Two rogue traders have been jailed for two years at Exeter Crown Court today (Friday 17 June) after conning 17 elderly and vulnerable Devon residents out of £70,000.

Following a prosecution brought by Devon and Somerset Trading Standards, both Bryan Ferren, 38 and Kevin Hogg, 41, of Clifton Court, Clifton Road, Paignton, had pleaded guilty to five offences under the Fraud Act 2006.

During sentencing, Judge Graham Cottle said the men had ‘abused the trust of their customers.’

The court heard that Ferren and Hogg systematically conned the pensioners over a 13-month...

Equestrian team members from the Maynard School in Exeter, the South West’s leading independent girls’ school, made the long trip to Hickstead in Sussex worthwhile when winning the NSEA Eventer’s Challenge on 3 June 2016.

This was a complete surprise for the newly crowned National Champions who had travelled to the event with low expectations and were really only looking forward to the opportunity to ride at the hallowed All England Jumping venue.

“Unfortunately two of our team members had to drop out after the entry stage but, just when we thought we would have to withdraw...

A man has made an emotional appeal for thieves to return his father’s war medals, after they were stolen from a train earlier this week.

The 64-year-old was returning from his father’s funeral on the 11.17am train between Birmingham New Street and Exeter St Davids on Tuesday.

He left his bag, which contained the medals, on the luggage rack but found it missing when he exited the train at Exeter.

The medals were won by the victim’s father (pictured) between 1945 and 1948.

He said: “I inherited these medals from my father’s estate only a couple of weeks ago...

A man has died following a collision near Ottery St Mary.

At around 6.38pm on Thursday evening (16 June) police were alerted to a serious road traffic collision just off the A30 at the Daisymount roundabout on the B3174, near Ottery St Mary at around 6.38pm on Thursday evening (16 June).

A white Nissan Kubistar van, travelling from Ottery St Mary had been involved in a single vehicle collision.

Fire and ambulance emergency services were also at the scene. The road was closed and was reopened shortly before midnight.

As a result of the collision, the single...

Leading West Country financial planners Old Mill have become one of only 25 currently certified firms in the country to meet top financial planning standards. As part of its commitment to offering the best possible service to its clients, Old Mill has completed the certification programme for BS 8577 –the only best practice standard for financial advice and planning firms. Set out by Standards International, BS 8577 sets out a framework for best practice and process; it was developed with industry, professional experts and consumer representatives including, the British Standards Institute...

The overall experience of inpatients at Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust (NDHT) has improved this year, according to the latest national inpatient survey.

Nearly 600 people shared their views about the care they received at NDHT.

The results have been published by the Care Quality Commission as part of its look at standards around the country.

The survey also puts NDHT in the top fifth of trusts for issues such as feeling looked after by hospital staff and the level of respect and dignity for patients.

Dr Alison Diamond, chief executive for the Trust,...

A 27-year-old man has been released on police bail following the death of a baby boy in Newton Abbot.

Police said the man has been released until early August pending enquiries.

The circumstances of the child’s death continue to be investigated and are being viewed as unexplained rather than suspicious.

Police were informed of the death of the eight-month-old boy by ambulance staff on Wednesday morning (15 June).

A visitors survey is being carried out in Exmouth by an independent team of researchers over the next few months as part of an initiative by the town’s Coastal Community Team.

The study will provide key information about the Exmouth visitor economy and will involve a team of trained interviewers speaking face to face to around 1,000 people visiting the town from this month to October.

The Exmouth Coastal Community Team was established last year and its aim is to raise the town’s economic potential. The team is a local partnership which includes East Devon District Council...

With prostate cancer claiming the lives of one many every hour in the UK, it's one of the most common male-specific diseases in the country, and the second biggest killer after lung cancer. That’s why this Father’s Day weekend (June 18th and 19th) charity supporters from Exeter are being urged to join thousands from across the UK to gather en masse and get on their bike to take part in the national fundraising effort and biggest cycling event of its kind, the ‘Rotary Ride’. The Rotary Ride, which is now in its second year is a nationwide event organised by Rotary International in Great...