The Chard and Ilminster News takes a look back at what was making the headlines in years gone by.

1 YEAR AGO December 31, 2014: ILMINSTER Town Council has been branded “appalling” and “despicable” after telling residents ornaments and shrubs on graves in the cemetery will be banned by the end of March.

In a letter sent out just before Christmas, the council said the aim is to keep the cemetery tidy and respectful.

The letter states: “The open space team will remove flowers and wreaths when they notice they have perished, and, in accordance with the rules and regulations, artificial flowers will be removed after three months."

TWO controversial developments in Broadway which could see 36 homes built in the village have fallen by the wayside – for now.

Plans for 16 homes on land at Tanyard have been thrown out amid flooding concerns, while other plans for 20 homes at Vardens Farm have been withdrawn, but could return on a smaller scale.

Mr J.V. Baker and family had submitted the application for Tanyard, but a string of local residents have written to council officers expressing fears over infrastructure, traffic and flooding putting undue strain on the village.

5 YEARS AGO January 5, 2011 A CHARD business has vowed not to be beaten by burglars in 2011 after a raid in the run-up to Christmas.

It is business as usual at PC Doctor in Holyrood Street, which was targeted by the thieves during the early hours of Thursday, December 23.

A window was smashed and £1,000 was taken from a cash box – with a trail of blood, mud, fingerprints and footprints left behind.

A suspect, wearing dark clothing, was spotted running from the scene towards Fore Street.

And a witness reported that the culprit was in and out of the shop in less than a minute.

TRADERS in Chard have had a mixed Christmas going into the sales as the weather made its mark.

With the snowy and wintry conditions, many people seemed to want to shop locally this year and the town appeared to receive a post-Christmas boost.

In particular, it was the weekend before Christmas when the snow was at its worst that actually encouraged people to shop locally.

15 YEARS AGO January 3, 2001 TWO men were airlifted to safety from fast flowing floodwater near Winsham on New Year's Eve, as heavy rains brought violent flash floods to the Chard, Ilminster and Crewkerne area.

One man was left clinging to a tree and the other was left stranded on the roof of his car when the River Axe burst its banks and swept across the B3162 near Beere Farm, Winsham.

Police arrived on the scene at 9.20pm after being called by the wife of one of the trapped men, whose husband had just phoned to say his car was filling up with water.

AN ILMINSTER man received the Order of Merit from the Republic of Mauritania in Africa for his service as honourary consul in London.

Robert Becker from Wharf Lane received the honour at a presentation in London on the 40th anniversary of the independence of Mauritania.

Mr Becker served for four years until 1989 and answered to the Mauritanian ambassador and vice consul in Paris.

The award was signed by president Taya of Mauritania.

25 YEARS AGO January 2, 1991 A CHARD garage had an unpleasant Christmas after it was hit by its second raid in three months.

Jonathon Stone, 17, was working in the kiosk at the Welcome Garage, Furnham Road, on December 21 when a man burst in at around 9.45pm brandishing what appeared to be a revolver.

The man pushed forward a plastic Superdrug bag and told Holyrood student Jonathon to fill it with money from the till.

CHARD Chamber of Commerce secretary Ian Kelland rapped stores opening for Sunday trading before Christmas and said they would ruin small shops.

Woolworths and Superdrug were among those to open in Chard although several grocers and butchers opened for last-minute shoppers.

Mr Kelland said: "It's not that there's extra money, just that people spent it yesterday instead of today. There's no extra trade.

"Not many shops actually want to open on Sundays but feel that they have to, to keep up with the competition."