Evelyn Ballentyne testified in Bristol crown court that she found her four-week-old son, Atticus Bartlett, "floppy and grey" and making "gasping noises" after his father, Tony Bartlett, allegedly shook him violently, causing brain damage. The baby later died. Tony Bartlett denies murder and manslaughter.
Essex and Sussex continue their strong form in the County Championship, with individual centuries from Jordan Cox and James Coles respectively. Somerset delivered a stunning performance, defeating the champions by 308 runs, while Durham extended their lead in Division Two. Other matches saw draws and notable performances from players like Will Luxton and Matthew Potts.
Former detective Dave Grimstead founded Locate International (LI) to tackle cold cases, contrasting the reality of lengthy investigations with crime dramas. LI trains volunteers to assist police with long-term missing persons and unidentified bodies, inspired by the RNLI.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating Avon and Somerset police's contact with Jo Shaw, who died in an explosion in Bristol on May 3rd. Her former partner, Ryan Kelly, also died in the incident, which is being treated as a homicide. The investigation covers a five-year period.
A large, exquisitely crafted Roman gold ring set with a gemstone, found by metal detectorist Kevin Minto in a Somerset field, has been acquired by the South West Heritage Trust for £78,000 along with 297 Roman coins. The ring, dating to AD297, is considered an "unparalleled discovery for Britain" and will remain in Somerset.
A three-year rewilding project on a former dairy farm in east Somerset has led to a significant increase in wildlife, with recorded bird species rising from 67 to 94 and butterfly species from 11 to 24. The Heal Somerset site is also home to more small mammals and 15 bat species.
Somerset, the reigning T20 Blast champions, began their title defense with a dominant seven-wicket win over Hampshire Hawks. Other opening night victories included Yorkshire, Kent Spitfires, Surrey, Worcestershire Rapids, Gloucestershire, and Northamptonshire Steelbacks.
County Championship updates from the latest matches Sign up for The Spin | Email Tanya or post below the lineHello and happy Saturday morning. It’s a patchwork sunny and cloudy morning in Leeds, where Jonny Bairstow thrilled the crowd with his first hundred as captain. He, and Adam Lyth, can go bigger and better this morning, unless Surrey find something piquant from the pitch.Play starts at 11am here, and around the grounds. We’d love your company. Continue reading...
England announces a 15-man squad for the first Test against New Zealand, featuring uncapped players Emilio Gay, James Rew, and Sonny Baker, alongside Ollie Robinson's return after a two-year absence.
18-year-old Tom Norton becomes the youngest player to achieve a first-class hat-trick for Glamorgan on debut, with his mum missing the historic moment.
Lorry left at near 45-degree angle after ground gave way on road near WaltonA lorry became stuck in a sinkhole after being sent to fix it.Contractors from a company called Stabilised Pavements were sent to fix the sinkhole on Butleigh Drove, near Walton in Somerset, when the ground gave way, the Times reported. Continue reading...
Nightwatchman Ryan Hadley scored 50 not out from 231 balls in Glamorgan’s two-wicket victory at Sophia GardensWith four overs lost. Things are about to sprout into action elsewhere.“Now then, Tanya!” Hell0 there Tim Maitland. Continue reading...
Updates on day four from the latest round of games Counties face points deductions for financial losses | Mail TanyaWith four overs lost. Things are about to sprout into action elsewhere.“Now then, Tanya!” Hell0 there Tim Maitland. Continue reading...
Updates on day four from the latest round of games Counties face points deductions for financial losses | Mail TanyaWith four overs lost. Things are about to sprout into action elsewhere.“Now then, Tanya!” Hell0 there Tim Maitland. Continue reading...
Updates on day four from the latest round of games Read the Spin | Mail Tanya or post BTLWith four overs lost. Things are about to sprout into action elsewhere.“Now then, Tanya!” Hell0 there Tim Maitland. Continue reading...
Updates on day four from the latest round of games Read the Spin | Mail Tanya or post BTLAn Australian prodigy? Excellent.A memorable three-wicket over from Naavya Sharma, sailing in from the Brian Statham end, whippy action and fast arm, knocked the beans out of Lancashire, who slumped to a high-drama six-wicket defeat against their promotion rivals Middlesex after being sent packing for 84. Continue reading...
