ONE of the largest surviving remnants of a mediaeval royal hunting forest received a 21st century shot in the arm this week when thousands of new trees were planted. Land adjoining Ravensroost Wood near Minety, which was once part of Braydon Forest
APPALLED villagers who are calling on rail chiefs to reduce the environmental impact of a new £1.2 million bridge that they have likened to a “recycled tin can” have won the backing of their MP. North Wiltshire MP James Gray has now written to
A CARELESS cow was rescued by firefighters after somehow trapping itself between metal bars at a farm in Brinkworth. A fire crew from Malmesbury and special animal rescue team from Stratton, Swindon, went to the scene on Monday morning. The
CALNE Town chief Simon Gardner concedes that his team had no answer as they were swept aside by ‘relentless’ title-favourites Barnstaple Town last weekend. The Lilywhites were unable to put the brakes on their irresistible opponents in North Devon
Evidence of a remarkable new 'stone avenue' leading from Avebury has apparently been located by photographic evidence. Previously, two other stone avenues known as the West Kennet Avenue and the Beckhampton Avenue are known to archaeologists as
FORMER Devizes mayor Tim Price will be sentenced for historic sex offences on March 23. Price, 57, of Waiblingen Way, Devizes, was found guilty of repeatedly sexually abusing a boy between 1974, when the boy was nine, and 1979. He pleaded not
MELKSHAM Town returned to winning ways with a ruthless second-half display in a 3-0 victory over Bridport to get back on track in the race for the title. Darren Perrin’s league leaders were beaten 3-1 by Buckland Athletic in their last fixture
Hollywood star Robert Downey Jnr – known to millions as Iron Man – has donated a once-in-a-life-time auction prize to raise funds for Julia’s House, the Wiltshire and Dorset children’s hospices. The actor has offered one lucky winner the chance
MUM Jane Evans is playing a key role in a television series about violent children starting this week. The specialist in trauma parenting from Sutton Benger is one of the experts helping families dealing with violence in the new Channel 5 series
DEPLETED Devizes made their furthest journey without regulars Andy Thompson, Seb Hutchings, Mark Carter, Tom Collins and Will Paviour. Six of last year’s colts made the squad, while making his first start at scrum-half this season was Calum Conway
MALMESBURY’S first independent music festival looks set to be a sell out with almost two-thirds of the 1,750 tickets having now been snapped up. The Boondocks Festival was made possible after £30,000 was raised from advance ticket pledges via a
DR Steve Rowlands is stepping down as chairman of Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (Wiltshire CCG) on June 30 after two years in the role. He willl be handing the responsibility to newly-elected Dr Peter Jenkins. Dr Jenkins was elected
Police are appealing for information about a burglary at Andrews Quality Meats in Marlborough High Street overnight on Thursday, February 19. A man broke into the shop and took an amount of cash. Police have now issued a CCTV image of a man
A small square in the centre of Devizes is to be given a facelift by the town council in a bid to boost its appeal. It is to spend £40,000 on replacing cracked concrete paving with natural stone and creating a performance area at Albion Place in
FOOTBALL legend Sir Alex Ferguson paid a visit to Manton yesterday stopping off at The Outside Chance for a bite to eat. It is believed that the former Manchester United manager was in the area looking at racehorses. Racehorse trainer George
CONCERNED parents have been quick to react to the news Stonar headteacher Toby Nutt has stood down from his role with immediate effect. Mr Nutt joined as deputy head nine years ago and broke its 100 year tradition in 2013 by becoming the first
WILTSHIRE is set to welcome a new chief fire officer ahead of the merger between Wiltshire & Swindon and Dorset fire and rescue services. Chief fire officer Darran Gunter, the existing chief fire officer (CFO) for the Dorset Fire and Rescue
MARLBOROUGH maintained their lead at the top of Dorset & Wilts One North with a comprehensive win at Minety. In muddy, boggy conditions the visitors played down the slope in the first half and scored four very similar tries with possession
LOVE came out of the blue for Mary Graham who met her husband of 70 years, Alan, when he accidentally landed on the Marlborough Downs during a parachuting training exercise. The couple, who live in Kepnal, near Pewsey, celebrated their platinum
Three Chippenham primaries and a special needs school in Rowde are celebrating a Lotto windfall. The schools are among 87 good causes across the South West to be sharing nearly £730,000 in the latest Awards for All grants from the Big Lottery Fund
A CHIPPENHAM school had a visit from swimmer Sharron Davies this week to launch The Big Pedal.The Olympic medallist and TV presenter was at Queen’s Crescent on Monday to encourage the children in the massive inter-school cycling competition. Frogwell
FEARLESS Tamzyn Ovens is taking on a tandem skydive to say thank you to Royal United Hospital staff in Bath who have helped her father. Miss Ovens, 21, from Calne, will take the 10,000ft dive on March 14 to raise money for the Forever Friends Appeal
AN abandoned piece of land at St Dunstan Primary School in Calne has been transformed into a farm after businesses responded to children’s pleas for help. Pupils wrote letters asking for advice and donations for the farm project, which is now home
CORSHAM Regis Primary Academy has been selected to represent the Chippenham constituency in a parliamentary project. Year six pupils from the school have been asked to design a flag on behalf of the community as part of a project called Parliament
