Somerset News

Drivers and passengers became stranded around 1am on the A39 between Bridgwater and Williton in Somerset when a build up of snow and fallen tress blocked their path.

Avon and Somerset Police transported the men and women by four-by-fours to a local fire station in the village of Nether Stowey to serve hot drinks to the group. A local councillor, was able to provide a key to open the village hall where the stranded motorists spent the night.

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• Snow

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There is a heavy blanket of snow in the Somerset village of Chew Magna this morning.

Please send your photos of the snow to yourstory@itn.co.uk.

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Manslaughter charges are to be dropped against the man who organised a firework display on the night of the M5 crash in Somerset in which seven people died. Bristol Crown Court heard that Geoffrey Cousell will face a health and safety charge.

Fifty-one people were also injured in the crash near Taunton in November 2011. Detective Superintendent Mike Courtiour from Avon and Somerset police said:

The collision on the M5 in November 2011 was one of the worst in living memory. We launched a comprehensive investigation immediately after to establish the full circumstances which led to the collision. Our investigation was meticulous and complex. We took hundreds of witness statements, examined 34 vehicles and consulted several experts. Based on this evidence the Crown Prosecution Service took a decision to charge. However, following further consideration in recent weeks they have decided to drop the manslaughter charges.”

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The RNLI's specially-trained Flood Rescue Team (FRT) have been put on alert this morning in Bridgwater in Somerset, ITV West reports.

The team of some 20 volunteers was put together recently for occasions like today.

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Seven more people have contacted police investigating allegations of sexual abuse by a retired Church of England Bishop.

The Rt Rev Peter Ball was arrested earlier this week at his home in Somerset and questioned about alleged sex offences against eight boys and young men between the 1970s and 1990s.

Mr Ball, who is now 80, is a former Bishop of Lewes and resigned as Bishop of Gloucester in 1993.

Calls are treated with great sensitivity. The force will always take seriously any allegations of historic sexual offending, and every possible step is taken to investigate whenever appropriate. Allegations of historic offences are treated just as seriously as any more recent offences.

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The boyfriend of Catherine Wells-Burr, whose body was discovered in a burning car in Somerset on Wednesday, will appear in court today accused of conspiracy to murder her.

Rafal Nowak, 31, will appear before magistrates in Bristol a day after his former partner, Anna Julia Lagwinowicz, 32, appeared in court to face the same charge.

Yesterday Lagwinowicz made a brief appearance before magistrates charged with conspiring together with others to murder Miss Wells-Burr between May 1, 2012 and September 13, 2012.

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Police investigating the death of university graduate Catherine Wells-Burr want to speak to any motorists who may have driven past her burning vehicle on Wednesday morning.

Detective Inspector Simon Crisp said: "We know that there were many motorists that passed the site of this crime on Wednesday morning, and those people may have information that could help us.

"I would ask that you come forward and speak with us no matter how small you think your information may be.

He added: "It is also important that we speak with anyone who may have been in the area between 3am and 6am on Wednesday, using the roads between Chard and Ashill.

"Did you see a red Ford Focus, 5 door hatch back that may have been in company with another vehicle? If you did, please contact us."

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