Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service today issued advice to the owners of thatched properties following a blaze which destroyed a thatched cottage in Ide, near Exeter last week.

Twelve fire engines were at the incident in Little John’s Cross and fire crews have re-visited throughout the weekend to dampen down hotspots.

Firefighters covered neighbouring thatched properties with foam to prevent the fire spreading and worked hard to save as much of the building and its contents as possible.

The fire is believed to have started inside the building before...

The latest Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme will be launched across Devon’s libraries on 2 February, to support people with dementia and their carers.

The scheme, which already helps over 275,000 people across the country with common mental health conditions feel better through self-help reading, is now turning its attention to the enormous need for quality-assured support for dementia care in the UK.

The national Books on Prescription scheme supports people with book-based therapy for common mental health conditions, through local libraries. It has played an...

Local artists have again been brightening up the corridors of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital with their annual Friends and Family art exhibition.

Now in its 16th year, the exhibition has been organised by Exeter HealthCare Arts to showcase the work of the local arts community who have a connection to the hospital. The exhibitors include talented RD&E staff, outpatients and former patients, who have all loaned their work to help brighten up the hospital environment.

Exeter HealthCare Arts (EHCA) is the ‘arts for health’ project for the RD&E. It delivers a range...

SWH employee Stuart Cheesman has been with the company for almost a year now, working as a Civils' Agent on high profile cases such as the Derriford Hospital Helipad installation and the development of the new Crediton Link Road.

An average day for Stuart will always include an early start, followed by a busy day of arranging plant, sub-contractors, labour and materials as well as liaising with clients and designers. To say the least Stuart’s average day tends to be varied and consistently challenging, but what challenges him outside of his career at SWH?

Having two...

Last year the Exeter City FC Supporters’ Trust, with the help of others, did a great deal of work in pulling together all the facts, photos and other information about Exeter City FC’s historic tour of South America.

While the Club planned the amazing centenary trip to Rio de Janeiro, the Trust helped with the production of the book Have You Ever Played Brazil? and the Northcott production of The Day We Played Brazil.

The Trust also produced an exhibition and set up a website www.grecianvoices.com

Now, for anyone who may have missed out on last year's events or...

One of Devon’s biggest independent holiday parks is enjoying a record-breaking start to the year, with bookings up nearly 50%.

Multi-award winning Ladram Bay Holiday Park, on the Jurassic coast overlooking its own bay and beach between Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton, saw bookings rise by 46% in the first full week of January, and then by 52% the following week, compared with the same period in 2014.

Ahead of re-opening after the winter break on Friday March 13, work is well underway on phase two of a £10 million re-development at the family-run park, with the swimming pool...

A public exhibition will be held at the weekend displaying proposed changes to on-street parking in Teignmouth.

Devon County Council has been consulting with Teignmouth Town Council and local stakeholders on the development of a Traffic Management Plan for the town.

The initial proposals for the plan will go on display at The Methodist Hall, Somerset Place, in Teignmouth, on Friday 30 January and Saturday 31 January.

The plan has been developed following requests from the public to consider a number of issues including providing residents’ parking on street,...

Anyone with an interest in gardening to benefit wildlife is invited to an event on Wednesday 18 February between 10am and 2pm at the Axe Estuary Wetlands, Seaton.

The East Devon District Council Countryside team will be developing their wildlife garden on the nature reserve and are looking for help with practical hands on tasks such as clearing and planting.

Steve Edmonds, Countryside Team Leader (Sites) said: “Our aim is to encourage a wider range of native insects, invertebrates, birds and mammals to the site by making sure they have a good variety of food sources and...

Following the closure of Ironbridge Runner and Ironbridge Runner Events, Exeter City FC's Football in the Community team are delighted to have taken over the Exeter Half Marathon, along with the Granite Way event in March and the Santa Run in December.

Everything is going ahead with the half marathon as previously advised and race numbers and final instructions will be sent out to those who have already registered at the beginning of February.

Peter Ferlie, formerly of IBR, is now working with FITC to facilitate these running events. He can be contacted on peter.ferlie@...