Researchers studying wild banded mongooses in Uganda have discovered that these small mammals have either cooperative or selfish personalities which last for their entire lifetime. The findings of the 15-year study are published today in the journal Animal Behaviour.

The researchers investigated the selfish behaviour of mongoose mate-guarding – where dominant males guard particular females – and the cooperative behaviour of ‘babysitting’ and ‘escorting’ the young.

They found that cooperative mongooses that helped out with offspring care did so consistently over their whole...

Exeter and Crediton based law firm Veitch Penny, is giving this year’s Mid Devon Show visitors the opportunity to win a luxury Devon hamper.

The Veitch Penny team will be one of the many local businesses exhibiting at the Mid Devon Show on Saturday 25th July. At the event they’ll be running a free prize draw with the chance to win an Artisan Feast luxury hamper from Purely Devon Hampers.

Entry is simple – just visit the Veitch Penny stand and fill in one of the entry forms. The winning name will be drawn the same day at 5pm.

This is the second year that Veitch Penny...

Police are appealing for witnesses following an assault which took place in Exminster.

On Friday 19 June at 5.20pm a 34-year-old man was driving along the main road, near the Tesco Express store by the Church Stile junction, when an object was thrown at the victim’s car by another man.

The victim confronted the man and then he was assaulted. He suffered minor facial and arm injuries as a result.

Police believe there may have been several witnesses to this incident, including a man who helped the victim.

Officers would like to hear from anyone who witnessed...

Emergency services attended the scene of a serious collision on the A30 westbound between Honiton and Exeter.

A car collided with the central reservation at around 7.30am today (Wednesday 22 July) near Daisymount, Ottery St Mary.

The male driver, who suffered serious injuries, has been taken by ambulance to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

Highways are assisting with road closures which are in place at the Daisymount and the Exeter airport junction.

The road was closed for some time and motorists were advised to find an alternative route.

The...

Exeter-based Flybe's share price improved this morning as the airline released its latest finacial figures. Flybe, which issued an encouraging trading update for the first quarter, said it had managed to cut the cost of a UK seat by 3.4 per cent to £51.92. The budget airline share price was up 6.3 per cent in early trading on the back of an upbeat trading statement, reporting “sustained passenger and revenue growth” saying it was now in “the next chapter of its transformation”.

Seat capacity climbed 12.3 per cent to 2.8m seats, while passenger numbers grew 9.8 per cent to 2.1m....

A local Forest School has spent the last few months developing the South West's first Forest School based kindergarten in Exeter.

The new kindergarten will offer 3-5 year olds an incredible opportunity to learn in unique surroundings, embrace nature and make new friends. The kindergarten will be run by qualified, experienced education professionals who are passionate about outdoor learning.

Exeter Forest School was set up over three years ago and in that time has worked with thousands of individuals from toddlers through to adults, providing education days, training...

London-based boys' choir LIBERA are used to touring the world, have performed for Popes and Presidents and are popular with fans across the USA and Far East. Next week they’ll be swapping the concert hall for the church when they perform in Exeter Cathedral.

Usually dressed in their distinctive white robes, you may have seen the group on TV in programmes like ‘Last Choir Standing’ or ‘Songs of Praise’, or heard them on Classic FM or Radio 2 Chris Evans. In the United States they have performed

Tickets for the group’s appearance in Exeter are selling fast, and are...

Exeter City Football Club will once again celebrate diversity in the local community by holding an international football tournament this Sunday (26 July).

The 6 a side competition has been organised by Exeter City Supporters Trust’s One Game One Community Group and Exeter City’s Football in the Community team. It will take place at the University of Exeter’s Streatham Sports Complex.

The tournament, now in its 11th year, encourages participation from local community teams and especially black and minority ethnic players. The event attracts players from many different parts...

East Devon got busy during the recent Devon Pollinator Week (July 11-19) by making green spaces irresistible to insects.

Street scene parks and gardens team have sown wildflower meadows in Sidmouth, Seaton and Exmouth bringing colour to our streets and nectar for our pollinating insects. The seed is sown late May, early June and will flower over the coming weeks. A perennial mix has also been sown in the meadow area of The Byes in Sidmouth.

The council has also begun to plant community orchards which provide wonderful blossom in early spring for pollinating insects. This...

The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England is currently consulting local people on its draft proposals for new ward boundaries across Exeter. The consultation closes on 10 August 2015. The Commission’s draft recommendations propose that Exeter City Council should have 39 councillors in the future: one fewer than the current arrangement. The proposals mean those councillors would represent thirteen three-member wards across the city. The recommendations propose changes to ward boundaries across Exeter. Max Caller, Chair of the Commission, said: “We are asking local...