News in Glastonbury

Between redecorating and managing family life during a pandemic, Glastonbury resident and professional actor of 28 years David Reakes has organised a film project dedicated to the community spirit and often forgotten history of the Windmill Hill area.

Based around the gathering of stories from a broad array of hill residents, Tor Theatre's entry for Wassail Theatre's Connecting Communities Project offers a unique and deeply personal take on local community.

Planning for this year's Wells Festival of Literature education is going ahead, undaunted by the coronavirus crisis, and organisers have revealed that increased audience numbers for the 2019 event has allowed planners to spend £25,000 in Somerset schools during 2020, including at Meare, West Pennard and Butleigh.

A total of 28 primary schools have received copies of a newly-published book, While We Can't Hug by Eoin McLaughlin and Polly Dunbar.

A student from Glastonbury who previously lit up the tower on Glastonbury Tor blue in recognition of key workers, will be lighting it up red tonight (August 11) in support of the events industry.

Sam Wardell previously lit up St Michael's Tower on the Tor for the national clap for carers initiative, but now is backing the We Make Events/Red Alert campaign to highlight the difficult times the events industry is experiencing.

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Japan Day (VJ Day) on Saturday (August 15), Mendip District Council will be flying the Union Jack at its offices in Shepton Mallet.

The council will also be showing its support through social media, with ideas on how you can get involved, a video from the council's Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Damon Hooton, and encouraging people to join in with the national two-minute silence at 11am.

More than £3 million of government emergency coronavirus grants are still to be claimed by businesses in Mendip.

Emergency coronavirus funding for firms will go back to the Treasury at the end of the month if it is not claimed, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has said.

Avon and Somerset Police are appealing for information and witnesses following a fire in a caravan on The Roman Way, Glastonbury, in the early hours of Wednesday, August 5.

The incident happened between 2.30am and 3am and it is believed the caravan was deliberately set alight.

The Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury is set to re-open this week with coronavirus safety measures in place.

The museum is being re-opened by the South West Heritage Trust on Wednesday (August 12) from 10am to 5pm with admission by advance booking only.

Temporary traffic lights are planned along Northload Street in Glastonbury this week.

The multi-way lights are scheduled to be in place at the junctions with Paradise Road and Manor House Road from Wednesday (August 12) to August 20.

Avon and Somerset Police have issued a CCTV image as part of their investigations after eight windows were damaged in Glastonbury.

Overnight Saturday July 11 to Sunday July 12, the windows of shops in Benedict Street, the High Street and The Archers Way had windows smashed. A car wing mirror was also damaged.

Avon and Somerset Police are renewing their appeal and growing increasingly concerned for the welfare of a man missing from Glastonbury for almost a week.

Lawrence Kemp hasn't been in touch with family members since late on Saturday night, August 1, and hasn't been into work, which is out of character.