Theft at Moors Valley halts Halloween light trail opening

Post published:October 24, 2025
Post last modified:October 24, 2025

A country park has been forced to cancel a Halloween event on its opening evening after essential equipment was stolen.Moors Valley Country Park in Ashley Heath, Dorset, announced it was unable to open the Halloween illuminated trail on Thursday as planned.Forestry England said the trail had been affected by a "significant theft" and apologised to those affected. It said providers would contact people who had tickets for Thursday's trail via email.The park said its team were working to rectify the issue for Friday night - it said a decision to close…

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

Post published:October 24, 2025
Post last modified:October 24, 2025

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 bit of a slow burner," Caldwell told BBC Sport."We've had to build him…

Crime thriller lands Faber book deal for University author and academic

Post published:October 24, 2025
Post last modified:October 24, 2025

A novelist and scholar at the University of Exeter has secured the biggest publishing deal of her career. Dr Emily Bernhard Jackson has signed a three-book deal with Faber, which will include her forthcoming crime-thriller Missing and the next two, as-yet unwritten, entries in the series. The deal covers the UK, European Union and the Commonwealth countries, with a separate two-book deal agreed with Simon and Schuster for the United States of America. Dr Bernhard Jackson, Senior Lecturer in the Department of English and Creative Writing, has written several other mystery…

Truro City ready for 914-mile round trip to Gateshead – English football’s longest

Post published:October 24, 2025
Post last modified:October 24, 2025

For Truro's Canadian chairman Eric Perez, the bus journey to Gateshead is getting on for twice as long as his seven-hour flight from Toronto to London.But coming from such a vast nation, big away trips are the norm and something he expects."When the King comes to Canada on the same day he might find himself in the Northwest Territories, in rural Manitoba and then in Toronto, which is infinitely more distance than we're travelling to Gateshead," Perez tells BBC Sport."So if the King can do it, I think we can do…

Warning after Cornwall fireworks displays axed over safety fears

Post published:October 24, 2025
Post last modified:October 24, 2025

A warning has been issued to those planning to set off fireworks after the cancellation of organised displays.Truro's annual bonfire and firework display has been cancelled following concerns over traffic congestion, along with another display organised by Falmouth Fire Station.Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said the event had been cancelled as it could not be delivered "to the standard of safety and organisation that our community rightly expects".It urged those planning to set off fireworks at home to "only buy fireworks with a CE mark [those that comply with the current…

Pharmacies in Devon ‘buckling under pressure’ amid closures

Post published:October 24, 2025
Post last modified:October 24, 2025

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 the busiest in the city. But even with 18 staff, he could not…

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

Post published:October 24, 2025
Post last modified:October 24, 2025

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 Tolaj getting four of those six goals. "We haven't got the creativity at…

Trump says US will expand strikes on ‘narco-terrorists’ to land | Newsfeed

Post published:October 24, 2025
Post last modified:October 24, 2025

NewsFeed‘We are just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country.’ President Donald Trump said attacks on alleged ‘narco-terrorists’ do not need a declaration of war, or Congress approval, adding that the US would target cartels on land next.Published On 24 Oct 202524 Oct 2025Click here to share on social mediashare2Share Source link

Wincanton Racecourse ‘struggling’ due to weather conditions

Post published:October 24, 2025
Post last modified:October 24, 2025

Jack Killah,Wincanton and Chris Lockyer,SomersetBBCTom Ryall from Wincanton Racecourse says not enough rain has fallen this yearA race course in Somerset believes the weather conditions over the last year have contributed to it struggling to fulfil its full race calendar.Wincanton Racecourse has cancelled its meet on Sunday, because not enough rain has fallen to soften the ground. The venue said the lack of rainfall this year has meant its reservoir is not refilling enough, leading to a number of meets needing to be cancelled.The course's clerk, Tom Ryall, said the "unpredictable"…

Wood chopper to compete at Timbersports World Championships

Post published:October 24, 2025
Post last modified:October 24, 2025

A wood chopper from Dorset is preparing to take on the world in what is often called "the original extreme sport".Tom Redmond, from Bere Regis, will represent team GB at the Timbersports World Championships in Milan in front of 3,000 fans in the Allianz Cloud Arena.With more than 150 years of tradition, the roots of the sport originated in Australia and New Zealand.This years contest will see 120 axemen from 20 nations competing in four disciplines - in a head-to-head "fastest team wins" style relay.Redmond works as a building surveyor and…

Bibby Stockholm asylum seeker on life after leaving barge

Post published:October 24, 2025
Post last modified:October 24, 2025

Sophie Cridlandin PortsmouthBBCCedrick left the Bibby Stockholm asylum barge in October 2024 and is now living in PortsmouthAn asylum seeker who was moved off the controversial Bibby Stockholm barge a year ago has said he "will get killed" if he is forced to return to Cameroon.The last residents left the vessel, which was berthed at Portland Port in Dorset, in November. It housed about 500 men awaiting the outcome of their asylum applications.Cedrick, who arrived in the UK from Cameroon, has since had his application declined and the 34-year-old now lives…

Cornish Seal Sanctuary alarm over dog attacks on pups

Post published:October 24, 2025
Post last modified:October 24, 2025

Seal pups are turning up injured on Cornwall's beaches and the Cornish Seal Sanctuary has said that dogs off leads could be to blame.The sanctuary's animal care team said it had taken in several pups with suspected dog bite wounds.The sanctuary is urging holidaymakers this October half term to give wildlife space and keep pets under control."We're not pointing fingers," said Grace Jones, the sanctuary's conservation officer. "We know people love walking their dogs on the coast, especially during the holidays, but even friendly dogs can scare or hurt vulnerable pups."The…