Local News

Bonfire Night is one of the highlights of the autumn calendar, bringing communities together to enjoy spectacular fireworks and celebrations. But every year, fireworks and bonfires cause serious injuries, fires and preventable call-outs for emergency services.

The British Medical Association (BMA) is taking strike action involving consultants at a number of NHS trusts, including the Royal Devon from 7am on Wednesday 25 November until 7am on Friday 27 November 2026. The industrial action is a national dispute between the Government and trade unions about terms and conditions.

Police Cadets have been helping to keep communities safe as they took part in a recent test purchase operation at licensed premises across Torquay Town Centre.

Women and girls are being asked for their feedback on safety whilst moving around Exeter.

New ‘Respect Orders’ to tackle anti–social behaviour have been welcomed by politicians in Exeter.

An overhaul of how Devon’s libraries are staffed has led to 19 people being made redundant, prompting concerns from campaigners about the impact.

Changing work habits which have seen millions of people turning their backs on the office to work from home instead have forced Exeter to think again about a massive new development.

Volunteers in Exmouth who rely on a temporary beach front shelter to carry out their vital environmental work say a bigger, permanent hub would mean they could make an even bigger impact in the community.

Everyone is invited to celebrate Diwali at the University of Exeter, with students hosting a spectacular event featuring fireworks, dancing, food and games.

Work is ongoing across the South Western network to keep customers moving through tough weather conditions this autumn and winter.

The Chair of Sidmouth Town Council, Councillor Hilary Nelson is inviting veterans, serving armed forces and youth service groups to take part in the annual Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service of Remembrance which is a national opportunity to remember the service and sacrifice of all those that have defended our freedoms and protected our way of life. This year, Remembrance Sunday is on Sunday 8th November.

The Community Governance Review for Cranbrook and the surrounding areas has concluded, with changes to parish boundaries due to take effect from 1 April 2027.

Double council tax on second homes look set to remain in East Devon thanks to the extra income and the charge prompting some properties to become permanent homes.

Police recently seized six e-bikes and two e-scooters as part of targeted action in Torquay to tackle their illegal and dangerous use.

A Devon council is being urged to show its support for Britain’s lifeboat volunteers.

From Monday 2 November, parents and carers can book places on the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) winter programme for children who receive benefits-related free school meals.

Exeter’s Remembrance Sunday Service will take place in Northernhay Gardens on Sunday 8 November, and everyone is welcome to attend.

A Devon council is being urged to think again about handing over parks, toilets, car parks and green spaces to local communities.

A 52-year-old man has been charged with the attempted murder of a teenager in Torquay.

More than £86,000 was stolen in just nine days by fraudsters pretending to be from Amazon.

Residents and businesses across Devon are being urged to cut unnecessary water use now to help avoid further restrictions and protect the county’s most vulnerable residents.

A funding bid is being put together to secure cash to develop a fungus that could help battle a future bluetongue outbreak as the virus blights the county.

Two Exeter organisations working with some of the city’s most vulnerable people have had their work highlighted in Parliament.

The Rural Affairs Team at Devon & Cornwall Police has been working with VIN Chip to deliver specialist training to officers, strengthening their ability to identify stolen plant, agricultural machinery and equipment and recognise key indicators of theft.

New national planning rules come into force on 31 October, bringing a more consistent approach to planning decisions. The new rules will enable Planning Committees to focus on developments with the greatest impact on local communities.

People in Exeter are being asked to consider others when setting off fireworks over the coming days.

The death of a woman in Torquay is no longer being treated as suspicious, following a forensic post-mortem.

East Devon District Council’s Countryside Team has received initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Wild About Seaton Wetland Connections project. Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the project aims to restore important wetland habitats, improve access to nature, celebrate local heritage, and create stronger connections between Seaton’s wildlife, natural history and visitor attractions.

Budding photographers are being encouraged to take part in Exeter City Council’s Tree Photography Competition.

A controversial overhaul of Devon’s councils has been withdrawn by the government as part of a widespread re-think by ministers.

People in Exeter are being asked to help shape the City Council’s budget for 2027/28.

A decision will be made on the future of Teignmouth Lido in December.

A large-scale international study offers new insights for understanding Alzheimer’s disease and developing future treatments.

Halloween is a chance to have fun with family and friends, whether you’re carving pumpkins, dressing up, or heading out trick-or-treating. But every year, preventable accidents happen because of candles, costumes, and poor visibility after dark.

Police have launched a murder investigation following the death of a woman in Torquay.

You will be able to park for less than £2 at most EDDC car parks for up to two hours. Free parking will also continue to be offered on Sundays in Axminster, Honiton and Ottery St Mary. At Seaton car parks, all-day parking will cost just £1 on Saturday 28 November for the Christmas lights switch-on.

