Devon

The annual Tiverton Balloon and Music Festival has confirmed that it will be returning this summer for the fourth consecutive year

The festival will be raising funds for two very special local charities: Devon Air Ambulance Trust and Children’s Hospice South West and will take place on Friday, Saturdy and Sunday 11, 12 and 13 July July 2014 at the combined Petroc and Tiverton High School Campus.

This spectacular weekend will see the skies above Tiverton transformed into a canvas of colour as hot air balloonists from across the UK and beyond travel to Devon to take part in a...

Clyst Bridge on the Exe Estuary Trail will be closed during the daytime on Saturday 14 June and from Monday 16 to Friday 20 June. This section of the Trail through Goosemoor RSPB Nature Reserve will be closed from 7am to 6pm on these dates, which will be signed on site, in order for essential maintenance works to take place. On the Saturday, if dry, the trail surface will be surface dressed. During the following week the viewing gallery roof will be installed. Outside of these hours, the Trail will be open as usual. Cyclists in particular are reminded to keep their speed down, and avoid...

Firefighters in England and Wales will strike for a complete 24 hours after pensions talks between government and unions collapse.

A 24-hour strike — the longest yet in the three-year campaign — will take place from 9am on Thursday 12 June, with second shorter strike set for Saturday 21 June between 10am-5pm. Whilst the issue is a matter between the Fire Brigades Union and Government, every Fire & Rescue Service has a legal duty to maintain a level of service to local communities as best it can. In response to the strike Area Manager Phil Martin, Head of Community Safety for...

Almost £8,000 was donated to people in need in Devon over the last year thanks to the generosity of people who gave up their winter fuel payments. Devon Citizens Advice Bureau partnered with the Devon Community Foundation (DCF) to operate the Surviving Winter campaign over the winter months of 2013-2014. The campaign saw people who did not require their winter fuel payment donating it via the Devon Community Foundation. Citizens Advice Bureaux across the county then helped allocate the money to people who were most in need. A total of 78 households benefited from the scheme. The Winter...

The Exeter Daily has previously reported on the South West Blog Social, scheduled to take place at The Oddfellows Bar on New North Rd on Saturday 7th June.

Devised by noted local bloggers Jodie Dewberry (@alajode) and Albertine Brandon (@dippywrites), the event- the first of its kind in the South West- aims to bring together the very best in local blogging talent to provide an afternoon of advice and expertise to Exeter and regional businesses and individuals, with Jodie adding “We have worked hard not only to make sure that the event is as much fun as possible- but also to give it...

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter says he pleased to finally have got his man after today confirming the arrival of Welshman Adam Hughes to the club.

For several years Baxter has tracked the talented 24-year-old back and now he finally has he man after the Newport-born back put pen to paper on a two-year deal.

Hughes, who has played for both the Newport-Gwent Dragons and Bristol, is the latest new addition to the Chiefs ranks ahead of the 2014/15 season and Baxter is delighted to have the player on board for what promises to be a big campaign for the Devon outfit....

The new lord Mayor of Exeter has said he will use his to term to help raise money for the Exeter Leukaemia Fund (ELF). The new Lord Mayor of Exeter Percy Prowse, who was elected at last night’sAnnual General Meeting, explained why he chose to support ELF as the mayor’s charity. He said: “A lady living in my ward approached me recently and asked which charity I would be supporting. “She had been through Leukaemia and when I heard they were trying to raise £350,000 for an extension to the existing Haematology unit in Wonford, I didn’t need much persuasion. “ELF is a very worthy local charity...

The Devon County Show is offering trade stand holders a 25 per cent refund on their stand fees after it was forced to abandon the third day. Letters are going out this week and offer traders the choice of either applying for a refund or making a donation to the Devon County Agricultural Association, which stages the Show. Show Secretary, Ollie Allen said: “The DCAA Board of Management fully appreciate that the decision to abandon the third day on Saturday was heart breaking and although we have a ‘force majeure’ in our regulations, the Board agreed to offer trade stand exhibitors a partial...

A new Forest School has launched in Exmouth to bring exciting outdoor activities to toddlers, children and adults.

Exmouth Forest School will officially open on Saturday 21 June 2014 with a FREE family fun open day for everyone to come and explore the new site.

Exmouth Forest School is part of the Exeter Outdoors company, a social enterprise based in Exeter providing Forest School Leader training courses and outdoor learning experiences for schools throughout the South West.

The new Forest School has been set up by passionate Forest School Leaders who have set up...