Exeter

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a serious collision in Exeter over the weekend.

On Saturday 13th December just before 6pm the emergency services were called to a two vehicle collision at the junction of Rydon Lane and Pynes Hill.

The collision involved a white Ford KA and a silver coloured Audi A3.

The occupants of the KA, a 67 year-old male driver and a 68 year-old female passenger, suffered life threatening injuries and remain in hospital.

The driver of the A3 was uninjured.

The road was closed for several hours while...

The Russian embassy will honour 50 World War Two veterans in Exeter this week for their part in transporting crucial supplies to Russia.

Counsellor of The Russian Embassy, Mr Sergey Nalobin, will present Ushakov medals to the men of the Arctic Convoys on Friday 19 December at a special ceremony at County Hall.

The medal is awarded to sailors who have displayed courage in the course of defending Russia or its interests.

Created by the Allied Powers, the Arctic Convoys sailed through blinding snow storms and darkness under a barrage of attack from German U-boats and...

The first of five, free training events for community energy groups was staged on 2 December, as part of RegenSW’s Community Energy Accelerator Project funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Devon County Council.

Representatives from 14 community energy groups in Devon interested in developing wind, solar, hydro or biomass renewable energy projects gathered in Exeter to receive expert legal advice on group structures and landowner agreements from Stephens Scown Solicitors, who provided sponsorship for the event.

The day enabled the groups to ask specific questions...

For the first time, basic bank accounts will be truly fee-free, helping people to manage their money without fear of running up an overdraft.

Accounts will be available to anyone who doesn’t already have a bank account or who can’t use their existing account due to financial difficulty.

The Economic Secretary to the Treasury Andrea Leadsom today (15 December 2014) hailed a major agreement between the government and the banking industry to establish new basic bank accounts that will end bank charges if a direct debit or standing order fails.

New basic bank accounts...

Neil Parish, MP for Tiverton and Honiton, has urged Axminster residents to take part in a public consultation launched by the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, to keep beds open at Axminster Community Hospital following concerns expressed by many in the community, including Neil.

The Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust has halted its decision to temporarily move inpatient services at Axminster to Seaton and has today launched a four-week public consultation over whether the transfer should take place. In October 2014 the Trust announced a plan to temporarily merge the beds at...

Exmouth’s Christmas spirit has been given an extra festive boost with a beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the heart of the town.

Exmouth town’s Christmas display on the Strand has been lit up with new fairy lights and festive decorations, thanks to local businessman Marcus Di-Vincenzo, from solar energy firm, MIG Renewable Technologies.

The tree which is placed in the town centre each year is usually dressed with a simple set of fairy lights, but is always left looking a little bit bare, according to the renewable energy enthusiast.

Marcus has also surprised...

Exeter athlete Jo Pavey was today celebrating after coming third in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

She was pipped to the post by golfer Rory Mcllroy in second and Formula One ace Lewis Hamilton who won the vote.

At the age of 40 and 325 days Jo became the oldest ever European champion. The distance runner returned to the track just eight months after giving birth to her second child.

Upon his win, Lewis said: "I could not have done this without my amazing team, my family, my dad who once had four jobs to help me, my brother. I've been incredibly...

The University of Exeter is joining a growing number of companies committing to end the stigma and discrimination against people with experience of mental health problems by signing a pledge with Time to Change, a programme run by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness. University Provost, Professor Janice Kay signed the Pledge, as part of the official ceremony on Wednesday 10 December.

Professor Janice Kay said: “The Time to Change Organisational Pledge demonstrates a serious commitment to challenging stigma and discrimination against mental illness across the University....

The Church of England has welcomed a dedicated £15 million fund, announced by the Government on Wednesday 3rd December, for the repair of roofs and rainwater goods on listed church buildings.

The Chancellor announced the Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund in his Autumn Statement. Grants between £10,000 and £100,000 will be available to listed places of worship of all faiths and denominations across the UK, where roof and rainwater goods repairs are deemed to be urgent and necessary.

The deadline for applications is 30 January 2015, with awards to be allocated by the...

Changes in government guidance on what councils can ask small developers to pay for community benefits are set to hit the provision of open spaces, sports and play areas and even education upgrades in East Devon.

Until recently, anyone who wanted to build an estate of new homes was required to offset the impact the new households would have on existing amenities by making a ‘Section 106’ financial contribution towards improvements.

But changes announced by the Government at the beginning of December mean that East Devon District Council and other affected planning...