Local News

A South West law firm has won a prestigious national award, beating some of the biggest law firms in the UK, and bringing its haul of national awards in the last two months to six. Stephens Scown LLP, which has offices in Exeter, Truro and St Austell has been named UK Law Firm of the Year at the British Legal Awards 2016. The awards were announced at a ceremony in London on Thursday, 24 November 2016. Other firms on the shortlist included top 50 law firms such as Mishcon De Reya, Shoosmiths and Mills & Reeve. The British Legal Awards are the leading awards for the UK’s legal community...

Trains started running through the South West again today after Network Rail’s ‘Orange Army’ battled round the clock to fix damage caused by Storm Angus. Passenger services began to return to normal on the vital route 15 hours earlier than expected.

The railway at Cowley Bridge, Exeter reopened at 1pm having been closed since the early hours of Tuesday 22 November. Work to repair the line, which suffered severe flood damage, was initially expected to take 48 hours.

The closure was necessary at Cowley Bridge after flood water washed away track and ballast causing disruption...

Exeter Racecourse’s famous racing Clydesdales provided a magnificent spectacle on Sunday when their flying feathers and huge white faces had an enthusiast crowd enthralled as they raced in aid of the Devon Air Ambulance.

Solo, Siryl Allan, Frankie Doodle, Midge and Tom Parker were ridden by professional jockeys Noel Fehily, Aiden Coleman, Daryl Jacob, Sean Bowen, Tom Bellamy and James Best who urged them down the two-furlong stretch in front of their appreciative audience.

Midge, last year’s winner, was sent off the evens favourite and with a flying start under Noel Fehily...

Heavy rain has flooded the railway at Cowley Bridge, between Exeter St Davids and Taunton. Trains between these stations are currently unable to run.

Great Western Railway are advising customers not to travel unless absolutely necessary. At present, only very limited replacement road transport can be sourced.

Where possible Great Western Railway services between London Paddington and stations in Devon & Cornwall will be diverted via an alternative route where resources are available to do so.

There is currently no firm estimate as to when the line will reopen,...