Mother murdered by stranger ‘was kind and warm’, inquest told

Post published:October 13, 2025

The family of the woman who was murdered by a stranger in Devon are still coming to terms with her loss, an inquest has heard.Wife, mother and grandmother Lorna England, 74, was murdered as she walked through Ludwell Valley Park in Exeter in February 2023.At the hearing in Exeter, her son Richard described his mother as the "embodiment of warmth and kindness" who put others before herself. Daughter Jackie added Mrs England was "always up for a laugh and a giggle" and would be the last one to leave the party or dance. Her husband David said they were struggling to come to terms with her loss after Cameron Davis, 31, stabbed Mrs England as she walked home. Davis was convicted of her murder and jailed for 28 years at Exeter Crown Court in July 2024.The two-week inquest continues. Source link

Piano bike musician cancels tour dates after Tamworth van theft

Post published:October 13, 2025

Chloe Marie AstonMs Aston was performing in Tamworth when the van was takenA woman who set out to busk in every town in the UK with her custom-built "piano bike" has cancelled a string of tour dates after her van was stolen.Chloe Marie Aston, from Ilfracombe, Devon, was performing in Tamworth on Saturday when the vehicle, which she left locked, was taken from Spinning School Lane car park."It was a horrible shock, just disbelief", the 21-year-old said, adding that her personal possessions were in the van, including her costumes and spare parts for the piano.Ms Aston said she reported the theft to Staffordshire Police who believed the van was taken at about midday. She thinks someone was able to clone a key to access the vehicle.Chloe Marie AstonThe musician has been performing in towns across the UKMs Aston, who describes herself as a travelling musician, normally drives to each town and then cycles to where she performs.She previously told the BBC how she used to busk with a guitar as a teenager and then her father came up with the idea of putting a piano on a bike.After the theft, she had to cycle with her piano to the police station…

Filming of Harry Potter is ‘massive’ for Devon and Cornwall

Post published:October 13, 2025

Terry BurtonFilming took place at Kynance Cove among other places in the regionPeople around the South West have said the production of a new Harry Potter TV series is "absolutely massive" for the region.The new HBO show, based on JK Rowling's best-selling series of novels, has been filming in Devon and Cornwall at places including Cadgwith and Carnglaze Caverns.Terry Burton went to Kynance Cove to take some pictures of the film crew and said the new series "is going to be fantastic... something like this is absolutely massive for Cornwall."Luke Smith, who runs The Cleave Inn in Lustleigh near Bovey Tracey, said the pub would be shut for filming on Wednesday and Thursday, but the only information he had was the production's code name of 'brown cat'.The series is expected to launch in 2027 with a number of south west locations feauringMr Smith said the village had seen a "lot of security" and road closures while filming has been taking place."There is a real buzz around the village. It is a sleepy village in Lustleigh," he added."We know it as 'brown cat'... that's all we've been told."Mr Smith said footfall had increased while the production team had been in the area."We've…

Somerset Council to decide if Saxonvale in Frome should be resold

Post published:October 13, 2025

Ross CraneWest of EnglandBBCThe social enterprise group had been given "exclusivity status" to buy the Saxonvale site A council has confirmed it will vote to decide whether a derelict site earmarked for redevelopment by a social enterprise will be put back on the market. Somerset Council agreed to sell the Saxonvale brownfield site in Frome to the Mayday Saxonvale group in January, with the hope it would deliver low-cost homes, commercial space and leisure facilities. The plans are now in doubt, with the community group so far unable to raise the funds to officially purchase the site. The council said the social enterprise had been given "every opportunity" to prove they could buy the land. Mayday acknowledged it had experienced "delays in funding" but said it had agreed alternative funding. The 12-acre site has been empty for decades, with Mayday's plans set to include proposals for 260 news homes and a community lido. But Somerset Council said the social enterprise may now lose its "exclusivity status" in Saxonvale's future should councillors be "minded to consider alternative routes".Council leader Bill Revans said the situation was "frustrating" and that the authority needed to ensure "good value for the benefit of the taxpayers".Mayday said…

