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Barnstaple museum exhibition celebrates North Devon innovation

An exhibition has opened in Barnstaple to showcase North Devon's growing reputation for innovation and technology.Northern Devon Innovates, which opened at the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon, said it would focus on local businesses developing products and ideas for global markets.The exhibition includes case studies of companies like AutoNaut, Ecotribo and Krempel to show that there is more to the region than "agriculture and farming".Alison Mills, director of the museum, said the exhibition was due to run…

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Somerset road car ban to be made permanent due to coastal erosion

Somerset road car ban to be made permanent due to coastal erosion

Daniel MumbyLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceBBCThe B3191 Cleeve Hill has been closed to vehicles since January 2023A ban on cars travelling on a key coastal road will be made permanent over fears of coastal erosion.The B3191 Cleeve Hill, which links Watchet to Blue Anchor in Somerset, closed to traffic in 2023 but reopened to pedestrians and cyclists in the spring of 2024.Somerset Council confirmed on Friday the closure would become permanent from 31 October, despite 1,000 local residents objecting…

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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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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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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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Crime thriller lands Faber book deal for University author and academic

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…

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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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Perception of fraud as a “victimless” offence can weaken police investigations, study shows

The perception among some police officers that fraud is a victimless offence can weaken investigations and the support given to those affected, a new study shows. Officers are hampered by having to rely on limited resources and outdated, fragmented local structures which are poorly equipped to address cyber-enabled, cross-border criminal activity, researchers have found. Fraud is the most prevalent crime in the UK and a global concern, causing substantial financial and societal harm, yet it can be deprioritised…

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