Farming organisations are working hard to improve the UK’s farm safety record, say the NFU.

Latest statistics show a fall in the number of fatal accidents for the second year in a row but agriculture remains the industry with the highest rate of fatal accidents.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures were published during Farm Safety Week (June 30 to July 6) designed to highlight the risks farmers face every day.

They show a fall in fatal accidents this year to 27 workers – down from 29 workers in 2012/13.

The Farm Safety Partnership, which is chaired...

Neil Parish MP has welcomed the announcement of new funding to support businesses and infrastructure in Devon – helping local businesses to create new jobs and train more young people.

The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership has secured a Growth Deal with the Government worth £130 million to support economic growth in Devon, Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay.

The deal will unlock further investment of £140m from the private sector and local partners. In total over £6 billion of projects will be supported by the Growth Fund across England in 2015/16, with...

Police are appealing for the public’s help in identifying a man after a number of vehicles were damaged in Rock Road, Chudleigh.

Six scrap vehicles were spray painted and their windows were smashed with a claw hammer at around 4.30pm on Monday 16 June.

Officers would like to speak to the man (pictured) in connection with the incident. He is described as in his early 20s, around 6ft tall and was wearing a white t-shirt.

Police are also keen to trace a woman who was seen with the man in the area at the time.

She is believed to be aged between 19 and 21, around...

The South West’s leading scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians were recently brought together for the Big Bang South West 2014 Fair, held at the University of Exeter on Thursday the 26th June 2014.

Designed to provide an innovative careers event, the fair aimed to introduce young students to the wide variety of careers available across Scientific, Engineering and Mathematical disciplines. The young technologists and scientists of the future were treated to an enjoyable day featuring elements of theatre blended with immersive learning experiences.

The fair...

Transition Exeter is running a Skill Sharing Day on 19th July, offering a chance to learn new and old money-saving skills free of charge. Jam and bread-making, bicycle maintenance and repair, knitting and quilting, spinning and weaving are all on the menu, as well as teas, coffee and cakes available all morning. There will be help on hand for people to alter pre-loved clothes to fit themselves, or to look more stylish, and a bike mending expert; so bring your bikes along if they need repairing or maintaining.

The Skill Sharing takes place at the Friends Meeting House, Wynards Lane...

A local account senior with Haines Watts North Devon LLP tumbled 15,000 feet in a sky-dive tandem to raise much needed funds for North Devon Hospice.

Katherine Broad who works for Chartered Accountants Haines Watts North Devon LLP based in Bideford, jumped in memory of her Grandmother, Gwen Dymond, who sadly passed away in January after battling cancer for many years. Haines Watts supported

Katherine by contributing towards the cost of jump.

Katherine’s cousin Tori Kiff also did a sky-dive on the same day and together they raised just under £1,000 in memory of their...

Local Charity, Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau, is celebrating a lottery award of £9,500 from the Big Lottery Fund.

The charity will use the lottery grant funding when they move into more prominent city centre premises in Dix’s Field. The grant will enable clients to ‘do it online’. The grant will be used to fund improved IT and telephone facilities for clients, office furniture, room security and volunteer expenses.

Steve Barriball, Chief Executive of Exeter CAB, said: “We are very grateful to the Big Lottery Fund for making this grant. The money will enable us to improve on...

As part of an ongoing road safety operation, police officers from Exeter have carried out a number of speed checks on Exeter Road, Topsham. The operation was in response to concerns raised by local residents as to the speed of vehicles travelling in the 30mph limit.

Nearly 30-drivers were stopped between 9am and 1pm for exceeding the speed limit.

The highest recorded speed of the vehicles stopped was 54mph. Ten on-the-spot fixed penalty tickets were issued and all stopped drivers were asked to view a road safety awareness video developed by the Fire service. The video...