BUTTERFLIES are thriving on land at Porton Down, the Government's chemical research centre, despite the floods last summer. The number and variety of rare species such as the heath butterfly, dingy skippers, marsh fritillaries and grizzled skippers have
COTSWOLD District Council will join forces with members from the Forest of Dean and Stroud to fight for improved ambulance cover. The failure of the Great Western Ambulance Trust was highlighted last May when an ambulance took 45 minutes to get to Royal
A Wiltshire man who never faced trial for allegedly killing his pregnant girlfriend may have to answer a charge of murder nearly a decade on, a court has heard. Richard Gray, 50, originally from Corsham, was accused of strangling Virginia Sivil, 26,
A GROUP of parents are hoping to consign smelly disposable nappies to the past. Swindon's Real Nappy Network launched a monthly Nappucino meeting at the Sure Start Children's Centre in Penhill this week. The aim is for parents to find out more about
A BUILDING Society employee has raised thousands of pounds for charity after pounding the streets of New York. Carol Durn collected nearly three thousand pounds in the name of charity through her fundraising exploits. She raised £1,460 for the Prospect
HOMEOWNERS with mortgages can breathe a little easier today. As widely expected, the Bank of England yesterday announced a 0.25 per cent interest rate cut, lowering the base rate to 5.25 per cent. There are also indications that there will be more
A DRIVER was killed in a collision on the B3107 in Melksham. The crash between a white Citroen AX and a red Ford Fiesta occurred at about 9pm on Wednesday. The two cars collided approximately 200 metres south of the Countrywide roundabout on the Bradford
WORK to make Covingham a hump-free zone is set to start next month. After years of consultation, Kingfisher Drive and St Paul's Drive will become smooth once again as the humps give way to other traffic calming measures by June. Chicanes and road narrowing
A DARING woman is set to care for gorillas in Cameroon. Donna Langford has never even seen a gorilla in the wild or been to Africa, but she will travel there in May to work at a wildlife sanctuary. There she will feed and care for orphaned and injured
The word gastropub strikes fear in my husband. He hates what he considers messed about food' and pretentious menus. My own suspicions are aroused by the pub grub' brigade. No need to fear at the Bell at Great Cheverell. Mine host here is a down to earth
A MAN whose house has twice been targeted by arsonists has vowed they will not drive him out. Abdul Rahim and his family are living in a hotel after their house in Broad Street was firebombed for the second time in three weeks. But the 48-year-old shopkeeper
NEWS and information could be ringing out from more than one big voice in Wootton Bassett if town crier Owen Collier gets his way. For the man with the big hat and hand bell is hoping his friends up and down the country, and those overseas, will find
A CANNABIS factory, capable of making hundreds of thousands of pounds for the gang running it, has been shut down by police. Police officers found hundreds of extra-strength skunk cannabis plants growing inside the living room and three bedrooms of the
WESTLECOT men's bid to claim runners-up spot in the East Region of the Wessex League has received a big boost with the news that Mel Biggs is set to return. The 51-year-old ex-England indoor and outdoor international has taken a break from competitive
This is 25-year-old Jamie Allen. His cousin Aimee Mills was so determined to get a good photo of him that she accidentally set fire to her hair during the picture session!
WITH London 2012 fast approaching, Swindon could be the setting for an Olympic gymnastics training camp - but only if the town's most successful club can find a new home. Tucked away in between tile warehouses and power tool merchants on a Stratton trading
A NEW police investigation could be opened to discover who was responsible for Mayra Cabrera's death. At the time, prosecutors decided there was not enough evidence to follow up criminal investigations into Mayra's death - shortly after she had given
KYLE ANDERSON celebrated his 15th birthday in style by winning the area junior singles title, writes DAVE EATON. The fine young Westlecot prospect edged past 18-year-old Wayne Snook (North Wilts) 2-1 in a tie breaker to take the Area 16 Under 25 Singles
AN eagle at the par five opening hole gave David Howell the perfect start in the EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters in Delhi this morning. The Swindon star also birdied the other par five on the opening nine, but three bogeys saw him reach the turn in level
Much of this world is a mess What it needs is more kindnessConsideration and careLove we can all sharePassing on hope and understandingTo our Queen and future KingCommunity projects and charity eventsBefore the world fragmentsPeace, not warring terrainsTake
A RESTAURANT and bar on an historic estate in Corsham is celebrating its first anniversary. Since opening its doors a year ago, Jack's Restaurant and Bar on the Hartham Park estate has gone from strength to strength. As a reflection of its popularity
THEY had just seen England's young heroes outclass Croatia at the County Ground and were on cloud nine as they returned to their cars. But joy turned to misery for dozens of families as they discovered their cars had been clamped. And they were even
WROUGHTON-BORN prop forward Tim Payne is determined to make his second coming a memorable one when he lines up for England against Italy in the RBS Six Nations on Sunday. Payne, whose parents Roger and Penny live in Wootton Bassett, will win his sixth
WESTLECOT Ladies will have a representation in the final stages of the National Indoor Fours for the very first time, writes DAVE EATON. The quartet of Maureen Rogers, Julia Eatwell, Josie Lloyd and Doris Woodley became the first rink from the club to
NEIL SMITH remains on course to reach three of the top four national indoor championship area finals, writes DAVE EATON. The 41-year-old Westlecot bowler, who recently made his debut in the Potters World Indoor Championships in Norfolk, completed the
A MAN'S body was found in a stairwell in a town centre car park. Ambulance staff were called to Carlton Street car park off Carfax Street at 1pm yesterday after receiving a call from a member of the public. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
IT will be a case of mind over matter for David Howell when he tees off at the EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters this morning, writes GARETH MOORHOUSE. As the European Tour makes a historic first visit to India, the tree-lined fairways at the Delhi Golf Club
