The hard work of a number of young people from Mid Devon is to be rewarded following their commitment to The Devon and Cornwall Police Family Swimming and Life Saving Club. The Heritage Award Bronze Medallion is in recognition for their work over the last 12 months in teaching and life saving up to competition level, with many will now progressing through to the Survive and Save programme. The young people come mainly from schools in the Mid Devon area who are able to use the extra activities to assess the pupils against GCSE achievements. Acting Inspector Steve Selley from the police...

Update 4pm: The earlier collision between the Exeter to London Paddington train is causing disruption between Taunton and Castle Cary. The line has reopened and trains are able to run, however, there may be delays of up to 30 minutes to journeys between Taunton and Westbury. These delays will continue until approximately 16:30.

Update: Senior Fire Commander at the scene, Group Manager Paul Cregan, said: "This incident was a significant challenge causing a number of dangerous and difficult circumstances for our Fire & Rescue crews. The train struck the vehicle and then carried...

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter insists his squad for next season is taking shape nicely after another three more players committed their futures to the Devon club. Prop Alex Brown has agreed a new two-year deal with the Aviva Premiership club, whilst fellow forwards Dave Ewers and Tom Cowan-Dickie have each penned terms on new one-year deals. The news is yet another boost to Baxter, who has made no secret of his desire to hold on to the club's crop of young stock. "We like to reward guys that take opportunities and who do well for us and these three guys are all in that category,"...

I am a young woman in her mid teens who loves all things cake! Now, who doesn’t love a good cake? Whether you are just a cake eater or whether you are like me and love to bake your own, I hope you will read my cake-filled blog.

I have been baking from a young age. I can remember being stood on a chair in my grandmother’s kitchen helping her with everything from a Victoria sponge to a sumptuous chocolate cake.

I used to be given my wooden spoon and my apron and await instructions. My job was always the beating, whisking and the mixing. Now after all of the beating and the...

An independent report that examines the impact of the Government’s reform of the welfare system will be presented to Devon County Council’s Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee tomorrow, Thursday 21 March.

The Committee’s Task Group, which took first-hand evidence from a range of sources, concludes that while the Government’s aim, to encourage people of working age into employment and reduce dependency on benefits, is widely accepted, the changes as they’re implemented will have consequences, not just for those affected, but also on local authorities, voluntary sector...

Two beautiful Devon beaches, Mansands and Scabbacombe near Brixham and Kingswear, are looking worse for wear as a result of the recent poor weather conditions.

The National Trust English Riviera rangers who care for this stretch of coast and countryside are holding a beach clean to tidy them up. As the saying goes, many hands make light work, so why not come and join in?

Local National Trust ranger Tim Bumby explains: ‘Due to recent storms and strong easterly winds there is a lot of rubbish and debris, such as fishing nets and rope, lying on the beaches. Because of this we...

Local healthcare and protection insurer Exeter Family Friendly went to work in style on Friday 15 March to raise money for Comic Relief.

Staff members celebrated Red Nose Day by wearing something funny for money with an 80s themed fancy dress, while also arranging quizzes, sweepstakes and 80s style games and videos to help raise over £350.

Chief Executive of Exeter Family, Andy Chapman, said: “The effort our employees put into fundraising events such as this is fantastic; the whole day was a lot of fun.

"Comic Relief is such a good cause and there was a great spirit...

Exeter City have signed Anton Rodgers on loan from npower Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion. The 20-year-old midfielder, who began his youth career with Chelsea, joins the Grecians until the end of the season on a Youth Loan. Rodgers has featured regularly for the Seagulls’ under-21 side this season in the Professional Development League, and has represented the Republic of Ireland up to under-19 level. Anton has been handed the squad number 26.

Devon County Council has today (Wednesday 20 March) signed a new agreement with French authorities to reduce the threat of pollution from shipping incidents in the English Channel.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, who represents Devon County Council at the Local Government Association’s Coastal Special Interest Group, has signed the “Cross Channel Declaration” in France at the Cross Channel Forum.

The declaration, co-ordinated by the European funded CAMIS (Channel Arc Manche Integrated Strategy), is a Franco-British co-operation project. It is pressing for a change in policy to...