county news

CREWW launches Safe to Swim Forum to shape the future of bathing water safety and quality

CREWW has launched a new expert-led forum in a bid to improve the safety and quality of bathing waters across the South West. The Safe to Swim Forum, developed through our partnership between the University of Exeter and South West Water, brings together leading scientists, public health specialists, regulators, water companies, and local authorities, to use expert knowledge, research, and collaboration to plan evidence-led solutions. The forum will look at how to better measure the risks from harmful…

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Lorent Tolaj has ‘learnt’ from red card says Plymouth Argyle boss Tom Cleverley

Lorent Tolaj has ‘learnt’ from red card says Plymouth Argyle boss Tom Cleverley

Lorent Tolaj will have learnt from his three-game ban says Plymouth Argyle boss Tom Cleverley.The Pilgrims' top scorer has missed the last three games after a red card for violent conduct in the 3-0 loss to Leyton Orient last month.The 24-year-old, who has scored 11 goals in all competitions this season, is in line to return to the side for Saturday's trip to Doncaster Rovers."I expect he's mature enough and he's professional enough to have learnt by that,"…

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Group mapping graves in Devon for future generations

Group mapping graves in Devon for future generations

Amateur historians have taken it upon themselves to map and document the locations of the graves in a churchyard.Holy Trinity Church in Buckfastleigh, Devon, burnt down in 1992, taking parish records with it and now members of the Holy Trinity Graveyard Project said they wanted to re-record where people were buried so families and genealogists could find them.Group member Jac Denley-Jones said: "There's hundreds of graves up there and people often come here from Australia, Canada, looking for…

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Elections may be cancelled in Plymouth and Exeter

Elections may be cancelled in Plymouth and Exeter

Elections for city councils in Exeter and Plymouth due to take place in 2026 may be cancelled following a government announcement.Ministers have indicated they will agree to postpone elections due next May until 2027, if authorities request it by mid-January.The Liberal Democrat leader of Devon County Council described the move as "double dealing and dishonesty".The government has said any postponement of elections will have to be requested by individual authorities. It said the decision to offer the choice…

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Max McCusker: Swimmer defends Enhanced Games switch as a ‘no-brainer’

Max McCusker: Swimmer defends Enhanced Games switch as a ‘no-brainer’

Swimmer Max McCusker said joining the Enhanced Games was "a no-brainer" in order to compete in something "that no-one's done before". The 26-year-old, who represented Ireland at the Olympics last year, announced earlier this month that he was joining the Games, a new multi-sport competition that allows athletes to use performance-enhancing substances.McCusker, who was part of the Irish men's 4x100m medley relay team in Paris, defended his position, pointing to the financial attraction of making the switch and…

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Revealed: genetic process which could be treatment target for deadly fungal disease Candida auris

Scientists have discovered a genetic process which could unlock new ways to treat mysterious and deadly fungal infection which has shut down multiple hospital intensive care units. Candida auris is particularly dangerous for people who are critically ill, so hospitals are vulnerable. While it seems to live harmlessly on the skin of increasing numbers of people, patients on ventilators are at high risk.  Once infected, the disease has a death rate of 45 per cent, and can resist…

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Sidwell Street Wassail – Exeter Observer

Sidwell Street Wassail – Exeter Observer
Sidwell Street Wassail – Exeter Observer

Good journalism costs money  Upgrade to paid E O Exeter Observer Local news that matters ON OUR RADAR An evening wassail with music, singing and hot soup. Leigh Curtis Good journalism costs money The only way to cover the cost of producing and publishing Exeter Observer's independent public interest journalism is by readers helping to

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Flood warnings across south of England as river levels rise

Flood warnings across south of England as river levels rise

Dorset CouncilFurther flooding is expected as river levels continue to rise due to Thursday's rainfallMultiple flood warnings remain in place across the south of England following heavy rainfall on Thursday.The Environment Agency (EA) has issued flood warnings and alerts for Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Dorset, along with numerous flood alerts in Oxfordshire and Berkshire.Travellers are being urged to check their your route before setting off, allow plenty of extra time for their journey and to avoid…

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Reform holds on to seat in Cornwall Council by-election

Reform holds on to seat in Cornwall Council by-election

Seb NobleCornwall political reporter, St Columb MinorBBCBy-election winner Heinz Glanville, centre, with Reform UK Cornwall's Paul Ashton, left, and Roger TarrantReform UK have held on to a seat on Cornwall Council in a tightly fought by-election.Heinz Glanville was elected as the new member for the St Columb Minor and Colan division.He secured 408 votes to finish ahead of Independent candidate John Fitter who polled 325, with the Liberal Democrats finishing third on 296. The by-election was called after…

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Boys, 7 and 9, among five in hospital after Sherborne crash

Boys, 7 and 9, among five in hospital after Sherborne crash

Two boys, a woman and two men are in hospital following a two-vehicle crash in Dorset.The collision, involving a white Range Rover and a blue Renault Clio, happened on the A30 between Castle Town Way and Oborne Road just east of Sherborne on Thursday shortly before 21:15 GMT.Dorset Police said the boys, aged 7 and 9, and a woman in her 30s were taken to hospital by air ambulance. A man in his 30s was also taken to…

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Horse racing workers preparing for busy Christmas

Horse racing workers preparing for busy Christmas

Onyi UbadighaWest of EnglandBBCDaily jobs still have to continue over the festive period at a horse racing yard Workers at a horse racing yard are preparing for one of their busiest times of year. With 32 country-wide fixtures between Christmas and New Years Day, workers have said the public "never see" how much effort goes on behind the scene.At David Pipe's yard in Somerset, workers face freezing early starts and time away from their loved ones. Mr Pipe…

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Somerset pubs ‘facing closure’ over business rate rise

Somerset pubs ‘facing closure’ over business rate rise

Michelle RuminskiSomerset Political ReporterMillie CowardMillie and Jon Coward, the owners of the Bell Inn in Wiveliscombe, say they don't know where they will find an extra £500 a week to pay their future business rates bill A pub owner has said she is genuinely worried how she will keep her doors open as she anticipates a tripling in her business rates following the Autumn Budget. Millie Coward, who owns four pubs in Somerset, said she is anticipating the…

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