Devon News

Call to protect endangered spider found in Plymouth quarry

Call to protect endangered spider found in Plymouth quarry

Tom ThomsonBuglife said opening the quarry as a campsite would disturb the habitat for horrid ground-weaver spidersUrgent action is needed to secure the future of a quarry which is home to an critically endangered species of spider, a charity has said.The invertebrate conservation trust Buglife has asked Plymouth City Council to protect Radford Quarry, a site which is home to a variety of wildlife including the horrid ground-weaver spider.The charity said it was one of only four sites…

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High radon levels at Dartmoor Prison found 13 years earlier

High radon levels at Dartmoor Prison found 13 years earlier

BBCDartmoor Prison was closed in August 2024 due to high levels of radon gasThe Ministry of Justice has confirmed radon gas levels higher than the recommended limit were detected at Dartmoor prison at least 13 years earlier than previously thought.The government had previously said "elevated radon readings were first found at Dartmoor in 2020" when the prison was closed in August 2024 after levels up to 10 times higher than the recommended limit were recorded in some areas.The…

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Exeter Chiefs: The story behind the Jimmy Nine photo tradition

"I thought it was a tradition that was from many moons before his age," says current Exeter club captain Jack Yeandle, who has done the 'Jimmy Nine' many times."It's been going since I was at the club. "It's been pushed through by the senior players at the time - we're in the front row and there's always a mention of Jimmy Nine and 'make sure you get Jimmy Nine in'. As soon as you start getting towards the…

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Vandals cause £19k damage to Exeter skate park fence

Thousands of pounds worth of damage has been caused to a sound barrier at a skate park.The fencing which helped shield nearby areas from noise at the site has been vandalised at Arena Skate Park in the Whipton area of Exeter.Councillor Ruth Williams, Exeter City Council's lead for city management, said £19,000 damage had been caused.Williams added vandalism had been happening regularly and urged people to report any further damage to Devon and Cornwall Police."It saddens me to…

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Plymouth Argyle facing decisive period, says boss Tom Cleverley

Plymouth Argyle are heading into a decisive part of their season, according to head coach Tom Cleverley.The Pilgrims host AFC Wimbledon at Home Park on Saturday before a run of five consecutive away games.The trips begin with a Devon derby at rivals Exeter City, then Mansfield, Wycombe in the FA Cup, a League One trip to Huddersfield Town and, finally, an EFL Trophy game at Bristol Rovers."I've made quite a strong point to the players that the next…

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Cody Cooke: Torquay United striker ruled out for at least six weeks

Torquay United striker Cody Cooke will be out until at least December after suffering a pelvic injury.The 32-year-old will be sidelined for a minimum of six weeks after having a scan on the problem that forced him out of Saturday's 0-0 draw with Dagenham & Redbridge.Cooke has scored three goals in 10 National League South appearances for the Gulls this season."It's probably an overuse injury," Wotton told BBC Sport."It's coincided with other players being injured. We've had to…

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Councils plan to split Devon into three unitary authorities

Councils plan to split Devon into three unitary authorities

Miles DavisDevon political reporterNorth Devon CouncilDevon would be split into three unitary authorities under plans backed by district councilsDevon should be split into three unitary authorities in a huge shake-up of local government, according to the district councils in the county.All of the district councils and the county council will be abolished in the biggest national reorganisation of local government for 50 years.The existing district councils say they want to see a new unitary authority across north and…

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Sheep killed after being struck on Dartmoor train line

Train services in part of Devon have been disrupted after a sheep died when it was struck on the line.The livestock were reported on the track between Crediton and Okehampton on the Dartmoor Line just after 12:00 BST.Network Rail said one of the sheep had been struck and killed before engineers had been made aware the animals were on the single-track line.Great Western Railway said services Exeter Central and Okehampton via Exeter St Davids could be cancelled, delayed…

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Devon and Cornwall Police say disability hate crime under-reported

Devon and Cornwall Police say disability hate crime under-reported

Cameron Weldon andGeorge ThorpeSouth WestPA MediaDevon and Cornwall Police said it had seen an increase in the number of reports related to disability hate crimesDisability hate crime could still be under-reported despite an increase in the number of people coming forward, police have said.As part of National Hate Crime Awareness Week, which runs until Saturday, Devon and Cornwall Police said the number of offences involving a victim's disability in 2024-25 was 419, a 17% increase from the 358…

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Police drop investigation into Reform councillors in Devon

Police drop investigation into Reform councillors in Devon

A police investigation into allegations against Reform councillors and their election agent of overspending on election expenses has been dropped.Devon County Council members Neil Stevens, his brother Tony Stevens and their agent Rob Sheridan all faced claims of overspending in the May elections.The police launched an investigation in June after another Reform councillor, Ed Hill, reported his concerns to the authorities.Devon and Cornwall Police said no further action would be taken after the Stevens brothers and Mr Sheridan…

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Campaigners fight plans to reopen Devon ball clay pit

Campaigners fight plans to reopen Devon ball clay pit

BBCOne of the six lakes proposed to be removed under plans to reopen a quarryCampaigners have warned against plans to cut down a woodland as part of a move to reopen a ball clay pit. Clay pit operators Sibelco want to expand the Zitherixon quarry, located between Kingsteignton and Newton Abbot in Devon, to extract five million tonnes of ball clay over the next 50 years.The firm stopped extracting from it in 1995, but it said reserves of…

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Harvey Skinner: Exeter fly-half determined to prove doubters wrong

Harvey Skinner: Exeter fly-half determined to prove doubters wrong

Skinner is part of an exciting back-line at Exeter under the guidance of relatively new attack coach Dave Walder.Australia centre Len Ikitau is set to come into a side that includes England's Henry Slade and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and powerful winger Paul Brown-Bampoe. "We've got boys that can just produce magic from nothing, so it's making sure we're all on the same page," he said."We want to make make our brand of rugby a lot more exciting and we've…

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