Wiltshire County, England News

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.

Devizes MP Claire Perry is backing local bands, musicians and film makers who enter the Rock the House and Film the House competitions.

Plans to build 3,000 new homes near Lotmead farm, Covingham. Gary Sumner, Chair of Wanborough Parish Council, at the site The first steps for a scheme which will see 3,000 houses being built at Lotmead Farmstead have been put into motion.

PEOPLE living in Wroughton are in support of the UK's biggest solar farm being built on their doorstep, according to a study carried out by villager Steve Harcourt.

Protestors opposing solar developments in Wiltshire will stage a second public meeting on Thursday, after their first gathering was cancelled last week.

Members of the Fire Brigades' Union will be walking out between 6pm and 10pm on Friday and Saturday, as part of its on-going dispute with the Government over pension reforms.

A picture taken from the Wiltshire Police helicopter gives an idea of the scale of the search near Malmesbury on Monday after a burglary at Yatton Keynell A dramatic police hunt in Malmesbury led to the arrest of three Birmingham men suspected of burgling a house in Yatton Keynell, taking items including laptop computers.

A 37-year-old Trowbridge man has been banned from driving for 38 months after he caused a crash which damaged a garden wall while over the drink-drive limit.

Christmas cheer will be coming to Shaw, near Melksham, on Friday, as a nativity scene with live donkeys is set up to raise funds for three charities.

Bullough, 19, and Trowbridge, 20, admitted common assault and stealing an iPhone 4 and Acer laptop from Paul Page on Sunday, July 21. The pair pleaded not guilty to the more serious charge of robbery and Tessa Hingston, prosecuting, said they would not seek a trial.

A convenience store in Netheravon was badly damaged by fire yesterday evening, with two cats being rescued from an upstairs flat.

Investigations are continuing into the cause of a fire that destroyed the contents of a storage facility used by The Paper Bag Company in Westbury last night.

Plans for a 14-hectare solar farm on the outskirts of Neston have been branded "an attack on the way of life of rural people", by local protestors.

An arrest warrant has been issued for a Melksham woman who brandished a three-inch kitchen knife in a cafe, after she failed to attend a court hearing.