Five years ago: July 26, 2005

GOVERNMENT ministers announced plans to fast track cancer drug Herceptin onto the NHS - in a victory for Bridgwater woman Barbara Clark.

The Mercury exclusively revealed Barbara was preparing to buy the drug that could help save her life but was not available on the NHS.

She joined forces with Bridgwater MP Ian Liddell-Grainger to highlight the issue and hit national headlines with her campaign.

BRIDGWATER Hospital could have a new multi-million pound hospital by 2007, it was claimed.

Bosses at Somerset Primary Care Trust said it had identified four potential sites for the new hospital and were confident of getting the facility up and running in two years.

15 years ago: July 25, 1995

SEDGEMOOR'S Citizens Advice Bureau painted a bleak picture of rising unemployment and home repossessions, which were having a knock-on effect on the local economy.

Staff at the bureau dealt with a record 15,775 enquiries in the previous year - with more than 50% of them coming from the unemployed.

OFFICIALS at St Mary's Church in Bridgwater are hoping that the CCTV system used in the town centre can be increased to include the church.

Criminals targeted the church on several occasions and now church officials want something done about it.

The Parochial Church Council of St Mary's wrote to Bridgwater Charter Trustees and asked for a contribution to the cost of video security.

25 years ago: July 23 1985

HOMELESS youngsters hit by lodging-allowance cuts for under 25s heard they would not receive extra help from Sedgemoor District Council.

The council's housing department decided they could not provide special accommodation unless the Government gave them a bigger grant.

TWO brothers were reunited in Bridgwater after 36 years.

Frank and Norman Smith enjoyed an emotional reunion at Bridgwater Bus Station, after Frank and wife Joan emigrated to Australia in 1949.