Author: Jonathan Morris

This author has written 44 articles

Axe Valley Wildlife Park in Devon to close gates after 17 years

A zoo has announced it will permanently close after 17 years, blaming "difficult" times for businesses.Axe Valley Wildlife Park, near Axminster in Devon, said in a statement that the "sad" decision to close on Friday had been made "with a heavy heart"."As many of you may have heard in the news, we are not the only business facing these difficult times," it said, adding: "Unfortunately, it has become financially unviable for us to continue operating."The zoo, which is…

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Driver ‘faces £2,800 bill after Tiverton fuel station error’

A Tiverton man says he is facing a repair bill of nearly £3,000 after mistakenly filling his diesel car with petrol due to a fault at a fuel station in Devon.Forklift driver Graham Stevens filled up his Vauxhall Insignia estate at the Morrisons petrol station in Tiverton, operated by Motor Fuel Group (MFG), on 26 September. Without him knowing, the pump he used had been incorrectly dispensing unleaded petrol instead of diesel, leaving him with a bill of…

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Four plead not guilty to Plymouth acid attack murder

Four plead not guilty to Plymouth acid attack murder

Jonathan MorrisSouth WestDevon and Cornwall PoliceDanny Cahalane was attacked on Lipson Road, Plymouth, on 21 February and died in hospital on 3 MayThree men and a woman have pleaded not guilty to murder following a fatal acid attack on a man in his own home.Danny Cahalane, 38, was attacked on Lipson Road, Plymouth, on 21 February and died in hospital on 3 May.Brian Kalemba, 22, Abdul-Rasheed Adedoja, 22, Ramarnee Bakjas, 23, all from London, and Jude Hill, 43,…

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Owner puts struggling Paignton Zoo on the market

Paignton Zoo is on the market, its owner the charity Wild Planet Trust has confirmed.No guide price has been released, but a spokesperson confirmed the 85-acre (34-hectare) estate - home to more than 2,000 animals - together with an additional 18 acres (7 hectares) of adjacent land was for sale and "the intention is for it to remain as a zoo". The trust, which has previously acknowledged financial pressures, said it had already taken steps to address the…

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Man arrested as demonstrators gather in Plymouth city centre

Police arrested a man over a suspected public order offence in Plymouth as rival protests gathered in the city centre.About 225 people turned out for the third Raise The Flag protest and an anti-fascist counter-protest on Saturday evening.Police said a man in his 50s was arrested under the Public Order Act, and that a small group was dispersed from the area, but the evening passed mostly peacefully.The Devon and Cornwall force said in a statement: "This evening, we…

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‘Deeply inclusive’: Skateboarding comes of age

‘Deeply inclusive’: Skateboarding comes of age

Jonathan MorrisSouth WestUK Surf & Skate Expo/Oli ChapmanTony Alva at Newquay was a historic moment for fansWhen 68-year-old skateboarding legend Tony Alva carved through the concrete bowl at the Surf Skate Expo in Cornwall, a point was made for all people of a similar age.Skateboarding is not just for the young. It is for anyone with balance, an acceptance of the humiliation when you are learning, and a love for riding.Jon Bishop, 51, from Newquay, came from board…

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Blue lobsters in Devon and Cornwall waters rising, say scientists

Blue lobsters in Devon and Cornwall waters rising, say scientists

Jonathan MorrisSouth West andGeorge ThorpeSouth WestBBCBlue lobsters have a genetic mutation which produces the vivid colourBright blue lobsters have long been considered one of nature's wonders, widely touted as a one-in-two-million find. But scientists and hatchery experts are now questioning whether these beautiful electric blue crustaceans are truly as rare as once was believed.Why do lobsters turn blue?The colour of a lobster's shell is the result of a complex interplay between two compounds, according to Prof Jamie Stevens…

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Giant Sun artwork rises in Plymouth’s Market Hall

A monumental new artwork representing the Sun has arrived in Plymouth.Internationally renowned artist Luke Jerram has brought his latest installation, Helios, to the Market Hall in Devonport.The 23ft (7m) wide inflatable sphere is illuminated and accompanied by audio which includes a dawn chorus and sounds from solstice celebrations."We're not normally allowed to look at the Sun because it's so damaging to our eyes, this artwork lets people see the surface of the Sun, in a safe and beautiful…

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