Exeter

It is our ultimate escape. For one day we forget our worries, how much we’ve spent, the stresses of work, and take great pleasure in indulging in the fantasy and magic of Christmas for our children, and seeing the delight on our family’s faces when they open a gift that they love. Why? Because Christmas is more than just giving. It is the sentiment. The message that says – you have held me in mind long enough to get me a gift that I really wanted / needed. It’s the only time of the year when we come together as part of a wider family to all say the same thing to one another.: “I love you,...

Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity has celebrated 35 years of its iconic “A Dog is for Life, Not just for Christmas” campaign.

Coined in 1978 by the charity’s CEO, Clarissa Baldwin OBE, the campaign highlights the issue of dogs given as Christmas presents being abandoned or neglected.

To celebrate the milestone, Neil Parish MP for Tiverton and Honiton hosted a Westminster event to promote awareness of the charity’s campaign among MPs. MPs were given the opportunity to take a festive Dogs Trust sleigh ride surrounded by stuffed dog toys. Attendees also learned...

A 62 year-old woman who threatened to harm herself and others has been arrested in Chawleigh this morning.

Police were called to a property in the village of Chawleigh, near Crediton just after 8:30 this morning (Monday 16 December) after reports that the woman was causing an obstruction.

On arrival they found the woman carrying a can of petrol and making threats to harm herself and others as well as damage the property.

Officers called for support from police negotiators and firearms officers and the fire service due to the nature of the threats.

After...

Christmas revellers who get into a spot of bother will be able to take advantage of a Help Zone in Exeter city centre next Friday (20 December). The Help Zone aims to help those who find themselves in difficulties following the excesses of Christmas parties, be it from injury, drinking too much alcohol or being a victim of violence. Situated at The Mint Methodist Church in Fore Street, the Help Zone is being trialled on 'Builder's Friday' - traditionally the busiest night for Christmas party goers. The initiative brings together paramedics, police and Exeter City Council staff in one...

A new draft anti-slavery bill which could see human traffickers receive life sentences has been revealed in parliament today.

Known as the Modern slavery bill it will see the maximum sentence for slavery offences rise from 14 years to life imprisonment, as well as introduce a range of measures to improve the detection of slavery operations.

Those with previous convictions for violent or sexual offences will receive a automatic life sentence.

The draft bill also sets out provisions to simplify existing slavery and trafficking law to make investigating and prosecuting...

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...