Devon News

Hundreds gather for rival protests in Exeter city centre

Hundreds of people from two opposing protests gathered in a city standoff, separated by a heavy police presence.About 250 people took part in the British Unity Walk, which made its way through Exeter city centre before going towards Bedford Square. As the march approached the square, it was met by a counter-protest of about 600 people, organised by local community groups under the banner Exeter for Everyone. A total of 85 police officers, including some drafted in from…

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Trailfinders Women 12-24 Exeter Chiefs: Exeter begin Premiership Women’s Rugby campaign with win

Trailfinders Women 12-24 Exeter Chiefs: Exeter begin Premiership Women’s Rugby campaign with win

Exeter Chiefs produced a dominant first-half display as they began their Premiership Women's Rugby season with a 24-12 victory at Trailfinders.Exeter started brightly with Liv McGoverne opening the scoring after 13 minutes before Hope Rogers seized a loose ball and went over six minutes later, with McGoverne successfully converting.An excellent quick attacking move saw Maisy Allen send a pass to Gabriella Nigrelli out wide who delivered her side's third try, with McGoverne adding the extras to make it…

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The Prem: Exeter Chiefs 39-12 Gloucester – hosts up to third

The Chiefs were looking to build on their dominant victory against Harlequins last weekend and were clearly intent on replicating that form from the first whistle.Having won a penalty on Gloucester's scrum, Slade forced the visitors back into their own 22 with a touch kick.Having secured the line-out, it was Dweba who ultimately benefitted, emerging with the ball at the back of the maul for the first try of the day.But that lead was not to last for…

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Woman killed on Exmoor after cow attack while walking dog

A woman died after being trampled by a herd of cows while walking her dog on Exmoor, an inquest was told.Rebecca Jane Hitchings, 59, of Woodcombe, near Minehead, in Somerset, was found with severe injuries and she was airlifted to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, but doctors were unable to save her.Senior Devon, Plymouth and Torbay coroner Philip Spinney said Ms Hitchings suffered blunt trauma that led to haemorrhagic shock. Ms Hitchings, a retired nurse who was born in…

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Plymouth scientists win £2m to use AI in deep-sea mapping

Plymouth scientists win £2m to use AI in deep-sea mapping

Vulnerable deep-sea habitats will be mapped with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) in a study made possible by a £2m investment.The Deep Vision project - run by Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the University of Plymouth - will study ecosystems such as cold-water coral reefs and sponge fields in the Atlantic. The aim is to build the largest-ever dataset of these habitats and help shape legal protections.Leader of the project, Kerry Howell, said: "As the deep-sea becomes more…

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World Artistic Gymnastics Championships: GB’s Ruby Evans, Abigail Martin and Joe Fraser win medals

Former world champion Beth Tweddle hailed the progression of British gymnastics as three medals were won on the final day of the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia.Joe Fraser became the first British gymnast to win a medal in the high bar, finishing third, while the team continued their excellence on the floor with silver for Ruby Evans and bronze for Abigail Martin. Evans also became the first Welsh gymnast to win an individual medal at the…

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Barnstaple museum exhibition celebrates North Devon innovation

An exhibition has opened in Barnstaple to showcase North Devon's growing reputation for innovation and technology.Northern Devon Innovates, which opened at the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon, said it would focus on local businesses developing products and ideas for global markets.The exhibition includes case studies of companies like AutoNaut, Ecotribo and Krempel to show that there is more to the region than "agriculture and farming".Alison Mills, director of the museum, said the exhibition was due to run…

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RNLI lifeguards return to South West beaches for half-term

RNLI lifeguards in the South West have returned to some beaches for the school half-term holiday.It said lifeguards would patrol 23 beaches across Devon, Cornwall and Jersey for the half-term period from Saturday, 25 October until Sunday, 2 November.Henry Saddler-Irvine, RNLI regional lifeguard lead for the South West, said "conditions can be challenging at this time of year" with autumn storms "bringing large swells and an increased risk to people on the coast". The RNLI said lifeguards would…

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Fresh row over work on 1,200-home Wolborough site in Newton Abbot

Fresh row over work on 1,200-home Wolborough site in Newton Abbot

Miles DavisDevon political reporter, Newton AbbotBBCPeter Sadler from Vistry Homes says everything it is doing is within planning rulesA developer has denied claims it may be in breach of planning controls by starting infrastructure work on a controversial scheme for 1,200 homes in Devon.Teignbridge District Council previously issued a stop notice to Vistry Homes in April which has now expired and the developer has restarted work on the Wolborough site in Newton Abbot.The council is "urgently seeking further…

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Devon massage therapist jailed for sexually assaulting patients

Devon massage therapist jailed for sexually assaulting patients

BBCIan Nicholls, 64, has been jailed for four years for sexually assaulting womenA massage therapist has been jailed for four years for sexually assaulting three women who were his clients.Ian Nicholls, 64, took advantage of the naked or partially clothed women as he gave them massages at his rented workplace in Newton Abbot, Devon, between 2018 and 2021.A jury convicted Nicholls four counts of sexual assault at an earlier trial.Judge David Evans said the three women suffered "real…

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Torbay farm attraction to close after charity liquidation

Torbay farm attraction to close after charity liquidation

GoogleOccombe Farm is set to close after the charity which runs it announced it was going into liquidationA conservation charity has announced it is entering liquidation due to financial challenges.Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust (TCCT) looks after nearly 80% of Torbay's landscapes including Berry Head National Nature Reserve, Cockington Country Park and more than 40 miles (64km) of coast paths and bridleways.It also manages the Occombe Farm attraction, including its farm cafe, which the trust said would "close…

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Sixty tonne ‘bargain boat’ sunk by coastguard following rescue

Sixty tonne ‘bargain boat’ sunk by coastguard following rescue

Rebecca RicksSouth West Investigationsskyflicksmedia.comThe Faithful, pictured after a refit several years ago, is now a wreck off the Devon coast after being sold for £1 when it became 'abandoned' in 2024A £1 dream of a life on the ocean ended up underwater when two boats were sunk by authorities after drifting for days in shipping lanes.There is a growing issue with abandoned boats, which are left for councils and harbours to try to deal with - some offering…

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