Exeter

New figures released by the NHS, show that the majority of hospital staff in the West Country have an above average chance of being assaulted at work.

The figures also show that there has been a national increase in assaults against NHS staff rising from 59,744 to 63,199 since last year.

The figures only include assaults that could result in a criminal action and do not include cases were a medical element is involved in the case.

Royal Devon and Exeter NHS trust reported an above average level of assaults against their staff reporting 129 assaults against staff....

Sixteen-year-old Holly Morwenna Rawlings from Exeter has made it through to the Grand Final of the national music competition Open Mic UK!

The finalists will now perform in front of an audience and celebrity judging panel at The NEC in Birmingham.

Young singer-songwriter, guitarist and pianist, Holly Morwenna, says the competition has opened up so many new opportunities for her and thanks her family, music teachers and committed friends and fans for supporting her throughout the competition.

She also thanks Robert Williams Estate Agents for sponsoring a fan bus to...

A fire involving a vehicle on Alphington Road in Exeter caused problems for drivers this afternoon.

One fire crew from Middlemoor attended a report of a vehicle on fire in Alphington Road at 12.38 today.

The fire caused traffic build ups towards the Alphington, and also the Ide, area.

The car was severely damaged by fire and the crew used two breathing apparatus and one hose reel to deal with the incident.

The Fire Service received a call reporting a fire in the downstairs of a building in Flowerpot Lane, St Thomas on Saturday 14th December.

One fire appliance from Danes Castle Exeter and one fire appliance from Middlemoor Exeter attended. Fire crews confirmed a fire in a ground floor flat involving a chip pan. Fire crews extinguished the fire using two breathingapparatus wearers, a fire blanket and a positive pressure ventilation fan.

One elderly female was led to safety by Ambulance crews prior to the arrival of the Fire Service and was checked over by Ambulance crews on...

Costa is bringing festive spirit to Exeter’s Princesshay this weekend teaming-up with UK children’s charity Youth Music to bring shoppers some Christmas entertainment with a difference. Talented young people from the local Wren Music project will come together to form a specially crafted Christmas singing group to entertain customers between 11am and 1pm and will treat them to a variety of Christmas music, revamped with a modern twist. The activity comes as part of Costa’s ongoing Christmas campaign to refresh the UK’s most traditional Christmas songs in the build up to the holiday season...

Every Friday and Saturday throughout December, visitors to Killerton house and parkland can enjoy the festive spirit and colourful light displays.

Three majestic 20ft Christmas trees greet visitors at the entrance to the house, while the parkland has a magical feel as spectacular coloured lights create beautiful shapes and shadows among the trees. Visitors familiar with Killerton’s paths, will see green, red and purple lights cast onto historic Sweet Chestnut trees, as well as willow reindeer and other estate landmarks.

Assistant Property Manager, Denise Melhuish says: "We’...

2,082 children in the South West are homeless and living in temporary accommodation, according to the latest government figures.

The new statistics recorded at the end of September mean that, across Britain, nearly 85,000 children now face the reality of waking up homeless this Christmas morning. Shelter is warning that as the rising cost of living and cuts to the housing safety net continue to take their toll, many more parents are likely to find themselves facing an ongoing struggle to keep a roof over their children’s heads.

The charity has launched an emergency...

East Devon District Council has reluctantly decided to move the venue of the Feniton ‘super inquiry’ because the initial location is not big enough for the eight-day hearing.

After appeals by three developers against EDDC’s refusal of planning permission for their proposals, the Planning Inspectorate decided to combine appeal hearings for three Feniton sites into a single event.

The appeals are by Feniton Park Ltd for Acland Park (32 homes), Strategic Land Partnership for land west of Ottery Road (up to 120 homes) and Wainhomes for an extension to the 50 homes allowed at...

The Arctic 30 have been told they cannot leave Russia and return home for Christmas despite a ruling by an international court ordering their release.

The environmental charity Greenpeace has revealed that Russia investigative committee has written to one of its activists- Anne Mie Jensen from Denmark - indicating that they are not free to leave the country.

The charity’s lawyers have said that they expect this to be the case for all of the non-Russian members of the Arctic 30, including six Britons.

Three from Devon, Alexandra Harris, Iain Rogers and Kieron Bryan...

New flood maps issued by the environment agency show that less people in Devon and around England are now being classed as ‘at risk’ of flooding.

The maps, from the Environment Agency, show areas of the country at risk of flooding from rivers and the sea and help communities and businesses protect their properties from flooding.

The new maps, as well as providing a vital service to the public, will also help local authorities to manage surface water flood risk as required by legislation passed in 2010.

As Lead Local Flood Authority for the area, Devon County Council...