South West

An Arctic zoo, charity giving and a children’s TV favourite all feature at Living Coasts over the Christmas period.

Santa is bringing his toy zoo to Living Coasts. A special Grotto will be surrounded by snow scenes filled with cuddly Arctic animals, including Arctic fox, reindeer, snowy owl, Arctic hare and polar bear. Eskimos – themselves an endangered species – will also feature.

The Grotto will be open every weekend in December from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm as well as Monday 17th to Friday 21st December. It costs £4.95 for children (this does not include entry to Living...

A plethora of jump racing stars are set to line up in the re-routed The Levy Board Peterborough Chase, which takes place at Exeter on Thursday (Dec 20th).

David Bridgewater has no fears about the step back in trip for The Giant Bolster, saying: “He won very easily over 2m5f at Cheltenham when he won the Murphy Group Chase so I’m sure he’ll be fine. But you never know until you run them. He’s very well at home and he’s come on from his race at Haydock. I’m very please with him and I’m delighted that Exeter is staging the race.”

The seven-year-old was a two and a quarters of...

Devon and Cornwall Police are becoming increasingly concerned for the safety and welfare of a man who is missing from his Tiverton home.

Robin Prescott, 49, has not been seen since 6am on Thursday 13th December when he left home in Burlescombe to travel to work in Wellington, Somerset.

A man matching Robin’s description was seen getting on the 7.38am train from Taunton to Penzance on that Thursday morning. Police found his car abandoned at Taunton railway station.

Robin is close to his family and is described as being a loner, keeping himself to himself. This type...

Police are encouraging people to keep safe and have a good time during the festive period as part of the Force’s 12 Days of Christmas Advice.

The message for day five is: Alcohol – know when to stop! It’s the party season when many people’s alcohol consumption increases and their common sense is left at home. Have fun but know your limits, know when to stop drinking and plan your evening.

Traditionally the number of incidents involving alcohol and violence (including assault, sexual offences and domestic abuse) increase over the festive period and this year is no exception...

The body of a man, thought to be in his late 70s, was recovered from the River Exe yesterday at approximately 2pm in the Topsham area.

The man is thought to be local to Exeter and the death is not being treated as suspicious by police.

Officers are currently preparing a file on behalf of the coroner.

The man’s next of kin have been informed.

A University of Exeter physicist has inspired hundreds of African school children to engage with science during a whirlwind outreach tour to Malawi.

Professor Pete Vukusic used simple interactive demonstrations including slinky springs, glass prisms, light sticks and iridescent butterflies to enthral large classes of pupils and teachers in underprivileged rural schools. The charismatic lecturer combined use of the demos and an interactive and engaging teaching style to explain fundamental and modern science principles to students who are used to formal instructional teaching...

Tenants will be enjoying Christmas in new homes at Cornerstone’s latest development of nine flats at Vicus House, Western Way, Exeter. The one bedroom flats for single people and couples are set at affordable rents, based on 80% of market rates, on five year fixed term tenancy agreements.

The unfurnished properties each have stylish kitchens and individual balconies as well as a communal secure bike store and photovoltaic solar panels generating renewable electricity. The site is in a great location close to Exeter city centre and the Quay and has good transportation links....

Detectives in Exeter have released an image of a man they would like to find following a burglary at an address in Exeter last month.

A 34-year-old-man has been charged with the offence but police would like to speak to the person pictured, whose image has been compiled with help from a witness.

Anyone who recognises the man is asked to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 quoting crime reference DE/12/11202

As 2012 draws to a close, Exeter-Based Charity Dream-A-Way entertained more than 70 special guests and their carers at Bicton Park Botanical Gardens, where owner Valerie Lister and her team dished up another fantastic Christmas lunch and all were delighted with their gifts from the Real Santa.

There was a mammoth draw, fun bingo and even a mini-auction which all added to the fun time had by all!

The trip was jointly funded by the Express and Echo We Care fund and Dream-A-Way.

Chairman Jeff Merrett said “It was a fantastic lunch in a fantastic setting. All of our...

Having written one new chapter into the history books of Exeter Rugby Club a week ago, the Chiefs penned another equally exciting tale of triumph as they saw off the Scarlets for a second successive game - Chiefs 30 - Scarlets 20.

Rob Baxter’s side followed up their maiden Heineken Cup scalp in West Wales by producing an equally impressive repeat performance in the latest re-run at Sandy Park. Tries from Ian Whitten,

Simon Alcott and skipper James Scaysbrook were the key highlights for the Devonians, whilst on-song marksman Gareth Steenson added to his seasonal tally with...