Exeter City Councillor Simon Bowkett announced today (6 July) that he is to step down as councillor for the Pinhoe ward from immediate effect.

The resignation is likely to result in a by-election to fill the vacancy. Because there is a period of 10 months before all-out City Council elections in May, the local authority has to prepare for a by-election, provided at least two electors come forward. If the resignation had been after November, a by-election would not have been necessary.

Cllr Bowkett said the decision was because of work commitments away from the City Council...

Do you recognise either of these men? British Transport Police (BTP) officers want to speak to them after the ticket office window at Honiton was smashed. The incident happened at around 9.35pm on Saturday, 6 June. PC Gary Archer said: “Two men left the platform and started messing about on the tracks. “They crossed several times before picking up ballast and making their way to the front of the station where they smashed the ticket office window.” Officers have analysed CCTV from the station and are today issuing images of two men who they think can help with enquiries into the incident....

British blues guitarist and singer-songwriter Joanne Shaw Taylor is gearing up for her Autumn UK tour.

Joanne stops of at the Exeter Phoenix on Tuesday September 22, where she will be performing songs from her most recent critically acclaimed album The Dirty Truth, as well as songs from her previous three albums.

Described as “The Queen of Blues Rock” by Powerplay Magazine, while the Sunday Times said “Who Says white gals can’t play guitar?”, and Classic Rock Magazine said “Joanne is a world class blues talent.” A contrast from the “pop style” female artists that are...

The sun came out and so did thousands of people to the biggest mass participation event the National Trust in the South West has ever organised.

The Big Beach Picnic yesterday (4 July) took place at 15 different locations across the South West. From Wembury beach and even Branscombe in Devon to Gunwalloe and Marazion beach in Cornwall to Weymouth and Brownsea Island in Dorset to Bossington and Brean Down beach in Somerset. There were events at some of our secret coves like Pentireglaze Haven, Polzeath and Portnadler, Looe in Cornwall to the big stretches of beach like Woolacombe...

Overall business confidence has risen in the South West in the last six months, underpinned by companies’ expectations of an improvement in exports as well as an anticipated increase in investment levels, according to the latest Business in Britain report from Lloyds Bank. The twice-yearly report, now in its 23rd year, gathers the views of 1,500 UK companies, predominantly small to medium sized businesses, and tracks overall business confidence, which is based on the balance of firms expecting an increase in sales, orders and profits over the next six months. Since the last report in...

We recently held a tea party to celebrate the “graduation” of our Hospiscare Exeter community nurse Rachel Willmott.

Rachel is pictured, wearing pink, with her certificate which she received after studying and spending three years alongside highly experienced senior colleagues. She is now working in her new role as community nurse specialist in the city.

Rachel said: “I love this job. As a team we are able to give specialist advice and support to people who are at the end of their life. Hospiscare community nurses have time and experience and we are able to support families...

Devon Wildlife Trust said it had been ‘delighted’ by the kind contributions received to its fundraising appeal to purchase Bystock Pools nature reserve. The popular wildlife haven and beauty spot, between Exmouth and East Budleigh, was put up for sale by the landowner in spring 2015, having been leased to Devon Wildlife Trust as a nature reserve since the 1970s. The Exeter-based conservation charity launched an appeal in June to try to raise £45,000 to help meet the purchase price of the land. By the beginning of July, more than £36,000 had been received in donations from local residents,...

With school summer holidays just around the corner, searches for last minute summer holidays are up by over 50% v last week according to lowcostholidays.

With many holidays now cheaper than last summer, late deals are available for holidaymakers looking for guaranteed sunshine at the beach. Majorca, The Algarve, Lanzarote, Costal Del Sol and Orlando are currently this summer’s top family holiday destinations with Ibiza and Corfu proving most popular for couples and younger groups of friends. More holiday makers have chosen 4 and 5 star hotels for this summer than ever before with...

Mascots from across Devon have come together to compete in the county’s first ‘costumed golfing’ championship.

A dozen mascots took part in the inaugural tournament, held at Ladram Bay Holiday Park’s new Jurassic Adventure Golf course.

It was Woodlands’ Hero who triumphed, progressing through the group stage to beat Pickles the Parrot from Ladram Bay and Cavog of Kents Cavern in the final play-off held over three holes.

Each won their groups against the likes of Devon Air Ambulance’s Ambrose the Paramedic Bear, Buddy Bear from Crealy Adventure Park, Angus from World...

Richard Hammond said it’s the most fun he’s ever had and Jeremy Clarkson said he loved it. No, they are not reminiscing about Top Gear, but instead about test driving a Wildcat from one of the few remaining truly British car brands in the UK. And in an extraordinary step, for the very first time the public are being offered the chance to own a part of the business.

Wildcat, the Plymouth based automotive group that is owned and run by 35-year old Oliver Mitchell - has turned down numerous offers from foreign investors and in-stead, is turning to the public in order to develop two...