Devon News

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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Nursing fund set up in memory of murdered lecturer Claire Chick

A university lecturer who was murdered has been awarded a posthumous PhD and had a nursing fund set up in her name.Claire Chick was stabbed to death​ in January by her estranged husband, who was jailed for 27 years.The University of Plymouth said many members of Ms Chick's family and friends attended the graduation ceremony at Theatre Royal Plymouth on Tuesday.It added "Claire's friends in the University's School of Nursing and Midwifery have created the Claire Chick Nursing…

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Devon otter charity raises thousands to help relocate

Devon otter charity raises thousands to help relocate

Caroline RobinsonSouth WestUK Wild Otter TrustThe UK Wild Otter Trust was given six months to relocate its rescue and rehabilitation centre.An otter charity has raised more than £30,000 to relocate its rescue and rehabilitation centre.The UK Wild Otter Trust, which cares for hundreds of otter cubs every year at its current base at Umberleigh in north Devon, had been given six months to leave the site.It set a fundraising target of £15,000 to dismantle, move and rebuild the…

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Joe Edwards: Plymouth Argyle captain ’embarrassed’ by Exeter City defeat

Joe Edwards: Plymouth Argyle captain ’embarrassed’ by Exeter City defeat

The loss leaves Argyle in the relegation places in League One, having registered just four victories from 13 EFL games this season. Plymouth's struggles come after they were relegated from the Championship in May - a year after Edwards scored the crucial goal that kept Argyle in the second tier for another season."I've been here many years now and I haven't had many days like this, there's been one or two, but the one thing I can say…

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Devon church collects 500 Christmas presents for shoebox appeal

Devon church collects 500 Christmas presents for shoebox appeal

Caroline Robinson,Devon and Hattie McCann,DevonBBCVolunteers packed and checked the boxes Five-hundred shoeboxes have been filled with Christmas presents for children in Eastern European countries. Volunteers at St Mary's Church, in Brixham, Devon, have packed and checked boxes filled with toys, toiletries, clothing and other presents. The boxes will be be taken to Ukraine and Moldova by Christian Response, a charity based in Exmouth. Volunteer Lindsay Williams said: "They're going to children who otherwise wouldn't have Christmas." The boxes…

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Akeel Higgins: Exeter City loanee shows ‘undoubted talent’ in Devon derby win

Akeel Higgins: Exeter City loanee shows ‘undoubted talent’ in Devon derby win

Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell says Akeel Higgins showed his quality, after his first senior goal in the Devon derby win over Plymouth Argyle.The 20-year-old, who is on loan at Exeter from West Bromwich Albion, made just his second first-team start against the Pilgrims.He responded with an excellent finish in the second half to seal the 2-0 victory and earn the Grecians a first win over their biggest rivals in six years."He has been building, he's been a…

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Pharmacies in Devon ‘buckling under pressure’ amid closures

Pharmacies in Devon ‘buckling under pressure’ amid closures

Jen Smith,South West health correspondent and Jonathan Morris,DevonBBCPharmacist Nali Nouri said his team handled 24,000 items a monthPharmacists have said they are struggling to cope with the pressure following a series of closures amid a lack of funding for the service. Figures from the National Pharmacy Association show Plymouth has the seventh highest pharmacy closure rate in the country.Nali Nouri, owner of Speedwell Pharmacy in Estover, said his team handled 24,000 items a month, making it one of…

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Tom Cleverley: Plymouth Argyle boss to target defence after Devon derby defeat

Argyle's attacking threat has not been helped by injuries to high-profile summer signings Xavier Amaechi and Caleb Watts.While striker Lorent Tolaj has impressed in recent weeks, he was limited to few chances at St James Park as Exeter impressively cut the supply to the Swiss striker. Aside from the impressive 4-0 win at Burton Albion, Argyle have failed to score in two of their last five League One games, and scored once in the two others - with…

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