SWINDON women have been warned not to go out alone, following two night-time attacks in the town centre. Detectives investigating the two assaults this week believe could be linked. On both occasions young women were assaulted in alleyways by a tanned
THE following is a list of roads that Swindon Council will be gritting during the night. Motorists are advised to remember that just because they have been treated it does not mean that the roads will not be hazardous and so care should still be taken
SWINDON people could have been forgiven for thinking that Diana Dors was alive and kicking – as self-proclaimed number one fan and look-a-like Naomi Polley visited town. Naomi, from Sunderland, made the trip down to Swindon on Tuesday to find out more
STEADY snow is predicted to fall through the night leaving hazardous driving conditions for the early morning commute, according to the Met Office. Below freezing temperatures are expected this evening which will be a lead into snowfall at
WILTSHIRE Fire & Rescue Service is advising everyone to take extra care in the current cold weather and keep an eye on vulnerable neighbours. At home, if you are thinking of using open fires or woodburners for heating, check that the chimney is sound
CANCER battler Sam Holland is spending her time recovering from the disease helping others. Thoughtful Sam, 23, of Old Town, is doing voluntary work for Cancer Research UK. Sam, who is battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a rare cancer which affects about 150
THROUGHOUT this spell of unprecedented severe weather conditions Public agencies in Wiltshire and Swindon have been working together in an effort to minimise the impact on the public. The extended spell of cold weather has depleted the county's salt
THAMESDOWN Transport have made an announcement about the bus services they plan on running tomorrow. It is based on the latest weather forecast so could be subject to change. Rural Services 43A, 46, 47, 48, 48A, 53, 53B, 175, 176, 177 and all School
ICE hockey players have been encouraging people to have their eyes checked in the town centre. Four Swindon Wildcats players spent much of Saturday helping Specsavers customers to pick out stylish frames, and book them in for eye examinations
I feel slightly guilty and slightly ashamed. At least two years ago now, my sister told me the hero to beat all heroes in literature was Adam Bede - and she lent me her lovingly thumbed edition and made me swear not to damage it. Well
The 19:41 service from Swindon to London Paddington is cancelled due to poor weather conditions.
A NUMBER of Swindon schools have already announced that they will not be opening their doors to pupils on Friday morning. Those who have already said they will be closed for the day are: Brimble Hill Primary School Crowdys Hill School
DON'T miss a selection of snow pictures sent in by our readers in tomorrow's Adver. You can also check out our snow picture gallery by clicking here
THE 17:35 service from Swindon to London Paddington is cancelled due to poor weather conditions.
MAJOR employers in Swindon have not suffered because of the heavy weather – but one hotel was left out in the cold by cancellations. Hotels appear to have been some of the worst affected in the town on Monday, it was business as usual yesterday. Andrew
PEOPLE travelling on the town's roads this afternoon are being warned to take care. Workers returning home, shoppers and other motorists are being encouraged to be extra cautious while out on the roads following the heavy snowfalls. The Highways Agency
THE earlier signalling problems affecting services from Swindon to Bristol Temple Meads and London Paddington has now been resolved. First Great Western reports that services are now running normally.
