Three members of St John’s Chambers based in Victoria Street have been publicly recognised in The Chambers UK 100 Bar. Leslie Blohm QC; Andrew Marsden and Glyn Edwards have been ranked in the ‘Chambers 100 UK Bar’, ranking the top 100 silks and barristers practising at the Bar of England and Wales.

St John’s Chambers, the largest set in the South West with 80 members and seven silks announces that the three members have achieved this public recognition by being ranked in Bands one or two or as ‘Star Individuals’ in their specialist areas of law in The Chambers UK Bar Guide....

It is our ultimate escape. For one day we forget our worries, how much we’ve spent, the stresses of work, and take great pleasure in indulging in the fantasy and magic of Christmas for our children, and seeing the delight on our family’s faces when they open a gift that they love. Why? Because Christmas is more than just giving. It is the sentiment. The message that says – you have held me in mind long enough to get me a gift that I really wanted / needed. It’s the only time of the year when we come together as part of a wider family to all say the same thing to one another.: “I love you,...

A budding Mathematician from the University of Exeter has been crowned the UK’s best and brightest student after winning a prestigious national competition.

Second-year student Emily Burton, 19, saw off competition from more than 4,000 students from 149 universities nationwide to win the National Student Challenge 2013.

Her prize for winning the coveted accolade is a paid internship with leading global engineering and technology services company, Siemens.

For the competition, Emily had to take part in a variety of practical tests which included individual and group...

Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity has celebrated 35 years of its iconic “A Dog is for Life, Not just for Christmas” campaign.

Coined in 1978 by the charity’s CEO, Clarissa Baldwin OBE, the campaign highlights the issue of dogs given as Christmas presents being abandoned or neglected.

To celebrate the milestone, Neil Parish MP for Tiverton and Honiton hosted a Westminster event to promote awareness of the charity’s campaign among MPs. MPs were given the opportunity to take a festive Dogs Trust sleigh ride surrounded by stuffed dog toys. Attendees also learned...

A 62 year-old woman who threatened to harm herself and others has been arrested in Chawleigh this morning.

Police were called to a property in the village of Chawleigh, near Crediton just after 8:30 this morning (Monday 16 December) after reports that the woman was causing an obstruction.

On arrival they found the woman carrying a can of petrol and making threats to harm herself and others as well as damage the property.

Officers called for support from police negotiators and firearms officers and the fire service due to the nature of the threats.

After...

Christmas revellers who get into a spot of bother will be able to take advantage of a Help Zone in Exeter city centre next Friday (20 December). The Help Zone aims to help those who find themselves in difficulties following the excesses of Christmas parties, be it from injury, drinking too much alcohol or being a victim of violence. Situated at The Mint Methodist Church in Fore Street, the Help Zone is being trialled on 'Builder's Friday' - traditionally the busiest night for Christmas party goers. The initiative brings together paramedics, police and Exeter City Council staff in one...

A new draft anti-slavery bill which could see human traffickers receive life sentences has been revealed in parliament today.

Known as the Modern slavery bill it will see the maximum sentence for slavery offences rise from 14 years to life imprisonment, as well as introduce a range of measures to improve the detection of slavery operations.

Those with previous convictions for violent or sexual offences will receive a automatic life sentence.

The draft bill also sets out provisions to simplify existing slavery and trafficking law to make investigating and prosecuting...

New figures released by the NHS, show that the majority of hospital staff in the West Country have an above average chance of being assaulted at work.

The figures also show that there has been a national increase in assaults against NHS staff rising from 59,744 to 63,199 since last year.

The figures only include assaults that could result in a criminal action and do not include cases were a medical element is involved in the case.

Royal Devon and Exeter NHS trust reported an above average level of assaults against their staff reporting 129 assaults against staff....

Toulon 32 Exeter Chiefs 20

As copies of the local Var-Matin newspaper flittered from high in the stands of Toulon’s Stade Felix Mayol, so it seems the hopes of Exeter Chiefs qualifying for the latter stages of this season’s Heineken Cup followed suit.

Heroic efforts against reigning champions Toulon have certainly been notable, but the back-to-back defeats have left Devon’s finest well adrift of their star-studded French rivals in Pool Two.

Bernard Laporte’s star-studded side not only returned to the summit of the group, but their five-point haul has ensured they...

Report: Accrington 2 Exeter City 3

Exeter City got back to winning ways at the Crown Ground with an entertaining 3-2 win against Accrington Stanley.

City had to survive a fightback from their hosts, who showed resilience after going three goals behind. But Exeter also showed their mettle to ensure all three points would travel back to the south.

Tom Nichols, on his first start of the season, had the Grecians 2-0 up within 11 minutes before Alan Gow added another during the first half.

Goals either side of the interval by Peter Murphy and Kai Naismith for...