Local news from the Bridgwater Mercury covering Bridgwater, North Petherton, Sedgemoor and Somerset.

'Immigrants' arrested at care home

3:42pm Friday 30th July 2010

Thirteen suspected illegal immigrants have been detained following a raid at a nursing home, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) has said.

Copter crash 'accident' killed Brit

3:25pm Friday 30th July 2010

The National Transportation Safety Board has ruled that a helicopter crash in Maryland, USA, that killed four people including a British man last summer was accidental.

22 killers at large despite recall

3:15pm Friday 30th July 2010

More than 20 killers remain at large despite being recalled to prison, the Ministry of Justice has said.

Coroner fears more rail accidents

2:33pm Friday 30th July 2010

A coroner has warned of more potential carnage on the railways as an inquest jury blamed a points failure for the deaths of seven people at Potters Bar.

Holiday balcony fall teenager dies

1:21pm Friday 30th July 2010

A teenager who fell from the seventh floor of an apartment block in Majorca has died, the Foreign Office confirmed.

Rail crash caused by unsafe points

1:11pm Friday 30th July 2010

Seven people died in the Potters Bar rail crash as a result of a points failure caused by their unsafe condition, an inquest jury has ruled.

Holden lands royal role in Shrek

12:09pm Friday 30th July 2010

Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden is to put her own singing and dancing skills under scrutiny, by starring in Shrek The Musical.

Benefits system overhaul launched

11:45am Friday 30th July 2010

The Government has unveiled radical proposals to reform the UK's "antiquated" benefits system, pledging the biggest overhaul in decades in a drive to simplify the structure and make work pay.

Venables identity 'to stay secret'

11:07am Friday 30th July 2010

The new identity of killer Jon Venables must be kept secret because of the "compelling evidence" of a threat to his safety, a judge has said.

Prescott 'doubts over Iraq weapons'

10:57am Friday 30th July 2010

Lord Prescott had doubts about intelligence on Saddam Hussein's weapons programmes before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the inquiry into the war has heard.