Second deliberate fire at former Exeter police station

A former police station and magistrates' court building is thought to have been targeted by arsonists for the second time in a week, according to emergency services.Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said it was called to the blaze at the disused building on Heavitree Road, in Exeter, at 21:42 GMT on Thursday where two fires were found in different parts of the property. A fire at the same building took place on Monday night.The service said…

Continue ReadingSecond deliberate fire at former Exeter police station

Devon community food boxes ‘selling out within minutes’

BBCMelissa Trudgill: "Sometimes we sell out within 10 minutes"Families of school pupils are getting help with the cost of living through a community food box scheme. Called the Green Box Project, it is based at Okehampton Primary School in Devon and involves volunteers taking surplus food from the charity FareShare South West and packing supplies into boxes which are then sold to parents.Organisers said the project, which sees about £20 worth of food sold for £2.50, said they…

Continue ReadingDevon community food boxes ‘selling out within minutes’

Watchdog orders improvements at Dawlish mental health unit

Getty ImagesInspectors found "inconsistent care planning and risk management" at the Langdon Hospital wardsAn NHS trust has been told to take immediate action after inspectors found regulation breaches at a mental health unit.The Care Quality Commission (CQC) carried out an unannounced inspection in April of the wards at Langdon Hospital in Dawlish, Devon, following concerns over the safety of people using the service.The watchdog said the forensic inpatient and secure wards at the site, run by Devon Partnership…

Continue ReadingWatchdog orders improvements at Dawlish mental health unit

Chile snowstorm survivor says they had to help themselves

George Thorpe and Angela Kalwaites,South WestBBCChristian Aldridge said staff at the park did not take requests for help seriouslySurvivors of a snowstorm in Patagonia which killed five people including a British woman have said local authorities did not offer enough help.Victoria Bond, 40, from Cornwall, was among those killed in the tourist hotspot of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile.Christian Aldridge, who was part of the hiking group, said they had to organise their own rescue party…

Continue ReadingChile snowstorm survivor says they had to help themselves

New ice warning for Cornwall as snow falls across South West

Princetown Primary Community SchoolGritters have been out overnight as snowfall has been reported at locations across the South WestA new weather warning for ice has been issued for Cornwall, as both the county and parts of Devon were hit by snow and ice.Devon County Council said Princetown Community Primary School was shut due to low staff numbers as a result of the weather conditions.Callywith College in Cornwall said "no lessons" would take place and buses had been suspended…

Continue ReadingNew ice warning for Cornwall as snow falls across South West

Bradley Ibrahim: Plymouth Argyle midfielder ‘out for months’ after ankle injury

Plymouth Argyle midfielder Bradley Ibrahim will be out "for months" after suffering a "significant ankle injury".The 21-year-old summer signing from Hertha Berlin has been one of the bright spots in a difficult season for the Pilgrims.He has played 18 times for the club, scoring six goals after joining for an undisclosed fee in June."It was a freak incident where his studs have got caught in the ground and he received a contact," head coach Tom Cleverley told BBC…

Continue ReadingBradley Ibrahim: Plymouth Argyle midfielder ‘out for months’ after ankle injury

Petition launched after flooded Tarka Line issues

Alison StephensonLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceDavid SmithNorth Devon MP, Ian Roome, launched the petitionA petition has been launched after commuters faced more than a week of train cancellations due to flooding. North Devon MP, Ian Roome, who launched the petition, said ongoing problems on the Tarka Line, in Devon, were "totally unacceptable" and residents had been left with "a second class service".Earlier in November, rail passengers and campaigners called for change on the line due to delays, cancellations, flooding,…

Continue ReadingPetition launched after flooded Tarka Line issues

Snowfall and icy roads in parts of Devon and Cornwall

Snow has fallen across parts of Devon and Cornwall, with icy roads and heavy hail showers reported.A Met Office yellow weather warning for snow and ice is in force across Cornwall and parts of Devon until 23:59.Icy road conditions have been reported on the A30 in the Temple area, and heavy hail showers have caused tricky conditions in Fraddon.Snow has been reported in Bodmin, Camelford, Tavistock, Princetown, Okehampton and Plympton.Councils sent gritters out overnight, and drivers have been…

Continue ReadingSnowfall and icy roads in parts of Devon and Cornwall

Plymouth Argyle: What has gone wrong at struggling League One side?

Wayne Rooney. The former England captain turned the spotlight on Home Park in the summer of 2024 when he was named as Foster's permanent successor.That was despite having a torrid spell as Birmingham City boss the season before as they went from a play-off place to finishing a point behind the Pilgrims in the final relegation spot. He won just four games and left on New Year's Eve as a club that had been hailed for their foresight…

Continue ReadingPlymouth Argyle: What has gone wrong at struggling League One side?

Disabled man frustrated over parking system in Plymouth

Cameron WeldonDevon , PlymouthBBCRoger Galloway said he did not "understand the logic" around the parking systemA disabled pensioner from Plymouth has described a council's parking system as "ludicrous" for blue badge holders.Roger Galloway, 78, parked at the Napier Terrace car park in Mutley, which offers two hours free parking, but did not realise he needed to put his registration number into the machine, so received a £50 fine. He said car parks in the city were "not consistent",…

Continue ReadingDisabled man frustrated over parking system in Plymouth

Riders say they were sold unsafe or ‘death trap’ vehicles

Nathan Heath,BBC West Investigations and Rachel Stonehouse,BBC West InvestigationsBBCA mechanic found expanding foam was painted to disguise structural issues on the horsebox Ceylone Fletcher bought from Southwest HorseboxesYoung horse riders say they have lost thousands of pounds and had their lives put at risk after being sold dangerous and unusable horseboxes.Customers who bought vehicles from Southwest Horseboxes Ltd claim they broke down at speed, filled with smoke or had wheels detach while moving, with one vehicle being described…

Continue ReadingRiders say they were sold unsafe or ‘death trap’ vehicles

Allied Pharmacies take over dozens of Jhoots branches

Dawn Limbu, Sarah Turnnidge and Carys Nally,West of England BBCAllied Pharmacies has taken over 60 former Jhoots branchesDozens of pharmacies which had been repeatedly and unexpectedly closed have been taken over by a different firm.There were calls for some Jhoots pharmacies to lose their NHS rights and be shut down amid claims its locum workers were owed hundreds of thousands of pounds in unpaid wages.The affected branches also faced allegations of operational failures including a failure to maintain…

Continue ReadingAllied Pharmacies take over dozens of Jhoots branches