The Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital has reminded visitors that it is experiencing an increase in patients admitted with diarrhoea and/or vomiting caused by the norovirus.

Norovirus is widespread in the local community at the moment. Norovirus spreads from person to person extremely easily and causes outbreaks in hospital which result in wards being closed to further admissions. There are now several wards affected.

In order to protect both patients and visitors, the hospital is restricting the number of people who visit patients.

On all of wards (with the...

The Environment Agency has warned South West residents to remain on alert for flooding this week.

Over the next three days a LOW flood risk is maintained across the region, with minor disruption likely, and some significant disruption possible, as a result of further outbreaks of rain and showers.

River levels remain high in places, and are likely to rise following further rain, and locally heavy downpours could lead to localised surface water flooding.

The Met Office today forecast yet more rain into the weekend.

Today : Remaining unsettled, with a pulse...

Exeter City slipped to a 3-1 defeat on Boxing Day at home to a lively Oxford United side, who fared better in the wet weather.

James Constable broke the deadlock in the first half by capitalising on a bouncing ball, despite Exeter starting the brightest.

His second early after the interval was followed immediately by a strike from Peter Leven, putting the U’s in the driving seat.

Jamie Cureton netted a penalty midway through the second half to give Exeter a fighting chance, but defensive resolve by the visitors allowed them to hold onto their lead and subsequently...

Shops in Exeter were busy with shoppers today as bargain-hunters made the most of the traditional Boxing Day sales.

Dozens of eager shoppers were queing up before 6am in an effort to grab the best bargains but some stores started their sales early this year. M&S began its online sale at noon on Christmas Eve, John Lewis kicked off its sale at 5pm and Currys/PC World at 7pm. M&S has even bought the "Christmas Eve sales" search terms on Google in an attempt to attract shoppers.

Across the UK up to 7.1 million shoppers are expected in stores, with one in 10 venturing...

Owen Patterson, the Environment Secretary and the Cabinet’s leading supporter of hunting and other country sports has admitted there is little hope of the hunting ban being repealed.

Mr Patterson told today's Daily Telegraph that he accepts there is no prospect of winning a vote next year, saying only that the vote will come "at an appropriate moment."

Mr Paterson said: "There’s only a point having a vote if you’re going to win. "At the moment I, it would not be my proposal to bring forward a vote which we were going to lose. There needs to be more work done on members of...

If you want to get a little post-feast exercise there is still time to join in with Exeter City FC's Charity Santa Dash on 29 December.

The event takes place at the Guildhall at 1.15pm on Saturday 29 December and finishes at St James’ Park ahead of kick-off in the home game against Barnet and for just £17 an adult and £5 per child (up to age 18) participants will receive a Santa suit and a match ticket for the game that afternoon.

"Last year we had 310 Santas running and this year we are hoping to have 500 people and raise in excess of £10,000 for local charities," says...

From 3:30 pm on Monday 24th December 2012 to Tuesday 1st January 2013 Cleansing Service offices will be closed.

However, waste collections continue during the holiday period.

To support residents who need help or information about waste collections during this period Exeter City Council will be operating a limited telephone service.

Please visit the council website to find out when your bin is collected during Christmas and New Year holidays, and January 2013 or to report a bin missed by the Council.

Opening hours of telephone service Monday, 24th December...

It was like a summer's day on Exmouth beach this morning as the traditional swim took place.

Exeter Daily user David Bunton captuted the spectacle as hundreds of brave souls entered the chilly water.

David Simpson, from Exminster, who was among those to take the plunge said: "It was colder than I expected but it certainly blew away the cobwebs."

Hundreds of people turned out for the annual Christmas swims across Devon.

With milder temperatures than in previous years, beaches were packed with revellers wearing fancy dress.

Among them was Exeter solicitor Kate Baker and her friends who took a dip at Budleigh Salterton.

She told the Exeter Daily: "It was great fun and certainly cleared by hangover!"

Exeter City FC and Devon & Cornwall Police would like to thank fans of both City and Plymouth Argyle for their excellent behaviour during the recent meeting between the two sides at St James Park.

The Devon Derby is always a passionate affair and often attracts the largest gate of the season – both at St James Park and Home Park. We are pleased to report that this year’s derby can live long in the memory for the exciting on-field action, an electric trouble free atmosphere enjoyed by all.

Both sets of fans made plenty of noise as they cheered on their teams, as the...