Discussions are set to begin with the Duchy of Cornwall to end the lease on HMP Dartmoor, a male category C prison in West Devon, according to a statement from the Ministry of Justice.

While the Justice department says final decisions on the site are a long way off as the lease has a ten-year notice period, but but the age and limitations of the prison mean that it does not have a long-term future in a modern, cost-effective prison system and future options for the site will be discussed.

The Victorian prison, a famous, or perhaps infamous, site on the Dartmoor landscape...

The deadline to book places for East Devon District Council's free annnual event for voluntary organisations and community groups, Working Together, is 20 September.

The conference is being held on Friday 11 October and runs from 9.30am to 2.30pm at EDDC’s Knowle offices in Sidmouth. Representatives of voluntary organisations, community groups and Town and Parish Councils are welcome to come along. The gathering aims to bring local agencies together to improve communications between the voluntary and statutory sectors.

During the day, attendees will find out more about...

The great and good of the worlds of gastronomy and travel gathered in London on Monday 2 September for the Food and Travel magazine Reader Awards, held at The Savoy hotel. Among the big winners on the night was Angela Hartnett MBE, named Chef of the Year. The culinary power behind Murano and Lime Wood was also honoured with head chef Luke Holder for her newest venture, Hartnett Holder & Co, in Hampshire, which scooped the Newcomer of the Year award in the restaurant category. Meanwhile, closer to home, Exeter's Magdalen Chapter was named City Hotel of the Year and Devon's Ashburton...

Curator of Plants and Gardens Kevin Frediani is saying good bye to Paignton Zoo Environmental Park after five extraordinary years. He leaves a considerable legacy – but it is as much about people as plants.

Kevin grew up in Ashburton, on the edge of Dartmoor, and has worked for the Queen at Windsor Great Park and at Hortus Botanicus in the Netherlands. “Growing plants in a zoo full of animals is always a challenge – but I think I have helped to realise the potential of plants in what was the world’s first combined zoo and botanic garden.”

Has he done what he set out to do...

An Exeter Postman has delivered a petition opposing plans to privatise the Royal Mail.

Darren Rowbotham amassed 160,000 signatures against privatisation before delivering the petition to Downing Street personally.

Mr Rowbotham, who has been a postman for 13 years, fears that rural services will suffer if the postal service were to be privatised.

In an open letter on change.org Rowbotham wrote: “If the Government sells Royal Mail then the services that many people take for granted will be cut. The daily delivery service could stop -- meaning some rural areas will...

People have a few more days left to enjoy Exeter's paddling pools before they close down for the year.

With what has been one of the best summers in recent years, thousands of youngsters - along with mums, dads and grandparents - have been enjoying a cooling paddle in St Thomas and Heavitree.

St Thomas Paddling Pool stays open until Sunday (8 September) evening. After then, work will begin on a new splash park on 9 September, in time for it to be open next Summer.

Cllr Keith Owen, Lead Councillor for Environment, Health and Wellbeing, said: "It makes a pleasant...

by Derek Baker

Exeter City’s under-18s made it back-to-back 5-0 victories as they defeated Torquay United by the same margin as they had defeated Swindon Town the two weeks prior at the Cat & Fiddle.

Ollie Watkins scored twice whilst fellow striker, Matt Jay bagged a hat trick, helping him earn his first call-up to the first team for Tuesday night’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy clash with Wycombe Wanderers.

With rivals Plymouth Argyle next up for the Grecians, the victory puts them in good form going into the Devon Derby.

The match started in lively...