Devon

Weather warning for gales and heavy rain

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for the end of this week as severe gales and heavy rain are set to hit the region.

A yellow warning of wind is in place for Friday, from the early hours of the morning, valid until noon.

A spokesman for the Met Office said: “There is the potential for gales, or local severe gales, to develop across much of England and Wales during the first half of Friday, before easing by early afternoon.

“A band of heavy rain will accompany the low pressure system, this pushing quickly east through the day.

The public are...

Plaque to Vanbrugh sisters unveiled

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Tue, 12/09/2014 - 11:51am

Paul Jepson, artistic director of Exeter’s Northcott Theatre, has unveiled the Civic Society’s newest plaque to actresses Violet and Dame Irene Vanbrugh

The blue plaque was unveiled on 4 December at the walkway between Roman Walk and Southernhay, near the Exeter Blitz Memorial, and close to the site of the house in Southernhay Place where Violet was born in 1867, but was demolished as a result of bombing during the Second World War. Her sister Dame Irene was born in 1872 in Heavitree Vicarage. They were two of the six children of the Rev Reginald Barnes, vicar of Heavitree, and his...

The 12 scams of Christmas

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Tue, 12/09/2014 - 11:25am

Fifty per cent of people in the UK are expected to use the internet to buy more than half of their Christmas presents this year.

Harmful viruses in e-cards, online shopping fraud and adverts for bogus holidays are three of the twelve scams of Christmas that have been identified in a new campaign launched by local authorities.

Devon and Somerset Trading Standards service is warning residents to be aware of these common scams.

The new initiative sees the National Trading Standards eCrime Team join forces with Action Fraud, GetsafeOnline, Crimestoppers and a host of...

110,000 dogs in the South West still unchipped

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Tue, 12/09/2014 - 10:58am

Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, has announced ambitious targets to offer free microchipping for all dogs thanks to its biggest award to date raised thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

In advance of microchipping becoming compulsory for dogs across England in April 2016, Dogs Trust is offering free microchipping at its 20 rehoming centres for all dogs and through special chipping events taking place across the UK.

Since 1999, Dogs Trust has chipped over 700,000 dogs. Recent research shows that approximately 110,000 dogs in the South West remain...

Dartmoor Junior Ranger Programme launches

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Tue, 12/09/2014 - 10:32am

Dartmoor National Park Authority's headquarters at Parke were very busy over the weekend with the first group of newly recruited Junior Rangers joining members of the Education Team and the Ranger Service to launch a year-long pilot programme of activities.

Young people were greeted and welcomed by Dr Kevin Bishop, Chief Executive, and Peter Harper, Chairman, of Dartmoor National Park Authority. After this formal welcome Junior Rangers were given an orienteering challenge to help them work independently, work as a team and learn valuable skills that would help them on their onward...

CCTV appeal after Vision Express theft

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 12/08/2014 - 4:10pm

Police are seeking the identity of a couple suspected to have stolen a number of glasses frames from the Vision Express store on Courtenay Street, Newton Abbot on Saturday 22 November.

The male and female offenders entered the store at around 1pm, browsed products before concealing in their coat pockets and sleeves eight Versace and Tom Ford glasses frames worth approximately £1,450 in total before leaving the store.

Police have released images and CCTV fooage in hope that the public will recognise the suspects.

The man is described as aged 65-70 with grey/white...

Community support builds for wild beavers

As community support builds for Devon’s wild beavers, an oil painting of a Devon beaver has raised £700 for Devon Wildlife Trust’s work to keep the animals on the River Otter. The canvas, by renowned east Devon wildlife artist Emma Bowring, was donated to the charity’s Devon’s Wild Beavers fundraising appeal. Support has also been forthcoming from Ottery St Mary schools, Exeter businesses – and even TV presenter Chris Packham. The aim of the appeal is to keep the wild beaver population on the River Otter by securing a licence from the government for a five- year monitoring project to...

Crediton pupils’ WW1 work goes on display

Pupils at a Devon primary school have created their own ‘pop-up’ World War One museum which will be open to the community all next week.

The museum will feature period artefacts such as gas masks and shell casings which have been discovered in relatives’ attics as well as websites and projects featuring the children’s own research into family members who were involved in the war.

The extended project, at Landscore Primary School at Crediton, has been funded by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund which has enabled Years 5 and 6 to work with a professional ancestry...

River Cottage celebrates chef graduation

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Mon, 12/08/2014 - 12:27pm

The graduation extravaganza held at River Cottage HQ was marked with a banquet cooked by Chef Tutors, speeches given by Steve Lamb followed by a certification ceremony presented by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. The graduates then danced the night away as they celebrated their achievements. The event attracted visitors from across the world, as families flew in from Malta and Australia to see their sons and daughters graduating. The 48 ecstatic graduates were the first to complete our Young Chef Apprentice Scheme – a professional and personal journey that aims to equip young learners with...

Pilot community project launches with 12 libraries

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Mon, 12/08/2014 - 12:06pm

Twelve communities across Devon have been chosen to take part in a pioneering new partnership project to test how they can support their local libraries and expand the services they provide.

Devon County Council will work with the dedicated community groups to help shape the new organisation and try out new ways of involving local people so they can have more say on how their library is run.

Those chosen include Colyton, Bampton, Moretonhampstead and Ottery St Mary.

Topsham Library has been working with the Estuary League of Friends and will also form part of the...

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