepped away from his festive duties at The Grand Pier to visit the hospital’s wards, spreading smiles, laughter, and

by Paul Howe I’ve just come back from watching a film at The Other Place on Meadow Street — a space where many groups meet and share their stories. The film followed the lives of two Muslim women who grew up here in the UK, revealing what they and their families endured simply because of who they were. It hit me far harder than I expected; at one point, I found myself with tears in my eyes — and I’m not someone who cries easily. Yet this film showed the painful reality that l

North Somerset Council has issued its starkest warning yet about the scale of the financial crisis facing them, with a funding gap of more than £10 million for next year and £33 million over the next four years. Years of government funding reductions combined with rapidly rising demand for services – particularly in adult and children’s social care – have left the authority with stark choices. The situation has been made more precarious by uncertainty created through governme