Teenagers die in Watchet car smash

POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a road traffic collision at Washford Cross which has left two teenagers dead.
Police were called at 9.20 pm on Thursday, August 16, to the B3190, between Washford Cross and Five Bells, to the collision which involved a Mitsubishi Shogun and a Peugeot 205 car.
It is believed the Peugeot was travelling north towards Watchet when it has collided with a roadside verge before colliding with the Shogun.
The driver and passenger from the Peugeot, both aged 18 from the Watchet and Minehead area, were both pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the Shogun did not suffer serious injuries.
Police collision investigators have been at the scene throughout the night and the B3190 currently remains closed, but is expected to open in the near future.
Police would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the collision or may have been travelling on the road at the time.
Anyone who can help is asked to call the collision investigation unit on 0845 4567000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Anyone who can help should contact us through our secure Crimestoppers contact form at https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/crimestoppers/ContactForm.aspx.
Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. You do not have to give your name and you could receive a reward.

Change of name for The Crier - now it is the West Somerset Post

THE Crier newspaper is changing with effect from the August, 2007, edition and will now be known as the West Somerset Post.
A new company has been set up to publish the paper, which has been developed during the past six years by Minehead businessman Mike Padgett.
Mr Padgett has decided for personal reasons not to continue publishing The Crier and has put the title up for sale.
In the meantime, members of the editorial team and the sales team have decided to continue the business with a title of their own.
The West Somerset Post is being published by the Post News Group Ltd and the editor of the paper will continue to be John Thorne and the advertising director will continue to be Dudley Seale.
Mr Thorne said: "From a readers' and advertisers' perspective it is business as usual and they should hardly notice any changes from the paper which they have become used to seeing over the last few years.
"Apart from using another name, and, of course, having different contact details, the changes that are being made are all behind the scenes.
"We have in effect picked up the baton from Mr Padgett and we intend to continue with the development programme for the paper which he had already put in place.
"It is only thanks to the time and resources which Mr Padgett has invested in The Crier that we continue to be able to offer the people and businesses of West Somerset and Exmoor an alternative newspaper which gives them the best value-for-money advertising combined with professional journalism and a non-partisan take on the area's news.
"We look forward to developing The Post along the lines of the vision of Mr Padgett and hope that he will be proud of the way we take the paper into the future."

Harbour jump boy drowns in front of holidaymakers

A MASSIVE air-sea rescue search off the West Somerset coast ended tragically in the early hours of Friday, August 3, when a teenager was found dead.
The youngster, thought to be aged about 16, apparently jumped into Minehead Harbour shortly after 7 pm the previous evening and was heard to shout for help before disappearing under the water.
He was found nearly seven hours later after an exhaustive search which involved coastgaurds, lifeboats, a helicopter, police divers, fire and rescue teams with thermal imaging cameras, and local boat owners.
Some reports said the boy, thought to be local to the area, may have been tombstoning – a craze where groups of mainly young people jump from high walls or cliffs into water.
The tragedy happened in front of hundreds of holidaymakers who were enjoying an otherwise pleasant sunny evening on the harbourside.
But one witness to the drama dismissed the suggestion as the boy was fully dressed and appeared to have been on his own, while nobody had been noticed jumping into the harbour earlier.
The youth was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, and was pronounced dead on arrival.
A spokesman for the Coastguard Service in Swansea said: “We know he jumped into the harbour off the harbour wall.
“He swam for a short distance, then all of a sudden was crying for help and then apparently sank like a sack of potatoes.”
The West Somerset Coroner was being informed of the incident and an inquest will be held into the boy’s death.

• Our library photograph above shows a group of youngsters ‘tombstoning’ in Minehead Harbour some time ago. Photo submitted.

Rescue services launch massive search for missing harbour youth

A HUGE search was underway by rescue services on Thursday evening, August 2, for a youth who fell into the waters of Minehead Harbour.
The boy, believed to be in his early teens, was seen to fall from the harbour wall in front of shocked holidaymakers shortly after 7 pm.
He was heard to shout for help before disappearing under the water
Coastguards, lifeboats, a helicopter, police, firefighters, other emergency services personnel, and local boat owners totalling around 50 to 60 people were all involved in the search, which was continuing as darkness fell.
The town's harbourside was packed with visitors and local people enjoying a pleasant sunny evening when the tragedy occured.
It was not known if the youngster was local or a visitor to the town.
He was not thought to have been involved in any 'tombstoning', a practice which has been condemned by coastguards as dangerous - which involves jumping into deep water from harbour walls.
One local youth who witnessed the incident and who did not want to be named, said: "He was just sat there one minute and then we heard him shout 'help' and he was going into the water and went under."
Photo of Minehead Harbour submitted.