Quest for more Devon film locations worthy of Harry Potter

Post published:October 18, 2025
Post last modified:October 18, 2025

Jonathan MorrisSouth WestAidan Monaghan/HBODominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter in the TV series which has been filmed in the South WestAn organisation supporting film productions in Devon is on a mission to map out the county's most film-worthy locations, building a comprehensive database to attract more productions to the region. From windswept moors to chocolate-box villages, the film office is working to ensure Devon's landscapes are front and centre in the UK's screen industry.Recent high-profile productions such as a Harry Potter TV series have already demonstrated the county's appeal. Claire Horrocks, who…

Tadnoll nature reserve wetlands are to be restored to help wildlife

Post published:October 18, 2025
Post last modified:October 18, 2025

Work has begun to rewet areas of peat habitat on a nature reserve to improve water quality and support a wider diversity of wildlife.Dorset Wildlife Trust is carrying out the work at Tadnoll and Winfrith Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which had historically been drained for agriculture.The project builds on work at Wild Woodbury in Bere Regis and the restoration of the River Sherford headwaters.The Wild Woodbury project has already helped support populations of lapwings, snipe, frogs, dragonflies and freshwater invertebrates.The trust is working to restore the natural flow of…

New Sunday parking charges in Somerset towns ‘concerning’

Post published:October 18, 2025
Post last modified:October 18, 2025

BBCTim Mander says he is disappointed at the new chargesSunday parking charges should be "equitable" despite fears by some politicians that introducing them could harm independent businesses.Somerset Council is consulting on introducing the Sunday charges in towns including Taunton, Bridgwater and Yeovil, bringing them in-line with areas which already charge a fee.However, businesses say the introduction of new parking charges in the towns could impact footfall and staffing.Orchard shopping centre manager Rob Moore believes the new charges will impact shoppers, visitors and even staff if they go ahead.Rob Moore is worried…

More children in St Ives cycle to school after new bike shed

Post published:October 18, 2025
Post last modified:October 18, 2025

St Ives Town DealThe bike shed has been installed at St Ives Junior SchoolThe number of children cycling, scooting or skateboarding to a school in St Ives has more than trebled, the area's town deal said. It comes after a new bike shed was installed at St Ives Junior School earlier in October, providing room for 30 bikes as well as scooters and skateboards. It comes from £15,000 of funding from the St Ives Low Carbon Transport Strategy budget, part of the St Ives Town Deal.Previously around five or six children…

Night bus praised for improving Newquay safety

Post published:October 18, 2025
Post last modified:October 18, 2025

First BusDevon and Cornwall Police said the Newquay night-bus had been used by more than 470 people this summerA night-bus service has been praised for helping contribute to a reduction in reports of antisocial behaviour (ASB) and sexual offences to the police. Devon and Cornwall Police said the Newquay night-bus had been used by more than 740 people to get home safely on Saturday nights.The service ran from 24 May to 6 September this year and was introduced to help tackle drink driving offences as well as ASB and violence against…

Pumpkin patches proving popular due to social media say venues

Post published:October 18, 2025
Post last modified:October 18, 2025

Clara BullockWest of EnglandAvon Valley Country ParkVenues say people go to pumpkin patches to get their pictures takenVenues in the West have said pick-your-own pumpkin patches are becoming more popular due to social media.Avon Valley Country Park in Keynsham near Bristol said their Halloween pumpkin event was seeing around 120,000 visitors each year, with many going to take photographs.Fairfield Pumpkins near Yeovil, Somerset started pick-your-own pumpkin patches five years ago and said the number of visitors had risen each year.Jess Yeatman, from the company, said: "Overall, pumpkin picking is on the…

South weekly quiz: How did Tamara run a half marathon?

Post published:October 18, 2025
Post last modified:October 18, 2025

Test your knowledge of news from Hampshire, Berkshire, Dorset, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight with our quiz. Source link

‘Exciting milestone’ at new medical testing centre in Cornwall

Post published:October 18, 2025
Post last modified:October 18, 2025

An "exciting milestone" has been reached in the development of a new medical testing centre set to open this year. All 13 modular units which will make up the building of the community diagnostic centre at the Camborne Redruth Community Hospital have been delivered and connected. NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly said internal work was now underway to complete the fit-out ahead of the facility opening to patients.Susan Bracefield, chief nursing officer of NHS Cornwall, said: "We are excited to be opening another new community diagnostic centre for Cornwall, as…

‘Smuggling people and drugs on yachts a real threat’

Post published:October 18, 2025
Post last modified:October 18, 2025

Alex BishSouth East investigations team'Smuggling using yachts is a real threat'"Within a few minutes it had grounded and a number of people were jumping into the shallow water and making their way to the riverbank," said harbour master James Bateman, describing the moment a yacht carrying migrants ran aground in Rye, East Sussex."The yacht itself wasn't suspicious, but it was clearly arriving here at the wrong state of tide, which immediately raised concerns."This week the National Crime Agency said a people smuggling operation was uncovered when the vessel arrived in February…

‘Panic’ as kitchen firm enters administration

Post published:October 18, 2025
Post last modified:October 18, 2025

A man setting up a kitchen showroom using products from a company that has gone into administration said the situation had been handled "terribly" because of a "lack of communication".One-hundred-and-five people have been made redundant at Waterline Limited, one of the UK's largest independent wholesale distributors of kitchens and bathrooms, based in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire. Administrator Alex Cadwallader said the directors had been "forward thinking... proactive and took all the correct steps".But kitchen fitter Dean Bridgen said he was left in "panic" after spending around £20,000 on a new showroom in…

National Grid customers in Plymouth to get safety check visits

Post published:October 18, 2025
Post last modified:October 18, 2025

Plymouth residents are to get electric supply safety checks as part of an inspection programme, National Grid says. The utility provider said some domestic and small business customers in the PL1 postcode, including the city centre, Stoke and Devonport areas, were to be visited by approved contractors from 22 October to check "service termination points [known as cut-outs] inside properties are working as they should".Bosses said inspectors would visually check energy suppliers' equipment and record basic details. No disassembly work would be carried out and power supplies would not be interrupted…

Devon carbon monoxide warning as poisoning cases rise

Post published:October 18, 2025
Post last modified:October 18, 2025

BBCThe fire service said carbon monoxide alarms saved livesResidents are being urged to install carbon monoxide detectors in their homes after a rise in poisoning cases. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the number of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning cases had doubled nationwide since 2020.It said call-outs to suspected poisoning cases across the country peaked this year at 7703, up from 3,876 in 2020.Mike Porter, manager for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said an alarm was the only way carbon monoxide could be detected."We can't taste it,…