Police and crime commissioner Tony Hogg’s review of the 101 police non-emergency service in Devon and Cornwall will be used to help improve the system in other parts of the country. Home Secretary Theresa May has praised the work done by Mr Hogg and his OPCC team and confirmed that the Home Office will urge other forces to consider adapting the review findings and recommendations in their own areas. In a letter to Mr Hogg, the Home Secretary said “I welcome the work you are leading in this area.” “Thank you for the positive steps you are taking to address the issues you have identified...

To celebrate the launch of www.playmapp.co.uk , the website for finding free places to play in Devon, we are giving away one Playmobil Playground set.

With With two slides, a swing, skateboard ramp, carousel and lots of accessories including 9 figures, its's sure to keep your little ones entertained when you can't get out to the playground!

To enter, visit the Playmapp facebook page and follow the instructions!

Read more about Playmapp here .

Cullompton-based logistics company, Kay Transport, part of Palletways, Europe’s largest dedicated network for the express delivery of palletised freight, has just announced that it will now be offering a full range of distribution services to Austria.

This latest development now means that Kay Transport provides delivery services to 14 European countries including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Slovakia, Spain and United Kingdom.

Tim Prout, Principal at Kay Transport, said: This...

A Devon mum has created a new website, www.playmapp.co.uk , to detail the locations of free places for children to play.

Initially covering the whole of Devon, PlayMapp features over 600 child-friendly sites.

A quick search on the easy-to-use website, designed and developed by Rokk Media Ltd of Exeter, will demonstrate that you are never far from a play area in Devon. Site visitors can also add to the quality of entries by leaving comments and uploading photos.

Playmapp’s founder, Claire McHugh, says: "I love taking my children to playgrounds, but they can be hard...

More than 4,000 people have taken part in Exeter City Council's 'Stronger Exeter' budget consultation.

Council Leader Pete Edwards said he was overwhelmed by the response from the public.

"We have got some very tough decisions to make over the coming months so it is good to know that people in the city are getting involved and making their voices heard," he said.

The City Council launched the consultation in October, revealing that it had to save a further £4 million over the next three years.

People were asked to complete four surveys under the headings of...

Pace of price growth in the South West accelerated slightly over the last three months and new reform in the Autumn Statement is expected to boost sales

House price growth in the past three months accelerated slightly in the South West and new Stamp Duty reforms see surveyors forecasting a sales boost of between 2-5%, according to the latest RICS Residential Market Survey.

Despite a net balance of 17% more surveyors reporting a decline in new buyer enquiries in the South West, supply in the region has improved in November and surveyors are expecting more house sales in...

Fly-half Ceri Sweeney insists it’s imperative the Exeter Chiefs make the most of home advantage this weekend as they looked to kick on in this season’s European Challenge Cup.

At the halfway stage of Pool Two qualification, Rob Baxter’s side sit top of the pile having netted 11 points from their opening three games.

Five of those points came a week ago as the Chiefs secured maximum reward from a 36-10 victory away to French hosts La Rochelle at the Stade Marcel Deflandre.

Tries from Tom James, Brett Sturgess, Byron McGuigan and Fetu’u Vainikolo, coupled with a 16-...

Hundreds of fake items of children’s clothing and toys carrying images of Disney’s Frozen have been seized by UK border control officers.

Other rip offs include GHD hair straighteners, Ugg boots and North Face coats.

Fake Frozen goods are among the most frequent seizures made at British ports.

These have been judged especially dangerous because poorly-made plastics can be highly flammable, or present choking hazards.

Gavin Terry, joint lead officer for intellectual property at the Trading Standards Institute, said: "Counterfeit goods may seem like a bargain...

WORDS and music inspired by visits to the ancient Beer Quarry Caves are to be performed by children and young people from across the region at a special concert in Exeter Cathedral in the New Year.

A collaboration between the Jurassic Coast Teaching Schools Alliance of 28 schools from Dorset, Devon and Somerset and Lyme Regis-based youth music charity B Sharp, the Beer Quarry Caves Concert on January 13 at 7.30pm marks the culmination of a year-long project that has seen 390 students and more than 45 teaching staff visit the historic caves at Beer where stone has been quarried for...

Rob Baxter believes the decision to award Thomas Waldrom the Aviva Premiership Player of the Month for November is “fully justified” after a highly promising start to his Exeter Chiefs career.

The 31-year-old has been the club’s stand-out figure so far this term, scoring seven tries in nine Premiership starts, to help the Chiefs position themselves in the top three of English rugby’s top flight.

His arrival this summer on a three-year deal from Leicester Tigers was questioned by some media observers who believed the England international had produced his best form whilst at...