Local News

Devon’s Reform leader has criticised a reprimand that requires him to apologise and undertake code of conduct training as a “stitch-up”.

Flared tempers led to a meeting about Devon’s efforts to try and secure a mayor being abruptly adjourned.

Work is underway to create a new water play facility in an Exeter park.

Residents of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have sent a “very clear message” that they do not support Devon & Cornwall Police becoming part of a larger police force, says Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez.

Officers are appealing for information after a series of overnight burglaries at businesses across Exeter and South Devon.

Disabled children, young people and their families across Devon are benefiting from improvements to the county council’s Short Breaks offer, with work now underway to create an even broader range of support through a new county-wide quality assured provider offer.

The names of Devon’s four new councils that are set to be launched in under two years have been confirmed with a stark cut in councillor numbers.

An Exeter city centre church could be transformed into a circus complete with its own museum and a training centre for would-be performers.

Between January and June 2026, the unstinting efforts of Devon & Cornwall Police investigators has brought about the conviction of 138 perpetrators of sexual offences. 55 of these convictions were for rape.

Residents are being encouraged to lend a helping hand to young trees across Exeter as prolonged dry weather puts them under increasing stress.

Fears that a move to make the Teign Estuary a protected ‘national landscape’ could mean ruin for Teignmouth’s busy docks have been allayed.

A new Exmouth Youth Directory has been created to help young people, parents, carers and families discover the wide range of clubs, activities and organisations available throughout Exmouth.

With a drought now officially declared across Devon and Somerset. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service are urging people to help reduce the risk of wildfires and use water responsibly as hot, dry conditions continue.

East Devon District Council has received a planning application for a proposed development of up to 2,000 homes on land between the A3052, near Crealy Theme Park & Resort, and the A376 near Clyst St George.

A Devon councillor who worked alongside Ann Widdecombe says ‘emotive and dishonest’ language from political leaders is putting grassroots politicians in danger.

South Western Railway (SWR) and Network Rail Wessex (NR Wessex) will introduce a temporary timetable on the West of England line between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids from Monday 10 August.

The South West is experiencing an exceptionally warm and dry period, with prolonged sunshine, low rainfall and high temperatures placing growing pressure on water resources across the region.

A new support programme is launching across Devon to help people who are finding work difficult because of their physical or mental health.

Almost 3,000 publicly accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging sockets will be installed in communities, car parks and on streets across Devon and Torbay over the next few years.

Plans for a second M5 junction at Cullompton have received a major boost, after the Government this week awarded £1.3 million to develop the next stage of the scheme.

A Devon business will be able to serve up its ‘educatering’ facility after winning an appeal that it launched after its plans were blocked.

A £3 million project to upgrade play parks across Teignbridge has been approved by councillors today (Tuesday 28 July 2026).

The new Whitehills Roundabout (Jetty Marsh) is expected to open during the first half of August, replacing the old triangle junction on Exeter Road.

On Monday 27 July 2026 at around 11.30am, the volunteer crew of Exmouth RNLI were tasked by H.M. Coastguard to support local coastguard rescue units, Exmouth Coastguard Rescue Team and Beer Coastguard Rescue Team. The reported casualty, a dog called Charlie, had gone over the cliff just east of Sandy Bay.

Staff and students at the University of Exeter have been recognised for their commitment to boosting social mobility in the South West and beyond.

Officers are appealing for witnesses and footage following an alleged unprovoked attack in Teignmouth which saw a man hospitalised with serious injuries after coming to the aid of his two friends.

Exmouth Town Council wishes to reassure residents that the recently announced proposals for local government reorganisation in Devon, including the creation of new unitary authorities and the eventual dissolution of East Devon District Council, will not affect the role of Exmouth Town Council.

East Devon District Council has announced that a supplier has now been appointed for the design and delivery of Sidmouth and East Beach Coastal Defence Scheme – marking a major milestone in progressing this vital project. 

People who are passionate about Whipton and Heavitree are being invited to help shape the future of their community.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued updated heat-health alerts for parts of England, warning that rising temperatures this week may increase health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups.

The Royal Devon, like many NHS Trusts, continue to experience significant capacity challenges with ongoing high attendances at its emergency departments. The consistent challenges they face have significantly impacted their urgent and emergency services.

People can explore the rich history and sweeping beauty of the Bellever area more easily, thanks to the introduction of two all-terrain scooters.

Police are appealing for witnesses after 81 lambs were discovered missing from a farm in Kenn near Exeter.

Do you need help with heating oil costs this winter? If you live within the Teignbridge District Council boundary and domestic heating oil is your main source of home heating, if you are on a low income or receive means tested benefits, then you may be eligible.

A brand-new free coastal adventure programme, Beach Heroes, is launching in Exmouth this summer, giving children the chance to discover the coast, build confidence on and around the coast, and learn how to enjoy and protect the natural environment.

