Generous fund-raisers are continuing to back efforts to boost the Bridgwater Mercury’s Lily’s Fund appeal.
The fund, set up to ensure the three victims of a tragic fire are not forgotten, has been steadily growing.
Lily’s Fund total now stands at £2,140, and is well on its way to creating a permanent memorial for fire victims Lily Almond-Burchell, (eight), Laura Almond, (14), and Jamie Pursey, (25).
Mercury staff Tamsin Jones, Kate Gent, Kim Harris and Sue McDonald took part in the annual Bridgwater Charities Walk to raise a further £270.

A 1924 edition of the Ilford Recorder inside a time capsule was unearthed by workmen beneath the old King George Hospital site at Newbury Park during demolition work. Along with the dated paper, the time capsule also included a 1921 penny and a brief note from the architectural team of Ilford Urban District Council.

Organisers were bowled over with the amount of money raised by the Evening Star-Kingpin bowling night, which raised cash for the appeal for murdered schoolgirl Vicky Hall.
Some £1,200 was raised by 17 of nearly 100 people, and Ben Collins, of the Evening Star brand team which helped organise the event, said it had been a great night.
The Vicky Hall Memorial Trust is aiming to build a sports pavilion as a memorial to sixth form student Vicky, who was abducted and murdered as she walked home from a night out in Felixstowe.

A tide of teddy mania is sweeping through north Essex – and the Colchester Evening Gazette is offering special Gazette teddy-bears to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the cuddly toy.
The Gazette asked its readers to send in their special teddy-bear memories and in return are being sent special Gazette teddies thanks to an idea from editor-in-chief Irene Kettle, who arranged for 50 teddies to be created.

More than 1,000 homes have benefited from free smoke alarms provided by the Hull Daily Mail’s Raising the Alarm campaign.
The campaign was launched five weeks ago with Humberside Fire Brigade in memory of a four-year-old blaze victim who perished in a house that did not have the protection of a smoke alarm.

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail [email protected]