New effort to tackle Camborne’s anti-social behaviour

Caroline RobinsonSouth WestStreet Focus CamborneStreet Focus Camborne's first meeting brought together charities and businessesThe next phase of a project to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour (ASB) has launched. Street Focus Camborne's first meeting brought together charities and businesses to discuss areas of progress and what support they needed next.The project, which is run by the police and crime commissioner in collaboration with Devon and Cornwall Police and other local authorities, started its first branch in Torquay last year.The…

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Graduate innovation to detect water contamination up for national award  

An innovation designed by a University of Exeter graduate to detect contaminated water and save lives has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.   The FluoroGlow device is designed to detect Cryptosporidium in water – a parasite that can cause severe illness and even death, especially in children and vulnerable people.   Previously, it has been difficult to detect without slow laboratory-based tests. But FluoroGlow aims to change that by providing rapid and reliable results directly at the…

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Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels 2025: Youngest runner meets oldest

Dan Wareing and Andrea Ormsby,DevonBBCJessica told Les White she was "excited and a little bit nervous" for the eventWearing "a warm woolly jumper" is key to success at one of Devon's most historic traditions, according to the oldest man taking part this year.Les White, 69, will be taking part in the Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels on Wednesday evening, with up to 20,000 spectators expected.A total of 27 flaming barrels will be carried, or rolled, through the town,…

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BBC Radio Devon presenters take on three-legged challenge

BBCMichael Chequer was joined by breast cancer survivor Louise ButcherBBC radio presenters endured wind and rain on the first day of a 1,000-mile three-legged charity challenge for Children in Need.Caroline Densley and Michael Chequer from BBC Radio Devon intend to cover 12.5 miles (20.12km) over the two-day challenge. The pair have walked each mile tied to a different person, including volunteers and staff from Children in Need-funded projects.Densley, who began the challenge at Exmouth Lifeboat Station, said the…

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Ex-solicitor accused of rapes in Plymouth court and police cells

BBCSome of the alleged offences took place in the cells at Plymouth Magistrates' CourtA former criminal defence solicitor has been charged with the sexual assault and rape against eight men and a woman in the cells of a police station and a magistrates' court, a court has heard.Alan Harris, 71, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court, accused of 18 charges of indecent assault, eight charges of sexual assault, three charges of rape and one of another serious…

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Body recovered after safety work at burned house in Bideford

A body has been recovered following safety work at the scene of a property fire, police have said. A murder investigation had been launched into the fire at a terraced house on Homestone Street at around 20:30 GMT on 28 October, and a number of arrests were made.Devon and Cornwall Police said a man had remained unaccounted for and work involving structural engineers has been taking place at the scene.The body was recovered on Sunday once part of…

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Devon’s Turner Twins climb Himalayan mountain with 1920s kit

The Turner TwinsHugo (left) and Ross Turner wanted to show whether vintage climbing kit could handle the testTwin brothers have conquered a Himalayan mountain, one dressed in modern clothing, the other wearing a replica of kit worn by British explorers 100 years ago.Hugo and Ross Turner, from Christow in Devon, have taken part in a number of extreme adventures and said they wanted to see how their bodies reacted in the freezing temperatures of Mera Peak, near Everest,…

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Jobs under threat at Plymouth luxury boat builder Princess Yachts

Up to 40 jobs could be at risk at a luxury boat builder after lower than expected wholesale orders.Princess Yachts, which is based in Plymouth, Devon, said it was entering a consultation process that may lead to a "small number of redundancies".Trade union Unite said up to 40 jobs including managerial positions were at risk, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.The firm, which blamed economic and market conditions for the drop in orders, has also cut 240 jobs…

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BBC Radio Devon presenters tackling three-legged challenge

BBC radio presenters have begun their part of a 1,000 mile three-legged charity challenge for Children in Need.Caroline Densley and Michael Chequer from BBC Radio Devon intend to cover 12.5 miles (20.12km) over the two-day challenge. Chequer began in Bideford and Densley began in Exmouth earlier. They will be walking each mile tied to a different person, including volunteers and staff from Children in Need-funded projects.Open Door, Action East Devon, Taw and Torridge Voluntary Services and Home Start…

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Plymouth speed camera damaged in ‘reckless act of vandalism’

A speed camera has been damaged in a "reckless act of vandalism" that the local council said could have seriously endangered the public.Police notified Plymouth City Council that the street lighting column on Victoria Road, St Budeaux, had been damaged early on Saturday.Highways teams attended the scene, before the upper column and the speed enforcement camera was removed and the lower column made safe, the council said.The camera, which had been lent to police free of charge by…

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Man’s mission after COPD lung operation’s ‘unbelievable’ change

BBCJim Shaylor said he would recommend the procedure "100%"A Devon man who was one of the first in the country to have an operation to improve his breathing is now helping almost 50 people a week with theirs.Jim Shaylor, 74, has COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] - an incurable chronic lung condition affecting more than 1.2 million people in the UK.In 2022, he had an operation to collapse part of his lung to reduce his breathlessness, his health…

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