Young people from across Devon have been recognised for the difference they are making to services and opportunities for children and young people across the county.

Council tax bills are something that virtually all residents pay attention to, but their focus on the levy could become even keener amid Devon’s prospective overhaul.

Exeter’s military veterans, pet owners and people with neurodiversity will be among those to have a say in deciding the future of fireworks.

A hundred protesters fighting to preserve Torbay’s health services greeted Torbay councillors as they met to answer questions on the issue.

Conservative Lee Mason has ensured his party held onto an Exmouth seat in a hotly-contested by-election.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) South West is urging festival-goers to make the most of the summer while staying safe, particularly when it comes to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and weather-related illness.

Students at St Luke’s Church of England School in Exeter have completed a Mental Health Champions training programme in partnership with charity Heads Up.

A 19 year-old-man from Exmouth has been jailed for four years and nine months following months of work by police to tackle crime in Exmouth.

People living in Exeter are being asked to give their views on a variety of topics ranging from what it’s like living in Exeter, air quality, physical activity and planning charges.

Hundreds of job losses across Exeter will have a knock-on effect on services across the city, councillors have been warned.

A major Devon council is hoping to bag up to £9 million from the sale of property and land it no longer needs by April next year.

An Exeter car park once described as a urine-smelling ‘dystopian film set’ where pedestrians fear to tread is to be transformed.

Campaigners are urging Devon County Council to aim higher when it replaces two key bridges over the Exeter Ship Canal.

It was a busy day for the Exmouth volunteer lifeboat crew on Wednesday, 22 July, supporting two separate multi-agency incidents alongside our emergency service partners.

Water safety experts have been raising awareness on Exeter Quayside ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day on Saturday 25 July.

People are now able to enjoy using the first completed section of the Newtown Community Project.

Co-ordinated efforts are being launched to tackle an outbreak of anti-social behaviour at a Devon town’s marina where young people are increasingly putting themselves at danger.

Members of Devon’s coastguard staged a protest with their Cornish counterparts amid their ongoing battle over pay and their legal status as workers.

An Exeter office building that has one of the city’s busiest nightclubs in its basement could soon become a block of student accommodation.

Police are appealing for witnesses and dash-cam footage following an assault on the Exmouth seafront.

West Exe School is celebrating after Ofsted inspectors recognised student progress, positive relationships and the wide range of opportunities available across the school.

Wales & West Utilities is shortly starting work to upgrade the gas pipes in the Alphington area of Exeter.

A new Volunteer Warden Scheme is being launched at the Grand Western Canal Country Park, giving local residents the opportunity to play an active role in caring for one of Devon’s most cherished green spaces.

The Children’s Commissioner for England has launched ‘The Big Future’, a national survey designed to hear directly from children and young people about their experiences of growing up today.

Lower speed limits are set to be implemented on a stretch of a “high casualty road” on the outskirts of Exeter.

Frustration has been aired about the protracted analysis over a possible pedestrian crossing for an East Devon village that its residents believe is long overdue.

The first preparatory steps for a possible legal challenge against government attempts to carve up Devon are underway.

Officers are appealing for caravan owners to be vigilant after two high end caravans were stolen in the middle of the night from a farm in Awliscombe.

A section of the A379 at the Devon Hotel roundabout will be closed for two nights next month so road markings can be refreshed.

As schools begin breaking up for the summer holidays with a warmer than average summer forecasted by the Met Office, the UKHSA is urging families to take simple steps to enjoy the summer break safely and protect their family’s health.

Hundreds of businesses and community groups in Teignbridge have received lasting benefits thanks to government funding administered by Teignbridge District Council.

Exmouth Town Council has welcomed plans by the Environment Agency and South West Water that are designed to improve water quality at Exmouth Beach and reduce the risk of sewage pollution caused by storm overflows.

Stover Country Park and the Grand Western Canal Country Park have, once again, been named as two of the best parks in the country after receiving this year’s Green Flag Award.

Devon’s new local government shake-up has been blasted as a ‘disaster for rural Devon’ by environment watchdogs.

Joshua Kerry, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday after being charged with the murder of Ann Widdecombe.

As visitor numbers increase and temperatures rise, so too does demand on policing. Busier roads can mean more collisions, popular destinations attract larger crowds and major events and festivals all place additional pressure on emergency services.

Countryside lovers with restricted mobility are now able to enjoy one of Devon’s most picturesque locations, thanks to a partnership arrangement that gives them access to a special self-drive all-terrain vehicle.

Archaeologists have uncovered a rare and intricate polychrome mosaic within the remains of a Roman villa sitting beneath Devon farmland.

Residents are being reminded that they still have time to share their views on plans to improve air quality in Exeter.

Postcode checker available now – What new council area will I be in under local government reorganisation in Devon?

