devon

Barnstaple museum exhibition celebrates North Devon innovation

An exhibition has opened in Barnstaple to showcase North Devon's growing reputation for innovation and technology.Northern Devon Innovates, which opened at the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon, said it would focus on local businesses developing products and ideas for global markets.The exhibition includes case studies of companies like AutoNaut, Ecotribo and Krempel to show that there is more to the region than "agriculture and farming".Alison Mills, director of the museum, said the exhibition was due to run…

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RNLI lifeguards return to South West beaches for half-term

RNLI lifeguards in the South West have returned to some beaches for the school half-term holiday.It said lifeguards would patrol 23 beaches across Devon, Cornwall and Jersey for the half-term period from Saturday, 25 October until Sunday, 2 November.Henry Saddler-Irvine, RNLI regional lifeguard lead for the South West, said "conditions can be challenging at this time of year" with autumn storms "bringing large swells and an increased risk to people on the coast". The RNLI said lifeguards would…

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Somerset road car ban to be made permanent due to coastal erosion

Somerset road car ban to be made permanent due to coastal erosion

Daniel MumbyLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceBBCThe B3191 Cleeve Hill has been closed to vehicles since January 2023A ban on cars travelling on a key coastal road will be made permanent over fears of coastal erosion.The B3191 Cleeve Hill, which links Watchet to Blue Anchor in Somerset, closed to traffic in 2023 but reopened to pedestrians and cyclists in the spring of 2024.Somerset Council confirmed on Friday the closure would become permanent from 31 October, despite 1,000 local residents objecting…

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Fresh row over work on 1,200-home Wolborough site in Newton Abbot

Fresh row over work on 1,200-home Wolborough site in Newton Abbot

Miles DavisDevon political reporter, Newton AbbotBBCPeter Sadler from Vistry Homes says everything it is doing is within planning rulesA developer has denied claims it may be in breach of planning controls by starting infrastructure work on a controversial scheme for 1,200 homes in Devon.Teignbridge District Council previously issued a stop notice to Vistry Homes in April which has now expired and the developer has restarted work on the Wolborough site in Newton Abbot.The council is "urgently seeking further…

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Devon massage therapist jailed for sexually assaulting patients

Devon massage therapist jailed for sexually assaulting patients

BBCIan Nicholls, 64, has been jailed for four years for sexually assaulting womenA massage therapist has been jailed for four years for sexually assaulting three women who were his clients.Ian Nicholls, 64, took advantage of the naked or partially clothed women as he gave them massages at his rented workplace in Newton Abbot, Devon, between 2018 and 2021.A jury convicted Nicholls four counts of sexual assault at an earlier trial.Judge David Evans said the three women suffered "real…

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Team reach South West in military field gun charity challenge

Team reach South West in military field gun charity challenge

BBCThe Military vs Cancer team has reached the South West as part of its challenge to pull a field gun across BritainA team who have pulled a one tonne field gun across Britain for a charity challenge are heading towards the end of their journey.Hundreds of people dragged the artillery cannon from John O'Groats in Scotland to Land's End in Cornwall to raise money for Military vs Cancer, who support military personal, veterans or their families affected by…

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Sixty tonne ‘bargain boat’ sunk by coastguard following rescue

Sixty tonne ‘bargain boat’ sunk by coastguard following rescue

Rebecca RicksSouth West Investigationsskyflicksmedia.comThe Faithful, pictured after a refit several years ago, is now a wreck off the Devon coast after being sold for £1 when it became 'abandoned' in 2024A £1 dream of a life on the ocean ended up underwater when two boats were sunk by authorities after drifting for days in shipping lanes.There is a growing issue with abandoned boats, which are left for councils and harbours to try to deal with - some offering…

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Devon otter charity raises thousands to help relocate

Devon otter charity raises thousands to help relocate

Caroline RobinsonSouth WestUK Wild Otter TrustThe UK Wild Otter Trust was given six months to relocate its rescue and rehabilitation centre.An otter charity has raised more than £30,000 to relocate its rescue and rehabilitation centre.The UK Wild Otter Trust, which cares for hundreds of otter cubs every year at its current base at Umberleigh in north Devon, had been given six months to leave the site.It set a fundraising target of £15,000 to dismantle, move and rebuild the…

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Devon church collects 500 Christmas presents for shoebox appeal

Devon church collects 500 Christmas presents for shoebox appeal

Caroline Robinson,Devon and Hattie McCann,DevonBBCVolunteers packed and checked the boxes Five-hundred shoeboxes have been filled with Christmas presents for children in Eastern European countries. Volunteers at St Mary's Church, in Brixham, Devon, have packed and checked boxes filled with toys, toiletries, clothing and other presents. The boxes will be be taken to Ukraine and Moldova by Christian Response, a charity based in Exmouth. Volunteer Lindsay Williams said: "They're going to children who otherwise wouldn't have Christmas." The boxes…

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Akeel Higgins: Exeter City loanee shows ‘undoubted talent’ in Devon derby win

Akeel Higgins: Exeter City loanee shows ‘undoubted talent’ in Devon derby win

Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell says Akeel Higgins showed his quality, after his first senior goal in the Devon derby win over Plymouth Argyle.The 20-year-old, who is on loan at Exeter from West Bromwich Albion, made just his second first-team start against the Pilgrims.He responded with an excellent finish in the second half to seal the 2-0 victory and earn the Grecians a first win over their biggest rivals in six years."He has been building, he's been a…

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Pharmacies in Devon ‘buckling under pressure’ amid closures

Pharmacies in Devon ‘buckling under pressure’ amid closures

Jen Smith,South West health correspondent and Jonathan Morris,DevonBBCPharmacist Nali Nouri said his team handled 24,000 items a monthPharmacists have said they are struggling to cope with the pressure following a series of closures amid a lack of funding for the service. Figures from the National Pharmacy Association show Plymouth has the seventh highest pharmacy closure rate in the country.Nali Nouri, owner of Speedwell Pharmacy in Estover, said his team handled 24,000 items a month, making it one of…

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Tom Cleverley: Plymouth Argyle boss to target defence after Devon derby defeat

Argyle's attacking threat has not been helped by injuries to high-profile summer signings Xavier Amaechi and Caleb Watts.While striker Lorent Tolaj has impressed in recent weeks, he was limited to few chances at St James Park as Exeter impressively cut the supply to the Swiss striker. Aside from the impressive 4-0 win at Burton Albion, Argyle have failed to score in two of their last five League One games, and scored once in the two others - with…

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