Gerard Murphy, who has just turned 22, suffered a horrific accident when diving into a lake in Sweden.

The Exeter University student was on his summer break in Sweden earlier in 2017 teaching students how to gain successful grades in their International Baccalaureate exams. He had scored so highly in his own IB exams that he qualified to give tuition. Early in July, Gerard was taking a break from tutoring and had gone to a lake with friends to swim. He misjudged the depth of the water and dived in. His head hit the rocky bottom of the lake, and he broke his neck and fractured his...

Hedgehog Highways, a scheme developed by Redrow West Country, has won a prestigious award at the Big Biodiversity Challenge Awards 2017.

Providing a simple way of making gardens hedgehog-friendly, the scheme was announced as the winner of the Small Scale Permanent Award.

Redrow worked closely with the People’s Trust for Endangered Species and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, who have been running the nationwide campaign Hedgehog Street since 2011, to introduce small, square marked holes into the new garden fences in phase two of their popular Barnstaple...

Halloween has come early at The Volunteer Inn in Broad Street, Ottery St Mary with some mysterious shenanigans.

On two occasions candles used for the restaurant tables have relit after being extinguished the night before.

The first time, cleaners discovered two candles alight even though staff were adamant they had extinguished them. On the second occasion, candles on two adjacent restaurant tables were burning - even though landlady Jacqui Down had herself made sure they were put out.

Jacqui said: “Although I’ve not previously been aware of supernatural goings on...

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched a campaign with property industry charity LandAid* to raise over £2 million in the biggest ever fundraising campaign for the charity. The funds will contribute to ending youth homelessness across the South West and will provide secure and affordable bed spaces in the region.

As part of RICS’ 150th anniversary in 2018, the campaign - known as Pledge150 - will see the leading industry body partnering with LandAid to raise £2.25 million for the provision of 150 bed spaces across all 12 UK regions by December 2018, for...

Stagecoach South West has announced that, from 29 October 2017, it will be making a number of changes to its Torbay bus services, improving reliability and connectivity over a core part of its network.

The Hop12 timetable will remain largely unchanged, with some alterations to early morning journeys in order to improve reliability.

On the 13, there will be minor changes to morning and afternoon peak journeys to improve connections for commuters. On school days, the 0820 arrival into Newton Abbot will extend to Newton Abbot College. There will be a new journey at 1712 from...

The hit 2016 sell-out show from Edinburgh Fringe The Unknown Soldier is at the Crediton Arts Centre on 17 November 2017. The play has received numerous four and five star reviews and has now been published by Bloomsbury.

'To be honest,' confesses writer and performer Ross Ericson, 'I knew we had a good production but I never dreamt that we would see such critical acclaim and sell out virtually every night over 25 performances – especially at the Edinburgh Fringe where competition is so fierce.'

The Unknown Soldier is a thought provoking, moving, and even humorous solo piece...

East Devon District Council Countryside team and volunteers recently raised over £145 in aid of local charity Hospiscare by hosting a coffee morning at Seaton Wetlands.

Volunteers baked a range of delicious cakes, which were sold for a donation to help support patients with a life limiting illness, and their family and friends, in Exeter, mid and East Devon.

Attendees were able to enjoy their refreshments in the Reed Base or on outdoor seating in the picnic area or by the pond.

At midday the Sidmouth Walking Festival joined the event and a group of around 30 walkers...