Allied Pharmacies take over dozens of Jhoots branches

Post published:November 20, 2025
Post category:BBC Somerset
Post comments:0 Comments

Dawn Limbu, Sarah Turnnidge and Carys Nally,West of England BBCAllied Pharmacies has taken over 60 former Jhoots branchesDozens of pharmacies which had been repeatedly and unexpectedly closed have been taken over by a different firm.There were calls for some Jhoots pharmacies to lose their NHS rights and be shut down amid claims its locum workers were owed hundreds of thousands of pounds in unpaid wages.The affected branches also faced allegations of operational failures including a failure to maintain…

Endangered dormice habitats could be restored by charity appeal

Post published:November 20, 2025
Post category:BBC Dorset
Post comments:0 Comments

A charity set up to promote sustainable farming has launched a fundraising campaign to protect one of the UK's most endangered mammals.The Countryside Regeneration Trust, which owns three farms in Surrey, wants to raise £6,000 for equipment to monitor populations of dormice in the county.Conservationists believe dormouse populations have crashed by 70% in the last 25 years, becoming extinct in 14 counties, due to habitat loss.The trust wants to use 250 footprint monitoring tunnels to track their movements…

Seven arrests at pro-Palestine Action protest in Truro

Post published:November 19, 2025
Post category:BBC Cornwall
Post comments:0 Comments

Seven people were arrested in relation to a protest in Cornwall in support of lifting a ban on Palestine Action.The protest, organised by the UK-based group Defend Our Juries, took place outside Truro Cathedral on Tuesday - Devon and Cornwall Police said about 50 protesters attended.Palestine Action was made a proscribed organisation by the government under the Terrorism Act 2000 on 5 July, which meant it would be an offence to support it.Police said seven people were arrested…

Animal Farm Adventure Park fire deaths leave owners ‘devastated’

Post published:November 19, 2025
Post category:BBC Somerset
Post comments:0 Comments

Dan Ayers,Somerset and Dawn Limbu,West of EnglandBBCAnimal Farm Adventure Park is a family-owned business which has been open since 2009Owners of a family farm attraction say the loss of some of their animals in a fire has left them feeling "shocked and devastated". The blaze broke out at the Animal Farm Adventure Park in Berrow, near Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset, at 15:37 GMT on Tuesday.Firefighters worked to tackle the blaze until 20:00 on Tuesday evening, but the fire destroyed…

Hundreds of jobs at risk amid Swallowfield closure

Post published:November 19, 2025
Post category:BBC Somerset
Post comments:0 Comments

Sarah Turnnidge,West of England and Dan Ayers,BBC Radio SomersetBBCMore than 250 people work at the cosmetics factory A cosmetics factory in Somerset is set to close, putting more than 250 jobs at risk. KDC/One, one of Wellington's biggest employers, announced a proposal to close its Swallowfield site in the town earlier.A spokesperson for the company said it had made the "difficult decision" to move work carried out at the factory to another site in Irvine, Scotland. The firm…

Gritter overturns as icy weather set to arrive in South West

Post published:November 19, 2025
Post category:BBC Cornwall
Post comments:0 Comments

A gritting lorry has blocked a road after overturning while heading out ahead of expected wintry weather conditions.The crash happened on the A382 near Moretonhampstead and Lustleigh on Dartmoor at about 15:20 GMT with a road closure set up while emergency services deal with the incident.Devon and Cornwall Police said the driver of the lorry is believed to have sustained minor injuries and motorists have been asked to avoid the area.Councils across Devon and Cornwall have sent gritters…

Taunton Brewhouse gets five-ear funding deal to secure future

Post published:November 19, 2025
Post category:BBC Somerset
Post comments:0 Comments

A theatre which is almost 50 years old has secured more than half a million pounds in new funding. Taunton Town Council has said it will pay £105,000 a year for the next five years to the Taunton Brewhouse to secure its future and help with ongoing maintenance and repairs.The council stepped in after Somerset Council, the building's owner, said "it was no longer financially sustainable" to continue funding the venue's repairs.Vickie Robbins, executive director of the theatre…

Three Plymouth garages damaged by large fire

Post published:November 19, 2025
Post category:Devon News
Post comments:0 Comments

Three garages have been damaged in a large blaze, firefighters have said.Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said one garage in Hermitage Road, Plymouth, was "well alight" when crews arrived at about 11:10 GMT, with two others also damaged by smoke and fire.Devon and Cornwall Police said they were asked to assist fire crews and put a cordon and road closures in place. The fire service confirmed there were no injuries and the cause had not yet…

Seagull steals hospital visitor’s handbag at Bournemouth Hospital

Post published:November 19, 2025
Post category:BBC Dorset
Post comments:0 Comments

A thieving seagull "sneakily" stole a visitors handbag say hospital staff.The incident happened at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBH), part of the University Hospitals Dorset, when a visitor left their bag with important personal items on a windowsill.The seagull poked its head through the open window and quickly pinched the bag before anyone could notice.Estates manager, David Carter managed to retrieve the bag from the hospital's roof.After stealing the bag the seagull struggled to fly away and dropped…

Hip-hop group Arrested Development ‘saved’ by repair cafe

Post published:November 19, 2025
Post category:BBC Cornwall
Post comments:0 Comments

Volunteers at a repair cafe stepped in to fix a "crucial piece of equipment" for Grammy Award-winning hip-hop group Arrested Development, meaning its concert could go ahead.The group was due to perform at the Princess Pavilions in Falmouth, Cornwall on 9 November when band member One Love's sampler failed during the soundcheck.The Falmouth Repair Cafe was taking place that afternoon in the venue's foyer with local volunteers who fix a range of items from lamps to sewing machines…

Fifty not out: University commemorates half-century partnership with US College

Post published:November 19, 2025
Post category:Exeter Uni News
Post comments:0 Comments

An international partnership between the University of Exeter and a prestigious Liberal Arts college in the United States of America is celebrating 50 years of overseas study. For the past five decades, students at Kenyon College in Ohio have taken the opportunity to spend a year with Exeter’s Department of English and Creative Writing, immersing themselves in the history, heritage and culture of Devon. To commemorate the milestone, the two institutions have unveiled a new Master’s Progression Agreement…

New military focus on “leaving well” and strengthening social connections should be core part of defence strategy

Post published:November 19, 2025
Post category:Exeter Uni News
Post comments:0 Comments

A new military focus on “leaving well” as well as serving well is essential for the health of veterans, society and defence, experts have said. Researchers have made a powerful plea for more to be done to ensure armed forces leavers go on to play a valued role in organisations, companies and their communities. They have called for a focus on identity and social connectedness to be recognised as core parts of defence strategy, with investment in evidence-based…