Local News

An online study of 25,000 people is recruiting participants to help study the impact of COVID-19 isolation on the health and wellbeing of older people, and find new ways to support them.

People aged 50 and over are being invited to join the PROTECT study , an innovative online platform run by the University of Exeter and King’s College London, which already has 25,000 people signed up. Now, a new arm of the NIHR-funded study will track both mental and physical health impacts of lockdown policy on older people, by incorporating a questionnaire to seek the experiences of the cohort...

Otter Garden Centres has reopened all seven branches after closing them in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Managing Director, Jacqui Taylor described the first days of reopening:

“We are delighted that we have been allowed to open. We have put the safety of our customers and colleagues as the top priority during this difficult time of trading as we all get used to the new systems and ways of working. So far, customers have shopped very sensibly and carefully - and have praised us on the safety measures we’ve put in place to ensure we are not overcrowded and that...

THE CO-OWNER of an award-winning Devon gastropub will shave his head in aid of charity this month (May, 2020).

Paul Berry, who co-owns The Swan in Bampton with his wife and fellow award-winning chef Donna, will be braving the shave on May 17 to raise money for Churches Housing Action Team (CHAT).

He said: “As I can’t get to a barbers at the moment and, like many other people are doing, I thought I would shave my head, however, I have decided to do it in aid of a very worthy cause.

“I’ll be going live on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSwanBampton on Sunday,...

A dental nurse from Exeter has written a new children’s book with eye-catching characters to encourage kids to brush their teeth.

Shelley Poole created Mouff to make it easy for children to understand just how important it is to keep their teeth clean.

Mouff and the monsters who live among his molars deliver a colourful message about oral hygiene that appeals to youngsters.

She is especially keen to spread the word while access to dental practices is limited during the COVID-19 crisis.

“My goal overall is to change perceptions of oral health and to challenge...