Devon

A theatre group in Devon is calling on local families to try and trace living relatives of soldiers who died in the First World War.

Six names are inscribed on Silverton’s war memorial and the Mid Devon village’s dramatic group are focusing on them for their next production.

This will be performed in February 2014 to mark the centenary of The Great War.

Silverton's Drama Group, The Luvvies, has been busy researching what village life was like during World War One as the basis to their play, which will be performed in the village’s Community Hall.

Director...

A new county Chairman has been appointed for Devon’s branch of the NFU. David Verney a mixed farmer and egg producer from Bishop’s Nympton takes up family tradition by following his father and uncle into the position. “I think of it as a challenge and I wouldn’t be able to do it without having my two boys at home and a very understanding wife.

"My wife and I were adamant that they go off and get their qualifications.

"They’ve gone off and experienced another side of life and they’ve come back to farming afterwards. “My daughter is also really involved and helps out with the...

A new report has shown that every £1 invested into Broadband, brings £20 back to the UK economy.

The report commissioned for the government also reveals that the impact of superfast internet also has a huge impact on the way we live making it easier to work from home or stream online TV.

Earlier this year the first rural communities in Devon began to benefit from a rollout of superfast broadband to smaller communities.

The improvements are part of a £94 million investment in Devon and Somerset which will see 15,000 premises in the two counties’ benefit.

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A Plymouth woman who reported a burglar had taken a picture of himself on her phone has said that she knows the man in the photo.

The woman found a picture on her mobile of an unknown man sitting in her home

The woman contacted Devon and Cornwall Police believing that a burglar had left a chilling calling card.

However, in what the police have called a “genuine lapse in memory” the unnamed woman forgot that the man had been in her house and was known to her.

The woman also reported that crisps and other food had gone missing from her house around the...

Special prayers and collections will be held at churches across Devon this Sunday as congregations respond to the call to help those affected by the devastating Philippines typhoon.

The typhoon, one of the strongest storms to ever hit land, has torn apart the lives of more than 11 million people in the Philippines who are now in urgent need of food, water and emergency shelter.

Within the first 24 hours of The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) launching an appeal on Tuesday - including TV appeals fronted by presenters Myleene Klass and Kirsty Young - the total reached £13...

The Deer Park is celebrating after being awarded Silver in the Devon Tourism Awards, held in association with Visit Devon.

The country house hotel in Weston, near Honiton was awarded Silver in the Business and Venue Tourism Category, sponsored by Exeter International Airport.

The awards were announced at a lavish ceremony at the Grand Hotel in Torquay.

Managing Director at Deer Park, Mark Godfrey commented: “We are utterly ecstatic to have been crowed Silver at the Devon Tourism Awards. We’ve heavily invested in the Deer Park over the last 12 months and it shows our...

Councils could gain powers to ban peaceful protests on the grounds that it might annoy nearby residents through a bill currently going through Parliament.

The Home Office proposed Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill is currently being read in the House of Lords having already passed through Commons.

One section of the bill proposes giving councils the power to issue Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) to prevent activities that have a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality and are of a continuing or persistent nature.

PSPOs...

Crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers’ latest campaign to locate 13 wanted fugitives, believed to be hiding in Spain, includes an appeal for a man wanted for a series of drug offences, with links to Devon.

Stephen Blundell, 35, is wanted for the conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and was convicted for being principal organiser of his own heroin supply chain.

He regularly arranged for heroin to be supplied from Liverpool to Devon, and is now believed to be hiding in Spain after skipping his hearing to be sentenced.

The Liverpudlian joins 12 other new wanted...

Police found smoke bombs and vehicles suspected to be stolen in Paignton yesterday.

The property in Broadsands Court was searched yesterday when a man and a woman failed to stop for police when driving through Torquay yesterday morning.

Police followed the car and arrested a 21-year old man from Wales and a 17-year old woman from Brixham.

They were taken into custody in Torquay police station and are still being held there until they can be interviewed.

The Explosives Ordnance Disposal unit were called in to assist with the safe removal of the smoke bombs...

South West arts organisation Albow have been awarded a £125k to develop This Is On, an app that seeks to revolutionise how we find live listings. Working with partners including University of Exeter and University of the West of England (UWE) Albow will develop the new mobile and desktop app over the next year. The team behind This Is On are now inviting a limited number of users to join for private beta testing – they will have an exclusive first look at the app, and be able to contribute to how it is developed and used. Initial beta testers will be vital to developing a network around...