Devon

There was severe disruption yesterday as gale-force winds and heavy rain hit the South West.

Devon County Council said they received reports of more than 200 flooding incidents and around 105 fallen trees throughout the day. Torridge and East Devon have been among the hardest hit, and a number of roads have been closed across the county.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue...

Members of a scheme to tackle rising energy prices have saved a staggering £23,000 off the cost of their domestic heating oil, this year.

Devon County Council says it’s a great example of communities working together to get a better deal on their heating bills.

The Devon Oil Collective works on the principle of buying heating oil in bulk through consolidating its members’...

Police in Devon are seeking a 35 year-old man who is wanted for a recall to prison.

Plymouth man Michael Lidderdale, who is known as Tye, is currently wanted by police after failing to comply with the conditions of a supervision order following his release from prison.

He was originally convicted of fraud.

He is described as a white man, 5’ 7” tall and of proportionate...

Two police dogs with more than 18 years service between them will retire from the Force next month.

German shepherd ‘Asbo’ and sprocker spaniel ‘Springo’ (pictured) have both enjoyed long careers under the watchful eye of police dog handler, PC Ian Tolchard, based at Camborne.

Asbo, a nine-year-old general purpose police dog, joined the Force in 2005 and has been highly...

Independent schools could be held to a higher standard of education by regulator Ofsted from next September onwards.

In new plans unveiled today ‘good’ will become the only acceptable standard for independent schools inspected by Ofsted.

Currently, the Ofsted framework for schools has the judgements, outstanding, good, adequate and inadequate. This consultation now seeks views...

Developed by Plymouth City Council and its highways contractor Amey in partnership with First Great Western and Network Rail, the scheme aims to better connect the train station with the city centre and has been part-funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and Sustrans, the national walking and cycling charity.

Improvements include new footways between North Road East and the...

The number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) in Devon has risen for the first time since February 2013, with figures increasing by 66 claimants over the past month. Claimants in Devon have gone up from 6,513 in October to 6,579 in November meaning a 1% increase from last month.

The news comes the same day as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) report reveals that the...

National Apprenticeship Week is back for the seventh year running, and 2014 will offer even more ways for employers to show their support of apprentices.

National Apprenticeship Week, which will run between 3 and 7 March 2014, will see hundreds of events taking place across the South of England.

The week aims to show the postive impact apprentices have on individuals,...

Luke Friend is preparing for stardom, despite failing to reach the X Factor final.

The 17-year-pld from Teignmouth failed to secure enogh votes to go through to last night's sing off but despite that he is still being tipped for the top.

And among those singing his praises have been a number of celebrities.

Elli Goulding, who dueted with Luke, from Teignmouth, on...

A fairer share of central government funding, the cost of alcohol related crime and mental health provision were on the agenda when Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg and Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer met south west members of Parliament at Westminster on Tuesday (10 December).

A cross party group of eight of the regions MPs joined Mr Hogg and Mr Sawyer to look at the issues they...