Exeter based artist GRICE to perform for a good cause

If you would like to hear some acoustic rock tunes, all in aid of a good cause, then you need to pay a visit to St Stephens chuch on Saturday 14th December.

Exeter based artist GRICE and his five piece band will be performing at the church as part of the start of their tour. The tour will see GRICE performing at selected chuches and small venues around the Southwest, Bristol and London.

Listeners will get to hear GRICE's album for the first time in its entirety, meaning this is an event not to be missed.

This saturday they will be performing to help raise vital...

Nightshades: You say “potato”, I say “patahtta”

Event Date: 
16/12/2013 - 2:00pm
Venue: 
Drama Studio, Exeter Phoenix

Solanaceae, or nightshades, is one of the most diverse plant families. It includes plants like potato, tomato, aubergines, and peppers that have become vital components of our daily diet, but also others such as tobacco, mandrake, and belladonna, that are highly toxic and have been used as sources for powerful, hallucinogenic and medicinal drugs. During this event, artists, scientists and historians will share intriguing stories about attempts to domesticate this bewildering diversity. We shape plants, and they shape us in turn. Knowing them is not just a matter of science, but of designs...

South Molton's fifth Christmas Fatsock Show

South Molton’s fifth Christmas Fatstock Show was held on Sunday 8 December, as part of the town’s Big Christmas Festival weekend. The Christmas Fatstock Show is firmly rooted in agriculture and any visitor to it experiences a real taste of the area’s farming tradition. This is the one day of the year that sees the Pannier Market returning to its roots, with pens of sheep (and carcasses) beingshown and subsequently auctioned on the day. Mr Ron Tapp and his son Andrew took the Championship once again, as they did in 2011. As sheep are such an important part of agriculture on Exmoor (with...

New police dog handlers complete training

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Tue, 12/10/2013 - 1:22pm

Four police dogs and their handlers are the latest highly trained officers to join Devon and Cornwall's canine unit.

The officers and their faithful companions have taken part in a passing out parade to mark the end of their training.

The group began their dog training in September and successfully passed an intensive two-day assessment with flying colours. The examination was carried out by PC Nick Dalrymple from Avon and Somerset Police.

Paul Glennon, Canine Development Officer and Course Instructor, said: “Following the assessment the assessor commented that this...

Ketamine could be upgraded to Class B

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Tue, 12/10/2013 - 1:02pm

Government advisors have recommended the drug ketamine should be upgraded to a Class B drug.

Currently a Class C drug, the new classification could see illegal possession of ketamine carry a five year prison sentence.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs is expected to pass the advice to the Government following new evidence on the long term affects of the drug.

The new evidence from the Advisory Council showed that the prolonged use of the drug causes severe damage to the bladder which may have to be removed by surgery in the most serious cases.

The...

Karren Brady needs YOU

Apprentice star Karren Brady is urging members of the public to nominate stroke survivors, carers and volunteers in the Stroke Association's 2014 Life After Stroke Awards (LASA).

The 2014 Life After Stroke Awards, which are sponsored by TONI&GUY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, recognise the courage and determination of stroke survivors, and celebrate the commitment and dedication given by carers and volunteers.

The Stroke Association is a chartity close to Karren's heart after she suffered a brain aneurysm in 2006, which could have lead to a stroke.

Karren said:...

Fears of housing market "overheat"

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Tue, 12/10/2013 - 11:54am

As the South West housing market continues to show signs of economic recovery commentators have warned of the danger of the market may “overheat”.

A new report by the National Housing Federation (NHF) argues that “whilst economic growth has returned to many areas, this has caused the already over-stretched housing market there to overheat.”

In their “Home Truths” report they argue that rising rent and house prices are forcing working people onto housing benefits at the rate of 310 people every day.

The NHF also claim that if house prices continue to rise there is...

Superfast broadband for 31 more communities

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Tue, 12/10/2013 - 11:47am

High-speed fibre broadband will be available to 44,000 Devon and Somerset homes and businesses within four months.

Connecting Devon and Somerset today takes a major step forward in the £94 million project to bring superfast broadband to rural areas by announcing the next communities set to benefit from the programme.

By the end of March 2014, fibre broadband will be available to a further 31 communities*. This extends the number of homes and businesses that are able to benefit from the programme to 44,000.

Those communities include: Bishop’s Hull, Bridford, Chilton...

Neil Parish MP supports campaign to stamp out wildlife crime

Tiverton and Hontion's MP, Neil Parish, has pledged his support for the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s (IFAW) campaign against wildlife crime.

Neil Parish attended IFAW's Criminal Nature event, which took place at The House of Commons on Wednesday 27th November.

The event was hosted by Angela Smith MP. Key speakers included Davyth Stewart from INTERPOL and former Environment Minister Richard Benyon MP.

Neil Parish pledged his support for the cause by posing infront of a giant poster to highlight the issue and send a clear message that he wants the UK to...

Exeter Airport hosts Manchester Hub Agent event

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Tue, 12/10/2013 - 11:25am

Over one hundred travel agents from across the South West recently attended two evening events to promote the opportunities for passengers to use Manchester Airport as a hub for worldwide connections. The events at Exeter Airport and at Plymouth’s Jurys Hotel were sponsored by Manchester Airport and organised by Exeter Airport together with Flybe, the airline with frequent daily flights to the North West hub airport. Representatives from Etihad, Virgin Atlantic, Jetset, If Only, Emirates and United Airlines were at both evenings and were able to explain directly to the travel agents why...

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