Local News

Sign saying welcome to Dartmoor and high risk fires

Prevent wildfires during dry weather

Dartmoor National Park Authority is urging visitors to help prevent wildfires as hot, dry conditions continue. Lighting fires is illegal, and people are being asked to leave barbecues at home to protect habitats and wildlife.

Recent weeks have seen an increase in fire incidents and damage caused by barbecues, prompting the reminder to follow leave-no-trace principles. These simple steps play a vital role in keeping Dartmoor safe for both people and nature.

Key advice includes:

  • Follow byelaws and never light fires.

  • Avoid using

    • ...
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MollyBond

MollyBond

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Record Number of South West Beaches Hit Top Standards

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Tue, 04/15/2014 - 3:43pm

A record number of South West beaches have achieved the highest bathing water standards this year according to a report from Marine Conservation Society (MCS) released today. The MCS 'Good Beach Guide’ shows that 173 out of 195 (88.7%) South West beaches received the top standard for excellent water quality.

Nationally MCS has recommended 538 out of 734 (73%) UK beaches tested during last summer as having excellent water quality –135 more than the previous year.

MCS Coastal Pollution Officer, Rachel Wyatt, says she hopes the latest figures will be a boost to UK tourism...

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Sacked PC Denies Tweeting from Exeter

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Tue, 04/15/2014 - 2:36pm

A police officer sacked for tweeting that police bosses were ‘lower than slime’ has denied any connection to the account responsible.

Tony Ryan, 33, a was dismissed from Avon and Somerset Police for gross misconduct last week (8 April) after a disciplinary panel decided that he was the author of the @TheBritishCop twitter account, which had tweeted dergotory remarks about Avon and Somerset police bosses.

However Mr Ryan has vigorously denied any connection to the account and that many of the tweets posted by @TheBritishCop had been 'geotagged' in places he had never been,...

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Churches and schools plant poppies to mark First World War

Hundreds of churches and Church of England schools across Devon are planting poppies as part of First World War commemorations organised by the Diocese of Exeter.

With the support of Paignton based Sutton Seeds, the Diocese has sent out 500 packets of the Northlew poppy seeds. Northlew, a small village near Okehampton, lost proportionally more of its enlisted men than anywhere else in the UK, when 24 died out of the 100 strong adult male population.

The Bishop of Crediton, Nick McKinnel said many churches were taking part in commemorations in their villages or towns, but...

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Skin Angels ambassador's campaign song

Skin Angels ambassador, singer and songwriter Charlotte Ward, is launching a song in support of their campaign, later this month.

The song, titled ‘Cover it up’, will be sung live for the first time during Charlotte’s set on the Castle stage at the Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink, between 1.30 and 2.30pm on Saturday 26th April.

Skin Angels, set up in 2013 by Mariam Badavi from Exeter's Purity Boutique Spa, are on a mission to raise awareness of the importance of protecting skin from the sun, even during the autumn and winter months and aim to arm young people...

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Armed Forces Community Support Hub launches

After months of planning, an Armed Forces Community Support Hub has been opened in Beaufort House, Exeter with the formal ribbon cutting ceremony performed by the HM Lord-Lieutenant, Sir Eric Dancer KCVO CBE JP.

The Hub is a new ‘one stop shop’ supporting the Armed Forces community in Devon including all serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families. It is built on a unique partnership between SSAFA, St Loye’s Foundation and The Royal British Legion.

Speaking on behalf of the participating charities, Group Captain Robin Chambers, Chairman of SSAFA Devon, said...

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Hand Grenade removed from Bonhams Exeter

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Tue, 04/15/2014 - 1:24pm

A Royal Navy bomb disposal team were called to Bonhams Auctioneers in Southernhay yesterday afternoon after a hand grenade was found in items handed in for appraisal.

Staff discovered the grenade, at around a 2:45pm on Monday (14 April), while searching through items passed to the auctioneers via a probate sale.

The grenade appeared to be live so staff locked the grenade in the safe and evacuated the premises and called police at Heavitree station.

Police set -up a cordon in the area near the Cathedral and called for support from Royal Navy bomb disposal, who...

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Quality mark for simulation experts is just the ticket

Authored by Jayne Freer
Posted: Tue, 04/15/2014 - 12:35pm

A Devon company that creates ‘virtual’ simulation packages for land, sea and air training is celebrating after achieving an internationally recognised quality mark.

Selective Fidelity Simulation has been awarded the ISO 9001:2008 by QAS International (Quality Management Systems) for its design, manufacture and installation of equipment for synthetic training.

The company, based in Ford Road, Totnes, employs just two members of staff but has a client-list stretching from the RAF, Navy and Army to civilian companies operating ‘virtual jets’ to help people overcome their...

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South Devon community comes together to tackle storm damage

The track from the village of South Huish to the National Trust car park at South Milton Sands in South Devon is now open again following a dynamic response from the local community.

The devastating Valentine’s Day storm destroyed the track and around two thirds of the sand dunes. Boardwalks and fencing were also torn up and the beach was littered with debris. The beach was still accessible from the village of South Milton but not from neighbouring South Huish.

Following the storm, the National Trust held a meeting with key stakeholders to discuss the damage and hear...

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Computer repair con man guilty of deceiving Devon residents

A conman has been handed a one year jail sentence suspended for two years after being found guilty of unfair trading and fraud offences following an investigation by Devon and Somerset Trading Standards Service.

Exeter Magistrates Court heard how Henry Smith, 36, cheated three Devon residents, two of which were elderly, out of nearly £1,300 between 2012 and 2013 by fraudulently making false representations for computer repair work that he claimed to have carried out. The case concluded with guilty verdicts on all eight charges following a two day trial.

Trading under the...

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Drivers released after collison on A30

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Mon, 04/14/2014 - 4:09pm

The A30 at Exeter has reopened following a serious road traffic collision earlier today. Emergency services were called at 7.35am to a collision between a lorry and a JCB digger on the eastbound carriageway at Alphington. The lorry driver was trapped in his vehicle and had to be released by the fire service. He was airlifted to Derriford Hospital by air ambulance while the JCB driver was treated at the RD&E for a neck injury.

Thankfully their injuries were less severe than initally thought and both drivers ave now been released from hospital. The eastbound carriageway was...

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