People in the South West are being encouraged to get a spring Covid-19 vaccination. NHS England South West said more than half of people who were invited for the booster in the region had not taken up the offer. People who are eligible for the Covid-19 vaccination include those who are aged 75 and over...
A man who started a job at Waitrose at the age of 80 is still working there aged 94 – and said he has no plans to retire. John Shipton has been described as a “local legend” and a “national treasure” by colleagues at the Exeter branch of the supermarket. He said he had been...
A man has been jailed for 13 years for raping and sexually assaulting a woman. Christian Dodd, 46, was arrested in August 2022 after police received a report of rape. A jury at Truro Crown Court found Dodd, previously of Cliff Road, Falmouth, Cornwall, guilty of one count of rape of a woman and one...
John Danks BBC News, Devon BBC Lydia was originally built in 1925 A luxury railway carriage used on the train that carried Winston Churchill during World War Two has undergone restoration work in Devon. The Pullman coach, named Lydia and originally built in 1925, has been in the workshop at the South Devon Railway in...
The Environment Agency has begun its weekly sampling of water at 155 monitored beaches and river bathing sites in Devon and Cornwall. Sampling will continue until the end of September, with updates available on the Swimfo website, it said. Samples are tested for harmful bacteria such as E. Coli and intestinal enterococci. The agency said...
A biker riding a Harley Davidson motorbike has died after a collision with a parked car in Devon. The crash happened at Beaford, near Great Torrington, at 17:50 BST on Thursday. Devon and Cornwall Police said the rider, a man in his 60s from Barnstaple, suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. The force...
Kevin Hay BBC News, South West BBC Stephen Keighley swapped sharp suits for “tatty clothes” after walking away from the hustle and bustle of city life Flashy cars, a prestige job and plenty of money – high-flying estate Stephen Keighley had it all. Underneath, he knew “something was badly wrong”. “One morning I was driving...
Bradley Gerrard Local Democracy Reporting Service BBC East Devon District Council rejected the plans for near Axminster Plans to build a lithium battery storage facility in East Devon have been rejected. Clearstone Energy had asked for permission to build and operate the battery energy storage system (BESS) south of Hazelhurst Raymonds Hill in Axminster. However,...
Elliot Ball BBC News, South West BBC The Devon County Show will be held between 15 and 17 May More than 95,000 people are expected to attend the Devon County Show during the three-day event, organisers say. The 129th show runs from Thursday until Saturday and will be held at Westpoint arena, near Exeter. According...
Youngsters are set to splash into summer, with Exeter’s popular water play facilities preparing to reopen. The much-loved paddling pools at Heavitree Pleasure Ground and the fun-filled St Thomas Splash Pad are set to open up again on Friday 23 May. It means that with warm weather arriving early, families across the city will soon...
Elliot Ball BBC News, South West David White BBC Radio Devon Handout Rev Thomas has urged people to call the police if they see anything relating to the stolen lecture topper A hand-carved wooden eagle has been stolen from a church in Devon. Rev Andrew Thomas, of St Paul’s in Yelverton, said the sculpture was...
“It’s been pretty much life-changing, I’d say.” Identical twins Harry and Alfie, from Devon, both dream of becoming professional darts players after being inspired by teenage darts sensation Luke Littler, who became the youngest winner of the PDC World Championship in January. They go to Teignbridge Darts Academy in Newton Abbot – one of seven...
Jonathan Morris & Scott Bingham BBC News, South West BBC Bottled water was handed out to residents by South West Water People in the south Devon fishing town of Brixham remember 15 May 2024 for all the wrong reasons. That was date the UK Health Security Agency confirmed the parasite cryptosporidium was present in tap...
With 100 days to go until the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 kicks off, excitement is building up and down the country. Exeter is a host city for the prestigious tournament, and fans now have another chance to secure their tickets for all matches, including seven games at Exeter’s Sandy Park. The record-breaking tournament has...
Miles Davis BBC Devon political reporter Getty Children in Devon experiencing abuse and neglect were particularly at risk, Ofsted found Children in Devon are “at risk of harm” due to continued failings in council services, a report has found. The Ofsted report into children’s services at Devon County Council rated the council as “inadequate” and...