Local News

With an overwhelming £21,000 of donations, the Breathe for Jo campaign has nearly raised enough for an Exeter mother with two terminal illnesses to have the treatment which may save her life. Jo Smith, 36, has a unique combination of diseases and doctors say the odds of suffering both is over five billion to one. She needs a heart and lung transplant to have any hope of beating the blood vessel disorder pulmonary hypertension (PH). But doctors say she can't be put on a waiting list for the lifesaving organs - because she is also suffering from cancer. Similarly, the radiotherapy that could...

Flybe have confirmed that they are to cease operations on four major ‘sun routes’ flying from Exeter Airport, from October. The move will see four regular Flybe routes, from Exeter Airport to Spain and Portugal, closed as the airline changes focus to regional flights. The Exeter routes due to close currently fly to Alicante, Malaga and Palma Mallorca in Spain as well as Faro in Portugal. The routes, known as flybe’s ‘sun routes’, will cease operation despite their proven popularity particularly to Alicante and Malaga which saw their route operation extended last October due to high...

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is taking its campaign against palm oil to the Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink.

The Zoo is sponsoring the Exeter Chamber of Commerce networking lunch on Friday 25th April, which is part of the Festival. The lunch will include a talk from Paignton Zoo and the Proper Cornish Food Company on how the two organisations worked together to develop palm oil free Cornish pasties.

Palm oil is a widely-used ingredient found in many everyday foods and other products, but its production destroys habitat vital to species in South East Asia,...

Around 800 businesses across East Devon can still benefit from a scheme offering rate relief of up to £1,000 for the next two years. But time is running out to sign up to the scheme.

The initiative, adopted by East Devon District Council, is designed to give local retail businesses of a rateable value of less than £50,000 a chance to compete on a more level playing field with internet retailers.

Businesses to benefit include shops, post offices, restaurants, cafes, pubs and garden centres.

Councillor David Cox, EDDC Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “A £1,000...