Seven Torquay hotels fail child exploitation checks

Only one out of eight hotels questioned an older guest checking in with an underage child, an undercover police operation has found.Officers from the Torquay Neighbourhood Police Team, with support from Police Cadets, said they recently carried out an evening of action around child exploitation.It was done as part of the national initiative Operation Makesafe, which is designed to "empower businesses and organisations to tackle child exploitation" and to "increase awareness and training of early warning signs".A plain-clothed…

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Warning as bird flu found in dead swans near Dorchester

A warning has been issued by a council after bird flu was confirmed in several swans found dead on the outskirts of Dorchester.The swans were found in Fordington near a public footpath popular with dog walkers.Dorset Council said it was working with the landowner and government agencies to reduce any risk to the public with the area being monitored and warning signs set to be placed on nearby footpaths.Residents and visitors to the area are being asked not…

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Rainfall helps West Country recover from prolonged dry spell

Bea SwallowWest of EnglandPA MediaEngland experienced the second driest six-month period (from March to August) since records began in 1871Recent heavy rainfall has pulled the west of England into "recovery" status following an extensive dry spell.Prolonged dry weather status – a precursor to drought – was announced on 10 July by the Environment Agency (EA) for its Wessex area, which includes Bristol, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and parts of south Gloucestershire. The warning followed the driest spring in a…

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Sir David Attenbrrr among ice cold BCP Council gritter names

Sir David Attenbrrr, Ice Ice Maybe and Slip Not are among the names chosen for a council's fleet of road gritters.Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council asked residents to suggest "witty, wintry and wonderful" names for its fleet of 13 gritters.The council said it received more than 1,000 suggestions to its naming challenge - Sir David Attenbrrr is already on duty - with names currently being added to the remaining 12 vehicles.BCP's gritter fleet looks after 780 miles…

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Santas limber up for festive Weymouth Beach charity pudding chase

Dozens of Santas are due to gather on Weymouth beach for the resort's festive Chase the Pudding charity race.The annual sprint along the beach sees a pudding pursued by about 200 runners along a three-mile (5km) route from the Pavilion to Greenhill and back again.The festive run in Dorset also features a Chase the Elf 1.2-mile (2km) run for under-14s, and raises funds for the Will Mackaness Trust. Running Santas need to register for the race on Sunday…

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US pushes for ceasefire in Sudan’s civil war as Kordofan violence escalates | Sudan war News

The United States is pressing for an immediate humanitarian truce in Sudan as fighting intensifies across the vast strategic Kordofan region, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio warning that the relentless violence is “horrifying” and all those involved will face lasting condemnation.Speaking at a year-end news conference on Friday, Rubio said the fighting in Sudan needed to stop, adding that the new year was a “great opportunity for both sides to agree to that” and allow desperately needed…

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Free Christmas parking ‘a nice surprise’ say Taunton shopkeepers

Independent businesses have welcomed a town council's decision to foot the bill for parking charges for central car parks in the run-up to Christmas.Taunton Town Council is paying Somerset Council a fee so that people can use 10 of their car parks free of charge for the final Saturdays before Christmas.The move is part of an effort to support local shops and boost the festive atmosphere in the town and has been welcomed by business owners."It's a nice…

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’12-mile diversion’ and ‘dangerous footpath upgrade’

Here's our weekly roundup of stories from across local websites in the West of England.We have a daily round up as well. Make sure you look out for it on the website and the local section of the BBC News app.ITV West Country covered a short tribute from a Bath motorcyclist to an off-duty paramedic who saved his life after a crash. Jerry Moon, 34, was given urgent medical care at the scene by Louise Price.Part of the…

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BBC South political editor Peter Henley bows out

BBC South's political editor has stepped down from the role he has held for more than two decades.Peter Henley is retiring, having presented 746 editions of Sunday political programmes, covering six general elections, four European elections and dozens of local council contests.The 61-year-old has interviewed eight prime ministers and a slew of opposition party leaders.BBC South Senior News Editor Debby Moyse said: "His work has consistently carried the hallmarks of rigorous journalism, fairness, and impartiality."Paying tribute on LinkedIn,…

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Teenager takes on 450km Christmas run for Salvation Army

A teenager is running 450km throughout December "to make a real difference for those in need".Aidan Watts, 19, is increasing his distance by 1.5km each day, finishing with a 36km run on Christmas Eve.He took on the challenge to support The Salvation Army's Christmas Present Appeal in Devonport, which provides gifts for children in families facing financial hardship.Mr Watts' efforts exceeded his initial expectations, with donations doubling his original target of £300, prompting him to set a new…

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Devon artist celebrates 100 years of photo booths

Caroline RobinsonSouth WestKate TylerKate Tyler said photo booths had documented her lifeAn artist with a "lifelong, nerdy obsession" with photobooths is celebrating the 100 year anniversary of their existence.Kate Tyler, who lives in Modbury, Devon, uses analogue photo booths to create her artwork.She said she prefers them to digital booths because "there's something really lovely about the quality of those pictures" and getting a "long strip of four pictures".She has also been able to "document all the way…

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