Christmas retail sales have seen the highest rise in nine years according to a new report by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).
The report showed that retail sales for December were up by 5.3% on the same period in 2012, a significantly higher rise than in previous years.
The report has surprised many financial forecasters as several big name brands revealing that they had performed under expectations in the Christmas period.
Supermarkets Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s and department stores Debenhams and Marks and Spencer all performed under expectations...
The number of house sales in the South West has reached its highest point since 2007 according to a survey by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
The survey showed that sales in December were more than double that f the lowest point of the downturn.
Prices are also rising with a net balance of 56 percent more chartered surveyors reported growing prices in the South West.
Significantly, every area of the UK saw prices increase with London and the South East experiencing the biggest jumps.
RICS claim that the figure calculated by sales per...
John and Mary Richardson from Exmouth, who received an MBE in the New Years Honours for services to children and families, have recommended fostering with Fostering Devon as an incredibly rewarding profession, and one that they don’t plan to retire from, despite almost 55 years of service!
Devon County Council, which provides the Fostering Devon service, recognised the remarkable couple’s dedication to fostering at a recent event to mark their long service achievement.
Since they started fostering in the 1950s, John and Mary estimate that they have looked after around 100...
Thousands of people across the South West could end up not being entitled to a full state pension when they retire, warns ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) today. Chas Roy-Chowdhury, ACCA head of taxation said: “Most workers do not have to worry that their National Insurance contributions are up to date, the group that are most at risk from not having the full qualifying years are those that are self-employed.
“Figures show that 16% of people from the South West are self-employed potentially meaning thousands of workers might not be entitled to a full state...
Staff and members of a newly formed youth panel are thrilled that their plan for a ‘Museums at Night’ event at Castle Drogo has been successfully short listed. The race is now on as the public vote opens to win mixed media artist and musician Fred Deakin to host the after-hours event in May 2014, at which local young people will be invited to experience Castle Drogo as never before.
The Castle Drogo youth panel loved Fred Deakin's interactive game show/party idea and, together with staff, worked up a proposal to turn the castle and grounds into a celebration of traditional games...
The body recovered from the sea last Saturday (11 January) has been formally identified as the missing teenager Harry Martin today (16 January).
A formal inquest into the death of Mr Martin, who went missing from his home in Newton Ferrers during the height of the recent storms, is due to begin next Monday (20 January).
The 18-year-old’s body was found in Carswell Bay in the Noss Mayo area by friends who were aiding in the search effort using sea kayaks.
Police, the Dartmoor Rescue group, Coastguard, specialist search dogs and over 100 members of the public took...
Devon County Council has invited the Prime Minister to personally see the state of the county’s roads after the recent storms.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, the County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management and Flood Prevention, has written to David Cameron to ask him to discuss concerns over road maintenance with Ministers and Government officials.
The authority is currently facing an estimated £750 million backlog of repairs to bring the county’s road network up to standard.
Despite this backlog the Department of Transport has only made £136 million available...
Dramatic footage showing the moment a prolific offender was captured by police has been released to the public. Filmed by the police helicopter, the video shows officers and a police dog track 29-year-old man, Dylan Taylor, who was later convicted of a series of offences across the Force area. The incident took place in Exeter in the early hours of 29 April 2013 after officers in the police helicopter spotted a vehicle acting suspiciously. After the offenders failed to stop for police, officers followed their vehicle to Haldon Woods where the offenders set off on foot through the woods...
Residents are encouraged to say whether they think Teignbridge has got its priorities right as the council moves forward with its draft budget plans.
People have the opportunity to tell the Council what they think after the Executive approved its initial financial plans for 2014/15 to 2016/17.
The draft budget proposes to freeze Council Tax for the fourth year in a row, carrying on with its popular free Sunday parking scheme in its own car parks and putting money into a pot specifically to help create more jobs and build new homes.
