Wiltshire County, England News

The chairman of Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Authority Graham Payne says that if a merger between the county brigade and Dorset does not go ahead two or three fire stations in Wiltshire could lose their 24 hour status and redundancies could follow.

INVESTIGATIONS are under way by experts to determine whether a mystery fire, which engulfed a waste depot two weeks ago, has had rubbish burnt in it - keeping it alight.

DRINK drivers were being targeted in a co-ordinated day of action by community speedwatch and roads policing teams across Wiltshire yesterday.

Stuart Andrew Gray, 48, of Rodbourne Road, Swindon, was given an 18-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months after he made a series of abusive and threatening calls to the emergency services.

Commissioner Angus Macpherson, second from left, with from left Di Fraser, Helie Franklin and Derek Baker from Caenhill Countryside Centre Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon Angus Macpherson has visited Caenhill Countryside Centre, near Devizes, to find out about its work with the community.

Huxley, reunited with owners Thomas and Mary Rhode thanks to Dogs Lost volunteer Jo Middleton, left.

Miss Wanamaker, who lives near Pewsey, has played many roles on stage and screen, including in BBC comedy My Family.

Remarkable Trowbridge grandad Danny Kay will have two reasons for celebration on Sunday - when he runs his 500th marathon on his 72nd birthday.

Wiltshire Air Ambulance supporter Dennis Overton will hold another supper and dance to raise funds at Melksham Assembly Hall on December 30. Mr Overton, a retired ambulanceman of Hilperton, has staged the event to support ambulance services for 32 years, with the Mike Smith Big Band.

BENEFIT fraudsters have been ordered to pay back nearly A 1m to the council over the last three years, according to new figures revealed this week.

A 41-year-old Hilperton man has been arrested following a suspected arson attack in Lacock, which saw two police officers treated for smoke inhalation.

Buy this photo Christ Church community centre manager Chris Smith is appealing for more volunteers because of high demand at the newly opened centre A new state-of-the-art community centre has opened in Old Town and already demand for the new facility has gone through the roof.

THE battle against a 700-home development at Ridgeway Farm has finally been lost as Wiltshire Council has approved the first phase of expansion.

AS THE needle drops onto The Family That Plays Together, a long playing record by the Los Angeles-based Sixties hard rock psychedelic blues quintet Spirit, Eric Stott proclaims, with a mixture of conviction and satisfaction: "You can't beat vinyl - there's nothing like it."

CAMPAIGNERS were celebrating last night after councillors voted against plans to develop a derelict dental surgery into a house of multi occupancy.

Three fire engines were called to Corsham High Street in the early hours this morning, after a fire broke out in a hair salon.

A multi-million pound IT refit at Wiltshire Council was inspected by Weston College students on a visit to the council's offices in Trowbridge.

Open days will be taking place at St Giles Church in Imber from December 27 to January 5, with visitors invited to take a look around and learn more about the historic building and village.

Tobiah Rule turned to the drugs trade after his benefits were stopped at the start of the year and he needed to support his own use of other substances, a judge was told.

Getting ready for Chippenham Victorian Fayre are Terry Gibson, mayor Sylvia Gibson, Sue Wilthrew, Melissa Barnett, Peter Hutton, Andrew Skelton, Brian Mortimer, Lucy Bousie and David Dorey The event takes place in Market Place from 10am to 3pm, with all Wiltshire Council-run car parks in the town free on the day.