Monthly Archives: December 2025

Charity issues safety advice to cold water festive swimmers

Charity issues safety advice to cold water festive swimmers

The RNLI has issued safety advice to people planning to go cold water swimming over Christmas and New Year.The charity said festive dips had become an increasingly popular tradition but stressed safety precautions were essential to reduce the risk of injury.It advised swimmers to avoid going alone, stay within their depth and take time to let their bodies adjust to the cold, adding that volunteers would be on call throughout the festive period and ready to respond to…

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Drivers in Truro warned over ‘morning after’ drink-driving

Drivers in Truro warned over ‘morning after’ drink-driving

Police in Cornwall have been stopping motorists as part of a 'morning after' drink-drive operation which is taking place over the Christmas season.Officers set up a roadside site in Truro to pull in vehicles and carry out breath tests on drivers. A total of 20 drivers were tested over a 90-minute period and all of them produced a negative result.PC Dave Langley, road casualty reduction officer for Cornwall, said: "If you drink the night before, chances are you're…

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Russell Howard revisits his Somerset and Bristol roots

Russell Howard revisits his Somerset and Bristol roots

Claire Carter,BBC Radio BristolandKirsten Robertson,West of EnglandRussell Howard on growing up in the West"The south-west just has a warmth to it; a twinkle, a bit of lunacy."Russell Howard is proud of his Somerset roots. The combination of "madness" and "warmth" in his upbringing helped him take his first steps down the winding road of stand-up.Born in Bath and raised in Radstock, the comedian - who later moved to Bristol - still has family based in Midsomer Norton, Radstock…

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Exeter Digest #95: Libraries Funding Cuts – Heavitree Road Student Blocks – Exeter College Merger – Hospital Doctors Strike – Topsham Gap Development – Exeter Observer

Exeter Digest #95: Libraries Funding Cuts – Heavitree Road Student Blocks – Exeter College Merger – Hospital Doctors Strike – Topsham Gap Development – Exeter Observer
Exeter Digest #95: Libraries Funding Cuts – Heavitree Road Student Blocks – Exeter College Merger – Hospital Doctors Strike – Topsham Gap Development – Exeter Observer

HEADLINES Devon County Council funding cuts set to reduce core library opening hours by 30% Public consultation on changes explores possibility of closing some branches altogether despite claims to the contrary while Libraries Unlimited contract extension decision scheduled for six weeks before consultation ends. Read more. Exeter City Council adds 813 more student and “co-living”

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Kylian Mbappe equals Ronaldo record in Real Madrid win over Sevilla | Football News

Real Madrid star forward scores his 59th goal in a calendar year to equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s record tally at the club.Published On 21 Dec 202521 Dec 2025Click here to share on social mediashare2ShareKylian Mbappe has equalled Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record of 59 goals in a calendar year for Real Madrid with a late penalty in his side’s 2-0 home win over Sevilla in La Liga, with the French forward celebrating his 27th birthday in style.Mbappe missed several earlier…

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Ilmari Niskanen: ‘Fantastic’ Exeter City winger wins manager plaudits

Ilmari Niskanen: ‘Fantastic’ Exeter City winger wins manager plaudits

Niskanen blasted in an excellent volley to give the Grecians the lead shortly before half-time at St James Park.It paved the way for Exeter's second league win three games - with both those home victories coming with a clean sheet.Caldwell said Niskanen's goal was reward for the way he conducts himself at the League One side. "He was 45 minutes walking into this stadium, speaking to every supporter, signing every supporter's calendars and pictures because he loves this…

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Ashes and Diamonds

Ashes and Diamonds

            Ashes and Diamonds: Are Forever (Cleopatra Records)     Too smart to rock out, too art school to be boring and too good to go backwards Ashes and Diamonds is the latest captivating project from Bauhaus, Tones On Tail and Love and Rockets guitar legend Daniel Ash.   The children of Ziggy were always going to be restless. The Bowie youth have been racing into the future since the starman exploded into our…

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Underweight seal pup recovering after Seatown beach rescue

Underweight seal pup recovering after Seatown beach rescue

Ros TappendenSouth of EnglandAllan CummingsThe seal pup was found underweight and exhausted near SeatownAn underweight and struggling seal pup rescued from a litter-strewn beach after Storm Bram is recovering very well, rescuers have said.The juvenile seal was spotted covered in mud and surrounded by debris near Seatown, Dorset, on 9 December.A member of the public alerted British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) which rescued the animal and it is now being cared for by the RSPCA at West…

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Villagers group together to try and buy Somerset pub

Villagers group together to try and buy Somerset pub

Rachel Candlin,West of EnglandandAndy Bennett,BBC Radio SomersetGoogleThe Cat Head Inn closed in May and is currently on the marketA group of villagers are trying to buy their local pub after it closed suddenly.Chiselborough had a pub in one form or another for 400 years - until The Cat Head closed in May. Its owners said the "rising costs of running a business in today's economy" had made it "impossible" to continue.The Somerset pub is now on the market…

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Seaside councils adopt 100-year coastal risks action plan

Seaside councils adopt 100-year coastal risks action plan

Two seaside councils have adopted a new joint action plan to manage coastal flooding and erosion risks for the next 100 years.Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) and New Forest District Council worked with the Environment Agency and infrastructure consulting firm Aecom to produce the Christchurch Bay and Harbour Strategy.It outlines how ageing coastal defences and the changing climate, including rising sea levels, put more than 3,500 properties at risk.The authorities said that if nothing was done, over…

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Improvement works to Devon King Charles III coast path completed

Improvement works to Devon King Charles III coast path completed

Caroline RobinsonSouth WestDevon County CouncilThe route was cleared for the new path at Downend Croyde in DevonImprovements to two sections forming part of the King Charles III Coast Path (KCIIIECP) being created to go around the whole of England, have been completed.The sections on both Devon coasts cover more than 150 miles in total, and the works include upgraded walkways, landscaping and habitat improvements, Natural England said.The works form part of a national programme to create a coastal…

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Tickets selling well for Beryl Cook show in Plymouth

Tickets selling well for Beryl Cook show in Plymouth

Alison StephensonLocal Democracy Reporting Serviceourberylcook.com/John CookEighty paintings including Sailors and Seagulls will be on displayMore than 3,000 people have snapped up tickets to see paintings by Plymouth artist Beryl Cook who was famed for her colourful work of people having fun. The four-month show is called "Pride and Joy" opening at The Box in Plymouth on 24 January will be the most extensive display of the artist's work to date.Her granddaughter Sophie Cook said the four life-size 3D…

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