Somerset in Pictures: Sunshine and sporting success

Not everyone likes hot days, but for our coastal resorts and visitor attractions this sunny week has been a great time to welcome visitors.
They have been getting their buckets and spades out from Weston down to Minehead.
Team Bath's netball players have been celebrating, festival workers are getting ready for the summer and there has been plenty of cricket action down in Taunton.

Ancient traditions: Early on Thursday, the first day of May, people gathered at the Chalice Well in Glastonbury to observe Beltane celebrations, harking back to ancient Celtic pagan fertility rites.

Gorgeous: Despite it being hot work, they have been setting up the teepees on the edge of Chew Valley Lake for the Fire in Your Soul Festival which will run from 4 - 6 July. The new event will feature firepits, workshops, holistic therapies, dance and poetry.

Thriller: Team Bath Netball edged a close contest against London Mavericks at the weekend, coming from behind to make it 53-53 with 20 seconds remaining before Charlotte Watts secured the win (below).


Cooling off: As temperatures rose this week, spots like the River Avon became popular with those able to paddle in the sunshine.

High hopes: Somerset's women took on Lancashire in Taunton this week in the Metro Bank One Day Cup competition, the visitors winning the contest by seven wickets.

Beautiful: What a shot. What better way to see the Somerset countryside than from a hot air balloon on a sunny evening?
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