Hour spare with a helping hand

Voluntary Action North Somerset (VANS) is delighted to announce the roll out of the Good Neighbour Scheme, a community led initiative designed to support older residents (65+) living in rural villages across North Somerset. The scheme connects local volunteers with residents who need occasional help with small odd jobs in and around their home, enabling people to remain independent in their own homes for as long as possible.

If you have a spare hour and would like to volunteer with this scheme, please contact Tracy on 07458073262 or email info@vansmail.org.uk

If you get a call that seems off, stop, hang up, and dial 159. It’s a safe and direct way to connect with your bank when you’re most at risk of being scammed. It’s simple, easy to remember, and can’t be faked so 159 will never call you.

The attached has some useful information and a link to the Stop Scams UK website.

Attachments:

• call-159.pdf

Congresbury Singers present “Multi Mass” with guest soloists.

St Andrews Church, Congresbury

Sat  21 March 7.30pm with wine & refreshments

Tickets £12 from PO, Re-Store, on the door

The police are urging residents and businesses to be vigilant following reports counterfeit £20 notes are in circulation in Taunton.

Officers have received reports the counterfeit notes have been used in separate transactions at two outlets and are now issuing advice on how to spot them.

The first incident was reported at a filling station on Priory Bridge Road at around 7.30pm on Thursday 29 January and at a retail outlet in East Street at around 10.35am on Thursday 5 March.

Similar incidents have occurred in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, and we’ve also received reports counterfeit notes have been used to purchase items which have been advertised for sale on social media selling sites.

PC Luke Elliot, officer in the case, said: “We are aware a small number of counterfeit notes have entered circulation, and we want to warn businesses and the public to remain vigilant and follow our advice to prevent more people becoming victims of fraud.

“A full and thorough investigation into how these notes have entered circulation is being carried out, and we are issuing advice so people can be confident they’re accepting genuine payments for goods and services they are providing.”

If cash transactions are necessary, please follow the advice in the attached PDF.

Attachments:

• counterfeit-money.pdf

Don’t turn your home into a gold mine. Burglars are targeting households for gold, jewellery, cash and even stealing whole safes.

Do what you can to make your home a harder target:

Please see the attached advice.

Attachments:

• burglary-advice.pdf

Police are appealing for witnesses and anybody with information relating to an incident on the A38 which resulted in the death of a pedestrian this morning to come forward.

A man was found critically injured by a member of the public on the A38 Bridgwater Road, Winscombe, between Fox Lane and Fullers Lane, at around 12:10am this morning (Friday 30 January).

A man in his mid-fifties sadly died of his injuries at the scene and his next of kin have been informed.  The road remains closed while investigations continue.

Officers remain at the scene of the incident alongside other emergency services and intelligence checks have been carried out.

Police are in the early stages of an investigation to establish what happened.  At this stage it is unclear how the man sustained his injuries and are keeping an open mind whether it was potentially a result of a collision with a vehicle and the driver failed to stop.

We are therefore appealing to any witnesses and those with information which could assist our enquiries to come forward.

We would particularly like to hear from any drivers who may have been in the area at the time with relevant dashcam footage, between 11:45pm and 12:20am this morning, to come forward.

We would also like to hear from anybody who saw anything suspicious at the time of the incident, or in the moments immediately before or afterwards, to contact us.

Anybody who can assist with our investigation is urged to contact us on 101 quoting reference number 5226026947.

You can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their Anonymous Online Form.

No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded, and you will not go to court nor must speak to police when contacting Crimestoppers.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a collision involving a Peugeot van and a Lexmoto motorbike in North Somerset.

Emergency services were called to the B3133 Kenn Road, between Yatton and Clevedon, at about 6.30pm on Thursday 29 January. The collision occurred a short distance away from the Lampley Road junction.

The motorcyclist sustained serious potentially life-changing injuries and remains in hospital.

The van driver remained at the scene and has assisted officers with their enquiries.

Police are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed what happened or has relevant dashcam footage of the incident or shortly before.

If you can help our enquiries please call 101 and quote reference number 5226026759.

Due to some unexpected circumstances around my health the twice monthly Book Sales in Congresbury War Memorial Hall will not resume until March 14^th and March 28th 2026.  In future the Book Sale will run between 10.00am and 12 noon.  Reasons will be explained to my regular customers in due course but are necessary as we start the 28^th year of the sales.

There will be reductions in price, which will benefit all buyers, as the items will be sold on a “Buy One Get One Free” basis on all stock. Similar reductions will also apply to Jigsaw Puzzles. Hopefully villagers will take advantage of all stock reductions.

The size of the village has been gradually rising. Many people may not realise that the hall is a registered charity.  They might like to take a look at what the hall has to offer, including Bingo, Badminton, Snooker, Rifle and Pistol Shooting and many others, when there is a Book Sale on.  

This is an open invitation to all to check us out.  Look forward to meeting you

Irving Prowse – Chairman

The Police has issued the warning below. Although the reference is to parking in Watchet there are fake QR codes in use elsewhere so please take care and check that the QR code is not a sticker over the original code.

We want to make people aware of criminals who have put a fake QR code over the genuine article on parking ticket machines in Watchet. These are the codes that can be scanned by smart phones to make payments, such as paying for a parking space in these occasions. Instead of payment going to the legitimate operator, these payments are going to the offender. Typically these scams may only take a small sum so it doesn’t raise any suspicions to the victim, allowing the fraud to continue.

A QR (Quick Response) Code is a two-dimensional matrix barcode which gives access to websites, digital content, or other information. At it’s best it provides swift access for payments, which comes from PayPal or similar companies, who then take payment for the user. At worse, it may also download phishing or malware viruses. Always check there isn’t a sticker over the original code. Be very careful if a smaller sticker seems to be over of a larger size or shows signs of tampering. Be especially aware if the website asks for sensitive information or offers unrealistic deals.

The police has informed us that for the time being, Trevor Wilmot will be your point of contact for police matters relating to your area.

Should you need to get in touch, Trevor can be contacted as follows:

Tel: 07547 659 714

Email: trevor.wilmot@avonandsomerset.police.uk