Snowflakes, snowfall, and snowmen symbolise cocaine. Love hearts, lightning bolts, and pill capsules mean MDMA, or molly. Brown hearts and dragons represent heroin. Grapes and baby bottles are the calling cards for codeine-containing cough syrup, or lean. The humble maple leaf, meanwhile, is the universal symbol for all drugs. Dealers and buyers across the world have begun embracing social media platforms like Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram.(Pexels: Tracy Le Blanc) For ever

A Weston man has been sentenced for multiple offences including going equipped to steal after being proactively stopped by roads policing officers in Bridgwater. Gary Maughan, 33, of Weston-super-Mare, was sentenced at Taunton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 11 June after admitting to a series of offences. Police stopped a grey Ford C-Max being driven by Maughan on Notaro Way, Bridgwater on Wednesday 4 March after intelligence reports linked the vehicle to criminality. Checks

The Halifax branch located on the exterior of the Sovereign Centre is to close in October, the leader of North Somerset Council; Cllr Mike Bell has announced. Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland are part of the same group, Halifax customers will be able to use the Lloyds Weston-super-Mare branch in South Parade for their banking needs. Cllr Mike Bell said; “This is obviously doubly disappointing as it means we have lost another town centre bank and gain another empty unit. C

Organisers of Summer Fest at the Beach have issued a statement addressing some of the issues raised about the weekends event A spokesperson on behalf of the festival said; “We wanted to take a moment to reflect on what has been an incredible, emotional and at times challenging weekend. Firstly, thank you. Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket, attended, performed, worked behind the scenes, volunteered, supported us and believed in what we were trying to create. For the la

Arthur ( aka Top Kid Chef) aged 12, has become a TikTok sensation wracking up over half a million views on some of his videos, which focus on energetic and humorous reviews of restaurants and takeaways around Weston and the local area. However, being only 12 Mum; Lucy and Dad; Lee, manage the social media accounts to ensure his wellbeing. Arthur has had millions of views of his humorous, but honest, reviews of local food places (Photo: Supplied) Mum; Lucy, said ; “From a yo

We were the only local newspaper offered backstage access to the Summer Fest at the Beach weekend where crowds in their thousands were able to watch some amazing artist perform such as Craig David, Blue, Five, Feeder, Madness and Dizzie Rascal. This is what we experienced. Photo: Weston Independent News To get it out the way, the wind. We all know the seafront in Weston is very open to the elements, and if the unpredictable British weather takes a turn for the worse like it

A 22-year-old man has been charged following an incident in which a taxi driver was assaulted and racially abused in Weston-super-Mare. The incident happened in Clevedon Road at just before 3pm on Saturday (6 June). Kai Easen, of Haydon Wick in Swindon, has been charged with racially/religiously aggravated actual bodily harm; two further charges of causing actual bodily harm, making threats to kill, and assaulting an emergency worker. He’s been released on bail to attend Nort

Kewstoke Parish Council have published an open letter to all of Weston’s secondary schools urging them to remind students that damage and anti-social behaviour at Sand Bay should not take place during end of year exam results celebrations. The letter reads; “To all Weston-super-Mare area secondary schools Dear Headteacher, It’s fast approaching the time of year when your students and their families will be celebrating their end of year exam results and we would like to wish e

Avon & Somerset a police have issued an appeal for witnesses following an alleged racially aggravated assault on a taxi driver, where a police officer who responded to the incident was also assaulted The incident took place on on Clevedon Road, Weston-super-Mare A spokesperson for Avon & Somerset Police said; We’re appealing for information following an incident shortly before 3pm yesterday as people were leaving Summer fest. A taxi driver was subjected to racial abuse and as

Waste bins belonging to private companies have been left seemingly abandoned just before one of busiest weekend for the town centre, after builders started work on a nearby building it has been alleged. Photo: Black Cat MicroPub A spokesperson for the Black Cat MicroPub said; “The builders developing the old Subway building decided that they didn't want the waste bins down Post Office Lane, so they dumped them outside the front of the Black Cat Micropub on Monday. Photo: Blac

