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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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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Missing lifeboat washes up on Devon beach

A lifeboat that washed off a cargo ship has come ashore on a Devon beach.HM Coastguard said teams were first alerted to the container ship lifeboat at Sidmouth Beach at about 07:30 GMT on Sunday.It said the lifeboat had previously been reported as missing from a known cargo ship on Wednesday and teams had been tracking it since but were unaware of where it was going to wash up.Beer Coastguard Rescue Team was sent to help secure the…

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Plans to create a public car park in Parkham submitted

Plans have been submitted for a new public car park aimed at addressing traffic issues in a north Devon village. Parkham Parish Council proposed developing land next to The Allardice Hall to provide a 34-space car park along with an amenity area.The plans, submitted to Torridge District Council, were supported by the local school, residents and the badminton club, which said hall users and the wider village would benefit significantly.In a letter to planners, Parkham Primary School said…

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Drivers in Truro warned over ‘morning after’ drink-driving

Police in Cornwall have been stopping motorists as part of a 'morning after' drink-drive operation which is taking place over the Christmas season.Officers set up a roadside site in Truro to pull in vehicles and carry out breath tests on drivers. A total of 20 drivers were tested over a 90-minute period and all of them produced a negative result.PC Dave Langley, road casualty reduction officer for Cornwall, said: "If you drink the night before, chances are you're…

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Improvement works to Devon King Charles III coast path completed

Caroline RobinsonSouth WestDevon County CouncilThe route was cleared for the new path at Downend Croyde in DevonImprovements to two sections forming part of the King Charles III Coast Path (KCIIIECP) being created to go around the whole of England, have been completed.The sections on both Devon coasts cover more than 150 miles in total, and the works include upgraded walkways, landscaping and habitat improvements, Natural England said.The works form part of a national programme to create a coastal…

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Plan to reignite New Year’s Eve celebrations in Newquay

Newquay Business Improvement DistrictNewquay BID said it was inviting residents, visitors and returning holidaymakers to embrace the traditionA five-year plan has been launched to bring back the "electric atmosphere" to a town that used to be widely known for its New Year's Eve celebrations.Newquay Business Improvement District (BID) said it would work with businesses to "co-ordinate enhanced New Year's Eve activities and encourage town-wide participation".It said it was launching the Great Newquay Pub Fancy Dress Competition where bars,…

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Exeter Digest #95: Libraries funding cuts – Heavitree Road student blocks – Exeter College merger – Hospital doctors strike – Topsham gap development

HEADLINESDevon County Council funding cuts set to reduce core library opening hours by 30%Public consultation on changes explores possibility of closing some branches altogether despite claims to the contrary while Libraries Unlimited contract extension decision scheduled for six weeks before consultation ends. Read more.Exeter City Council adds 813 more student and “co-living” beds to city “housing” supply with Heavitree Road approvalComplex of seven blocks up to six storeys tall on site of police station and magistrates court to…

Continue ReadingExeter Digest #95: Libraries funding cuts – Heavitree Road student blocks – Exeter College merger – Hospital doctors strike – Topsham gap development

Paul Wotton: Torquay United boss ‘angry’ after 2-1 loss at AFC Totton

Torquay United boss Paul Wotton says he felt he was "wasting his breath" in his side's 1-0 loss at 10-man AFC Totton.Brandon Haunstrup got the only goal of the game shortly before half time for the hosts. He was sent off shortly before the hour mark for a second booking and the Gulls won a penalty soon after which Jordan Young fired over the bar.The Gulls failed to capitalise on a number of chances as they lost for…

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Devon County Council funding cuts set to reduce core library opening hours by 30%

Devon County Council library service funding cuts are expected to reduce the core staffed opening hours of the county’s libraries from a total of just under 1,300 hours each week to just under 915 hours each week, a fall of nearly 30%.The cuts are expected to affect 43 of Devon’s 50 libraries, four of which are in Exeter.The county council has outsourced the provision of library services, which it has a statutory duty to provide, to Libraries Unlimited,…

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South Devon residents urged to lock doors after house thefts

People are being urged by police to lock their doors overnight after incidents where car keys and personal items have been taken from homes. Devon and Cornwall Police said homes across south Devon including Torquay, Newton Abbot, Teignmouth and Paignton had been targeted.The force said officers had made several arrests in relation to burglary and vehicle theft, with some offenders already convicted and facing sentencing next year.Det Sgt Jason Parsons, from south Devon criminal investigation department (CID) team,…

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