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Fundraising pin badge reveals Cerne Abbas giant’s cheeky side

Fundraising pin badge reveals Cerne Abbas giant’s cheeky side

Steve HarrisandRos Tappenden,South of EnglandNational TrustThe pin badges are being sold to raise money to buy land surrounding the giantFor decades, the chalk hill figure of the Cerne Abbas giant has been replicated on gifts and memorabilia – but a new pin badge is thought to be the first to reveal his "cheeky" side.The National Trust, which owns the giant, is launching a set of three limited edition pin badges as it fundraises to buy the surrounding landscape…

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Penzance library book returned 45 years late

Penzance library book returned 45 years late

A book which was loaned out from a library in 1980 has been returned - 45 years later.Music Notation by Gardner Read was loaned out from Penzance Library and, according to its record card, was due to be returned by 25 March 1980.It was eventually handed in at St Ives Library in November this year anonymously as part of a book amnesty. Councillor Sarah Preece, the cabinet member with responsibility for libraries and culture at Cornwall Council, said…

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Recruiting staff ‘biggest issue’ says Somerset Council boss

Recruiting staff ‘biggest issue’ says Somerset Council boss

A shortage of experienced, qualified applicants for vacancies is making a local authority "difficult to run", according to its chief executive.Duncan Sharkey, of Somerset Council, said the "biggest issue" facing the authority now was the ability to recruit, with most departments struggling to find enough suitable candidates for vacant jobs.Mr Sharkey also admitted that council bosses "got it wrong" in at least three departments, when they cut more than 500 posts at the authority in the last year.He…

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Exeter shortlisted for Apprenticeship Provider of the Year

The University of Exeter is a finalist for Apprenticeship Provider of the Year at the Apprenticeship and Training Awards 2026. The ATA Awards celebrate exceptional training, widening participation and employer partnerships, with this year’s awards seeing 650 nominations across 19 categories. Exeter has more than 4,000 apprentices enrolled on degree apprenticeship programmes and the largest portfolio of programmes of any Russell Group learning provider, as well as a dedicated Centre for Degree Partnerships where it works with more than 600 employer partners…

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Epilepsy can lead to earlier deaths in people with intellectual disabilities

A combination of missed prevention opportunities and health inequalities can result in the early deaths of people living with epilepsy and intellectual disabilities, a study has shown. Around 1.2million people in England have some form of intellectual disability, with epilepsy estimated to impact 20-25% of them – up to 300,000 people – compared to just 1% of the general population. However, until now there has been no national-level population-based evidence on the risks and protective factors specifically contributing…

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Removal of Yeovil Hospital’s stroke unit to begin in the spring

Removal of Yeovil Hospital’s stroke unit to begin in the spring

The removal of a hyper-acute stroke unit at a hospital will begin in the spring, health bosses have announced.It means that, instead of being treated at Yeovil District Hospital, stroke patients needing urgent care will be transported to either Dorchester or Taunton.The removal has attracted considerable criticism from locals, while both Yeovil MP Adam Dance and Yeovil Town Council have urged the Department for Health and Social Care to review the decision.NHS Somerset's integrated care board voted for…

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Why is the UK leading the charge to curb asylum rights under the ECHR? | Human Rights News

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged European leaders to “go further” in modernising the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), arguing that the treaty is no longer fit for purpose in an era of irregular migration and as far-right political parties gain influence across Europe.On Wednesday, European countries agreed to begin the process of modernising the ECHR at a meeting of justice ministers in Strasbourg. Leaders are hoping to modify the treaty to make it easier to…

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Sturminster Newton Bridge to shut for three nights

Sturminster Newton Bridge to shut for three nights

Pedestrians and drivers are being warned to plan ahead as a town's bridge is set to close for three nights.The Grade I listed six-arch Sturminster Newton Bridge in north Dorset over the River Stour is being resurfaced following the installation of new traffic lights. Dorset Council said the lights at the junction of the single-lane bridge, which sees a high volume of traffic, needed replacing as they were "very old" and had become difficult to repair.Bridge Street (Sturminster…

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Exeter patient first in UK to trial new 3D imaging technology for rheumatoid arthritis

Patients suspected of having rheumatoid arthritis in Exeter will be the first in the country to trial a new type of 3D imaging technology that could help avoid permanent damage to joints by detecting rheumatoid arthritis at the earliest stages. With funding from Innovate UK, the University of Exeter is undertaking the first live trials of the AdaptixOrtho350 – a new, portable imaging technology that offers 3D imaging at a similar cost and radiation dose to traditional 2D…

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‘Remarkable diversity’ of heritage sites celebrated

‘Remarkable diversity’ of heritage sites celebrated

Historic England ArchiveThe Compass Point tower in Bude has been moved twice in its historyThe selection of heritage sites in the South and South West granted protected status this year has been celebrated for its "remarkable diversity".Historic England (HE) granted protection to two Arts-and-Crafts style properties, a shipwreck and a coastal tower among a number of other heritage structures recognised on the National Heritage List for England in 2025.HE lists sites and structures of special architectural, historic or…

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Exeter woman first to trial 3D scan for early arthritis diagnosis

Exeter woman first to trial 3D scan for early arthritis diagnosis

BBCEmma Carnell is the first person to trial new 3D imaging technologyA woman will be the first person in the UK to trial new 3D imaging technology designed to give earlier diagnosis of diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, a university has said.Emma Carnell, 45, from Exeter, Devon, was on holiday in Corfu in July when she began having pain in her hands, shoulders, and knees.Initial tests carried out when she returned to the UK showed negative results for rheumatoid…

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