The House of Commons has voted in favour of allowing gay marriage in England and Wales after the third reading of the bill today (21 May).

The latest two day debate over the controversial bill witnessed a number of passionate speeches for and against as well as several failed amendments.

The issue has added to the considerable tensions between David Cameron and many grass roots activists and backbench MPs who, stirred by the debate over Europe, have been further angered by their leader's support for marriage equality between gay and straight couples.

With support...

Places are filling up fast for Exeter City’s Football in the Community children’s football roadshows during the May half term.

There will be three different events in Exeter, plus courses in Dawlish, Exmouth, Sidmouth, Crediton, Tiverton, Seaton, Feniton, Okehampton, North Tawton and Barnstaple.

A two-day course on the astroturf at St Luke’s Science and Sports College kicks off half term, starting on Tuesday 28 May and costing £27 for the two days. A special futsal event for seven to 14 year olds takes place at the University’s Sports Hall on Thursday 30 May (£12) for...

Four friends with a “passion for fashion” have set up a company to encourage creative people to work with fashion designers.

TM – RK are hosting an art and fashion exhibition in Exeter to bring creative people together and open up opportunities for collaborative work.

University business student and founder of TM – RK, Ricardo Felgueiras, set up the company to encourage fashionistas, artists, tailors and designers to work within the fashion industry.

Ricardo works alongside university friend and model HIRO, tailor and business partner Thierry du-pont and artist Ian...

Dream-A-Way, the Exeter-based charity that provides holidays and outings for people with disabilities across Devon and Cornwall, is celebrating a big success as the Official Show Charity at the Devon County show at Westpoint last week. This is also the charity’s 20th birthday year so the Trustees were delighted to be chosen as charity of the year and then to receive a royal visit in addition was a huge Bonus.

The Dream-A-Way stand was the first to be visited by HRH the Duchess of Cornwall after she had officially opened the County Show. She was introduced to Dream-A-Way Chairman...

UK nature is in trouble – that is the conclusion of a groundbreaking report published today by a coalition of leading conservation and research organisations.

Scientists working side-by-side from 25 wildlife organisations have compiled a stock take of our native species – the first of its kind in the UK. The report reveals that 60% of the species studied have declined over recent decades. More than one in ten of all the species assessed are under threat of disappearing from our shores altogether.

The State of Nature report will be launched by Sir David Attenborough and UK...

All art groups and societies from Exeter and the surrounding area are invited to submit their entries for the 2013 Local Art Show.

Shortlisted entrants will be featured in the Express and Echo throughout August and readers will vote for their favourite one. The name of the successful group will be announced on 29 August and they will exhibit their members' work in the museum from 24 September to 16 October. All entries must be submitted before Friday 19 July.

Entering groups will need to complete the competition entry form and submit it along with a CD/DVD containing five...

Devon’s NHS has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award thanks to improvements it has made to dementia care in the county.

The local NHS, which includes Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, will find out if it has won a Care Integration Award at a ceremony in London on Tuesday 9 July 2013.

The nomination is for the development of a dementia care pathway that has already reduced the waiting times for specialist dementia diagnosis and memory assessment, and has improved awareness of the benefits of diagnosis at an early stage by the patients’ GP.

It means people with...

A GP from Budleigh Salterton has welcomed a challenge from the Prime Minister to the NHS for 20 per cent more people who have dementia to be diagnosed by 2015.

Dementia Awareness Week takes place this week (19 – 25 May) and the challenge could lead to 160,000 more people in England with dementia receiving access to treatment and support.

In Exeter, East and Mid Devon a new dementia support worker service has recently launched.

It means support workers closely work with GP practices, community mental health teams, complex care teams, local hospitals and the voluntary...

New research from a leading train company has found that littering on trains is the number one source of rail-rage amongst passengers in Exeter, but travellers would need to be overwhelmed by passengers’ smelly odours before acting on their annoyance.

The survey, conducted by train company CrossCountry, found that more than half of people in Exeter (57%) are most aggravated by passengers leaving their rubbish behind – making them the least tolerant of litterbugs in the UK.

Despite the fact that half of passengers (52%) in Exeter are annoyed by passengers talking loudly on...