news

Dorset blood donor donates 100th pint dressed as Dracula’s bride

Dorset blood donor donates 100th pint dressed as Dracula’s bride

An 80-year-old woman has donated her 100th pint of blood on Halloween while dressed as Dracula's bride. Carol Verney, from Blandford in Dorset, said she invited passersby to donate as she made her way to the blood donor centre in fancy dress.With her for support was her husband Malcolm, dressed appropriately as Dracula. She said she has no plans to stop giving blood after this because of how much she enjoys the feeling of helping other people. BBC…

Continue ReadingDorset blood donor donates 100th pint dressed as Dracula’s bride

Community group a step closer to buying Shepton Mallet theatre

Community group a step closer to buying Shepton Mallet theatre

Emma Britton,BBC Radio Somerset and Chris Lockyer,SomersetBBCThe Amulet theatre in Shepton Mallet closed in 2022A community group is a step closer to buying a disused Somerset theatre after raising more than £115,000.The Amulet in Shepton Mallet was originally a gift to the town in 1975 from the Showering family, who were famous for inventing the Babycham drink.It operated as a popular theatre and community centre for many years but closed in 2022.Martin Berkeley from the Let's Buy The…

Continue ReadingCommunity group a step closer to buying Shepton Mallet theatre

Dartmoor visitor centre shuts for final time due to rising costs

Dartmoor visitor centre shuts for final time due to rising costs

BBCThe centre will close on FridayA visitor centre on Dartmoor is set to shut for the final time.Dartmoor National Park said the closure of Princetown Visitor Centre, which is based in the Duchy Hotel, on Friday, was due to "rising costs and reduced government funding".It said the centre had served as an information and exhibition space since 1993, and added: "The focus is now on ensuring a smooth transition back to the landlord, the Duchy of Cornwall, before…

Continue ReadingDartmoor visitor centre shuts for final time due to rising costs

Charity team traverses Britain pulling field gun

Charity team traverses Britain pulling field gun

A team which has pulled a one-tonne field gun along the length of Britain for charity has reached the end of the challenge.Hundreds of people dragged the artillery cannon from John O'Groats in Scotland to Land's End in Cornwall with the aim of raising £150,000 for the charity Military vs Cancer.They finished the challenge at Land's End at 12:00 GMT on 31 October. David Bathgate, chief executive officer of Military vs Cancer, said: "This event is about showing…

Continue ReadingCharity team traverses Britain pulling field gun

Murder arrest in Truro after man, 23, found dead

Murder arrest in Truro after man, 23, found dead

A murder investigation has been launched after a 23-year-old man was found dead.Devon and Cornwall Police said officers were called to Polruan Road, Truro, at about 07:20 GMT on Wednesday after receiving a concern for welfare report at a property.The force said a man was pronounced dead at the scene and another 23-year-old man from Truro has been arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody.Police said it is believed the two men knew each other and…

Continue ReadingMurder arrest in Truro after man, 23, found dead

Newquay Land Train taking final passengers before move to Wales

Newquay Land Train taking final passengers before move to Wales

BBCNewquay Land Train is heading to north Wales under new ownershipA land train service has reached the end of the line before it moves to a new home.Newquay Land Train's last day of operation is on Friday before it heads to north Wales under new ownership after no local buyers came forward.Father and son duo Mark and Harrison Haddrell, who have run the train since June 2018, said the final day in Newquay would be used to raise…

Continue ReadingNewquay Land Train taking final passengers before move to Wales

High demand and short supply for rented housing in Teignmouth

High demand and short supply for rented housing in Teignmouth

Miles DavisDevon political reporter, TeignmouthBBCEmma Foreman is lettings director at Complete Estate Agents in TeignmouthHigh demand and short supply for rental housing in Devon are expected to continue, according to people in the industry.The Renters Rights Act - a huge shake-up of the rental market - became law on Monday.The legislation is designed to level the playing field between landlords and tenants as people renting say it has become prohibitively expensive and very difficult to find rental properties.A…

Continue ReadingHigh demand and short supply for rented housing in Teignmouth

Weymouth beach palm trees saved as council pledges to keep them

Weymouth beach palm trees saved as council pledges to keep them

A plan to save nine much-loved palm trees on the promenade of a coastal resort has been agreed by councillors.The roots of two Canary Island palms at Weymouth, Dorset, had begun causing structural damage, prompting plans to replace them with smaller cabbage palms.But more than 1,000 people signed a petition against their removal, with some describing them as "iconic".Weymouth Town Council has now agreed a new, cheaper solution which involves pruning the roots and installing a root barrier…

Continue ReadingWeymouth beach palm trees saved as council pledges to keep them

Weston-super-Mare’s Tropicana renovation works get under way

Weston-super-Mare’s Tropicana renovation works get under way

John WimperisLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceJohn WimperisAfter closing as a pool in 2000, the Tropicana has recently been used as an events spaceWork has begun to turn Weston-super-Mare's Tropicana into a "nationally significant" venue for culture, arts, and entertainment.North Somerset Council won Levelling Up funding in 2023 to rejuvenate the former lido, which was also the home of Banksy's Dismaland exhibition in 2015.Contractors Morgan Sindall are currently stripping out the interior of the building, ready for it to be…

Continue ReadingWeston-super-Mare’s Tropicana renovation works get under way

Five children bailed after Bideford arson arrests

Five children bailed after Bideford arson arrests

Five children arrested after a house fire which left a person missing have been released on bail, police said.Four boys and a girl aged between 13 and 15, from north Devon, had been held on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life following the fire in Bideford.Police said they were treating the fire at a terraced house in Honestone Street on Tuesday evening "as a suspicious incident with murder as one of several hypotheses being considered". A…

Continue ReadingFive children bailed after Bideford arson arrests

Award-winning documentary on off-grid Devon life receives limited run in November thanks to University

A documentary that records the lives and experiences of people in North Devon who have chosen to live without mains electricity is to have an exclusive, limited run in two cinemas in November. The film, where is heaven?, took a decade to film and has won awards and played to sold-out venues despite technically being in its pre-release phase. Now, five screenings have been confirmed for two cinemas in Devon thanks to the University of Exeter and its…

Continue ReadingAward-winning documentary on off-grid Devon life receives limited run in November thanks to University

Man, 94, dies from injuries sustained in Exeter M5 crash

Man, 94, dies from injuries sustained in Exeter M5 crash

A man has died from injuries sustained during a car crash on a motorway, police have said.Devon and Cornwall Police received reports of a crash involving a blue Ford Fiesta, a grey Land Rover Discovery and a grey Mazda CX-5 on the southbound slip road at junction 29 of the M5 in Exeter at about 11:00 GMT on Tuesday.A 94-year-old passenger of the Ford suffered serious injuries and died in hospital on Thursday, the force said. A second…

Continue ReadingMan, 94, dies from injuries sustained in Exeter M5 crash