Devon & Cornwall Police say that they received a call at 1.17am this morning (3 May 2013) reporting that a number of buses were on fire in the Summercourt area of Cornwall. It is thought that at least 37 buses have been deystroyed by fire, a third of bus firm Western Greyhound's fleet, which will impact on the bus service provided in mid-Cornwall. There were no persons injured as a result of the fire. It is understood that there will be no Park & Ride service from Truro operating today. The A3058 Newquay to St Austell Road will remain closed for most of the day between Summercourt...
Update: The deceased has now been formally identified as Kevin Vallance, 54, from the Okehampton area.
At around 5.50pm on Sunday 12 May 2013 police were notified of a single vehicle collision on the unclassified road between Chilla and Chilla Chapel Cross, near Halwill Junction in the Beaworthy area of North Devon. A tractor towing an un-laden trailer had mounted a verge to its nearside and its nearside wheels had dropped into a drainage gulley between the verge and the hedge. The tractor had been travelling towards Chilla from the direction of Halwill Junction. The driver was...
Coral reefs are in decline, but their collapse can still be avoided with local and global action. That's according to findings reported in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on 9 May based on an analysis that combines the latest science on reef dynamics with the latest climate models.
"People benefit by reefs having a complex structure - a little like a Manhattan skyline but underwater," said Peter Mumby of The University of Queensland and University of Exeter. "Structurally-complex reefs provide nooks and crannies for thousands of species and provide the habitat needed to...
Young people from churches across Devon will have the chance to say what they want the county’s next bishop to be like, in an event organised by the Diocese of Exeter. Young people will be able to record their views and thoughts on what makes for a good bishop in video diary rooms set up especially for the day. The following month, two young people will get the chance to present their ideas to the Prime Minister and Archbishop’s appointments secretaries, as part of the formal consultation process before a new bishop is appointed. The current Bishop of Exeter, Rt Revd Michael Langrish, is...
The UK economy will continue to grow throughout this year, with GDP growth expected to pick up in 2014, according to the CBI’s latest economic forecast published today. But while recent economic data have been more promising, clear challenges remain both at home and abroad, the UK’s leading business group warned.
The CBI is forecasting GDP growth of 1% in 2013, unchanged from its previous forecast after official first quarter figures came in line with its expectations. Quarter-on-quarter growth is expected to gather pace gradually. The CBI is forecasting growth of 0.3% in the...
Employees at Ashfords solicitors in Exeter have turned their car park into a makeshift gym in a bid to keep fit.
The firm has recruited personal trainer Trisha Brown to help staff stay in shape. Classes on offer include Kettlercise, a routine that uses light weights that resemble bowling balls, and Boxercise, a fitness class incorporating boxing moves and techniques.
Trisha, who runs a company called Exmoor Fitness, said: “I am dedicated to supporting others to achieve their fitness and personal goals.
“There is something special about committing to exercise with a...
Children are being moved too many times between foster families because of the need for more foster carers across the UK, the Fostering Network is warning today with the publication of new survey results. The survey found that in the last two years three in five foster carers (61 per cent) have cared for children who have previously had two or more moves between homes. Two in five (43 per cent) have looked after at least one child who has been moved four or more times, while one in ten (11 per cent) have cared for children who have had ten or more moves before coming to live with them....
A group of friends from Exeter will embark on a cycle ride at the end of May that will cover over 1,000 miles between two famous landmarks while raising money for a local charity.
Andy Rowe, Brian Moore, Keith Chapman, Anthony Towl and Jamie Howard will complete the 11-day Paris to Rome ride in a bid to raise £4,000 for Hospiscare.
The friends will begin on Sunday 26 May at the Eiffel Tower in Paris and finish on 5 June at the Coliseum in Rome.
The route will include 100,000 feet of climbing taking in the famous Tour de France mountains, Galibier and Izoard....
Deborah Custance-Baker is preparing her Large Black pigs in readiness for the judging rings at the Devon County Show next week (May 16-18). Deborah, from Silverton near Exeter, is pinning her hopes of success on two youngsters and is hoping they will give her the edge over her arch rival. “I have been practicing walking round the field to get them used to the stick and board which is used to steer them. They are typical "teenagers" and sometimes conform but quite often they don’t. It could be interesting! “They will need to be washed and then oiled up to make them gleam in the sun at the...
