Sheep killed after being struck on Dartmoor train line

Post published:October 16, 2025

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 or revised with passengers able to use their tickets on the 5, 5A and 6A bus services at no extra cost. Source link

Israel’s exploding robots still terrorise Gaza neighbourhoods | Israel-Palestine conflict News

Post published:October 16, 2025

Gaza City – The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas brought thousands of people back to their homes in Gaza City, to assess the damage, see what can be salvaged, and start to rebuild.In Jabalia, Sheikh Radwan, Abu Iskandar and beyond, people returned to flattened neighbourhoods, and to the knowledge that, still among the rubble, some of the explosive robots that had caused it sat, silent and undetonated.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listPeople aren’t sure where all the undetonated robots lurk, nor do they know what to do if they encounter one, adding to the anguish and uncertainty that clouds this homecoming.Exploding robotsThe “robots” had become a common fear in northern Gaza since the Israeli army first used them on Jabalia refugee camp in May 2024.Their deployment hit an “unprecedented pace” leading up to the October ceasefire, the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor noted in a report on September 1, adding that they were used to destroy “about 300 residential units daily in Gaza City and Jabalia”.The robots are armoured carriers that Israeli soldiers would load with explosives, then drag into place using armoured bulldozers.Once the soldiers had retreated, they would remotely detonate the booby-trapped vehicle, destroying everything around it.Not much…

Torpoint Ferry to trial electricity in decarbonisation push

Post published:October 16, 2025

A chain ferry between Devon and Cornwall is to be part of a green energy trial.The Torpoint Ferry will use electricity in place of fossil fuels in a study scheduled to begin early next year, said its operator.Tamar Crossings said successful decarbonisation could reduce carbon emissions from its three ferries by up to 1,000 tonnes a year.The project was awarded £300,000 from the government as part of its aim for net zero shipping by 2050.Philip Robinson, chief officer with Tamar Crossings, said: "We've got to move with the times."The project will help us look at how we take this further and convert the ferries to electricity in the future."Partnering the ferry firm in the project is Marine Zero, which will contribute electricity charging solutions, and the University of Plymouth, which will collect and analyse findings.Tim Munn, managing director at Marine Zero, said several options would be studied including storing batteries on board and connecting the ferries to the shore by cable reels, with safety, operational costs and reliability being major factors of the analysis. Source link

Sheep killed after being struck on Dartmoor train line

Post published:October 16, 2025

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 or revised with passengers able to use their tickets on the 5, 5A and 6A bus services at no extra cost. Source link

Councils plan to split Devon into three unitary authorities

Post published:October 16, 2025

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 east Devon and Exeter, a second unitary authority covering the south and west of the county and Plymouth staying as it is.The plans are at odds with proposals put forward by Plymouth and Exeter, which both want to expand, and by Devon County Council with Torbay yet to announce its plans.District councils in Devon want to see two new unitary authorities created in Devon and Plymouth to continue as it isThe district councils are backing what is known as the 4-5-1 proposal.It involves one unitary authority for West Devon, Teignbridge, South Hams and Torbay.A second unitary authority for North Devon, Torridge, Mid Devon, East Devon and Exeter.Plymouth remaining as a standalone unitary authority.In a joint statement on behalf of all district council leaders,…

Yeovil Town sign defender George Nurse on loan from Shrewsbury Town

Post published:October 16, 2025

Yeovil Town have signed defender George Nurse from Shrewsbury Town on a short-term loan deal.The wing-back arrives at Huish Park initially on a one-month loan, having made 70 appearances for Salop since he signed for the League Two club in 2021.Nurse, 25, graduated from Bristol City's academy and has also had loan spells at Newport County and Walsall."George is a fantastic addition for us. He's got real quality, great experience, and that bit of athleticism that can make a big difference at both ends of the pitch," said Yeovil boss Richard Dryden. Source link

Cornish Pirates disappointed by losing start to season – Joe Walsh

Post published:October 16, 2025

Cornish Pirates coach Joe Walsh says everyone is unhappy with the start they have made to the season.Pirates have narrowly lost their opening two Champ matches at home to Hartpury and away at Ampthill last week.It has left Pirates 11th in the expanded 14-team league after the opening two rounds of fixtures. "I think we're disappointed that we're not as far along as I guess either we hope we are or we felt we were coming into the season," Walsh told BBC Radio Cornwall."We had quite a long pre-season that was pushed on us by the structure of the league, but we felt we were quite far along in terms of where we were as a group."This season sees a revamped second tier renamed as 'The Champ' with an additional two teams, including Worcester Warriors, and the top six sides at the end of the season will compete in play-offs. And despite the stuttering results, Walsh says there are causes for optimism ahead of Saturday's visit of Doncester."If you break it down, we had a poor first half against Hartpury and then a really strong second half where we felt we were on top and probably were one opportunity short, or…

