The acknowledged queen of the psychological thriller, Val McDermid will be a big draw at this year’s world-famous Agatha Christie Festival. Val will be talking about how she admired and drew inspiration from Torquay’s beloved Queen of Crime.

McDermid is a top ten best seller and has been translated into over 30 languages. Val’s latest novel, Cross and Burn, her 27th novel, will be out in October 2013. A regular broadcaster with BBC Radio, Val’s five-part Woman's Hour drama Village SOS, was broadcast on BBC Radio 4.

In 2011 Val also presented BBC Radio 4 serial The Chalet...

Motivated by rising food and fuel costs and concerns over Genetic Modified crops, Bicton College has taken the ‘food fight’ into its own hands.

From melons, aubergines and grapes, to lemongrass and the highly profitable Thai Basil, Bicton College horticulturalists and volunteers are determined to produce high quality, chemical free fruit and veg.

Andrea Rye, a Horticulture Instructor at Bicton College is proud to promote natural growing. “We don’t use any chemicals in our growing and encourage natural growth so our food tastes just as it should and we are working towards...

A service for those being ordained Deacon will be conducted by the Bishop of Plymouth, Rt Rev John Ford on 15 September at Exeter Cathedral.

Fifteen people will be ordained, one of them as a Distinctive Deacon.

The pre-ordination retreat is being led by the Venerable David Gunn-Johnson, Archdeacon of Barnstaple, and the retreat chaplain is Rev Henry Pryse.

The ordinands are:

Ben Bradshaw to serve in the Braunton Mission Community, with the Rev Anne Thorne (Braunton with Saunton and Knowle).

Madeline Bray to serve in the Bideford and the 4 Villages...

Did you notice more shoppers hovering a bit longer near the freezer sections of supermarkets and in air conditioned shops? While attention was focused on the soaring temperatures, for some the thought of a possible chilly winter was uppermost.

Users of Exeter’s “Palace” the Palace Gate Centre (located in Palace Gate, off the bottom of South Street) were dismayed to discover that following an inspection the Centre’s heating plant was no longer fit for service, having been in continuous use since 1973, and without immediate replacement the prospect of a cold winter beckoned.

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Devon’s Crealy Great Adventure Park is holding its annual Emergency Services Weekend, inviting employees of the Emergency Services and NHS along to visit the multi award winning family attraction completely free on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th September! If you work within the Fire Service, Police or NHS, you can enjoy free admission and your immediate family, including parents, partners and children, can visit the South West’s number one family attraction at a discounted rate of £9.95.

Devon’s Crealy Great Adventure Park has organised this special day as a sincere thank you for the...

The good weather we've enjoyed this summer looks set to continue into next month.

Forecasters say the weekend and early part of next week will be fresher but mainly dry and bright.

Sunday:

A chilly start but staying dry during the day with some good spells of sunshine, especially in the west. It should feel pleasant with lighter winds. Maximum Temperature 20 °C.

Outlook for Monday to Wednesday:

A good deal of dry weather with variable cloud but some bright or sunny spells too. Light winds and temperatures around normal, though feeling pleasant in...

Entering the fifth weekend of League 2 fixtures of the season, the Grecians are one of just five teams remaining in the division with a 100 per cent home record – cup results notwithstanding (3pm kick off at St James' Park).

Visitors York, meanwhile, have not been happy travellers and are one of a number of clubs to have been beaten on both of their away games this season. Indeed, it hasn’t been the brightest of openings for the Minstermen thus far – a home victory against Northampton on the opening day almost a month ago has been followed up with three losses and a single draw in...

Police are appealing for information following a large barn fire near Newton Abbot. The incident took place at around 10.30pm on Thursday at Rydon Farm, East Ogwell. The barn was an equestrian livery yard which housed 35 horses. One horse died during the fire, whilst three others were rescued by the Fire Service. Police are making enquiries into the cause of the fire. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Police on 101, quoting reference JN/13/2453.

South West Water is reminding those who commute between Exeter and Sidmouth to plan now for disruption when a project to replace ageing water mains in Newton Poppleford gets under way in October.

During the £500,000 scheme the water company will be upgrading 1,025 metres of old three-inch concrete water mains o address the issue of frequent bursts in the area. Work starts on Saturday 5 October and will take 19 weeks.

The A3052, between Venn Ottery Road and King Alfred Way, will be closed to traffic for three weeks from Saturday 5 October until Sunday 27 October. Clearly...