Crafters warn of ‘overpriced tat’ sold at Cornwall fairs

BBCCrafters in Cornwall are asking shoppers to seek out genuine, handmade Cornish goods like this woolly sheepMembers of the crafting community in Cornwall have said they are seeing a rise in cheap imported goods being passed off as handmade local produce.There are concerns some stallholders are bulk-buying mass produced items off the internet, then selling them at a substantial mark-up at events marketed as Cornish craft fairs.The organisers of some of the fairs say they are carefully checking…

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Man jailed over murder of partner in Plymouth flat

A man who concealed the murder of his partner in his flat has been jailed.Mark Fitzgerald, 62, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years and 168 days after being found guilty over the murder of Lisa Paris, 54, in March 2024. Plymouth Crown Court heard he left her dead body under a duvet in his flat on Rendle Street in Plymouth, Devon.It heard the relationship between the two was marked by his repeated violence…

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Man admits starting fire at Bournemouth International Centre

A video from Picnic Park Deli showed smoke rising from the Bournemouth International CentreA man has pleaded guilty to intentionally starting a fire at a seaside concert and conference venue.Smoke was seen billowing from the roof of the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) on Exeter Road in August, with fire crews fighting the enveloping blaze on the outside roof fascia.Shane Wilson, 38, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered at…

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Planned new secondary school in Perranporth cancelled

Plans for a new 1,050-pupil secondary school on the north coast of Cornwall have been cancelled by the Government.Perranporth Academy had been due to open in September 2026 as a free school to ease pressure on other secondary schools in Truro and Newquay.A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson said the evidence had been "carefully considered" and it had been concluded "there is not sufficient need for additional places to justify building a whole new school".In a statement Truro…

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Nearly £4 million of philanthropic funding for type 1 diabetes research in latest award from Helmsley Charitable Trust

Researchers at the University of Exeter have received almost £4 million of funding for their work in understanding type 1 diabetes. The awards have come from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust and are the latest example of the extensive financial support Helmsley has given research projects at the University over the past nine years. To date, the Helmsley Charitable Trust has awarded $10,637,854 (£7.98 million) to research at Exeter into type 1 diabetes. Professor…

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Surrey man guilty of wife’s murder after child reveals plot

Surrey PoliceRobert Rhodes, 52, has been convicted of murdering his wife, Dawn Rhodes, in a trial at Inner London Crown CourtA man has been found guilty of murdering his wife following a retrial under double jeopardy rules, eight years after being cleared.Robert Rhodes stabbed his wife Dawn in the neck and was acquitted of murder in 2017 after claiming she had tried to attack him.The retrial came after new evidence from Rhodes' child – disclosed during therapy –…

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What New Delhi can learn from China’s war on air pollution | Environment

The air quality in New Delhi and its surrounding areas has turned hazardous as a dense layer of smog blanketed the Indian capital. Several parts of Delhi recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 400 and even 450 – a level considered as “severe” under international pollution standards.Every winter, air pollution in Delhi spikes around this time when cold air traps smoke and fumes from fireworks, stubble burning and heavy traffic. The crisis is aggravated by vehicular and…

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Family ‘proud’ of grandmother killed in Badbury Rings SUV crash

The family of a grandmother who died in an SUV crash in Dorset have said they are "forever proud" of her.Rebecca French, 51, and a man in his 30s were travelling in a white Vauxhall Grandland on the B3082 Blandford Road near Badbury Rings when it crashed on Sunday shortly before 21:55 GMT.Dorset Police said there were no other vehicles involved in the collision and the pair were both pronounced dead at the scene.In a statement to police,…

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About £2.2m to improve north Devon Tarka Trail

BBCGovernment funding and local money will be used for the projectAbout £2.2m will be used to improve existing sections of a popular walking and cycling trail.The changes to the Tarka Trail in north Devon have been split into three projects, with Spreacombe Junction to North Buckland Hill being one, both North Buckland Hill to Cottages and Cottages to Nethercott Road being another, with the third on Deans Copse, Nethercott Road to Knowle.Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Devon County Council cabinet…

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Good News Rooms in schools a ‘brilliant legacy’

James DiamondWest of EnglandBBCChildren across the UK are being taught how to be journalists in Jill Dando's nameA project inspired by murdered TV journalist Jill Dando which aims to inspire a million children to become "positive reporters" by 2030 has been described by her brother as "a brilliant legacy".The Good News Rooms project, which aims to teach children to focus on uplifting news stories, has this week been expanded to Heron's Moor School in the BBC Crimewatch presenter's…

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‘Flu vaccine anger’ and ‘1,000-year toilet wait’

PA MediaPeople are finding it hard to book a flu jab as cases in hospitals riseHere's our daily pick of stories from across local websites in the West of England, and interesting content from social media.Our pick of local website storiesOur top three from yesterdayWhat to watch on social media Source link

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Peerage for Exeter Chancellor Sir Michael Barber

Sir Michael Barber, Chancellor of the University of Exeter, will join the House of Lords. An expert in government policy, Sir Michael is among 34 political peerages approved by the King.  Sir Michael is one of 25 new peers nominated by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in his role as leader of the Labour Party, alongside five Liberal Democrats, three Conservatives and one crossbench peer. The official citation describes Sir Michael as a “globally recognised expert in government…

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