Sea wall damage closes train line
Great Western Railway says disruption is expected until the end of the day. Source link
Fire closes school for 'immediate future'
Emergency services remain at the scene on Monday morning after battling the flames overnight. Source link
Missing Budleigh Salterton sea swimmers ‘struck heart’ of town
George Thorpein Budleigh SaltertonBBCSea swimmer Sarah Giles said there remained an "immense feeling of shock" in Budleigh SaltertonPeople in a coastal town said they remain in shock a fortnight after two men went missing at sea during a Christmas Day swim.Residents of Budleigh Salterton in Devon said it was all some people had spoken about and there had been a sense of the community rallying together to support each other.The two men - one of whom has been…
Cargo ship runs aground in Teignmouth harbour
A cargo ship has run aground off the south Devon coast.The coastguard said it received reports of the vessel - its name Scot Pioneer visible from the shore - had got into difficulty in Teignmouth harbour at about 17:25 GMT.It added the ship, registered to Inverness in Scotland, had eight crew on board and no injuries or damage to the vessel had been reported.A coastguard spokesperson said it was expected the boat would be refloated at the next…
‘Important moment’ as 50 electric buses join South West fleet
Dozens of new electric buses are now in service as part of a multi-million-pound project, a transport firm said.Plymouth Citybus and Go Cornwall Bus said 50 zero-emission double-deckers were operating across routes in Plymouth and the Rame peninsula as part of a project to replace almost half of its fleet with "cleaner, quieter and more accessible vehicles".The vehicles were added to the fleet through a £31.87m project jointly funded by bus operators, the Department for Transport, Plymouth City…
Cooks urged by SWW not to cause drain-blocking ‘fatbergs’
South West WaterSouth West Water said following advice could help provide a "worry-free Christmas"People have been urged not to pour fats, oils or grease down their kitchen sink over Christmas in order to avoid blockages and forming fatbergs.South West Water (SWW) said it had cleared more than 7,000 avoidable blockages from its wastewater network over the past year, removing 450 tonnes (70,863st) of waste in the process.It said about three-quarters of the issues were caused by fats, oils…
‘Danger to life’ warning issued in Devon and Cornwall
Storm Bram could cut off South West communities and cause a "danger to life" because of flooding, forecasters have said.The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for rain covering parts of Devon and Cornwall from 00:00 to 10:00 GMT on Tuesday as the named storm is expected to cause disruption.It said about 100mm (4in) of rain could fall in a few exposed areas within the warning zone, which is mainly focused on Dartmoor and part of…
Ex-solicitor touched Plymouth clients in ‘pre-arranged’ way
BBCAlan Harris denies 22 sexual abuse charges against himA former defence solicitor said he would touch clients in a "pre-arranged" way during interviews but never in a sexual manner, a court has heard.Alan Harris, 72, of Thorn Park, Plymouth, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of 12 charges of indecent assault, eight charges of sexual assault and two charges of rape, dating from 1989 to 2015.In summing up, Recorder of Winchester Judge Angela Morris said Mr…
Alleged victims left ‘confused’ after Plymouth sex abuse
People accusing a former defence solicitor of sexual abuse were left feeling "confused" by the alleged actions, a court has heard.Alan Harris, 72, of Thorn Park, Plymouth, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of 12 charges of indecent assault, eight charges of sexual assault and two charges of rape, dating from 1989 to 2015.While summing up the case on Wednesday, Recorder of Winchester Judge Angela Morris said the alleged victims, who were clients of Mr Harris,…
Plymouth dog walker injured in late-night park attack
A dog walker received a cut to his chest after being attacked in a park, police have said.Officers from Devon and Cornwall Police were called to reports of a serious assault in Yealmpstone Park in the Plympton area of Plymouth at about 23:30 GMT on 26 November.The force said a man who was walking his dog was approached by two unknown men and suffered an injury during an altercation which required hospital treatment. Police said officers were "not…
Alleged Plymouth sex abuse victims accused of ‘full blown lies’
BBCAlan Harris has denied 12 charges of indecent assault, eight charges of sexual assault and two charges of rapePeople claiming a former defence solicitor sexually assaulted them have spread "falsehoods" about him including throughout his ongoing trial, a court has been told.Alan Harris, 72, of Thorn Park, Plymouth, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of 12 charges of indecent assault, eight charges of sexual assault and two charges of rape, dating from 1989 to 2015.Defence barrister…
Former Plymouth solicitor had ‘no respect’ for alleged victims
BBCAlan Harris has denied 12 charges of indecent assault, eight charges of sexual assault and two charges of rapeA former criminal defence solicitor hoped clients he allegedly sexually abused would be seen as "second-class citizens" due to their past offending, a court has heard.Alan Harris, 72, of Thorn Park, Plymouth, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of 12 charges of indecent assault, eight charges of sexual assault and two charges of rape, dating from 1989 to…