UK News

Richard Cresswell, the Regional Director for the South West Region of the Environment Agency is expected to retire next week alongside a significant re-structuring of the agency. Mr Cresswell, who took up the post in July 2000, was recently instrumental in overseeing the Agency’s response to the winter flooding crisis which devastated much of the South West region earlier this year. The new structure will take effect from April 1 and will see the regional offices of the EA dissolve in place of a ‘two-tier’ system of ‘national’ and ‘area’ offices. The news follows reports last month that...

Exeter's Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and his Hollywood wife Gwyneth Paltrow are to separate after more than 10 years of marriage, the couple have announced.

Ms Paltrow, 41, and Mr Martin, 37, announced the split on her blog.

"It is with hearts full of sadness that we have decided to separate," the actress wrote.

In the message on her blog Goop.com, the Iron Man actress said the couple had "come to the conclusion that while we love each other very much, we will remain separate".

The couple said they had been "working hard for well over a year, some of it...

A new style of more flexible Isas to encourage further saving are among the key measures announced in George Osborne’s 5th budget revealed today. In a surprise late announcement Mr Osborne said that cash shares and Isas would be combined into a ‘New Isa’ which allows savers to accumulate tax-free savings of up to £15,000 each year beginning from July 1st. In 2010/11 more than half of people in the South West were reported to have Isas an today’s announcement is thought to benefit around 648,000 South West Isa holders. Speaking to MPs the Chancellor, George Osborne, said: “This is a Budget...

Husband and wife Anthony and Katey Pimblett celebrate the birth of their baby daughter Lauren at their new home purchased under the ‘Help to Buy’ scheme at Fern Green based in Langport. The Somerset development built by award-winning independent builders C G Fry & Son has to-date sold five of its 30 private houses under this scheme.

The *‘Help to Buy’ Equity Loan scheme helps first time buyers and those looking to move up the property ladder to purchase a new-build home. The government-backed initiative was set up to help new and existing home owners to purchase a property...