EACH week in the Free Press we look back at what made the news 150, 100, 50 and 25 years ago. Here is a sample of the items featuring in the This Was The News column this week.

150 years ago – December 11th 1869

December 9th was the first night of gas lighting in Minehead and many people were abroad to see the new illumination. Against the side of the Market House gas burned brightly in the form of a star. The Minehead Band was out playing selections. To celebrate the occasion, a public dinner was held at the Feathers, and glees were rendered.

100 years ago – December 13th 1919

Lightning struck a large elm tree close to the vestry of the parish church at Old Cleeve, but the church escaped damage.

50 years ago – December 13th 1969

One of a two-man crew engaged in renewing the yellow traffic lines in The Avenue, Minehead, was refilling a container with molten plastic material when the boiler blew up in his face. He was temporarily blinded but escaped serious injury. The incident demonstrated once again the value of the use of the pocket radio system now operating among the local police and by the traffic warden when an emergency arises.

25 years ago – December 16th 1994

Fears were expressed that there could be seafront “riots” in Minehead if thousands of youngsters turned up for an all-night rave that had been cancelled at the last minute.