Updates on day three from the latest round of games Sign up for The Spin newsletter | Mail Tanya or post BTLEighteen-year-old Tom Norton charged about Sophia Gardens chased by cock-a-hoop Glamorgan teammates, who clapped his back and rubbed his beard, as he became the youngest County Championship debutant to take a hat-trick, ruining Somerset’s innings in the process. Norton first removed James Rew for a duck, in what will count as a failed experiment to push him up the order, before Tom Lammonby pecked behind and Archie Vaughan doddered in front of his stumps.“I don’t think I can put it into words to be honest. It’s the most mental 45 minutes I’ve ever had on a cricket field,” said Norton, the first championship debutant to take a hat-trick since 1906. Continue reading...
Glamorgan teenager Tom Norton pegged back Somerset while Warwickshire skittled Yorkshire to take control of their match at EdgbastonNo hundred for Falconer on Championship debut, a chorus of bouncing slips and an imploring Tom Bailey enough for the umpire to raise an off-you-go finger to an lbw shout.Poor Zak Crawley out again cheaply, chopping on . I really hope this doesn’t disintegrate into a Haseeb Hameed 2019 summer and that someone has an arm round his shoulder. Kent 13-1. Continue reading...
Updates from the latest round of Championship games Sign up for The Spin newsletter | Mail Tanya or post BTLAs some possibly cheap wickets arrive at Hove in the form of Leicestershire, Ali ponders an England return for Ollie Robinson.1 Durham 71 Continue reading...
The shot has been described as the purest expression of batting and a destroyer of innings, matches and careersTaunton, 3 April 2026. Somerset are hosting Nottinghamshire, the defending county champions, in their first fixture of the new season and are 20 for two having been sent into bat. It’s murky and cold. The batters wear cable-knit sweaters and the spectators in the crowd have wisely decided not to eschew their winter coats. Plenty peer out at the action from under tightly drawn hoods.The hulking Notts fast bowler Dillon Pennington steams in towards Somerset’s James Rew. The pitch is lush and only a shade less green than the uncut strips either side, more “Shrek’s forehead” than “Kermit’s belly” in cricket’s internationally recognised Pitch Greenness Scale™ . By August it will be paler, baked and cracked – you guessed it, “Yoda’s shin”. For now, though, the conditions suggest everything is in the fielding side’s favour. Rew taps his bat and blinks towards the bowler. Continue reading...
Game is in danger of losing its integrity by howling about referees’ decisions and unedifying actions on the field under the notional banner of player welfareIt felt like a proper occasion in Bordeaux on Sunday. The trams were so jammed en route to the ground that the kick-off had to be delayed to allow spectators extra time to find their seats. For those who dismiss the notion of club rugby rivaling football for vibrant mass interest here was a compelling counterpoint: a heaving 42,000-capacity stadium, off-the-scale passion, top-class sport in every respect.Later on, after the game was done, there was another revealing snapshot at the airport. As Bath’s beaten players headed for their flight home they were warmly applauded down to the gate by their travelling supporters. A corner of a foreign departure lounge was briefly akin to north-east Somerset. Despite the outcome, the fans instinctively wanted to show how much they have enjoyed their team’s efforts this season. Continue reading...
Joe Root and Dom Bess took four wickets each as Yorkshire registered a 75-run win over Somerset in Division One of the County ChampionshipDerbyshire’s unlikely run-chase against Kent is already in tatters at 34 for four. Three wickets for Matt Milnes: Came, Jewell, Montgomery and Madsen all done and dusted.Kevin Hand says that Glamorgan are on track for their biggest ever thrashing of Hampshire. And just to hurry things along, Felix Organ is obligingly lbw to Jamie McIlroy. Hampshire are six down, and still trail by 190. Continue reading...
Joe Root and Dom Bess take four wickets each as Yorkshire spin Somerset to a 75-run Championship defeat at Taunton.
Two people have died following an explosion at a residential property in Sterncourt Road, Frenchay, Bristol. Avon and Somerset Police were called to the domestic-related incident at 06:17 BST with the explosion occurring at 06:30 BST. Three people including a child were taken to hospital with minor injuries. The incident has been declared major and is being treated as suspicious but not as terrorism. Residents were evacuated to a local Harvester restaurant while officers conduct inquiries at a linked property in Speedwell.
