Owen Dale: Plymouth Argyle winger suffers significant ankle injury

Plymouth Argyle winger Owen Dale could be out for up to three months with an ankle injury.The 27-year-old, who is on loan at Home Park from Championship side Oxford United, was hurt in the 1-0 win over Rotherham United.Dale had travelled up to Doncaster Rovers with the Argyle squad, but a scan on Friday showed he has grade three ligament damage in his ankle. Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley said Dale's intent to try and play in the…

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‘Spending Christmas Day alone is so freeing’

Beth CruseandRoss Pollard,West of EnglandAdela MeiAdela Mei enjoys riding up the Cheddar Gorge on her motorbike on Christmas dayFor many, Christmas means family gatherings, gifts under the tree and plates piled high with festive food. But for some, the day looks very different – and that is exactly how they want it. Across the West Country, people are stepping away from tradition and creating their own ways to spend 25 December.Each year on Christmas Day, Adela Mei, 51,…

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Exeter City: Jayden Wareham a ‘top striker at this level and beyond’

Exeter City striker Jayden Wareham is good enough to impress beyond League One, according to manager Gary Caldwell.The 22-year-old scored his ninth goal of the season in the 3-0 win over Barnsley that took Exeter out of the League One relegation places.Wareham, a summer signing from Reading, has become Exeter's first-choice forward in recent months. Caldwell sees similarities between him and Millenic Alli, who left Exeter for Luton Town last January for a fee worth £1.5m."I think when…

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Octopus numbers on south coast increase massively in 2025

The species of octopus people had been spotting were octopus vulgaris, a Mediterranean species native to the UK.However they're rarely seen, as their numbers are usually so low.The Wildlife Trust recorded a whopping 1500% increase in sightings from Penzance to South Devon this year.Matt Slater, a marine conservation officer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust told the Guardian newspaper: "When we added up the numbers, approximately 233,000 octopuses were caught in UK waters this year – that's a huge increase…

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John Askey: Truro City boss frustrated as mistakes cost side again

Truro City manager John Askey says he is frustrated by the mistakes his side are making after their 4-0 loss at York City. Having conceded within five minutes, the Tinners found themselves 3-0 down at half-time away to the National League's in-form team before conceding once more in the second half.The loss leaves Truro four points adrift at the bottom of the table and five points from safety at the midway point of the season. "The first goal…

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University Hospital Dorset buys remainder of Wessex Fields

An NHS trust has bought the land next to a hospital from a council to temporarily use as additional parking. University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) has bought the land adjoining the Royal Bournemouth Hospital site, called Wessex Fields.Other plans for the land include a possible site for generating geothermal energy, homes for key workers, and an education and research centre.Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council deputy leader and cabinet member for finance Mike Cox said the sale was a…

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Does this ‘Toy Town’ find its soul at Christmas?

Curtis LancasterPoundbury, DorsetBBC"There are streets full of decorations," say the residentsAn experimental town in Dorset and a passion project of King Charles III has long been a lightning rod for criticism.Since construction began at Poundbury, on the outskirts of Dorchester, in 1993, architects and commentators have taken aim at its neo-Georgian façades and detailed design rules, dismissing it as "soulless" and a "toy town".Last month those debates resurfaced after it was widely reported that Grand Designs tv presenter…

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Cost of living fuels rise in dogs needing homes, charity says

BBCMoose was caught by a member of the public after being seen wandering loose for a few daysOn a wet December morning in Cornwall dog welfare and enforcement officer Jason Williams is off to collect a stray.Moose had been running around in Troon near Camborne for a few days before somebody managed to catch him and report it to Cornwall Council so he could be taken to the National Animal Welfare Trust (NAWT) in Hayle.Last year, the council…

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Devon and Cornwall Police make Christmas 999 call plea

Anna VarleHome and social affairs correspondentBBCDevon and Cornwall Police is urging the public to only call 999 in a genuine emergency during the Christmas periodDevon and Cornwall Police is urging the public to only call 999 in a genuine emergency during the Christmas period.The force receives an average of 1,000 emergency calls and 2,000 101 calls a day over the festive period, which is one of the busiest times of year, the police said.Examples of inappropriate calls police…

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Christmas bin collection changes across Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire

Sophia AllsoppWest of England Getty ImagesBin collections across the region will change over Christmas and the New Year because of bank holidaysResidents have been warned that bin collections days will change over the festive period.Across the west of England, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day collections will not take place.Residents have been urged to check their postcode-based collection calendar and to use recycling and food waste collections as much as possible during the festive period.Below is…

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New cycle link to improve Wellington station access

A council is set to spend more than £600,000 on a cycle link ahead of the planned construction of a new train station.Wellington's new railway station is anticipated to cost up to £20m and will be delivered north of the Lidl Supermarket, with access being provided through a new 161-home development.Somerset Council has said it will spend as much as £607,000 over the coming months to ensure a new cycle link improves access between the future station and…

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