2014

Winter likely to have been sunniest since 1929

This winter is very likely to be a record breaker. Provisional Met Office statistics show that the UK has had its sunniest winter in records dating back to 1929.

While the figures for temperature and rainfall are fairly average, it has been one of, if not the sunniest winter in UK records dating back to 1929.

By 25 February the UK had already seen 189 hours of sunshine,...

2014 confirmed as warmest year on record

Provisional full year figures for 2014 show it is the UK's warmest and fourth wettest year in records dating back to 1910.

It is also the warmest year on record in the Central England Temperature series, which dates back to 1659 and is the world's longest running instrumental temperature series.

The UK's mean temperature for the year is 9.9 °C, which is 1.1 °C above the long-...

2014 on course to be warmest year on record

Early figures from the Met Office show 2014 is on course to be one of, if not the warmest, year on record both globally and for the UK.

Recent Met Office research also suggests breaking the existing global and UK temperature records is much more likely due to human influence on the climate.

The global mean temperature for January to October based on the HadCRUT4 dataset (...

Iconic buildings set to shine in ‘Light Fantastic’ events

Five of Plymouth’s most iconic buildings will become beacons of light on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 November as part of the city’s ‘Three Towns’ centenary celebrations.

‘Light Fantastic’ will see landmarks in Plymouth, Devonport and Stonehouse brought to life with photos, images, sounds and memories from the last century as well as today.

On Friday community-inspired...

Thousands prepare for Ten Tors challenge

Thousands of young people will set off on the 2014 Ten Tors challenge this weekend, spending two days in small self-sufficient teams walking through some of the most stunning scenery Dartmoor has to offer.

Dartmoor National Park Authority has been working closely with the Army in terms of route changes and providing training to team managers to ensure that the event has minimum...

Top acts announced for Dartmoor Folk Festival

Top local and national artists will headline at the 37th Dartmoor Folk Festival, which will be held at South Zeal, near Okehampton, on 8, 9 and 10 August.

Artists announced, to date, include: New Rope String Band (Friday), Lady Maisery, Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar (winners of the BBC Young Folk Awards 2013), Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer, The Old Fashioned, Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher...

Last call for 2014 nominations for prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

Nominations for the prestigious Queen's Award for Voluntary Service close on 30 September 2013.

People are being urged to nominate community groups and volunteers who have made a genuine difference to their local area, the Cabinet Office announced today, in the last call for 2014 nominations for The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service .

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service...

Plymouth to continue as Crime Panel host

Plymouth City Council is to continue to host the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel until March 2014.

After a scheduled review of the role, it has been agreed with all the local authorities in the two counties that Plymouth will carry on hosting and administering the Panel.

The Panel was set up as part of the overhaul of policing structures in the UK.

It has...