New research released from NS&I’s Quarterly Savings Survey shows that savings levels have risen for the second successive quarter. Britons are now saving 7.33% of their income each month, £90 in real terms, a rise from 7.17% in the previous quarter. Albeit positive news, savings levels are rising from a low level previously. In Spring 2012, Britons were saving 7.08% of their income each month, their lowest amount for more than a year previously, and 28% of Britons now believe they won’t be able to sustain the same level of saving over the next three months.
What would Christmas be without the prerequisite pantomime dames, fairytale princesses and cross-dressing performers cavorting around the city's theatres and village halls.
Here is The Exeter Daily's round-up of the best pantomimes in and around the city...
Ali Baba & the Forty Thieves
Until 16 December, Broadclyst Victory Hall
Join Broadclyst Theatre Group for some Arabian Nights as Ali Baba, his family, friends and foe conjure up the bustling streets of Baghdad at the Victory Hall this Christmas. This production promises to be colourful, musical,...
A new hair salon has opened on Exeter's Paris Street. Established by Ellie Greensmith and Katie Holloway, Elk promises to provide a "relaxed oasis and calming atmosphere; a place where our time-conscious clients can tick more off their list than a hair cut."
Elk's contemporary approach offers patrons more than just hair and beauty - their aim is to make all ages and both men and women feel equally welcome at Elk. Take a coffee or lunch break and use their Wi-Fi, all while enjoying an Elk hair and beauty treatment.
Ellie started her career by training at the Vidal Sassoon...
Tall Stories, creators of much-loved family favourites The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom stage shows, have brought their latest collaboration with Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler to Exeter's Northcott Theatre.
A tiny snail longs to see the world, so she hitches a lift on the tail of a huge humpback whale. Together they go on an amazing journey, experiencing sharks and penguins, volcanoes and icebergs. But then disaster strikes – the whale gets beached in a bay. Can the tiny snail save the day?
Follow the snail’s amazing journey, as seen through the eyes of an...
Communities along the Grand Western Canal are being invited to a fact-finding meeting to establish events that led to the breach of the canal last month.
Following the flood drop-in sessions which are currently being held across the county to gather information on the November floods, Devon County Council is organising a similar event to focus on the Grand Western Canal.
The session will be held at Halberton Village Hall on Thursday (20th December) from 4pm until 8pm.
Devon County Council is looking to gather as much information as possible on the events leading up...
The Hemyock, Cullompton, Stoke Canon, Broadclyst and Clyst St Mary areas remain under flood alert as further rain is forecast. Scattered and blustery showers are expected on Saturday through to Monday with some heavy bursts throughout this period. Winds forecast for this weekend remain strong with gusts up to Force 8.
East facing coastal locations, including Beesands, Torcross, Slapton, Torbay and Dawlish also remain under flood alert for the high tides on Friday evening and Saturday morning. The time and date of forecast high water at Beesands is Tide 1: 18:30 on 14th December...
Robert and Mandy Persey, owners of East Devon’s award-winning Hembury Court, raised an outstanding £1,660 for Macmillan Cancer Support at their charity festive evening on Wednesday night (12th December).
Those who came along for the evening enjoyed a wonderful selection of goodies from local producers such as Fine Country Lifestyle, Georgie Porgie’s Puddings and Roly’s Fudge. There was a delightful range of gifts on offer, including truly creative items from Kindred Rose. In addition, guests could enter a ‘Premier’ raffle to win luxury prizes which included a half day West Country...
A Devon chef has been named joint winner in the final of this year's MasterChef: The Professionals . Anton Piotrowski, 30, who runs the Treby Arms in Sparkwell near Plymouth, and Keri Moss, 41, from London, became the first joint winners in the history of the competition. "It's absolutely amazing; to share the title with someone that's so talented and so amazing is unreal," said Piotrowski.
Piotrowski's winning menu included squid ink and malt vinegar crumble and cocoa-marinated venison.
The Professionals spin-off, which pits working chefs against one another, is now in its...
Devon’s primary schools have achieved a significant improvement in this year’s Key Stage 2 SATs tests for 11-year-olds.
The county’s combined figure for English and maths was up six per cent on last year and Devon schools continue to out-perform results nationally and regionally.
The percentage of pupils achieving the benchmark Level 4 or above in English and maths in Devon was 82 per cent in 2012 – up six points on last year’s county results.
And the Devon figure was three points ahead of the national figure for the two subjects combined at 79 per cent and ahead of...
Update: It has been reported that the A380 has now reopened on Telegraph Hill in Kennford after the earlier accident due to bad weather earlier involving a school bus and a Ford Ka. More details below...
Earlier: The A380 at Telegraph Hill in Kennford is closed and with queueing traffic northbound at the A38 junction, because of an accident involving multiple vehicles, including a Ka, with a female driver trapped inside, and a school bus. Reports are stating that no children have been hurt. The driver of the bus is thought to have been knocked unconscious and the bus continued to...
