Devon News

‘I’ve got young kids – I need to beat this’

‘I’ve got young kids – I need to beat this’

Jen SmithSouth West health correspondentBBCZack Van Aarde from Bantham has been diagnosed with oesophageal cancerA man with stage four oesophageal cancer has been speaking about the shock of his diagnosis, and the importance of remaining positive.Zack Van Aarde, 42, from Bantham in Devon doesn't fit the mould of people usually diagnosed with oesophageal cancer, which is commonly associated with smoking and obesity according to the NHS."It's a bit mind-boggling" he said, "because I've got stage four cancer, but…

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Weather Watcher’s photos developed into artworks

Weather Watcher’s photos developed into artworks

David BraineSenior broadcast meteorologist, Bedruthan StepsBBCJulie Taylor loves sharing her pictures of the Cornish weather A keen photographer who helped with the pilot and start of BBC Weather Watchers 10 years ago has "never lost the excitement and pride that I had on that first day".Julie Taylor recalled snapping "a beautiful pink dawn" down the road near her home in Cornwall when she headed out to take as many pictures as possible on the first day of Weather…

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Family in Exeter ordered to take down summerhouse

Family in Exeter ordered to take down summerhouse

A family has been ordered to remove a summerhouse from their garden by council planning officials.Andrew Causley said he was "baffled" by the enforcement notice issued by Exeter City Council.The summerhouse was installed to replace a children's playhouse that was about the same size and was in the same position in the garden in Alphington, on the edge of Exeter, for about 25 years.The city council said it was unable to comment as the case was live.The council…

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Met Office warns of snow and ice for Devon and Cornwall

Met Office warns of snow and ice for Devon and Cornwall

People in the South West have been told to prepare for disruption as the region faces a wave of snow and ice.The Met Office issued the yellow weather warning and said most of Cornwall and parts of north and west Devon should expect wintry showers, and temperatures as low as freezing (0C, 32F) from midday on Wednesday until midnight on Thursday.Drivers are being advised to "amend travel plans if necessary" as ice frozen overnight could make for dangerous…

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Ross Vintcent: Exeter Chiefs’ Italy forward out with dislocated shoulder

Ross Vintcent: Exeter Chiefs’ Italy forward out with dislocated shoulder

Exeter are waiting to find out the full extent of the dislocated shoulder suffered by their Italy forward Ross Vintcent.The 23-year-old was hurt while playing for the Azzurri in last Saturday's 32-14 loss to South Africa.Vintcent has scored three tries in three Prem appearances for the Chiefs this season and was part of Italy side that beat Australia earlier this month. "We'll probably get some further scans done and we'll start the process of whether it's an operative…

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Dawlish left ‘heartbroken’ after bird flu confirmed in aviary

Dawlish left ‘heartbroken’ after bird flu confirmed in aviary

GoogleThe town mayor says the black swans and aviary birds were a "cherished symbol of Dawlish"Birds living in a Devon town aviary are set to be humanely culled after testing positive for bird flu, a council has confirmed.Dawlish Town Council said it had been officially notified by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) that several birds in the Dawlish Waterfowl Aviary had tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza strain H5N1.The council said it was "heartbroken"…

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Man dies after altercation in pub courtyard in Ottery St Mary

Man dies after altercation in pub courtyard in Ottery St Mary

Five men have been arrested in connection to the death of a man who died in hospital two weeks after being injured in an altercation outside a pub.Devon and Cornwall Police said it was called to the Kings Arms in Ottery St Mary at about 22:15 GMT on 2 November to reports of an altercation involving a group of people in the courtyard.A local man, 67, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and died on 17 November…

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Exeter working to get St James Park ready for Burton game after fire

Exeter working to get St James Park ready for Burton game after fire

Exeter City are working against time to ensure Saturday's League One game against Burton Albion can be played after a fire at their ground.The control room and medical room at St James Park were badly damaged in a fire last week.Cabling from the control room, which is essential to run a game safely, was destroyed and is being replaced on Tuesday. The ground must be approved by the local council's Safety Advisory Group before the game can go…

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Fire at former Exeter police station ‘deliberately lit’

Fire at former Exeter police station ‘deliberately lit’

A blaze which damaged an old police station is thought to have been deliberately lit, according to firefighters.Firefighters said they were called to the blaze at the disused building on Heavitree Road in Exeter, Devon, at about 19:38 GMT on Monday.Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said a quarter of the property, described as being the courthouse wing of the former police station, was damaged by fire."We do believe it was started deliberately," a fire spokesperson said.…

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‘Deliberate’ fire outside Plymouth Argyle’s Home Park stadium

‘Deliberate’ fire outside Plymouth Argyle’s Home Park stadium

A fire which broke out outside Home Park stadium in Plymouth was started deliberately, the fire service believes.Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said it was called to the blaze at 21:10 GMT on Monday following a blaze which was confined to two portable toilets in the car park.The fire service said the toilets were "completely destroyed" in the flames, and added "the fire is believed to have been started deliberately".In a post on Facebook, Plymouth Argyle…

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Once-extinct European wildcats set to make a comeback in England

Once-extinct European wildcats set to make a comeback in England

Jenny Kumah and Malcolm Prior,BBC News rural affairs teamTom MasonThe South West Wildcat Project hopes to bring back 50 European wildcats across the mid-Devon countrysideWildcats – one of the UK's most critically endangered mammals – could make a return from extinction in England, conservationists say.The South West Wildcat Project hopes to bring back 50 European wildcats, from 2028, after a study found a colony could "flourish" in the mid-Devon countryside.Reintroduction plans follow a breeding scheme to boost numbers…

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