Stormy weather saw a number of boats rescued in the Exe Estuary over the last week.

A white cat called Ignatius D Flufflesworth has taken centre stage in a Westminster debate about the death toll of household pets killed on British roads.

Work begins this week on the second phase of the Newtown Active Travel Scheme in Exeter, making it easier, safer and more attractive for people to walk, wheel and cycle around the area.

Devon, Plymouth and Torbay have been given a boost towards greater control over their own future. In today’s Budget, the Government confirmed it is minded to proceed with a Mayoral Strategic Authority covering the whole area.

Tackling Exeter’s largest fire since the Second World War was understandably a huge pressure on Devon’s fire service. The blaze at the Royal Clarence Hotel in Exeter’s Cathedral Yard started 10 years ago on 28 October, and no fire in the city since has – thankfully – been bigger.

Exmouth Town Council is delighted to welcome Open Door Exmouth to Exmouth Town Hall from January 2027

University and innovation leaders from Exeter’s French twin city Rennes visited Exeter Science Park to discuss a shared commitment to research, innovation, enterprise and the exchange of ideas.

Three remarkable women who are making communities safer, supporting survivors and driving change across the South West have been named finalists in the 2026 West Country Women Awards.

Exeter’s community car club has clocked up more than 16,000 miles and attracted 138 members in just six months.

A creepy baby doll lurking in a sewer, a lone shoe recovered from the depths underground and a pair of pants discovered somewhere they shouldn’t have been. These are just some of the strange and spooky finds uncovered by South West Water’s teams while working beneath our streets this year, where the unexpected is often found lurking in the sewer network.

Exeter College Apprenticeships and Great Western Railway (GWR) are celebrating a decade of developing exceptional apprentice talent for Britain’s railways, with the partnership on track to enrol its 1,000th apprentice by the end of the year.

Devon councils have saved around £24 million after a decade-long drive to cut household waste and reduce treatment and disposal costs with, the money ploughed back into local waste services.

Members of the public are invited to take part in a silent auction to help veterans who are suffering in silence. 

With Halloween fast approaching, families across Devon are being encouraged to enjoy the celebrations safely, consider others in their communities and make choices that help reduce waste.

RNLI lifeboat crews spent nine hours searching the sea and coastline around Torbay after reports that a man had entered the water and disappeared during Storm Austen.

Residents and visitors to Dawlish are being asked to help rat control measures succeed by reducing food sources that can attract rats.

Exeter’s Riverside Leisure Centre is taking part in a global running competition, allowing runners to compete against people across the world for top prizes.

Organisations from across Devon gathered together to focus on improving job opportunities and access to education for young people.

Offenders serving community sentences have helped remove harmful waste from popular Devon beaches as part of a national event.

The plight of one of the nation’s rarest bats has been raised as a possible issue by campaigners opposing a potential monster housing allocation in Exmouth.

Devon MPs are demanding action from Royal Mail after local people missed vital appointments because their post was delayed.

Devon’s fire service has voluntarily opted to restrict its water usage as the drought situation in the county worsens.

Funding shortfalls and falling school rolls are putting teachers and leaders’ jobs at risk and threatening children’s education in the South West, a leading union is warning ahead of the Budget.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is reminding those visiting the coast to be aware of the dangers as Storm Austen is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain to the South West from late Thursday into Friday.

Natural flood defences such as ponds, ‘leaky’ wooden dams and trees can significantly reduce the risk of Devon’s most vulnerable communities from flooding, researchers have found.

South West Water is urging customers to check their toilets for hidden leaks as the region enters a critical phase of an exceptionally prolonged drought.

Devonians have just one week left to have their say on the county’s bid to become a Mayoralty.

Train customers are being asked to check before they travel in Devon and Cornwall on Friday as Storm Austen brings high winds to the South West.

Latest plans for the repair of Exeter’s Trews Weir are beginning to emerge.

Road users are being reminded to prepare for possible disruption as strong winds and rain are forecast for Devon this week.

Exeter’s Community Safety Team is making a real difference for visitors and businesses in the city centre, helping to tackle anti-social behaviour and ensuring everyone can enjoy a safe, vibrant and welcoming environment.

Exmouth Community College’s Sixth Form Football Academy has welcomed its first female players this season, expanding the programme to girls following strong demand for its boys’ programme, which is now full.

A new report has found no evidence that councils serving more than 500,000 people are automatically more efficient, financially sustainable or effective.

A plan to turn a former care home in Newton Abbot into 18 homes for ‘young, working professionals’ has been given the go-ahead despite concerns over parking and potential anti-social behaviour.

