Drivers are being urged not to drive on roads across Dartmoor and Exmoor as the clear-up operation continues.

Road conditions on the National Parks’ road network, especially on higher ground, have been described as ‘treacherous’ by Devon County Council’s Highways Operations Centre with many roads still impassable.

Ice and snow are still wide spread across many routes.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s cabinet Member for Highways said: “Please avoid driving today on routes across the National Parks. I would urge resident who live locally to please stay...

An urgent appeal has been issued for registered nurses and other clinical staff to help boost staffing levels at the RD&E Hospital in Exeter this weekend.

Suzanne Tracey, RD&E Chief Executive, said: “We are appealing to all clinical staff available to work at our main Wonford site in Exeter this weekend to please contact the hospital on 01392 411611 (or directly ring the staff hub on 01392 406172) urgently. Our greatest need at this time is for registered nurses.

“Due to the impact of the severe weather on normal staffing, the Trust now needs extra staff to boost...

A group of Dartmoor farmers have signed up to a new scheme to benefit wildlife in three Dartmoor river catchment areas.

So far 34 farmers in the East Dart, Upper Tavy and Cherry Brook/Lower West Dart catchments have signed up to work together to improve the natural environment at a landscape scale, to achieve greater improvements collectively than individual holdings may achieve on their own. A second scheme based around the Erme/ Yealm catchments is also being funded.

The schemes are being funded through the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund which was established...

A multi-agency operation has been underway for the past two days across Devon and Cornwall as Storm Emma hit the South West.

Emergency services have been working day and night to reopen roads, clear traffic and help those in need.

Police officers have been dealing with a number of road incidents over the past couple of days and stress that you should only travel if absolutely necessary.

If you do need to travel by car, please ensure you wrap up warm and take supplies.

Rest centres have now been closed across the region as roads reopened and drivers have been...

PEOPLE in the South West are being challenged to row a marathon in March as part of an oar-some fundraising effort for Cancer Research UK.

In partnership with the renowned Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race, now known as The Cancer Research UK Boat Race, the charity is encouraging people to go the distance and cover 26.2 miles in stages or in one go, anytime in March.

Would-be rowers can take on The Great Row as part of a team or they can sign up for a solo effort.

To help participants off the start line, Better Leisure centres across the UK will open their doors and...

Devon County Council and the NHS are working closely with them to provide additional support.

Care agencies are working together right across Devon to support each other’s care provision, to ensure that people most at risk are receiving the support they need. And the agencies are receiving help from local residents and community groups. One care agency, Bay Care, has clients across Torbay, South and West Devon. They provide home care for people with dementia, and end of life care. Katrina Green, Director of Bay Care, said: “We have around 250 clients that we know well. We know who’...

A University of Exeter researcher will receive an honorary doctorate from a leading Dutch university.

Professor Katrina Brown will receive the award from Wageningen University on 9 March as part of its centenary celebrations.

Professor Brown is an environmental social scientist, specialising in how individuals and communities in developing countries cope with climate change.

Three other researchers will also receive honorary doctorates – Swedish ecologist Carl Folke, Russian evolutionary biologist Eugene Koonin and Chinese plant scientist Fusuo Zhang – and they will...

Highways teams continue to work through the night to treat Devon’s main roads, ahead of a forecast of more freezing temperatures overnight which looks set to render roads hazardous in many parts of the county.

Snow blowers, snow ploughs and gritters have been working over the last 48 hours to clear the majority of A roads in the county, although some in moorland areas are still impassable.

Most minor B roads are blocked with snow drifts of 6-8 feet remaining on some roads.

Devon’s fleet of gritters will continue working overnight, but the advice to people remains...

Road conditions across Devon today have been described as ‘deceptive’ by the County Council’s Highways Operations Manager, Chris Cranston.

“Despite relatively little snow overnight, the freezing rain across the county has left many roads still impassable, and people are being encouraged to think carefully about making any journeys until the roads have been cleared,” he said.

“We are just reopening the A380 Northbound, and the rest of the major road network is now generally passable with care with 4-wheel drive vehicles, although the situation is still variable across the...