UK News

Bat’s sea crossing is first from UK to mainland Europe

A tiny bat found in the Netherlands is believed to provide the first direct evidence that British bats migrate over the sea between the UK and mainland Europe.

The bat, a Nathusius’ pipistrelle, flew from Blagdon near Bristol across the country and over the North Sea before settling in a farm building near the coast in Friesland – a direct journey of 596 kilometres (370 miles)....

Warning to take care on roads and coast paths

Devon County Council is urging people to take care on the county’s roads and coast paths over the weekend.

Almost five miles (7.6km) of the south west coast path between Axmouth and near to the Devon/Dorset border at Lyme Regis has been shut this afternoon due to damage to the path caused by an active landslip.

Notices have been placed on site in liaison with the land managers...

UK construction market more than doubles

The value of construction projects in the UK has rocketed by 67.1 per cent in the last year, according to a report published today. New project contracts awarded in December 2013 totalled £6 billion, compared to £3.6 bn in the same month in 2012.

The infrastructure sector proved to be an area of significant growth last month, with the total value of projects awarded reaching £2.2...

RSPCA in dramatic rescue of calf from inaccessible cove in Cornwall

The RSPCA has co-ordinated the dramatic rescue of a young female calf who fell a hundred feet over a cliff into an inaccessible cove below the Lizard lighthouse in Cornwall following a large landslip.

The heifer, a seven month old Dexter, who miraculously appeared relatively unharmed, was stuck in the cove for five days as the rescue was planned.

The call to the RSPCA on Friday...

New information revealed about emergency admissions to hospital for people in Devon

Collaborative research between the Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and an Exeter GP practice has revealed new information about emergency admissions to hospital.

The CCG has built a mathematical model, called the Devon Predictive Model, to identify people who are at the most risk of emergency admission to hospital.

Emergency admissions to...

Zara Tindall gives birth to daughter

The Queen’s granddaguther Zara Tindall has given birth to a baby girl at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

Her husband, former England rugby star Mike Tindall was present at the birth.

The baby, who is 16th in line to the throne, weighed 7lbs 12oz.

In a statement, the Queen's press secretary said: "The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, Captain Mark...

Voting opens for the Top Dog walk in the West competition

The second annual competition to find the best dog walk along the South West Coast Path has been launched this week backed by the Kennel Club’s access adviser Stephen Jenkinson, an expert on where dog owners can go and what they can do in the countryside. The winning voter will win a holiday at one of Holiday Cottages 800 dog-friendly cottages in the region worth £400.

Locals and...

Children's homes future in doubt

The future of three of Devon’s Children’s homes - including one at the centre of a sexual abuse investigation- are in doubt as the council reviews its care of vulnerable children.

The Birchen Road home in Tiverton currently closed after concerns were raised about the potential sexual exploitation of residents outside the home and the placements to the Rifford Road home in Exeter...

Brothers keep it in the family at new development

Two brothers are now seeing a lot more of each other following individual purchase of new homes at the award-winning development built by Dorchester-based C G Fry & Son Limited at Balidon Place in Yeovil.

David and Angela Randall bought their deluxe two-bed apartment in the re-constructed Balidon House, formerly Yeovil Maternity Hospital located in the desirable West Coker Road 12...

Artist finds his muse in former clay quarry

A Westcountry artist has been appointed to the position of ‘Artist in Residence’ at one of the region’s largest nature reserves.

Peter Baker moved to the north Devon village of Meeth just two years ago. As a life-long artist, Peter soon found himself searching for a new local muse – to act as a focus for his painting and artistic expression. So when Devon Wildlife Trust bought the 150...

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