Human skull found in bag at statue prompts police probe

Post published:October 13, 2025

Police have launched an investigation after a carrier bag containing a human skull was found next to a statue in Devon.Officers were called to Kings Quay, in Brixham, at 15:40 BST on Thursday where they found the plastic bag beside the Man and Boy statue on the quayside.The bag has been seized by police and, following examination, the bone was confirmed to be a human skull. Police said inquiries suggested the skull was located by fishermen out at sea and had been brought to shore. Source link

Health secretary Wes Streeting urged to visit Torbay Hospital

Post published:October 13, 2025

Guy HendersonLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceGuy Henderson/LDRSMP Steve Darling (bottom left) wants Health Secretary Wes Streeting to visit Torbay HospitalA Devon MP has urged the health secretary to visit a "crumbling" hospital which he said was in desperate need of renovation.Steve Darling said Torbay Hospital was in a "dire and critical condition" with sewage leaks and structural problems and he called on Wes Streeting to take a look "without delay".The previous Conservative government had promised a complete rebuild of the site but the current Labour administration said the £350m project cannot be delivered yet, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.The Department of Health and Social Care said it had already confirmed a funding plan and "realistic time-frame" to rebuild Torbay Hospital.Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust declined to comment.Darling asked people in Paignton to sign a letter which demanded investment into the hospital.He said unless urgent action was taken, the consequences for patients and staff at the hospital could be severe."The feedback we're getting from our community is that once people are in the hospital receiving the service, they are glowing about the support that they receive from our NHS heroes," Darling said."But those heroes are having to work in appalling…

Mother murdered by stranger ‘was kind and warm’, inquest told

Post published:October 13, 2025

The family of the woman who was murdered by a stranger in Devon are still coming to terms with her loss, an inquest has heard.Wife, mother and grandmother Lorna England, 74, was murdered as she walked through Ludwell Valley Park in Exeter in February 2023.At the hearing in Exeter, her son Richard described his mother as the "embodiment of warmth and kindness" who put others before herself. Daughter Jackie added Mrs England was "always up for a laugh and a giggle" and would be the last one to leave the party or dance. Her husband David said they were struggling to come to terms with her loss after Cameron Davis, 31, stabbed Mrs England as she walked home. Davis was convicted of her murder and jailed for 28 years at Exeter Crown Court in July 2024.The two-week inquest continues. Source link

Family berates Home Office and NHS over Portland barge death

Post published:October 13, 2025

Marcus WhiteSouth of EnglandPALeonard Farruku took his own life on the Bibby Stockholm bargeAn asylum seeker who took his own life on the Bibby Stockholm barge would still be alive were it not for failures in his care by the Home Office and NHS mental health workers, his family has said.Leonard Farruku, 27, was found dead in December 2023 on the government's former accommodation vessel for migrants, which was moored at Portland Port, Dorset.An inquest heard evidence that he was suffering from poor mental health in the weeks before he was placed there in September 2023.His sisters Marsida Keci and Jola Dushku said he was not assessed, supported or treated before his death. The Home Office said it was considering the case.In a statement released through their solicitors, the sisters said: "We firmly believe that Leonard was severely mentally unwell between July and December 2023 and in need of urgent assessment and treatment."Instead of being helped by the English authorities, he was placed in the hostile and completely unsuitable environment of the barge."We believe that if Leonard had received proper assessment and treatment in August 2023, he would still be alive today. We miss him every day."PAThe Bibby Stockholm housed male…

