TAUNTON Deane Borough Council and West Somerset Council no longer exist from today (Monday) - and it's not an April Fool joke.

The two councils have been disbanded and merged to form Somerset West and Taunton Council.

The new authority has been created by The Somerset West and Taunton (Local Government Changes) Order 2018.

The SWT Constitution, which sets out how the council operates, how decisions are made and the procedures that are followed, was approved by the shadow council last Tuesday.

Residents or anyone who has business with SWT will notice that name replacing the old Taunton Deane and West Somerset names on communications such as bank statements as any money paid or received will be managed by the new council.

The new website is somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk

Apart from that...it’s business as usual.