Local News

Exeter Racecourse launches Community Raceday and calls for Devon’s community heroes

Exeter Racecourse has launched a brand-new Community Raceday and is inviting people across Devon to nominate a community hero who deserves recognition.

Community Raceday takes place on Friday, February 20, during half term, and coincides with Devon Day at the racecourse. The initiative celebrates the people who make a real difference in their communities – from volunteers and carers to sports coaches, fundraisers and quiet grafters who go above and beyond.

Every nominee will receive a free ticket to Exeter Racecourse, and one overall winner will be treated to a Family...

Full story

Stagecoach announces new timetable for SW Falcon

Stagecoach South West has announced that, from 3 December 2016, a new timetable will come into effect on the South West Falcon, connecting Devon and Somerset with Bristol Airport and Bristol City Centre.

In addition to revised departure times, the operator has added a new stop at Lee Mill. It will also be possible for customers to make local journeys along the route, for example between Exeter and Cullompton or Churchill and Bristol Airport.

From the same date, concessionary passes will also be valid for travel on Falcon for journeys between Plymouth and Cullompton and...

Devon social workers scoop national awards for adult social care

Devon County Council has scooped a number of accolades at this year's Social Worker of the Year Awards, placing it among the highest achieving authorities in the sector.

78 social workers and social work teams from across England were selected as finalists across 15 different categories, celebrating the achievements of social care practitioners in services that support children and adults.

Of eight Devon County Council social workers or social worker teams selected as finalists by an expert panel of judges, three were announced as category winners and runner ups.

...

£3.5m funding programmes open for South Devon projects

Two programmes offering funds for rural and small business projects is now open.

The South Devon Coastal Local Action Group (SDC LAG) and the Greater Dartmoor Local Economic Action Fund (GD LEAF) have been awarded a total of £3.5 million to allocate to business projects which encourage and promote business growth, productivity and create jobs.

Both were originally set up in 2008 to invest in economic, environmental and community based projects to encourage innovation and promote the prosperity of the South Devon area.

The area covered by the programmes covers...

Father Christmas arrives in Sidmouth

With the Christmas season in full swing, Sidmouth, a Wyevale Garden Centre, has preparations underway to welcome the arrival of Father Christmas to the centre on Saturday 3rd December to open his magical Christmas grotto, which is set to be bigger and better than ever! The centre team welcome families from the local community come down to enjoy this festive event.

Father Christmas will be arriving at the garden centre in a lifeboat donated by the Sidmouth Lifeboat organisation, which will be pulled along by a tractor. Crew members in full lifeguard gear will be on hand to...

Police target motorists who flout traffic laws

Officers from the Devon and Cornwall Police roads policing team are out again this week in unmarked cars targeting motorists who flout traffic laws, in an effort to help keep our roads safe.

This continued proactive activity, where earlier in the month police were primarily targeting mobile phone use while driving, is focusing on the fatal four offences: speed, seat-belts, driver distractions and driving while under the influence of drink or drugs.

Excess speed continues to be a problem, with a number of motorists stopped in the last few weeks for driving at speeds in...

Garage joins forces with rock band for fundraising campaign

Exminster Garage teamed up with a local rock band to raise funds for charity Rock 2 Recovery after pledging to help those who serve their country in the British Armed Forces.

The garage first became aware of the charity after signing up for the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant to support the armed forces community. Exminster Garage

Director, Jo Strachan explained: “When we signed the covenant we were specifically interested in helping those who have been wounded or are sick.”

Jo and husband Glen were very excited to receive a Silver Award in recognition of their...

Princesshay Polar Bears named

Last month Princesshay launched a competition on its website to name its Christmas Polar Bears, a hugely popular feature of the city’s Christmas lights.

More than 250 entries were received, with Clarence (cub) and Hope (Mum) selected as the winning names.

The names were suggested by Joanne Allen from Exeter, who was also the lucky recipient of a £50 Princesshay Gift Card and family pass to the Winter Snow Globe.

Clarence and Hope will continue to light up Princesshay Square through the festive season. The sparkling bears are already the subject of hundreds of photos...

Wildlife and conservation volunteer days in East Devon

The Donkey Sanctuary is welcoming volunteers to its Wildlife Gardening Volunteer Day on Wednesday 14 December from 10am till 4pm.

Each month the Sanctuary runs wildlife and conservation volunteer days, which include outdoor practical tasks such as gardening, woodland management, hedge planting, willow weaving and the building of bug hotels. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet like-minded people, share and learn skills, and have fun.

This month, the team will be creating habitat for wildlife in a garden setting at Slade House Farm. Activities will include digging,...

Pothole funding welcomed but Council warns it only “scratches the surface”

Devon County Council has given a cautious welcome to a Government funding announcement (on Monday 28 November) for road repairs saying that it still only “scratches the surface”.

The Department for Transport has announced a £70 million allocation from the Pothole Action Fund in 2017/18. This is part of the £250 million over five years which the Government announced for its Pothole Action Fund last year.

Devon will receive £3.192 million in the next financial year, which the DfT calculates is enough to repair 60,200 potholes.

The County Council will use the funding...

J D Wetherspoon - the biggest art gallery in Britain

Wetherspoon has embarked on a new project to highlight the history of our pubs across the UK.

Many of the company’s pubs are built on the site of interesting and, in several cases, unique buildings. These include former banks, post offices, churches, theatres, cinemas and even an opera house.

We are highlighting four pubs, with historical connections, on the website www.jdwetherspoon.com/pub-histories and will be adding many more of our pubs in the months and years ahead.

One of the pubs chosen is in the Exeter area – George's Meeting House. Its stained-glass...

Local News

Exeter Racecourse launches Community Raceday and calls for Devon’s community heroes

Stagecoach announces new timetable for SW Falcon

Devon social workers scoop national awards for adult social care

£3.5m funding programmes open for South Devon projects

Father Christmas arrives in Sidmouth

Police target motorists who flout traffic laws

Garage joins forces with rock band for fundraising campaign

Princesshay Polar Bears named

Wildlife and conservation volunteer days in East Devon

Pothole funding welcomed but Council warns it only “scratches the surface”

J D Wetherspoon - the biggest art gallery in Britain

It's your Daily

You make the news

Top video

Selco Builders Warehouse | England Rugby star Jack Nowell visits Exeter Saracens junior teams

Exeter Weather

Search form

Local News

Top video

Exeter Weather