A record number of South West beaches have achieved the highest bathing water standards this year according to a report from Marine Conservation Society (MCS) released today. The MCS 'Good Beach Guide’ shows that 173 out of 195 (88.7%) South West beaches received the top standard for excellent water quality.
Nationally MCS has recommended 538 out of 734 (73%) UK beaches tested during last summer as having excellent water quality –135 more than the previous year.
MCS Coastal Pollution Officer, Rachel Wyatt, says she hopes the latest figures will be a boost to UK tourism...
A police officer sacked for tweeting that police bosses were ‘lower than slime’ has denied any connection to the account responsible.
Tony Ryan, 33, a was dismissed from Avon and Somerset Police for gross misconduct last week (8 April) after a disciplinary panel decided that he was the author of the @TheBritishCop twitter account, which had tweeted dergotory remarks about Avon and Somerset police bosses.
However Mr Ryan has vigorously denied any connection to the account and that many of the tweets posted by @TheBritishCop had been 'geotagged' in places he had never been,...
Hundreds of churches and Church of England schools across Devon are planting poppies as part of First World War commemorations organised by the Diocese of Exeter.
With the support of Paignton based Sutton Seeds, the Diocese has sent out 500 packets of the Northlew poppy seeds. Northlew, a small village near Okehampton, lost proportionally more of its enlisted men than anywhere else in the UK, when 24 died out of the 100 strong adult male population.
The Bishop of Crediton, Nick McKinnel said many churches were taking part in commemorations in their villages or towns, but...
Skin Angels ambassador, singer and songwriter Charlotte Ward, is launching a song in support of their campaign, later this month.
The song, titled ‘Cover it up’, will be sung live for the first time during Charlotte’s set on the Castle stage at the Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink, between 1.30 and 2.30pm on Saturday 26th April.
Skin Angels, set up in 2013 by Mariam Badavi from Exeter's Purity Boutique Spa, are on a mission to raise awareness of the importance of protecting skin from the sun, even during the autumn and winter months and aim to arm young people...
After months of planning, an Armed Forces Community Support Hub has been opened in Beaufort House, Exeter with the formal ribbon cutting ceremony performed by the HM Lord-Lieutenant, Sir Eric Dancer KCVO CBE JP.
The Hub is a new ‘one stop shop’ supporting the Armed Forces community in Devon including all serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families. It is built on a unique partnership between SSAFA, St Loye’s Foundation and The Royal British Legion.
Speaking on behalf of the participating charities, Group Captain Robin Chambers, Chairman of SSAFA Devon, said...
A Royal Navy bomb disposal team were called to Bonhams Auctioneers in Southernhay yesterday afternoon after a hand grenade was found in items handed in for appraisal.
Staff discovered the grenade, at around a 2:45pm on Monday (14 April), while searching through items passed to the auctioneers via a probate sale.
The grenade appeared to be live so staff locked the grenade in the safe and evacuated the premises and called police at Heavitree station.
Police set -up a cordon in the area near the Cathedral and called for support from Royal Navy bomb disposal, who...
Coming to Westpoint Exeter on Sunday 27th April is one of the region’s best-known collectors’ events; the Toy Train and Collectors Fair.
With over 200 stalls, the show brings together a wide range of traders and collectors; all coming together to share their expertise and wares, with an incredible amount to offer both novices and fanatics.
Browse stalls, talk with collection experts and seek out those elusive collectors items you’ve been after for years - there’s plenty to see at 2013’s Exeter Toy Train and...
Newton Abbot based Centek has been placed seventh in the 2014 Sunday Times BDO ‘Profit Track 100’, the influential survey which identifies UK private companies with the fastest growing profits.
It is the only company from Devon & Cornwall to feature in the Top 100 and one of only 26 manufacturing businesses to appear in this year’s survey which was published this week.
Centek are world leaders in designing and manufacturing bow spring centralisers which are used by the oil and gas industries in the drilling process to keep casing centred in holes before they are...
Stagecoach South West has today announced plans to introduce a new route replacing the 50, 51, 315 and 377 services.
The new route, the 5, will be introduced on Easter Monday and will see the frequency of buses between Exeter and Crediton increase to once every 15mins.
Beyond Crediton there will be an hourly service to Copplestone. At Copplestone the service splits, with regular onwards connections to Hatherleigh and Okehampton (5A, up to every 2 hours); North Tawton, Winkleigh, Great Torrington and Barnstaple (5B, up to every 2 hours) and Chulmleigh (5C, up to every hour...
