A support group for people with brain injuries in East Devon is hoping to expand its numbers after a successful first six months, leaders say.Minds over Matter runs once a month in a pub in Ottery St Mary and is set up to be a social club with cake, music and, most importantly, games.The group was set up to not only be for people with such injuries, but also their family members, carers, and friends and in an…
Kirk EnglandSouth West environment and tourism correspondentBBCWill Luke created a pond on his farm near Plymouth to help improve resilience to drought and floodingRainwater used to surge through Will Luke's dairy farm whenever there was a downpour.He used to watch it flow away but concerns over "drier and drier" summers led him to build a storage pond allowing him to put that water to use - particularly for livestock."Once it leaves the farm, it's no good to me,"…
Cameron Weldon andRichard GreenSouth WestSouth Western RailwayThe Department for Transport said £360 million has been invested to renew and enhance railway infrastructure to help keep trains on timePassengers travelling on a renationalised rail service have voiced frustrations after service numbers were reduced.Commuters on the line between Exeter St Davids to London Waterloo said they had endured delays, cancellations, reduced capacity and overcrowding.South Western Railway (SWR) announced in August following a period of dry weather services between the stations…
Torbay CouncilTorbay Council said entering Oldway Mansion was "illegal and extremely dangerous"Damage caused by a series of break-ins at a historic building will cost thousands of pounds to fix, according to a council.Torbay Council said trespassers broke into Oldway Mansion in Paignton and caused damage which placed "further strain on an already stretched restoration budget".The council said visitors were still welcome to visit the grounds of the site but it asked them to respect the site boundaries and…
A man has been arrested after another man was threatened with an air rifle in a road rage incident outside a McDonald's.Devon and Cornwall Police said it was reported the man was threatened outside the restaurant at Liverton Business Park in Exmouth, Devon, at about 11:30 BST on Saturday.A man in his 20s from Plymouth was arrested outside a nearby property on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. Officers said he was…
Gary Caldwell says his Exeter City side deserved something from their 1-0 loss at high-flying Stockport County.Nathan Lowe's first-half goal was enough to separate the sides, with County just a point off the top of League One. Exeter had more possession and more touches in the opposition box, but could not find a way to convert any of their chances as they slipped to 19th in League One."I don't think we deserved to get beat," Caldwell told BBC…
Plymouth Argyle boss Tom Cleverley says his side have to be more defensively solid after their 2-1 loss at home to AFC Wimbledon.The Pilgrims took an early lead through Lorent Tolaj, but goals either side of half-time saw the Dons leave Devon with three points.It was the second successive game that Argyle have given up a lead at home after the 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic.The defeat - Argyle's seventh in 12 League One games - sees the…
A kitten has been rescued from a police vehicle in Devon after a "faint meow" was heard coming from the engine.Officers based at Crownhill Police Station in Plymouth noticed the noise while driving one of the force's response vehicles.The vehicle was then taken to a garage, where the female kitten was found deep within the wheel arch.The kitten, name yet to be confirmed but who was estimated to be about two-days-old, was given the once-over and found to…
BBCPupils being taught IT (Information Technology) at Castlebridge School, TavistockA new state-funded school catering for children with Autism and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) has recently opened in Devon to try to improve access in the county to special needs education.Castlebridge in Tavistock currently has 12 pupils, but that will rise to 30.It is the first part of a much bigger school which is due open its main site at Ivybridge in 2027, catering for another 125 pupils.Devon…
Briohny WilliamsSouth WestBBCSix female water buffalo have been introduced to Tattiscombe on ExmoorWater buffalo have been introduced to an area of west Exmoor in a project which aims to restore agricultural land to its original state. The National Trust said six female buffalo were on a 120-acre (49-hectare) site at Tattiscombe in north Devon with the intention of turning farmland back into wild wetlands.It said the buffalo were known as "wetland architects" because they used their hooves to…
Getty ImagesSouth Western Railway operates services in London, Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset and WiltshireAn estimated £45.5m of annual revenue is being lost from passengers not paying for tickets, South Western Railway (SWR) has said.The data was released after a campaign group submitted a Freedom of Information request to SWR, which said the overall rate of ticketless travel was about 3.9%.The rail operator runs services in London, Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset and Wiltshire.An SWR spokesperson…
Plans to increase parking charges across Devon by up to 50% are being challenged.The Liberal Democrat cabinet member for Highways at Devon County Council, Dan Thomas, signed off the decision in September to increase on-street charges.But now six Liberal Democrat councillors have banded together to challenge the decision, questioning the need for price hikes "when traders are struggling and businesses are closing".The decision will be reviewed and discussed by the corporate, infrastructure and regulatory services scrutiny committee on…