‘Complicated’ EPR packaging tax criticised by South West firms

Post published:October 13, 2025

George ThorpeSouth West andSeb NobleCornwall political reporterBBCBusiness owners think Extended Producer Responsibility would force price rises for customersBusinesses in the South West have raised concerns a new tax on packaging could force them to raise prices.The government introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) this month which required firms to cover the cost for collecting, recycling and disposing of packaging it produces, with the money going to councils which collected the waste.Owners of businesses have criticised the tax, which some described as "complicated", and said it could lead to customers having to pay more.The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said EPR would move the cost of dealing with the waste away from taxpayers and generate more then £1bn for councils to improve recycling collections.'It's complicated'Sam Lindo, from Camel Valley Vineyard, based near Bodmin, said the winemaker could process up to 4,000 bottles a day.Mr Lindo said while he supported the tax's general principle, he had an issue with the additional "bureaucracy" EPR would bring."It's incredibly complicated because it's not just the different types of packaging, it's whether it goes to household, non-household, branded, unbranded," Mr Lindo said."My spreadsheet matrix is enormous."Sam Lindo, from Camel Valley Vineyard, said the tax would…

Dozens in Somerset SEND failures protest at County Hall Taunton

Post published:October 13, 2025

Ruth Bradley andMichelle RuminskiSomerset politics reporters, TauntonBBCParents and children gathered outside County Hall in TauntonDozens of families gathered outside a council's headquarters to protest against special educational needs and disabilities (Send) provision.More than 50 parents and children gathered outside County Hall in Taunton, Somerset, angry about the authority's Send service which they said was failing their children,and leaving parents "exhausted".Organiser Tatjana from Somerset Send Army said: "We are barely standing. I'm just about keeping my job. I'm mentally exhausted. It's very tough but I'm never going to give up fighting for my son."Somerset Council said it was working hard to address a "very significant rise in demand" for support.Children joined parents at the protest calling for better Send supportMelanie was at the protest and has five neuro-divergent children."We have had to fight for every single one of them to get the support they need," she said."We've had broken promises, endless forms, endless meetings and endless professionals and nothing comes of it - we are absolutely exhausted and depleted."The Somerset gathering was part of a national action taking place at a number of council offices across England organised by The SEND Sanctuary UK, a parent-led organisation representing more than 35,000 families. Aimee…

Reading FC vow ‘strongest action’ after alleged racism at Exeter

Post published:October 13, 2025

Reading FC says it will support the "strongest possible action" if an alleged racist comment from one of its supporters is proven.The Royals' League One match at Exeter City on Saturday was paused in the 74th minute by referee James Durkin after the allegation was made by a player.The club said on Monday it has a "zero-tolerance approach to all forms of discrimination" and will work with Exeter and the football authorities to investigate what happened.The match, attended by about 1,000 Reading fans, ended 1-1 after Jack Marriott's early opener was cancelled out by Jayden Wareham, who moved to Exeter from the Berkshire side in the summer."The club strongly condemns any form of racist abuse," Reading said in a statement."There is no place for racism in football or in society, and we maintain a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of discrimination."We are committed to working with Exeter City, the relevant authorities, and any other appropriate bodies to investigate the matter."Should the allegations be confirmed, we will support the strongest possible action against those responsible." Source link

Exeter–Queensland partnership striving to improve the security of global communication

Post published:October 13, 2025

A new international research collaboration has been launched focusing on one of the biggest challenges in contemporary communications. Experts at the University of Exeter and the University of Queensland will work together on a breakthrough technology called Quantum Link Verification, which promises to improve security in an increasingly connected, data-driven world. Developed by Exeter’s Quantum Non-Equilibrium Group (QNEG) and Queensland’s Quantum Technology Laboratory (QTLab), QLV uses the rules of quantum physics to detect if anyone is trying to intercept information travelling through fibre-optic cables. Modern communication systems depend heavily on these cables, but even with encryption, the cables themselves remain vulnerable to eavesdropping, especially as quantum computing becomes more powerful. Current methods of protecting infrastructure, like armoured cabling or post-quantum cryptography, can be expensive, slow, or uncertain in their long-term effectiveness. QLV offers a radical new approach. Instead of trying to prevent tampering physically or digitally, it makes eavesdropping impossible to hide. The system sends individual particles of light (photons) alongside normal data traffic. Any attempt to intercept them causes a change in their state, instantly revealing the intrusion. Led by Professor Andrew White at Queensland, and Professor Janet Anders in Exeter’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, both internationally recognised experts…