Devon and Cornwall Police say disability hate crime under-reported

Post published:October 16, 2025

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 in 2023-24.However, the force said it believed more offences were happening but not being reported.Acting Ch Supt Antony Hart, lead for hate crime, said the force never wanted an increase in offences but urged people to be aware of the issue and how it could be reported.He said anyone who thought they had been the victim of a hate crime should contact police straight away.Acting Ch Supt Antony Hart said Devon and Cornwall Police wanted to encourage people to report hate crimesActing Ch Supt Hart said: "We do know that it's been under-reported previously."People may be becoming aware of what hate crime is or an increased confidence in the work police are doing."But equally we know there's an awful lot of crime there…

Police drop investigation into Reform councillors in Devon

Post published:October 16, 2025

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 successfully took a civil case to the High Court on Tuesday where Justice Martin Spencer decided any mistakes made were not "in bad faith".A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "As a result of the judgement, the individuals in question will face no further police action."Reacting to the police decision, Neil Stevens said he was "greatly relieved".He said: "These last few months have been horrific for myself and my family and I just want to get on on and be, as I was before, a good councillor."The court heard on Tuesday issues included confusion over who should pay for podcasts, over which expenses for election leaflets needed to be declared and over who the election agent was for the Stevens brothers.Hill was…

Delight over reported sighting of orca calf off Isles of Scilly

Post published:October 16, 2025

Joe PenderThe newest member of the pod has not been photographed but it was reported to have been half the size of the adult femalesThe possible sighting of a calf among a pair of female orcas off the Isles of Scilly has sparked excitement among marine wildlife experts.The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust said boatman Joe Pender had seen the pod near Bishop Rock, in the westernmost part of the islands, on Wednesday. A Vega pod of Iberian orcas was identified off the islands for the first time in July and they were thought then to be the last in a "very tiny family".Jay Cowen, from the trust, said the reported sighting of a third mammal, believed to be half the size of the adults in the pod, was "very exciting news" and work was taking place to identify it."This pod hasn't been seen interacting with any Iberian orca and we were concerned it may die out," they said."From the report I have directly from the boatman, it was only half the size of these full-size adult females. In his eyes, it looked a lot like a calf."Joe PenderThere had been concerns the Vega pod of two adult females seen off…

Beaminster broadband set to return after car crash outage

Post published:October 16, 2025

Ros TappendenSouth of EnglandCouncillor Craig MonksEngineers are replacing the pole before work can begin to restore servicesHundreds of homes and businesses that have been without broadband since a car fire look set to be back online by the weekend.About 1,000 customers in Beaminster, Dorset, lost their internet service on Sunday when a car crashed into a telegraph pole and burst into flames.Dorset councillor for Beaminster, Craig Monks, said individual suppliers had given residents varied estimates for reconnection "ranging from tomorrow to three or four weeks".In an update on Thursday morning, Openreach said it was "aiming to have service restored by the end of Friday, provided there are no unexpected complications".A spokesperson said: "Our engineers are installing a new pole this morning."The damage is extensive, making this a complex repair, but our highly skilled teams are working swiftly and safely to restore service."Once the new pole is in place, crews are ready to immediately begin installing overhead cables and reconnecting customers to the network."Councillor Craig MonksThe burnt-out car was removed by Dorset Council contractors on TuesdayThe road between Beaminster and the A356 was closed due to the fire in White Sheet Hill at about 22:45 BST on Sunday. Dorset Council arranged for…

Campaigners fight plans to reopen Devon ball clay pit

Post published:October 16, 2025

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 this type of clay - used by the ceramics industry for products such as toilets and tiles - were now low.According to the plans, extracting the clay could mean removing six fishing lakes, surrounding trees and relocating Newton Abbot Rugby Club.Holland Risley set up Save Our TreesHolland Risley, who set up the campaign group Save Our Trees when he saw Sibelco's proposals, said: "Killing a huge forest affects all of us."There's so many homes along the edge of the proposed site, we are talking 50 metres to 100 metres maybe from the edge of the quarry works. "This is wholly an inappropriate location for a clay quarry."He cited silica dust, extra lorry traffic, flood risk and removal of green space in Kingsteignton as…