The Fostering Network is calling on people across the south west to consider becoming foster carers, given the need for a further 550 new families across the region in 2015. The call comes with the launch of the charity’s annual Foster Care Fortnight, and is supported by the results of a new survey showing that two in five (40%) fostered teenagers are already living with their third foster family since coming into care. The survey, covering over 1,600 fostered children and young people across the UK, also found that: · 1 in 4 (25%) fostered teenagers are living with at least their fourth...

Exeter’s SunGift Energy has installed the UK’s first ‘Shadow Solar’ carport at its Marsh Barton HQ. The system, which takes just one day to erect, is a 100% waterproof modern carport with the added benefit of having solar panels for its roof. “It’s an exceptional piece of kit that not only provides a full solar PV system, but also delivers excellent shading and protection,” said SunGift Scott Oldfield. “Devon Homeowners are increasingly looking for new solutions that meet their needs and the Shadow Solar is one of the industry’s latest innovations.” “As more people buy electric cars, the...

Detectives are appealing to the public for information after a woman was robbed on the street in Newton Abbot.

The woman was approached at the bus stop outside the railway station by two men who asked her for a light for a cigarette.

She was then kicked by one of the men and fell to the floor where the second man grabbed her handbag.

The woman was further assaulted during the struggle before the offenders grabbed her purse from the bag and made off. The purse contained around £100.

The woman, in her 40s and from Torquay, sustained bruising to her chest and...

Crediton-based private client solicitor Lesley Austen has attained the Older Client Care in Practice award, awarded by the Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE).

SFE was founded in 1996 as a specialist group to help, support and make a difference to older people. The independent body recently introduced this accreditation to demonstrate that its members are the best in their field. The standards required are over and above the legal training that all solicitors are obliged to do and are independently assessed.

Lesley is a private client lawyer, specialising in advising elderly...

A new booklet aimed at encouraging great scenic train journeys along the Riviera Line between Exeter to Paignton and promoting Dawlish & Teignmouth has been published.

The free booklet has been produced by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership and brings together ideas for great days out in Exeter, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot and along the English Riviera. Walks from stations are also featured including the Exe Estuary Trail and Agatha Christie Mile in Torquay.

The booklet also promotes South Devon events along the Riviera Line in 2015 including the Dawlish Arts...

Distell has recalled various bottles of wine because they might contain very small fragments of glass.

The wines are sold by Morrisons, Tesco and Waitrose.

If you have bought one of the products, do not use it. Instead, return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund.

The Food Standards Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice.

The recalled products are listed below:

Morrisons

Nederburg 56 Hundred Pinot Grigio, 75cl Lot numbers: LB118l14 and LB107J14

Danger Point Shiraz Rose, 75cl Lot number: LB129J14...

A section of the Exe Estuary Trail cycleway between Turf Locks and Church Road, Powderham is planned to close between Monday 08 June and Monday 15 June in order to complete the final surfacing of the cycle path.

Due to the maintenance, both the cycle path and public footpaths will be closed for most of the period. Because there is no suitable diversion route available, pedestrians and cyclists are asked to avoid this section of cycleway for the duration of the closure.

Notices alerting the public to the closure will be positioned at several points along the Exe Estuary...

More than half of public transport passenger trips planned to be cut in Devon are now proposed to be restored, following widespread public consultation.

Devon County Council had originally planned to reduce passenger trips by almost 400,000 this year to save £1.7 million, but it is now proposing to reduce this to just under 170,000 after talking to communities across the county.

Out of a total 4.5 million annual passenger trips on all of Devon’s supported services – it means that over 96% of passenger trips on Devon’s supported network would carry on unaffected by the...