SKATING sensation Melinda Messenger has danced her way to losing one-and-a-half stone. The dramatic drop has seen the twinkle-toed dancer drop four dress sizes. Her shapely new figure has been splashed across two glossy magazines this week and is largely
A NUMBER of facilities run by Swindon Council are closed today due to the weather. Moredon and Rodbourne Cheney Libraries are closed. Please check direct with other libraries before setting out to visit them. The Oasis Leisure Centre will close
YOUR article ‘ Syd the vigilante has been let off’ (SA, February 2), did not come as a surprise. However, it may have been better if Mr Davis had declined to give the county court judge an undertaking not to protect his property in future and let the
MIGHT I be allowed via your pages to thank David Cameron for his recruiting efforts on behalf of the UK Independence Party? By his returning Ken Clarke to the Tory Party we have, according to our head office, seen a large number of defectors from that
I MUST thank R W Selway for pointing out that UKIPs policies are left wing. Strange, because some people call them right wing. UKIPs leaders describe them as middle of the road. Personally, when it comes to such definitions, I think that the best way
FIRST Great Western have issued a warning to passengers that services to London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads could be affected by signalling problems. The train operator had announced that services would be running normally following
SWINDON residents have finally got to grips with the ice and snow according to Great Western Hospital’s accident and emergency records. More than 300 people arrived at casualty on Monday and Tuesday suffering with sprains, dislocated joints and fractures
THAMESDOWN Transport has updated details of today's skeleton bus services and is warning the last buses will leave the town centre at approximately 6pm this evening. The following emergency alterations are in operation: 1/1A: Now operating normal
NICHOLAS E Gough says he has seen the film Titanic three times. Obviously he thought it went down well (pun intentional). For myself and a film I have watched often, the best representation of that tragic event remains A Night to Remember with the late
TRIBUTES have been paid to a former headteacher who was a much loved gentleman of Cricklade. Michael Ferris, 63, pictured, died last week after he lost his fight with cancer. The popular head spent 25 years at St Sampson’s Church of England Junior School
IN reply to Frank Avenell, it seems obvious that the bulk of the people love being governed in this style, after all, they vote for these incompetent parties at each and every election when uncorrupted alternatives are available. GREG HEATHCLIFFE (Press
FROM the pen of the man who claimed that India desperately wanted a non-white in the White House, we now have the quite amazing claim that the election of President Obama somehow vicariously puts Africa in the highest office in the land. What utter nonsense
WHY, with a performance much better than some, was skating actress Gemma Bissix voted off Dancing on Ice? Probably because she confessed to having Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson as the person she would most like to meet. What parent in their right
SCHOOL Workforce adviser David Hughston would like teachers to be aware that training courses have been postponed. He said: "In view of the adverse weather conditions and forecast of more snow falls, all training courses scheduled to take place at the
IN November 2008 your correspondent M J Warner, when challenged about the possibility of Britain formally entering a recession, wrote the following in defence of Gordon Brown and the Labour Government: "Economists and most commentators fear the worst,
FIRST Great Western has reported that services from Swindon to Bristol and to London Paddington are now running normally.
M J WARNER wrote an excellent letter (SA, January 28) explaining exactly why the electorate should not trust the Conservatives with Government at the next General Election. But they also have no reason to trust New Labour. A recent report shows thousands
I DID not know whether to laugh or cry at the latest 'campaign' launched by Anne Snelgrove. She castigates the local council for spending £1.5million on what she describes as spin. Perhaps Ms Snelgrove will confirm the amounts spent on advertising and
NORTH Wilts Vikings, the county’s only junior inline puck hockey club, saw its under 16 team roar up the GB Hockey Inline Southern League at the weekend. The Vikings won both of their fixtures at the Lord Roberts Centre, Bisley to climb to fourth in
I REFER to the article published ‘Councillors vote in allowance hike’ (Swindon Advertiser, January 16) and I am amazed other readers have not commented on this situation, which to say the least, is badly timed. Do our councillors not know we are in an
WITH many Swindon people now unemployed, and having to draw job seekers’ allowance, I wonder just how many are absolutely frustrated when asked after a few months, by the employment Dept, ‘Have you proof that you have been actively looking for employment
G SCOTT in a recent letter to your paper referred to a poll showing 16 per cent of the population would like to leave the EU while another 48 per cent wanted substantial changes made to the relationship, a total of 64 per cent unhappy with our membership
WHENEVER Swindon councillors are confronted with an issue involving money they cry in unison - "we don't get enough money from central Government". When challenged about the latest rises in their basic and special responsibility allowances they plead
THE 11:35 service from Swindon to London Paddington is cancelled due to poor weather conditions.