The search is on to find the best tree photographs in Exeter, with great prizes up for grabs in the City Council’s 2026 Tree Photography Competition.

A group of Devon’s MPs have rallied round the county’s iconic air ambulance which is seeking to fill a funding gap to pay for a vital new headquarters.

The South West has entered a critical phase of an exceptionally prolonged drought. Recent rainfall is welcome, but we have not seen nearly as much as was previously forecast for October, and certainly not enough to remove the pressure on water supplies.

Two teams from the University of Exeter are celebrating after reaching the final stages of a prestigious national student innovation competition.

Police are appealing for footage and information following the theft of a pregnant heifer in East Devon.

The Priority Services Register is a free service that gives extra support to customers who may need it. This includes help if your water, electricity or gas supply is ever interrupted.

Families across Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Plymouth, and Torbay are being encouraged to consider adoption this National Adoption Week and discover how the everyday moments of family life can mean everything to a child.

Free digital support sessions will launch at four libraries in Devon from late November. The project will help people develop practical skills, including using smartphones and tablets, accessing the NHS app, applying for jobs and managing online banking.

A Devon resident has expressed dismay at not being able to recoup money for train tickets as part of a scheme overseen by a housing developer aimed at encouraging sustainable travel.

South West Water is urging customers to only flush the three Ps – pee, poo and paper – after its teams tackled more than 5,500 avoidable sewer blockages across the region in the last year.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit (PRU): Dementia and Neurodegeneration (DeNPRU Exeter) hosted by the University of Exeter has been granted an extension until 2028, securing additional funding of £2 million from the NIHR.

Devon & Cornwall Police is celebrating volunteers and saying a big ‘thank you’ as they mark almost two centuries since the landmark Special Constabulary Act.

Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery has jointly purchased a stunning collection of works by leading British Modernist artists.

Devon and Cornwall Police have issued a warning regarding fuel storage. With fuel and heating oil prices remaining high, farmers are being encouraged to review the security of fuel storage on their farms and rural businesses.

A Devon charity that plays a fundamental role in expediting the transport of tens of thousands of health-related test samples each year is revving up its plea for extra volunteers.

Tension cranked up over the future of Devon’s librarians as a potential decision on cuts nears.

Devon & Cornwall Police have received reports of residents receiving scam letters purportedly from South West Water, which have been hand delivered.

Matford Brook Academy in Exeter has expanded its facilities for the new school year, with additional accommodation providing more space for teaching, creative learning, sport and play.

Devon County Council has agreed to reinstate its Rural Support and Wellbeing Programme, providing dedicated support for farmers facing the ongoing impacts of the 2026 bluetongue outbreak

Flu and other winter viruses are already circulating across Devon, and local hospitals are starting to see the impact. Public Health and NHS leaders are urging residents to take simple steps now to protect themselves, their loved ones and those most at risk of serious illness.

Parts of southern England have been declared in severe drought following months of below-average rainfall and increased demand for water during the hottest summer on record.

A local community-led festival honouring those who have passed away is set to take place in St Thomas later this month.

Friends and family of a well-known Starcross resident have rallied to raise nearly £10,000 to thank the hospital that saved his life earlier this year.

A 45-year-old woman from Hemyock has been jailed for 25 months after admitting smuggling 51.2kg of cannabis from Thailand on a flight to the United Kingdom, following a National Crime Agency investigation.

The site of a former Exeter leisure centre is set to become a huge development of affordable ‘extra care’ homes.

A campaign has been launched by Sideshore Community, a not-for-profit Community Interest Company which runs year-round events and workshops focusing on sea safety and environmental awareness while promoting wellbeing. Sideshore Community has been operating from a small hut since it was established two years ago.

Torbay Hospital must make changes immediately to make sure people can escape during a fire, after warnings from both fire and health regulators.

The “unsung heroes of Exeter” – council workers who keep Exeter spick and span - have been recognised at a special awards ceremony.

Plans to give young people more opportunities and help them build a positive future in Devon have been backed by councillors.

People in Exeter are being urged to play their part in helping to crack down on illegal fly-tipping. 

Devon County Council’s Cabinet has rubberstamped an extra £4.5 million to be spent repairing local roads, improving key diversion routes and tackling drainage problems across Devon.

The long-awaited opening of Newton Abbot’s new Market Hall remains on hold while ‘due diligence’ is carried out around its future operations.

Campaigners who fought to keep cars out of an Exeter commuter route are preparing to mount a legal battle.

Former Devon & Cornwall Police officer James Stillman, 32, of Chard, has been jailed for two years and four months after pleading guilty to three counts of Misconduct in Public Office. He was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Friday 19 June.