Devon News

Furniture trader duped vulnerable customers in Devon and Somerset

Furniture trader duped vulnerable customers in Devon and Somerset

BBCPeter Kitson was jailed for 15 months after he pleaded guilty to fraudulent tradingThe "greedy and arrogant" boss of a mobility furniture firm which scammed vulnerable customers out of £65,000 has been jailed.Exeter Crown Court heard staff at Peter Kitson's business, Mobility Furniture Company, used aggressive and pressurised sales techniques to carry out fraudulent deals on elderly people between 2015 and 2018 across Devon and Somerset.The court was told Kitson was fully aware of the tactics being used,…

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Heavitree Road in Exeter closed for an extra week

A main road closure that has caused major traffic problems in Exeter will be closed for a week longer than expected due to engineering problems.Heavitree Road - the main bus route in and out of Exeter - will now be closed heading out of the city until Monday 13 October.The road was due to reopen last Sunday but Wales and West Utilities said work to upgrade the gas network had "taken longer than expected".The road closure has caused…

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Kwenzo Blose: Exeter prop to have surgery on ruptured Achilles

Exeter prop Kwenzo Blose is to undergo surgery after it was confirmed he has ruptured his Achilles.The South African forward was taken off injured 10 minutes after coming on from the bench in the Chiefs' 38-15 Prem win over Newcastle on Saturday.Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter said he hoped to see the 28-year-old back "before the end of the season"."We're all disappointed for Kwenzo," Baxter said. "He really started to emerge for us at the tail end…

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Pine martens released on Exmoor in ‘positive sign for nature’

Pine martens released on Exmoor in ‘positive sign for nature’

PA MediaPine martens were successfully reintroduced to nearby Dartmoor last yearPine martens are roaming around Exmoor National Park for the first time in a century, conservationists have revealed.Nine females and 10 males from Scottish Highlands populations were introduced at secret locations on Exmoor by the Two Moors Pine Marten Project over three weeks last month.Each pine marten has been fitted with a radio collar so researchers can follow their fortunes over the next six to nine months.Devon Wildlife…

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Axe Valley Wildlife Park in Devon to close gates after 17 years

A zoo has announced it will permanently close after 17 years, blaming "difficult" times for businesses.Axe Valley Wildlife Park, near Axminster in Devon, said in a statement that the "sad" decision to close on Friday had been made "with a heavy heart"."As many of you may have heard in the news, we are not the only business facing these difficult times," it said, adding: "Unfortunately, it has become financially unviable for us to continue operating."The zoo, which is…

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Deaf community takes centre stage at Exeter’s Northcott Theatre

Deaf community takes centre stage at Exeter’s Northcott Theatre

BBCMark Stocks from the Deaf Academy teaches British Sign Language (BSL) to staff at the Northcott Theatre A Devon theatre has joined forces with Exmouth's the Deaf Academy to make the venue and its productions more accessible to people with hearing loss.The collaboration grew out of a letter one of the teachers sent to the theatre about about the impeded view of the British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter on stage. Mark Stocks, of the school, was invited to…

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Three flee police after attempt to stop car in Paignton

Police are searching for three people who fled from officers who attempted to stop them for dangerous driving.Devon and Cornwall Police said attempts were made to stop a vehicle at about 14:15 BST in Paignton.The car then travelled from Paignton to Stoke Gabriel, where it was abandoned and three people fled the scene, the force said.Police said the vehicle was seized and searches were continuing in the area. Anyone with information was asked to contact police. Source link

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Motorcyclist seriously injured in Plymouth crash

A motorcycle rider has suffered life-changing injuries after crashing in Plymouth, police have confirmed.The rider, aged in his 40s, was taken to hospital after the single-vehicle crash on North Prospect Road, said the Devon and Cornwall force.Officers are appealing for witnesses to the incident which involved a blue Yamaha and happened at about 15:45 BST on Saturday.The road was closed until about 17:20 BST for investigations. Source link

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Driver ‘faces £2,800 bill after Tiverton fuel station error’

A Tiverton man says he is facing a repair bill of nearly £3,000 after mistakenly filling his diesel car with petrol due to a fault at a fuel station in Devon.Forklift driver Graham Stevens filled up his Vauxhall Insignia estate at the Morrisons petrol station in Tiverton, operated by Motor Fuel Group (MFG), on 26 September. Without him knowing, the pump he used had been incorrectly dispensing unleaded petrol instead of diesel, leaving him with a bill of…

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Kevin McDonald: Exeter midfielder’s goal hailed by Gary Caldwell

Exeter City boss Gary Caldwell says Kevin McDonald's winning goal was a reward for the veteran midfielder's impact at the club.The 36-year-old former Scotland player returned as a late substitute after almost two months out to score the Grecians' 90th-minute winner at Lincoln City.The 1-0 win ended a run of four successive League One defeats and inflicted a first home loss in the league this season on the Imps."It's great to see him back, he is an amazing…

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Woman, 79, dies after being hit by car in Brixham

A 79-year-old woman has died after she was hit by a car in a seaside town, police have confirmed.Officers said the woman died at the scene of the crash outside Sainsbury's Local in New Road in Brixham, Devon.Emergency services were called to the scene at 12:10 BST on Saturday after a grey Volvo XC90 struck the woman who sustained serious injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene, said the Devon and Cornwall force.A man in his 40s…

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Red Roses players visit Devon to ‘influence’ future generations

Red Roses players visit Devon to ‘influence’ future generations

Johnny Rutherford andZhara SimpsonSouth WestBBCClaudia Moloney-Macdonald and Maddie Feaunti said they wanted to inspire future playersTwo England rugby players visited an event in Devon to help teach girls about the sport, with the hope they could inspire future generations. About 80 girls attended the RugbyFest at Teignmouth Rugby Football Club on Sunday, where they met the players and asked them questions.Red Roses winger Claudia Moloney-Macdonald said it was an opportunity to thank their supporters."For us, it's amazing to…

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