Campaigners fighting a proposal for a site on the edge of Exmouth that could accommodate 700 homes have channelled the satirical political candidate battling Nigel Farage.

A £20 million initiative to strengthen communities in Exeter has taken a major step forward with the appointment of an independent Chair.

A derelict hotel overlooking one of Devon’s busiest resort beaches is to be transformed into a modern ‘aparthotel’ with a spa, a coffee house, a café/bar and a roof terrace.

Local MPs have welcomed the government’s decision to abandon plans to no longer offer an hourly reimbursement to coastguard rescue officers (CROs).

Devon County Council are backing the national Best Start in Life campaign, with a focus on children who will start school in September 2027. This includes children currently aged three to four, who are about to begin their final year in nursery or pre-school. 

Statistics have revealed that Exeter residents living in the city's most deprived neighbourhoods can expect to live nearly 17 years less than those in its wealthiest areas.

The hot weather in the South West is continuing to have an impact on the number of people presenting at the Royal Devon Emergency Departments with heat related conditions.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez says significant efforts are being made to tackle antisocial behaviour after reports of rising issues in towns across the region.

Children at a Devon primary school who say their classmates are getting sick after swimming in pollution have taken aim at South West Water.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Devon County Council as requires improvement, in how well they are meeting their responsibilities to ensure people have access to adult social care and support under the Care Act (2014).

South Western Railway (SWR) has been awarded the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award, the Ministry of Defence’s highest accolade for organisations that provide exceptional support to the Armed Forces community.

A year after Devon & Cornwall Police was taken out of special measures a new inspection rating system puts the force two categories away from that rating.

Police are appealing for witnesses and information following a two-vehicle collision on Honiton Road, Exeter.

Devon’s residents have been “betrayed” in a fundamental overhaul of how Devon’s councils will be reorganised and which services they will be responsible for, it has been claimed.

Councillors who voted to let cars back into a cycles-only street in Exeter have been accused of ‘kicking the can down Dryden Road’.

Massive changes to local councils across Devon will simplify services for local people, according to the leader of one of the councils that will be expanded as part of the set up.

Devon County Council has unveiled its plans for the year ahead as it prepares for one of the biggest changes to local government in the county's history.

A partnership involving the Royal Devon is helping more patients benefit from life-changing research through their local GP practice.

Four of East Devon’s most cherished parks and green spaces have once again been recognised among the very best in the country after achieving Green Flag Award status.

Two council-owned outside tennis courts have been marked out for pickleball, giving more opportunity for people to try one of the UK’s fastest-growing sports.

The go-ahead has been given for a Devon council to develop a policy that would allow 5G technology to be installed on lampposts.

Police in Devon and Cornwall only charged 40 car thieves in 2025 despite 1,310 vehicle thefts being reported across the two counties.

A hard-fought campaign for a new building for a Devon primary school looks set to have taken a major step forward.

The land a Devon youth football team was blocked from moving to is included in a strategy that identifies suitable locations for outdoor sports.

As the nation celebrates National Picnic Month this July, firefighters are encouraging people to swap barbecues following a spate of outdoor fires over the past week.

Police are growing concerned with the welfare of 44-year-old Benjamin Kendry who has been reported missing from the Exeter area.

Counter Terrorism Police have confirmed that the killing of Ann Widdecombe is being treated as a targeted attack as detectives continue to investigate the motive.

Police have been contacted by residents in the Exeter community who have reported an increase of young people riding e-bikes and e-scooters dangerously in and around Exeter City Centre.

Cars are coming back to a long-closed Exeter city centre road which has been cycles-only since 2020.

Wales & West Utilities is progressing well with its work to upgrade the gas pipes in Honiton.

Cranbrook Town Council is celebrating a historic milestone as Cranbrook Country Park retains its Green Flag Award for the third consecutive year.

The University of Exeter has been recognised as one of the UK’s leading institutions in defence, security and resilience education and research after being appointed a founding member of the new Defence Universities Alliance.

South West Water has announced it will be introducing temporary restrictions on hosepipe use for customers in Mid Devon and parts of East Devon including Tiverton, Cullompton, Bampton, Honiton, South Molton, Dunkeswell, Axminster and Lyme Regis, due to current exceptionally high levels of demand in the area.

Police are appealing for any information following a series assault in Exeter.

Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) can confirm it is now leading the investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe.  Specialist officers from across the CTP network have been working alongside colleagues in Devon and Cornwall Police since a murder investigation was launched last week. 

Police are appealing for witnesses and footage following a fatal road traffic collision in Exmouth on Sunday 12 July.

Plans by the Prime Minister-in-waiting to create a ‘Number 10 North’ office in Manchester have been blasted by the leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Proposals around allowing 5G equipment installations across Devon will be discussed next week in a move that could see the county earn £350 a year from every lamppost used.

The Police investigation into the death of 78-year-old Ann Widdecombe has continued to develop over the past 24 hours.

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.