city news

Exe estuary takeover plan sparks fears of new charges

Exe estuary takeover plan sparks fears of new charges

Miles DavisDevon political reporterBBCIan Garcia, commodore of Topsham Sailing Club, says there is not enough information available on Exeter City Council's plans for a harbour revision orderPlans for a council to take over the running of a major estuary in Devon are facing opposition from water users concerned at the possibility of new charges being imposed.Exeter City Council wants to use a harbour revision order (HRO) to take charge of the Exe estuary, which runs from Exeter Quay…

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New treatments hoped for brain tumour patients in Plymouth

New treatments hoped for brain tumour patients in Plymouth

Craig RussellCraig Russell was unaware a tumour was growing inside his brain for 15 yearsMillions of pounds of funding could change the outcome for patients with brain tumours, according to scientists in Devon.The University of Plymouth has been awarded £2.8m to develop its research, which experts and patients said could result in life-changing treatments.The funding has come from the charity Brain Tumour Research and will be used to repurpose existing drugs and move more quickly towards clinical trials.Brain…

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EFL Trophy round-up: Holders Peterborough out; Harrogate win among shocks

EFL Trophy round-up: Holders Peterborough out; Harrogate win among shocks

Holders Peterborough United went out and Harrogate Town belied their status as the lowest-placed team still in this season's Vertu Trophy among 14 ties in the last 32 on Tuesday.After an uneventful first half away to League Two promotion contenders Swindon Town, League One strugglers Peterborough dominated the second period but conceded the only goal of the game when Robins captain Ollie Clarke slotted in the 88th-minute winner.Harrogate are a point from safety after taking two points from…

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Alleged Plymouth sex abuse victims accused of ‘full blown lies’

Alleged Plymouth sex abuse victims accused of ‘full blown lies’

BBCAlan Harris has denied 12 charges of indecent assault, eight charges of sexual assault and two charges of rapePeople claiming a former defence solicitor sexually assaulted them have spread "falsehoods" about him including throughout his ongoing trial, a court has been told.Alan Harris, 72, of Thorn Park, Plymouth, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of 12 charges of indecent assault, eight charges of sexual assault and two charges of rape, dating from 1989 to 2015.Defence barrister…

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University of Exeter researcher instrumental to new civil service AI training programme 

An Exeter academic expert has co-created an innovative AI training programme to upskill analysts in the Cabinet Office. The Cabinet Office’s Government Social Research (GSR) AI Accelerator Programme is designed to equip civil service social researchers with the skills to harness artificial intelligence responsibly and effectively in their work, with a view to improving the productivity of the Civil Service. Professor Oliver Hauser, Deputy Director of the Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (IDSAI) and Professor of…

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Predicting who will develop type 1 diabetes easier and cheaper thanks to new calculator

Predicting who will develop type 1 diabetes is now cheaper and more accessible, thanks to a new tool based on research conducted at the University of Exeter which could one day help determine who to target with recently approved drugs to delay the disease. In type 1 diabetes, the body’s own immune system attacks insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, which means people need to inject insulin daily. Knowing who is at highest risk of developing type 1…

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Beatles’ autographs and Four Weddings hat up for auction

Autographs of members of The Beatles and a hat from the 1994 film Four Weddings and A Funeral are among the music and film memorabilia due to go under the hammer in Exeter next week.The hat worn by American actress Andie MacDowell in the box office hit was given to a local resident who had worked on the set, said Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood auction house.The Beatles' autographs - signatures of Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison,…

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Beatles’ autographs and Four Wedding hat up for auction

Beatles’ autographs and Four Wedding hat up for auction

Autographs of members of The Beatles and a hat from the 1994 film Four Weddings and A Funeral are among the music and film memorabilia due to go under the hammer in Exeter next week.The hat worn by American actress Andie MacDowell in the box office hit was given to a local resident who had worked on the set, said Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood auction house.The Beatles' autographs - signatures of Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison…

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Graduate wins national award for innovation to detect water contamination

An innovation designed by a University of Exeter graduate to detect contaminated water and save lives has won a prestigious national award.   The FluoroGlow device is designed to detect Cryptosporidium in water – a parasite that can cause severe illness and even death, especially in children and vulnerable people. Previously, it has been difficult to detect without slow laboratory-based tests, but FluoroGlow aims to change that by providing rapid and reliable results directly at the water source.   Currently…

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Devon theatre school seeks new home to store historic costumes

Devon theatre school seeks new home to store historic costumes

A theatre school in Devon is looking for a new space to store several decades' worth of costumes after a leak in its roof. Willow Tree Dance and Theatre Arts School, based in Tiverton, said the building it currently stored the items in including handmade clothing, wigs and accessories had a leak. The school hosts about 274 pupils aged 18 months and upwards and said it hosts at least three shows a year. It added thanks to its…

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Exeter researcher  selected for inaugural BioFAIR Fellowship to advance FAIR data practices

A data research scientist form the  University of Exeter  has  been selected to join the inaugural BioFAIR Fellowship, a prestigious UK-wide initiative aimed at transforming life sciences through better data practices. Dr Craig Willis of the University of Exeter will join a diverse cohort of fellows working to embed FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data principles across the life sciences. His  involvement marks a significant step forward in promoting open science and sustainable data stewardship across the…

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Devon charity Headway uses cooking to aid brain injury recovery

Devon charity Headway uses cooking to aid brain injury recovery

Claire Manningin PlymouthBBCHeadway Plymouth has teamed up with not-for-profit community interest company Food is FunA Devon charity that supports people with acquired brain injuries is using cooking as a way to help clients with their recovery.Headway Plymouth has teamed up with not-for-profit community interest company Food is Fun to teach cooking skills.The charity said there were about 80,000 brain injury survivors living in Devon.Headway Plymouth's chief executive Craig Butler said food was important for brain growth and development.'We're…

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