YOU very kindly published a letter from me (SA, January 21) on the proposal from the Government in the person of Harriet Harman MP, to reduce the degree to which MPs are subject to the Freedom Of Information Act. The proposal which was supported by Gordon
THE 13:35 service from Swindon to London Paddington is cancelled due to poor weather conditions.
HONDA workers feeling the financial pinch are being offered a helping hand by a golf club. On Friday the South Marston facility closed down its factory for four months as part of a cost-cutting exercise. Although Honda workers will be
YOUR Comment today (this must be a matter for the police) is quite correct but we must, sadly, consider that the police ‘service’ is a very different beast from the police ‘force’, and it’s not just a question of semantics. The police today have their
THE Adver’s latest article in its series Remember When (SA, February 2) certainly brought back memories to me, not of the 1950s, but a decade earlier, July 27, 1942 to be exact. On that day it was my brother’s 14th birthday, he was to begin work at Shorts
THE snow continues to disrupt trains services from Swindon to both London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads. First Great Western have issued a warning that all services from the town could be subject to delays. There is also a chance
THE concert at Swindon Arts Centre tonight has been cancelled. Folk band The Acoustic Strawbs were due to play tonight but have had to cancel because of the snow. For details of refunds call the Arts Centre on 01793 614837.
TWO years ago Neil Smith came agonisingly close to breaking the Westlecot men’s unwanted record of never having supplied a national indoor champion since the club opened in 1983. He was beaten at Gunstan Hall, Suffolk, in the Champion of Champions final
WESTLECOT’S Josie Lloyd, Doris Woodley, Ellen Bolland and Janet Willis have reached the latter stages of three events – pairs, unbadged pairs and triples - in the national women’s championships to be held at the end of this month. All three
Thamesdown Transport has released more details of its skeleton service, operating today because of the snow. The last buses will leave the town centre at approximately 6pm this evening. The following emergency alterations are in operation
A SECONDARY school said one of the reasons it was forced to close yesterday was because Swindon council did not grit the road leading to it. Ridgeway School closed yesterday and on Tuesday, saying Inverary Road leading to the Wroughton school was too
THE Wiltshire County Championships 2009 got underway last Sunday with the 800m freestyle at the Link Centre. Traditionally a female only event, this year’s competition saw a total of 34 boys and 36 girls brave the distance in mixed heats.
LET’S suppose you feel that there should be life after school and college for those young people who are not keen on sport, dance, music or drama; for those who have grown out of computerised games; for those who want to be with and make friends without
SWINDON are calling on fans to play their part in helping to ensure Saturday’s game against Southend at the County Ground goes ahead. Heavy snow across the country has wreaked havoc with fixtures this week, with Town’s match at Northampton on Tuesday
TEENAGERS across Swindon will be lighting candles in memory of 16-year-old Chelsea May Smith – who died a year ago today. The vivacious teenager committed suicide at her Upper Stratton home after laying out her favourite outfit and writing letters to
WESTLECOT senior men’s brilliant run in the National Over 60s Double Rinks competition came to an end in the quarter-finals. Their hopes of reaching the last four and final stages later this month at Northampton were sunk in Torbay. Westlecot were beaten
AT any time on any day between October and April, eight gritter drivers are on standby to spread a small mountain of salt on Swindon’s roads. All volunteers, they are drawn from the council’s highway maintenance crews and can find themselves called into
SNOW has caused major disruption on the railways again today as some services from Swindon to London, Bristol and Cardiff have been cancelled. Passengers are warned to expect delays throughout the day as the rail network struggles to cope with the bad
All flights are cancelled at Bristol, Cardiff, Luton and Birmingham Airports. Please check with operators before travelling if you are planning to fly.
