Author: Lisa Young

This author has written 30 articles

Vaccination and screening ‘could end cervical cancer’

  • Post category:BBC Cornwall

Doctors are urging people to be screened and vaccinated in a bid to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.NHS England South West said there were more people in the region proportionally who have been diagnosed with cervical cancer than in the rest of England.Public health consultant Dr Matthew Dominey, the screening and immunisation lead, said the 2040 goal was achievable and encouraged people to have cervical screening and be vaccinated for human papilloma virus (HPV).He said cervical cancer "absolutely…

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Historic England status to protect Cornwall and Devon buildings

Historic England status to protect Cornwall and Devon buildings

A train station, a barracks and a dairy are among the 10 buildings in the South West that were granted protected status in 2025.Historic England (HE) listed nine buildings across Devon and one in Cornwall on the National Heritage List for England for their special architectural, historic or archaeological interest.There are more than 400,000 buildings, sites and landscapes on the list and 199 places across England were added to the list over the past year.Claudia Kenyatta and Emma…

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‘Remarkable diversity’ of heritage sites celebrated

‘Remarkable diversity’ of heritage sites celebrated

Historic England ArchiveThe Compass Point tower in Bude has been moved twice in its historyThe selection of heritage sites in the South and South West granted protected status this year has been celebrated for its "remarkable diversity".Historic England (HE) granted protection to two Arts-and-Crafts style properties, a shipwreck and a coastal tower among a number of other heritage structures recognised on the National Heritage List for England in 2025.HE lists sites and structures of special architectural, historic or…

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Part of West Hoe Pier in Plymouth caves in after Storm Bram

Part of West Hoe Pier in Plymouth caves in after Storm Bram

Part of an historic pier has collapsed after being battered by "ferocious weather and sea conditions" caused by Storm Bram, the council has said.Plymouth City Council said the eastern section of the West Hoe Pier had been undergoing strengthening work since September to infill the interior after the stones within it had been washed out to sea over time.A spokesperson said the stormy waves and weather had caused the outer wall to cave in on Tuesday.Contractors would gauge…

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Paignton Picture House awarded £675k grant by Historic England

Paignton Picture House awarded £675k grant by Historic England

A project to restore a Grade II* listed cinema has been given a grant of more than half a million pounds.Historic England (HE) has awarded £675,246 to the Paignton Picture House to carry out works to stabilise the building and restore architectural features.HE South West regional director Rebecca Barrett said it was one of the largest grants given this year and it represented "another big step towards its future as a thriving cultural hub".Paignton Picture House is expected…

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Devon man hopes to jog again after double leg amputation

Devon man hopes to jog again after double leg amputation

Tom StanifordTom Staniford had both of his legs removed to improve his quality of lifeA man who voluntarily had his legs amputated due to a rare genetic condition has said he hopes to learn to jog again.Tom Staniford has MDP syndrome, a rare genetic condition, which he said meant he had no fat on the soles of his feet.His right leg was amputated earlier in the year and his left leg was removed in October to ease the…

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First ‘lost’ Lego shark lands hundreds for charity

First ‘lost’ Lego shark lands hundreds for charity

A Lego shark caught by a fisherman off the South West coast after nearly 30 years on the seabed has been bought for £430 at auction.Richard West landed what is thought to be the first dark grey shark from the 51,800 Lego sharks in one of 62 containers holding 4.75 million pieces, swept off the Tokio Express cargo ship near Land's End in 1997.The plastic toy, which Mr West caught in his fishing nets 20 miles (32km) south…

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Torbay Council’s ‘hands tied’ on land access after charity liquidation

Torbay Council’s ‘hands tied’ on land access after charity liquidation

A council leader has said his "hands are completely tied" after a conservation charity which leased and maintained coastal areas went into liquidation.Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust chairwoman Barbara King said last week financial pressures had proven "too great" despite the team's best efforts.The trust had looked after nearly 80% of Torbay's landscapes and more than 40 miles (64km) of coast paths and bridleways.Torbay Council leader David Thomas said the council had "difficulty from a legal perspective" with…

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Devon conservation charity liquidation sparks fears for reserve

Devon conservation charity liquidation sparks fears for reserve

Torbay Coast and Countryside TrustAlex Foley said many people were worried about the future of Berry Head National Nature ReserveConcerns have been raised over the future of a nature reserve after a conservation charity entered liquidation.Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust chairwoman Barbara King said on Friday financial pressures had proven "too great" despite the charity's best efforts.The trust looked after Berry Head National Nature Reserve and other sites including Cockington Country Park and Occombe Farm.Alex Foley, who runs…

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Men crash stolen taxi into parked and moving cars in Bideford

Men crash stolen taxi into parked and moving cars in Bideford

Police have arrested a man in his 30s after two men stole the taxi they had hired and drove it into parked and moving cars.Devon and Cornwall Police said the white Ford Mondeo taxi driver had picked up the men from Westward Ho! and driven them to the Geneva Court of Bideford at about 16:15 GMT on Sunday.The men promised payment and went in to a house and, when the taxi driver knocked on the door a little…

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Teen and police officer bitten by dog at protest on Plymouth Hoe

Teen and police officer bitten by dog at protest on Plymouth Hoe

A teenager and a police officer have been bitten by a dog at a demonstration, the force has said.Devon and Cornwall Police said a dog had bitten a15-year-old boy before it then bit a responding officer during protests on Plymouth Hoe just after 16:00 GMT on Sunday.They said both victims had been treated in hospital and a 48-year-old man from Plymouth had been arrested on suspicion of having a dangerously out of control dog.Officers had seized the dog…

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Section of M5 closed after accident and fire

A section of the M5 in Devon has been closed after a car overturned and caught fire, police have said.Devon and Cornwall Police said the southbound lanes were closed between junction 30, leading on to the A376 Sidmouth Road at the Exeter services area, and junction 31 leading to the A38 Okehampton turn-off at 07:45 BST.They said a car had overturned and caught fire, with the driver sustaining minor injuries.Traffic reporting service Inrix reported police had initially closed…

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