Princetown ‘will become ghost town’ without prison

Scott Bingham,South WestandDan Wareing,South WestBBCJane Liversidge said people would abandon Princetown if the prison closed permanentlyThere are fears a village in Devon could become a "ghost town" if its prison does not reopen.HMP Dartmoor, at Princetown, was closed in July 2024 after the government found levels of the radioactive gas radon were up to 10 times higher than the safe limit.The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) told the BBC the closure was temporary and the prison had been made…

Continue ReadingPrincetown ‘will become ghost town’ without prison

World Darts Championship 2026 results: Luke Littler into semi-finals but Luke Humphries knocked out

Searle had won 14 consecutive sets without reply to reach his first World Championship quarter-final.The 38-year-old extended that run to 17 with some clinical finishing in the first three sets against Jonny Clayton.A 111 finish in the deciding leg of the fifth - one of his three ton-plus checkouts in the match - helped to secure a spot in the last four.Clayton scored better for long spells of the quarter-final but too many missed attempts on the outer…

Continue ReadingWorld Darts Championship 2026 results: Luke Littler into semi-finals but Luke Humphries knocked out

World Darts Championship 2026 results: Gary Anderson and Ryan Searle into semi-finals

Searle had won 14 consecutive sets without reply to reach his first World Championship quarter-final.The 38-year-old Englishman extended that run to 17 with some clinical finishing in the first three sets against Clayton, who took a scrappy fourth to reduce his deficit.Searle's 111 finish in the deciding leg of the fifth, one of his three ton-plus checkouts in the match, restored his three-set advantage and he dominated the seventh set to secure a spot in the last four.Clayton…

Continue ReadingWorld Darts Championship 2026 results: Gary Anderson and Ryan Searle into semi-finals

Devon gymnast becomes men’s 17-21 tumbling World Champion

BBCAlfie Collier said his win was a "dream come true" A 20-year-old from Devon has brought home a gold medal in the men's 17-21 tumbling at the World Championships.Alfie Collier from Kingsteignton has been training at Newton Abbot Gymnastics Centre since the age of six. He said having the title world champion was still very surreal: "I was shocked to be honest and I think I'm still in shock now. "It's a dream I've had since I was…

Continue ReadingDevon gymnast becomes men’s 17-21 tumbling World Champion

My Heart Was A Tree – Exeter Observer

My Heart Was A Tree – Exeter Observer
My Heart Was A Tree – Exeter Observer

Good journalism costs money  Upgrade to paid E O Exeter Observer Local news that matters ON OUR RADAR An evening of poetry and music with Michael Murpurgo to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Farms for City Children. Leigh Curtis Exeter Cathedral is hosting My Heart Was a Tree on Tuesday 27 January, an evening of

Continue ReadingMy Heart Was A Tree – Exeter Observer

Cargo ship refloated after running aground in Devon harbour

A cargo ship has been refloated after it ran aground off the south Devon coast.The coastguard said the bulk carrier the Scot Pioneer had got into difficulty in Teignmouth harbour at about 17:25 GMT on New Year's Eve.It said the the vessel was successfully refloated at high tide at about 02:00 GMT.The ship, registered to Inverness in Scotland, had eight crew on board and no injuries or damage to the vessel had been reported. Source link

Continue ReadingCargo ship refloated after running aground in Devon harbour

Cornwall raccoon and Devon seals make RSPCA’s top 2025 rescues

Emma Jacobs/RSPCAWhen RSPCA officer Abi Kemp arrived to rescue the raccoon, she saw it was very overweightAn overweight raccoon from Cornwall and three seals from Devon are among those recognised in the RSPCA's top rescues of 2025.The charity compiled the list, hoping to share "some of its most heart-warming tales" of the year.It also revealed more than 634,000 users visited the RSPCA website nationally to report a concern in the last 12 months, with 7,279 visits needed in…

Continue ReadingCornwall raccoon and Devon seals make RSPCA’s top 2025 rescues

South West charity delivers blood ‘when every minute counts’

BBCSouth West Blood Bikes rider James Mayne on standby to courier blood and medical suppliesA charity which transports blood and medical supplies for the NHS has reported a "record year" of helping the health services.Riders and drivers for South West Blood Bikes have travelled 236,000 miles over 12 months, which they estimate has saved the NHS and hospices in Devon more than £400,000.The charity is made up of a team of 116 unpaid volunteers and does not charge…

Continue ReadingSouth West charity delivers blood ‘when every minute counts’

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…

Continue ReadingCargo ship runs aground in Teignmouth harbour

South West had unusually warm weather in 2025

David BraineSenior Broadcast Meteorologist, South WestDebbie W/BBC Weather Watchers2025 saw the warmest June in the South West on record and the UK's second warmest on recordThe south-west of England experienced an unusually warm year of weather in 2025, with notably dry and sunny conditions in the spring.The Met Office said it was the sunniest year on record in the UK, and has the potential to be the warmest - the existing record being 2023.In the region, March was…

Continue ReadingSouth West had unusually warm weather in 2025

Warnings over new year swims

Jonathan MorrisSouth WestPA MediaKnow your limits and check the conditions, the RNLI saysPeople planning New Year sea swims are being urged to think carefully before entering cold, rough water after two swimmers went missing on Christmas DayTwo men - a man in his 40s and antiques dealer Matthew Upham, 64 - were reported missing from a swim at Budleigh Salterton in Devon.The RNLI said winter sea temperatures of 6-10C (42.8-50F), far below the 15C (59F) point where cold…

Continue ReadingWarnings over new year swims

How much do you know about Prem and PWR Rugby in 2025?

We have had another bumper year in English rugby, with the Prem and PWR campaigns through 2025. There were plenty of high-scoring matches, new superstars in the game emerging and champions crowned.But how much do you remember about the year?Our quiz has 12 questions - one for each month - so test yourself and prove your rugby union expertise. Source link

Continue ReadingHow much do you know about Prem and PWR Rugby in 2025?