OPINIONS are divided over a campaign to re-name part of Lyneham’s repatriation route the Highway of Heroes. An online petition set up by former paratrooper George Ryan has been created on the Downing Street website. The petition
Stagecoach has cancelled all services in Swindon today, although it will review the situation as the weather improves. Thamesdown is running a skeleton service in the town centre but has suspended rural services. There are some changes to routes: *
The 09:35 service from Swindon to London Paddington is cancelled due to poor weather conditions.
FANCY discussing tactics with Roberto Di Matteo, listening to Gianfranco Zola’s team talk or rubbing shoulders with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on the substitutes’ bench? Christian Roberts will offer two fans the ultimate matchday experience as part of his
TOWN’S home game against Southend on Saturday looks set to be given the go-ahead - thanks to 32 sheets of black plastic tarpaulin. Groundsman Marcus Cassidy hired 20 covers - which have also been used at Sandown racecourse - for a reduced price
The 11:59 service from Swindon to London Paddington is cancelled due to poor weather conditions.
JAMIE Cox will face by far the toughest test of his professional career next week after a late change of opponent. The Swindon southpaw was scheduled to fight Ghanaian Isaac Quartey on the Fright Night card next Friday (February 13), but he has been
South Marston Primary School is closed today due to the weather conditions. The village roads are passable with extreme care. Please be aware that if you drive a 4x4's that others don't and your actions could panic other drivers, into an accident.
THE Met Office says only two inches of snow fell in Lyneham overnight, despite six inches being reported in parts of Swindon. Forecasters are predicting that snow will fall again today from the early evening until midnight when minus 3C temperatures
Police said a lorry had jack-knifed on the M5 near Bristol between Aztec West and Cribbs Causeway. Traffic is backing up and motorists are advised to find an alternative route if possible.
RUUD Gullit could be the latest superstar to grace the County Ground pitch next week for Christian Roberts’ testimonial. The Dutch hero has been lined up to play for a Chelsea Legends side against a Swindon XI on Wednesday night in aid of ex-Town wide
HAY Lane in Salthorpe is partially blocked following an accident involving three cars. Drivers are warned to avoid the area.
SWINDON Council is warning that kerbside recycling collections may be disrupted because of the snow. Residents are asked to take their box back indoors if it is not emptied, and put it out again next week (commencing February 9).
POLICE are asking workers in the Swindon area to delay their journeys because of the weather. Officers are asking people to phone their places of work and ask for permission to come in late to ease the situation on the roads. They are saying by 8am
MORE than 30 schools across Swindon and the surrounding area are closed again today because of the weather. For some, it is the third day they have been forced to close. Many are blaming heating problems and health and safety rules. Those
DRIVERS are warned to avoid the A420 at South Marston where there has been an accident involving a car and a lorry.
SWINDON has seen up to six inches of snow fall overnight. A number of roads have also been made impassable including A420 at the South Marston turnoff where an accident between a car and a lorry has blocked the westbound lane. And the
The 08:35 service from Swindon to London Paddington is cancelled due to poor weather conditions. The 09:11 service to London Paddington is also cancelled due to a train fault.
ALMOST 30 schools across Swindon and the surrounding area are closed again today because of the weather. For some, it is the third day they have been forced to close. Many are blaming heating problems and health and safety rules. Those
Stagecoach has announced it will not be running any services today because of the snow. Thamesdown has sent buses from its depot but a number of services will be delayed or cancelled. Please call Thamesdown on 01793 428428 for more information.
A TEENAGE driver died after an accident on a road near Wootton Bassett just three months after passing his test, an inquest heard. Former Malmesbury School pupil Sam Higginbottom, from Lea, had been driving two friends to get an takeaway when
A NUMBER of schools across Swindon are closed again today because of the weather. For some, it is the third day they have been forced to close. Many are blaming heating problems and health and safety rules. Those which have announced they are closed
SWINDON awoke to another blanket of snow this morning, after up to 5in fell overnight. Commuters are warned to take care on the roads as major routes have been gritted, but secondary roads won't have been. Forecasters say we may see
