With so much rain this month much of the usual sport is off although the Cheddar Valley Gazette carries the dramatic story of ‘Toothless Cheddar are struggling to find rhythm’ on the back page. The report describes how in front of 78 supporters Cheddar’s football team went down to local rivals Ashton and Backwell by 2-0. Better news for the rugby players of Winscombe as their second fifteen came out of a match against Old Redcliffians 2nds by a whopping 60-7 win.

The Weston Mercury has little for readers in this area this week unless you are concerned about the store Regent Express on Regent Street in Weston-super-Mare which served alcohol to a drunk man last year. The shop’s licence had been revoked – and it’s the front page story.

Better news comes in The Gazette where the Cheddar Male Voice Choir is celebrating 25 years in song. The group will hold a concert on April 4, in Draycott Memorial Hall and will feature the violinist Po;;y McGhee. For tickets email cheddarmalechoir@gmail.com

The best headline goes to the Gazette  with a double page spread of the headge cutting competition near Wells last week. It reads: On the cutting edge of genius.

Finally in The Gazette it’sthe end of an era in the village’s retailing life. Gerald Deane has died aged 93. The store still runs in the village and offers a variety of clothing in Bath Street – but for the full story of this family firm which began in the 1940s and has served the village so well you will need to buy the paper which is now £1.40. The Mercury with much less is now £1 but it does have a copy of their free colour magazine inside with a feature on Wookey Hole Caves.

For details for the work of the journalist Harry Mottram visit www.harrymottram.co.uk

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