county news

Navy engineers recreate photo after ‘surreal’ discovery

Navy engineers recreate photo after ‘surreal’ discovery

Two Royal Navy helicopter engineers have discovered their fathers also served together a quarter of a century ago.Harvey Lewis and Sam Skelson, who are based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, were maintaining a Wildcat helicopter aboard frigate HMS Iron Duke when Harvey made the discovery.He spoke to his father, Gaz Lewis, about his squadron, who mentioned the surname rang a bell as he had served with Andrew Skelson aboard HMS Exeter in 1999.Harvey said it was a "surreal"…

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Family’s grief over ‘wicked’ murder of grandmother in Exeter park

Family’s grief over ‘wicked’ murder of grandmother in Exeter park

PALorna England's family said they have a "permanent empty void" because they miss her so muchThe family of a woman who was murdered by a stranger in a park say they will "never come to terms with the death of such a wonderful lady".Lorna England, 74, was murdered as she walked home from a shopping errand through Ludwell Valley Park in Exeter in February 2023.Her family spoke after Philip Spinney, senior coroner for Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, concluded…

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Plymouth triple-amputee wins armed forces inspiration award

Plymouth triple-amputee wins armed forces inspiration award

A former Royal Marine commando has won an award as part of a national platform which celebrates the achievements of the armed forces community.Plymouth-based triple amputee Mark Ormrod MBE won the 'Inspiration Award' at the Soldiering On Awards in London on Wednesday.Mr Ormrod, 42, lost both legs and his right arm when he stood on an improvised explosive device while on patrol in Afghanistan on Christmas Eve in 2007.When accepting the award, Mr Omrod said it was an…

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South West Water given red score over pollution

South West Water given red score over pollution

Caroline Robinson,South West and Kirk England,South West environment and tourism correspondentBBCSouth West Water has never risen above a two star rating for environmental performanceSouth West Water (SWW) has been rated "red" for its environmental performance for the 14th year in a row, meaning it is "significantly below target", the Environment Agency has said.The company was given two stars out of a possible four in the annual Environmental Performance Assessment report for 2024.The agency said the water firm had…

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Cornwall NHS nurse celebrating 50 years has ‘loved every minute’

Cornwall NHS nurse celebrating 50 years has ‘loved every minute’

A nurse who is celebrating half a century working for the NHS said it had gone in a "blink of an eye".Trish Gwennap worked her way up through a variety of nursing roles over the years, spending 43 years working as an assistant nurse and children's nurse at West Cornwall Hospital.Her career in healthcare began as a domestic cleaner at St Michael's Hospital in Hayle in Cornwall in 1975.She said she had "loved every minute" and her proudest…

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Novelist Townsend Warner’s statue for Dorchester cast in bronze

Novelist Townsend Warner’s statue for Dorchester cast in bronze

Work to erect the first statue of a non-royal woman in a town has passed a major milestone with the figure being cast in bronze.Visible Women crowdfunded for the sculpture of novelist Sylvia Townsend Warner which will be installed on a bench in Dorchester town centre.It is the work of artist Denise Dutton, who also created the Mary Anning statue in Lyme Regis.The unveiling, outside Goulds department store in South Street, has been scheduled for 14 December.In a…

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‘Storm warnings’ and ‘boy’s remarkable surgery’

‘Storm warnings’ and ‘boy’s remarkable surgery’

ReutersStorm Benjamin is expected to bring lots of wet and windy weather to the westHere's our daily pick of stories from across local websites in the West of England, and interesting content from social media.Our pick of local website storiesITV West Country has shared the story of how a seven-year-old boy with a rare genetic condition can now eat and breathe unaided following a remarkable surgery that saw doctors use other bones to rebuild his jaw.People in Somerset…

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70 horses and foals rescued in 15-month operation in Devon

70 horses and foals rescued in 15-month operation in Devon

Caroline RobinsonSouth WestThe Mare and Foal SanctuaryA foal with bright blue eyes was taken in as part of an operation to rescue 70 horsesSeventy rare-breed Icelandic horses and foals have been rescued in a 15-month welfare operation by animal charities.Public concerns were first raised in May 2024 about the herds of semi feral horses kept at several sites around Devon. The reports prompted a complex welfare operation by The Mare and Foal Sanctuary and RSPCA.The sanctuary said there…

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Driver dies in two-car crash on A37 near Maiden Newton

Driver dies in two-car crash on A37 near Maiden Newton

A woman has died in a two-car crash in Dorset.A black Kia Niro and a grey Peugeot 107 collided on the A37 near Maiden Newton, north of Dorchester, at 17:30 BST on Wednesday.The driver of the Peugeot, a 49-year-old woman from Weymouth, died at the scene.The road was closed to allow emergency services to respond and for investigation work.The woman's next of kin has been informed.Dorset Police is appealing for witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage to get…

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‘Prolific’ cowboy builder Mark Killick guilty of £1.25m fraud

‘Prolific’ cowboy builder Mark Killick guilty of £1.25m fraud

Avon and Somerset PoliceMark Killick has three previous convictions for fraud dating back to 2008A "prolific rogue trader" who lured customers in with his "charm and charisma" has been found guilty of 37 counts of fraud.Mark Killick, who also operated under the aliases Marc Cole and Mark Jenkins, failed to complete building work at properties across the West of England between December 2019 and November 2021.The 56-year-old, of Shoe Lane in Paulton, Somerset, was found guilty of the…

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Devon and Somerset campaign urges young drivers not to drive at night

Devon and Somerset campaign urges young drivers not to drive at night

Anna VarleSouth West home and social affairs correspondentBBCA campaign has been launched to reduce the number of fatal road traffic collisions among 17-24 year oldsA campaign has been launched to help reduce the number of fatal road traffic collisions involving 17 to 24 year-olds.Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service's Top 3 campaign highlights the three greatest risks young drivers face - passing driving tests with limited experience, driving late at night, and distractions from peers.Young male drivers…

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‘Devon derby match disorder will be dealt with robustly’, police

‘Devon derby match disorder will be dealt with robustly’, police

Caroline RobinsonSouth WestBBCCh Insp Victoria Richards said there would be 180 police officers at the matchPolice have said they are prepared to deal with any disorder surrounding a Devon derby football match on Thursday. Ch Insp Victoria Richards of Devon and Cornwall Police said the sold out fixture at Exeter's St James Park was "medium risk" and a "highlight of the south west football calendar".She said: "A small minority of fans may be looking to cause some disorder…

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