UK News

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is today (18 April) launching a study into the 'quick house sale' market and is calling for people who have used, or considered using, these businesses to contact the OFT about their experiences.

Quick house sale providers offer to buy a house or find a third party buyer very quickly, usually at a discount from the full market value. While providers may offer a valuable service, the OFT is concerned that some practices might lead to homeowners receiving much less for their property than it is worth. Any losses could be very high.

The OFT is...

The RSPCA are calling for an investigation after a pollution spill harmed hundreds of seabirds for the second time in just two months.

More than 170 birds, mainly guillemots, were taken to the charity’s West Hatch wildlife centre in Taunton, Somerset, last week after being found washed up along the south coastline covered in a sticky substance. RSPCA inspectors rescued as many of the birds as they could, but unfortunately many more were found on the beaches already dead.

Experts from Plymouth University today (16 April) confirmed that the pollutant causing such devastating...

Police in South Devon are reminding dog owners of the need to keep their animals under control following an attack on sheep in the Bala Brook area of South Brent in February 2013. Police enquiries have yet to identify the white Jack Russell and a small brown Poodle/Terrier type dog that were chased off during the incident on 7 February. The sheep suffered minor injuries. A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said, “Owners must ensure their pets are not allowed into any fields with livestock.

“Walkers in the countryside should keep their dogs in sight and always on a lead...

Police in Newquay are appealing for information to trace a man sought in connection with an assault. Police are seeking to locate and arrest Frazer Rogers aged 28 years, in connection with an alleged assault which occurred in Newquay on Friday 5 April. All enquiries to date have failed to locate him. Rogers is described as a white man, 5’11” in height, slim build, with short straight brown hair. He is known to frequent both Newquay and Truro. Anyone who knows his current whereabouts or his movements is asked to contact police on 101 quoting police reference GN/13/621 or alternatively call...