Local News

Army veteran aims to lunge his way to a new world record

An Army veteran from Exeter aims to lunge his way to a new world record while raising funds for veterans' mental health charity Combat Stress.

Luke Dyer, 37, is preparing to tackle an extraordinary 73 miles of walking lunges – a distance believed to far exceed the current known record of five miles. An application has been submitted to Guinness World Records and official verification of the challenge is currently pending.

Starting on 2 September at first light, he will look to complete the gruelling challenge in just two days, pausing only for food, water and toilet...

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LED lighting could have major impact on wildlife

LED street lighting can be tailored to reduce its impacts on the environment, according to new research by the University of Exeter.

The UK-based study found predatory spiders and beetles were drawn to grassland patches lit by LED lighting at night, but the number of species affected was markedly reduced when the lights were dimmed by 50% and switched off between midnight and 4am.

LEDs made up just 9% of the global lighting market in 2011, but forecasts suggest they will account for 69% by 2020.

This has led to concerns about their effects on plants and animals, and...

Devon secures funding to create more nursery places

Devon County Council has successfully bid for capital funds from the Department for Education to create more nursery places for three and four year olds.

The funding enables local authorities to deliver additional places under the new extended entitlement by September 2017.

Entitled families who meet the criteria set by the Department for Education will be able to take 30 hours of funded provision a week during term time or they can stretch the entitlement across the year to fit with their working hours. Altogether these families will have 1140 hours of funded early...

Exeter projects hit the jackpot

New figures show that more than £2.1 million of National Lottery funding was awarded across Exeter last year alone. 59 National Lottery grants were given out in the city during 2016; providing a vital boost to arts, sports and heritage projects alongside community groups helping those most in need. A wide variety of local projects received National Lottery grants last year, including:

£4,655 to Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education to set up an active and outdoor community club for families.
£9,000 to Exeter University Trampoline Club so more people can go

Checks on single person council tax discounts

People in Exeter who are receiving a single person’s discount on their council tax but shouldn’t be are being urged to let the City Council know about their change in circumstances.

Those who receive a 25 per cent reduction on their bill as single occupancy residents will soon be checked to make sure that the reductions are correct.

The checks form part of the Council’s measures to prevent and detect fraud and protect the public purse.

Capita Local Government has been appointed to carry out a comprehensive review of 15,000 single person discounts. They will work...

Devon volunteers take on Arctic Challenge

Whatever weather the rest of winter throws at us, six volunteers with the local Samaritans charity are well prepared - because they’ve encountered temperatures down to minus 20 degrees Celsius, dug snow holes, and driven huskies.

The six volunteers, who live in Exeter and East Devon and are supporters of the local Samaritans branch, have just completed an Arctic Survival Challenge at Raftlaven in the northern Swedish wilderness, miles from the nearest settlement.

The challenge was to show the volunteers’ ability to adapt and live in the harsh environment where snow was many...

University backs Exeter Cycling Charter

The University of Exeter is encouraging more students and staff to cycle to campus by signing a citywide charter aiming to tackle inactive lifestyles, congestion and pollution.

The University of Exeter became the latest supporter of the Exeter Cycling Charter on Wednesday 25 January, joining over 150 different organisations.

The Charter aims to make Exeter a city where people of all ages can cycle to their place of work or study safely. It encourages the prioritisation of people on the city’s roads and public spaces in a way that makes cycling a safe, natural choice for...

Works starts on Exeter primary school

Work has officially got under way on a new primary school and nursery in the Newcourt area Exeter. Cllr Andrew Leadbetter, Devon County Councillor for Topsham and St Loyes, and The Venerable Douglas Dettmer, Archdeacon of Totnes, joined builders Midas Construction at a ground-breaking ceremony on the site of the new Trinity Church of England VA Primary & Nursery School (February 3). The school will open initially in temporary accommodation in September 2017 for its first reception pupils, with the new school building off Vernon Crescent fully operational by Easter 2018. The work was...

Have you seen Alexander Brown?

Police are seeking the public’s help to trace a 37-year-old Exeter man who is wanted for recall to prison.

Alexander Brown [pictured], who was originally charged with rape and wounding in 2012, is wanted for failing to comply with licence conditions following his release from prison.

Numerous enquiries have been made by police to locate and arrest him.

Police are asking the public for information about his whereabouts and to report any sightings to them.

Brown is described as white, 5ft 8ins tall, of medium build, with blues eyes and short dark brown hair....

Devon woman shortlisted for success

Catherine Summers from Devon has been shortlisted for the UK Blog Awards for her blog Not Dressed as Lamb, in the Fashion and Beauty category sponsored by RelationsLDN.

Now in its fourth successful year, the 2017 UK Blog Awards is the largest awards event for the UK blogging scene, celebrating the best creative writers, photographers and vloggers across 17 different categories. Catherine, who started writing in 2011, was selected as one of the eight finalists for the Fashion and Beauty category. “Nearly six years on from starting my blog, I've always written it to actively...

It's time to take on Race for Life in Exeter

EXETER women are being encouraged to kick-start their New Year by signing up to Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life. The New Year is a great time to embark upon a new challenge and the charity is urging women of all ages, shapes and sizes to enter Race for Life 5k, 10k or Pretty Muddy at Westpoint Exeter on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd July By signing up to Race for Life right now, women in Exeter will be playing their part in beating cancer. There’s no better time for ladies in the South West to pull on their trainers, get a little more active and join like-minded women committed to the...

Local News

Army veteran aims to lunge his way to a new world record

LED lighting could have major impact on wildlife

Devon secures funding to create more nursery places

Exeter projects hit the jackpot

Checks on single person council tax discounts

Devon volunteers take on Arctic Challenge

University backs Exeter Cycling Charter

Works starts on Exeter primary school

Have you seen Alexander Brown?

Devon woman shortlisted for success

It's time to take on Race for Life in Exeter

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