devon

Licence review for Exeter’s Timepiece nightclub over spike claim

Licence review for Exeter’s Timepiece nightclub over spike claim

Miles DavisDevon political reporterBBCThe family of a young woman who allegedly had her drink spiked are applying for Timepiece in Exeter to have its licence reviewedA student who allegedly had her drink spiked in Freshers' Week is calling for a nightclub to have its licence reviewed.Documents set to be reviewed by Exeter City Council's licensing sub-committee said staff at Timepiece failed to call an ambulance and told the woman to move away from the club on 20 September.Staff…

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Traders say A382 closure in Newton Abbot has hampered sales

Traders say A382 closure in Newton Abbot has hampered sales

Plants GalorePlants Galore owner Tony Joyner said turnover at the Newton Abbot store had fallen by 34%Business owners said they have experienced a drop in sales since a two-year roadworks project started.The A382, which connects Newton Abbot to the A38, has been closed since September as part of Devon County Council's (DCC) scheme to improve safety, ease congestion and boost options for walkers and cyclists.Tony Joyner, owner of the Plants Galore garden centre just off the A382, said…

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Devon man to shave moustache off after 50 years

Devon man to shave moustache off after 50 years

Rob EwenRob Ewen from Okehampton first grew his moustache in 1975A man who has been growing his moustache for 50 years is planning to shave it off to raise money for charity.Rob Ewen, from Okehampton, Devon, said he first grew his moustache in 1975 when he completed his Royal Marines training to make him look older and because it was fashionable at the time.Mr Ewen said he was raising money for The Royal Marines Charity and for men's…

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Barnstaple charity helping children cope with grief

Barnstaple charity helping children cope with grief

BBCLauren, 13, has received help from Barnstaple-based charity Families in Grief after her grandparents diedA girl said a Children in Need-backed charity has helped her deal with grief and regain confidence.Following the loss of her grandparents, Lauren, 13, received support from Families in Grief, who work with children, young people and their families who have experienced the death of a loved one.The Barnstaple charity has received a £105,000 grant, split over three years, from Children in Need to…

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Appeal after serious sexual assault in Sidmouth park

Appeal after serious sexual assault in Sidmouth park

Police are investigating a report of a serious sexual assault on a woman in Devon. Devon and Cornwall Police said the woman was assaulted by a man in The Byes, Sidmouth. The victim is being supported by specially trained officers and witnesses have been asked to come forward.Police said the incident happened at about 23:30 GMT on Sunday. Officers are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time or anyone with information to assist the…

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Plan for three mobile saunas at Blackpool Sands rejected

Plan for three mobile saunas at Blackpool Sands rejected

A plan to put mobile saunas on a Devon beach has been rejected.South Hams District Council's Development Control Committee heard it would be a "dereliction of duty" to allow the saunas at Blackpool Sands.Sea Kayak Devon and the Blackpool Start Partnership already have one sauna on the sands and had applied to replace it with three new pods - which would have been visible from the road and coast path.Planning officers believed the benefits of the saunas would…

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Cottage approved after unlawful demolition

Cottage approved after unlawful demolition

Miles DavisDevon political reporterBBCSome of the work that was carried out at Singleton Gardens in April exceeded the planning consentA stop notice was issued by Torbay Council after demolition work was carried out at the siteTorbay Council's planning committee heard this was the latest in a series of applications made for the site on Meadfoot Sea Road in the Wellswood area of Torquay.Mike Cowdery from the Torquay Neighbourhood Forum said the latest planning application did "nothing but sow…

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‘I’ve given seven babies to other families and do not regret it’

‘I’ve given seven babies to other families and do not regret it’

Jen SmithSouth West health correspondentEmma PilarzEmma Pilarz has had nine children - seven of them for other peopleEmma Pilarz is a mother-of-two from Barnstaple in Devon. But she has given birth nine times – seven of the babies were for other people. She is one of a handful of surrogates across the south-west of England who have been telling the BBC why they chose to become a surrogate as the practice comes under increasing scrutiny."I'd had my two…

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Devon teenager supports legal challenge to ban phones at school

Devon teenager supports legal challenge to ban phones at school

A Devon teenager has joined two fathers seeking to legally challenge government guidance on phones in schools.In July, Will Orr-Ewing and Pete Montgomery announced they would be seeking a judicial review of government guidance as part of a campaign to get smartphones banned in schools.Flossie said she believed the Department for Education had failed to protect her and other children from harm inflicted from mobile phones during the school day.The 17-year-old said using smartphones "completely changed" her life…

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Yellow warning as heavy rain and strong winds to hit south west

Yellow warning as heavy rain and strong winds to hit south west

Heavy rain and strong winds are set to hit Devon, Cornwall and Somerset on Tuesday, causing "difficult driving conditions", the Met Office has said.The yellow warning for rain predicts the downpours will become heavier and more persistent by the afternoon.It said the rain would be accompanied by a "strengthening southerly wind" with gales developing, and rainfall continuing into Wednesday.The Met Office said people should expect flooding, and for bus and train services to be affected.It said: "Given recent…

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Teenager praises Cornish project’s support

Teenager praises Cornish project’s support

BBCJessica, not her real name, thanked Konnect Communities Community Interest Company for putting her back on the right pathA teenager said a Children in Need-backed project has put her on the right path after she got into "real trouble".Jessica, 17, was referred to the Konnect Communities Community Interest Company (CIC) in Redruth, Cornwall, after starting a fire when she was 16.Konnect, which provides mentoring support for young people aged 14 and above who are involved in - or…

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New guidance for doctors treating people at risk of certain cancers

An international team of experts, including researchers from the University of Exeter, has developed new guidance to help doctors care for people who carry inherited genetic changes that increase their risk of developing certain cancers.  The guidance, published by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) in Genetics in Medicine, focuses on three genes — RAD51C, RAD51D and BRIP1 — which are linked to higher risks of ovarian cancer.  These genetic changes are being found more often as multi-gene panel testing becomes…

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