Rowan Tree Tea Room, located within The Stables on Wadham St is to close a spokesperson has said. The business formerly operated from Weston Quarry until it was forced to relocate in August 2023 after concerns with the buildings it operated out of. David Lewis who operates the venue said; Our last day of trading will be Saturday 27th June. Until then we will be open our usual hours Wednesday to Saturday. Owner David Lewis with staff. (Photo: David Lewis) Due to the current fi

Organisers of this weekends Summerfest at the beach have issued a statement in response to upset felt by ticket holders which was highlighted by Weston Independent News regarding free tickets being issued and disabled access. In a statement issued by Ellie Griffiths of ERG Management, the organisers of Summerfest at the beach said; As a brand-new festival launching in its first year, we have worked with a number of local businesses, sponsors, community groups and corporate pa

Avon & Somerset Police have secured a temporary restricted airspace from the Secretary of State for Transport, meaning no drones can fly within the restricted area over the course of the Summer Fest weekend. Image: Avon & Somerset Police A spokesperson for Avon & Somerset Police said; “From Friday 5 June to Sunday 7 June, Weston-super-Mare will host Summer Fest along the seafront. To help keep everyone safe, Avon and Somerset Police have secured a temporary restricted airspac

Some ticket holders for this weekends Summer Fest at the Beach in Weston-super-Mare, which will see performers including Craig David, Dizsee Rascal, Madness & Sister Sledge, have been left disgruntled at free tickets becoming available for the event after they have paid to attend. This has coincided with local Facebook groups seeing high numbers of tickets being offered for sale, suggesting that the sellers have managed to bag a free ticket, and are now trying to re-sell ones

This Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 June at the Italian Gardens, Weston High Street & Big Lamp Corner will host a range of incredible international acts coming to our the town courtesy of Whirligig International Festival of Outdoor Arts Circ Pistolet is one of the many events and activities taking place over the weekend (Photo: Super Culture) The event, made possible thanks to funding from Arts Council England and partner, Without Walls UK will see the town come alive with a wide ra

Dan Aldridge MP has announced the return of the Weston Summer School, bringing together students from across Weston-super-Mare for two days of inspiration, skills-building and career opportunities. Following the success of last year's inaugural event at the Grand Pier, the Summer School will once again connect young people with leading figures from business, technology, the creative industries, public service and entrepreneurship. The initiative was created by Dan Aldridge af

Significant buildings works are at last beginning to take place at the row of empty shops on Waterloo St owned by local businessman Richard Nightingale though his company Nation Commercial Holdings. Weston Independent News has learnt that the buildings works include new windows at the front and rear of the properties and a full renovation of the inside of the commercial units leaving them identical to one another. The works will also remove the old signage to the units which

A move to bring North Somerset into the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has taken a significant step forward after receiving support from both councillors and local residents. The decision follows a public consultation in which 56.7 per cent of respondents backed the proposal, opening the door for stronger regional cooperation on key issues including transport, housing, skills development, and investment. West of England Mayor Helen Godwin (Centre) with WECA council

by Cllr Jemma Coles, Liberal Democrat councillor for Mid-Worle on North Somerset Council When someone is struggling badly with their mental health, asking for help is already a huge step. It can take everything they have just to say out loud that they are not coping. It can take even more for a family member to pick up the phone and say, “I’m really worried. I think they are in crisis.” So what happens next really matters. What worries me is how easily mental health crisis su

Small and medium-sized manufacturers across the South West can now access a share of £800,000 in funding and specialist support to help reduce costs, improve productivity and accelerate digital adoption through the Made Smarter programme. Backed by the Department for Business and Trade through the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, Made Smarter is designed to help production-based businesses that manufacture physical items to identify and implement technologies that