Plymouth factory could help defend UK says cabinet minister

Post published:November 20, 2025
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Technology being developed at a factory in Plymouth could play a "big part" in defending the UK, a cabinet minister has said.Defence Secretary John Healey formally opened German firm Helsing's Plymouth Resilience Factory which will be used to produce unmanned submarine gliders.The factory's opening comes after it was confirmed by the government a Russian spy ship Yantar, which is designed for gathering intelligence and mapping undersea cables, was spotted near the UK coast for the second time this…

Surviving cancer should not mean debt, Cornish family says

Post published:November 20, 2025
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BBCJonah underwent a major operation after being diagnosed with stage four neuroblastomaA family who spent months living away from home for their son's specialist cancer treatment says others should not face going into debt to ensure their child survives.Three-year-old Jonah was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma but his parents could not work while he underwent life-saving treatment in Bristol, about 170 miles (274km) from their home in Camborne, Cornwall.Young Lives vs Cancer, which housed the Rowes near the…

Disabled man frustrated over parking system in Plymouth

Post published:November 20, 2025
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Cameron WeldonDevon , PlymouthBBCRoger Galloway said he did not "understand the logic" around the parking systemA disabled pensioner from Plymouth has described a council's parking system as "ludicrous" for blue badge holders.Roger Galloway, 78, parked at the Napier Terrace car park in Mutley, which offers two hours free parking, but did not realise he needed to put his registration number into the machine, so received a £50 fine. He said car parks in the city were "not consistent",…

‘A huge thrill to see my weather watchers images used to help’

Post published:November 20, 2025
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David BraineSenior broadcast meteorologist, The Lizard, CornwallBBCJerry Betteridge keeps an eye out on the weather as a lookoutWeather watcher Jerry Betteridge knows all about the importance of changes in the wind and the waves.He is a volunteer lookout for the National Coastwatch Institution, where he keeps a weather eye out for vessels at sea.He got involved with BBC Weather Watchers as he has always been involved with the weather as a mariner and as an aviator in the…

St Ives kickboxer plans to move to MMA after world title fight

Post published:November 20, 2025
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Caroline RobinsonSouth WestFCCMia Trevorrow said her career had "skyrocketed" over the last five yearsA kickboxer has said she plans to retire from Muay Thai kickboxing after a world title fight on Friday. Mia Trevorrow, from from St Ives in Cornwall, said her kickboxing journey started five years ago and had been "incredibly fast paced."She said would compete in the WARRIORS CUP LXXIV in New York on Friday for a world title, after which she planned to retire and…

Pi the whale returns to Isles of Scilly during migration

Post published:November 20, 2025
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A humpback whale that has become a regular visitor to the Isles of Scilly has returned.The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust said had been visiting the islands in winter over several years, including in 2023 and 2024.Olivia Willmore, fundraising and communications manager at Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, said the appearances had been "absolutely wonderful".She said the islands, 28 miles (45km) off the Cornish coast, were on the migration route. "We are so privileged to have them pass…

Care organisations in Somerset given £616k funding boost

Post published:November 20, 2025
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Community projects which help people find care and support networks close to their home have been awarded £616,000 of government funding.The Somerset Cares Alliance is a new collective of organisations across the county aiming to improve the quality, accessibility, and sustainability of adult social care.Jacky King who set up Wincanton Cares, which is part of the new alliance, said the funding was a "really fantastic opportunity to get projects off the ground".Somerset Council won the funding from the…

Residents urged to share concerns with hospital changes in Dorset

Post published:November 20, 2025
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Residents have been encouraged to attend a health event where they can air their concerns about changes to local hospital services.The drop-in session organised by University Hospitals Dorset (UHD), will run from 10:00 GMT to 16:00 at the Gather space in Poole's Dolphin Centre.It will raise awareness of the ongoing £500m transformation programme taking place at UHD sites, which include making Royal Bournemouth Hospital the county's "major emergency centre".James Donald, the associate director of communications for UHD said…

Breastfeeding mum told to stop in Dorset shoe shop

Post published:November 20, 2025
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A mum has said she was left shocked after being told it was "unacceptable" to breastfeed her two-year-old daughter in a shoe shop.Venus Neda was shopping with her family in Poole on Tuesday when she said her daughter became "hungry and unsettled" in Valentina Beautiful Shoes.The 34-year-old said she found a spot that she felt "wasn't so in people's faces" but was asked to stop breastfeeding.The shop apologised in a post on Facebook, adding that they wanted "everyone,…

Riders say they were sold unsafe or ‘death trap’ vehicles

Post published:November 20, 2025
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Nathan Heath,BBC West Investigations and Rachel Stonehouse,BBC West InvestigationsBBCA mechanic found expanding foam was painted to disguise structural issues on the horsebox Ceylone Fletcher bought from Southwest HorseboxesYoung horse riders say they have lost thousands of pounds and had their lives put at risk after being sold dangerous and unusable horseboxes.Customers who bought vehicles from Southwest Horseboxes Ltd claim they broke down at speed, filled with smoke or had wheels detach while moving, with one vehicle being described…

RSPCA warns of animal abandonment surge in the South

Post published:November 20, 2025
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The RSPCA is warning of a surge in animal abandonment as winter approaches, with cases rising sharply in parts of the south. In Dorset, reports are up by 18.4% this year, with 187 incidents logged by the end of October compared to 158 last year. Berkshire had seen 147 cases by the end of October, similar to the whole last year's figure, but still part of a growing national trend.Across England and Wales, 24,270 abandonment incidents have been…

Allied Pharmacies take over dozens of Jhoots branches

Post published:November 20, 2025
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Dawn Limbu, Sarah Turnnidge and Carys Nally,West of England BBCAllied Pharmacies has taken over 60 former Jhoots branchesDozens of pharmacies which had been repeatedly and unexpectedly closed have been taken over by a different firm.There were calls for some Jhoots pharmacies to lose their NHS rights and be shut down amid claims its locum workers were owed hundreds of thousands of pounds in unpaid wages.The affected branches also faced allegations of operational failures including a failure to maintain…