An international expert in marine debris says that school children will be a driving force in bringing about a sea change in attitude towards marine pollution, which has reached crisis proportions across the globe in the past decade.

Plymouth University professor, Richard Thompson, who is working on UN and EU projects to find solutions to ocean debris, believes children have a major role to play by educating their parents, who were brought up in a 'throwaway' generation. He is carrying out a survey of over 300 children who are taking part in the Ecover Schools Blue Mile at the...

An unusually busy agenda at an East Devon planning meeting has seen several decisions made about major planning applications and issues in the district.

The meeting on Tuesday 11 June (which lasted for 11 hours) took in 16 applcations and reports on the Validation of Planning Applicaitons and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), discussing a fresh round of consultation on the council’s updated plans for charging developers per home they build, with money going towards infrastructure and community facilities.

With several high profile applications on the agenda the meeting...

There are only two weeks left for Sidmouth, Sidbury and Sidford residents, voluntary and community groups and other organisations to get their ideas in for how they want £150,000 to be spent on sport in the area.

East Devon District Council is inviting all Sidmouth, Sidbury and Sidford’s residents, voluntary and community groups and other organisations to send their proposals to Sidmouth Town Council before 28 June 2013. All the funds available have been accumulated by East Devon District Council from recent housing developments in the parish of Sidmouth (Section 106 money). It is...

The amount of homes sold in the UK over the past three months reached its highest level since January 2010 as buyers across the country began to return to the market, says the latest RICS residential market survey (11 June 2013).

Chartered surveyors in the UK sold on average 17.9 properties during the three months to May. While low compared to the market peak of six years ago, it still represents the highest reading since January 2010. Furthermore, sales are expected to continue their rise over the next three months with a net balance of 35% more respondents predicting transaction...

This pack of rugby "wives" are more used to their more illustrious other halves hogging all the attention, particularly from avid fans.

But the women, whose husbands all play for the top-flight Exeter Chiefs, stepped out of the shadows and into the limelight to promote a charity event.

They were helping to publicise a walk this Saturday which has been organised in aid of Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, the only UK charity dedicated to women affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities.

Staff at Ashfords solicitors are helping with the Exeter walk, one of nine...

South West Communications Group has been awarded the contract to provide a new ShoreTel telephone solution to All Saints Academy in Plymouth, Devon.

The Academy, which services the educational needs of over 1,000 students and employs 200+ members of staff, is about to embark on the second phase of a construction and refurbishment programme which will see the existing Avaya telephone system removed from its east wing.

Rob Bromidge, network manager, said: “All Saints has embarked on an exciting period of redevelopment with a new building and refurbishment work worth £12...

Exeter School is to exhibit artwork produced by WESC Foundation pupils and students for the second year running. An exhibition of sensory artwork produced by visually impaired artists will be held from 18-21 June, 10am – 3pm, in the Andrews Hall to which all are invited, beginning with a private view on Monday 17 June from 6-7.30pm. John Mason, Exeter School’s Head of Art, said he was pleased to host ‘Sensational! 2013’ as it was beneficial for pupils attending both schools. “The exhibition gives our pupils a new perspective on art as the WESC’s artwork touches all the senses.” Irena...

Consultation on major transport schemes proposed for the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership area (Devon, Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay) will continue for the next fortnight.

The Heart of the South West Local Transport Board (LTB) will manage the funding to be devolved from the Department for Transport for major local transport schemes. It has been allocated an indicative sum of around £40.6 million over four years.

The final allocation, which will not be known until the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review has been concluded, could be higher or lower...

Tony Bradbury, 41, of Whitchurch Avenue, Exeter, was today sentenced at Exeter Crown Court to 3 years and 10 months in custody. Det Sgt Brian Slade from the force’s child exploitation unit said: “Tony Bradbury has today been sentenced for offences including sexual activity with children, grooming of children and possessing and distributing pictures of child abuse. “This has been a complicated and extensive enquiry. It has uncovered a number of children who are victims of Bradbury. This investigation demonstrates our commitment to find and convict those who are targeting both girls and boys...