county news

Police investigate unexplained death in Poole

Police investigate unexplained death in Poole

Police are carrying out house-to-house enquiries following the sudden death of an elderly woman.Dorset Police officers were called to an address in Higher Blandford Road in Poole on Monday at 16:52 GMT where a cordon still remains.The death of the woman, who was in her 80s, is being treated as unexplained. Her next of kin have been informed.Police said there would be an increased police presence in the area, and that enquiries were being carried out "to establish…

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Cornwall farm says trees are for life

Cornwall farm says trees are for life

Christine ButlerandClare Ainsworth,CornwallLandscapes of DistinctionKim Parrish of Christmas Tree Hire Cornwall said many people wanted to have the same tree they rented the previous yearFamilies concerned about festive waste are fostering living Christmas trees which "grow with their children", a horticulturalist has said. Kim Parrish, who runs Christmas Tree Hire Cornwall, said people even named the trees they hired for the festivities before returning them to her farm.Ms Parrish said many people wanted to have the same tree…

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Small firms in south west named among UK’s ‘most inspiring’

Small firms in south west named among UK’s ‘most inspiring’

Small Business Saturday UKDave and Karen Meadows of PUSHED are among the businesses highlighted in the Small Business Saturday campaign Two companies in the south west have been highlighted for their innovation and contribution to the community as part of Small Business Saturday (SBS).The event on Saturday, December 6, encourages the nation to show its support for independent firms by "spending locally and shopping small".The campaign said it was showcasing "100 brilliant small businesses across the country".The small…

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Runner’s 12 marathons after family deaths from pancreatic cancer

Runner’s 12 marathons after family deaths from pancreatic cancer

Beth CruseWest of EnglandPeter DunlopPeter Dunlop (L) set out on a mammoth challenge after losing his mum to pancreatic cancerA man running 12 marathons in memory of his mum who died from pancreatic cancer said his uncle's sudden death from the same disease "only spurred me on".Peter Dunlop, 40, from Taunton in Somerset, set out to run a marathon each month this year to symbolise the time he had with his mum, Jane, 63, after her diagnosis. Halfway…

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Weymouth Harbour faces two fuel spills in one day

Weymouth Harbour faces two fuel spills in one day

A harbour has faced a series of a series of fuel spills this season including two separate incidents on the same day, which were swiftly contained by staff.One of the leaks at Weymouth Harbour on 18 November originated from a newly installed fuel facility at the site, which remains out of service following the incident. The second occurred during final testing of the new fuel pontoon's payment system, when an underwater pipe failed, releasing diesel into the water.…

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Woman’s 100th birthday marked with giant redwood tree in Cornwall

Woman’s 100th birthday marked with giant redwood tree in Cornwall

Trebah GardensSylvia Weatherhead's family have dedicated a redwood in her name to mark her 100th birthdayA family has marked a relative's 100th birthday by dedicating a large tree in her name at a garden in Cornwall.Sylvia Weatherhead's family members visited Trebah Garden, in Mawnan Smith, near Falmouth, to mark the occasion with a coastal redwood tree which they adopted for her birthday.Bosses at the site said Mrs Weatherhead, who turned 100 on 7 November, moved to the area…

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Mum’s illness inspires Devon girl, 5, to take on 5k Santa run

Mum’s illness inspires Devon girl, 5, to take on 5k Santa run

Ellis RussellMaddie is taking part in a 5k Santa run to raise money for Crohn's and ColitisA five-year-old girl is set to take part in a 5k (3.1 mile) Santa run to help people suffering from the same illness as her mum.Maddie is to take on the Exeter City Santa Run for the charity Crohn's and Colitis on Sunday, and said: "I want to raise money so I can help poorly people like mummy to get better."Her mother,…

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‘Awful situation’ as people unable to return home after fire

‘Awful situation’ as people unable to return home after fire

Georgia Eadie,West of EnglandandMel Everett,BBC SomersetBBCAn investigation is under way into the cause of a fire at a block of flats on WednesdayResidents say they feel "disheartened" that they may not be able to return home for Christmas after a fire ripped through a block of flats.People living in nine flats have been moved into temporary accommodation in hotels following the blaze on Marigold Road in Frome on Wednesday night.No one was seriously injured and an investigation into…

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Two men jailed over Taser attack outside Cornwall pub

Two men jailed over Taser attack outside Cornwall pub

Two men have been jailed for attacking a man and a woman with scaffolding bars and a 30,000 volt Taser.Nikita Trembath, 32, of Permarin Road, Penryn, and Matthew Cunningham, 41, of Hilgrove Road, Newquay, were sentenced at Truro Crown Court.The court heard the men had attacked a man and a woman with various weapons outside the Seven Stars pub in Penryn at about 15.45 BST on Tuesday 15 July, leaving the female victim with a head injury and…

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Five men in court charged with murder of man in Exmouth

Five men in court charged with murder of man in Exmouth

Five men have appeared in court jointly charged with the murder of a 24-year old man.Denva Smith died from a single stab wound and was found in the garden of a property in Ashfield Close, Exmouth in Devon on 31 May.Dylan Chadwick, 23, of Cambourne Avenue, St Helens, Merseyside, Ben Mason, 23, of no fixed abode, and Ben Helliker, 26, of Halsdon Road, Exmouth, pleaded not guilty to the murder when they appeared at Exeter Crown Court on…

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Community key for pubs to stay open, say Cornwall landlords

Community key for pubs to stay open, say Cornwall landlords

George Thorpe,South WestandHelen Munro Berry,CornwallBBCMoth and Moon landlord Matt Reay said good pubs are "integral" to the communityPub owners have said being aware of what their community wants is the key to staying open.Concerns were recently raised about the impact the Budget would have on the hospitality industry due to changes in rateable values, used to calculate a venue's business rate, which could lead to traders having to pay more from April.A HM Treasury spokesperson said the government…

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