Zoo keepers are taking on the mammoth task of counting each and every animal in their collections for a New Year stock-take.
Collections keep detailed records of every animal birth, death, arrival and departure. The annual headcount is completed each January as a requirement of zoo licencing.
Staff at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park in Devon have nearly 2,000 heads to count, including around 360 mammals of 70 different species, nearly 1,000 birds of around 150 species, 221 reptiles (50 species) and 244 amphibians (30 species).
Exeter’s comedy festival, Laugh Out Loud kicks off this month and headlining the event are some hilarious award-winning comedians who have recently been raising chuckles on such TV shows as 8 Out of Ten Cats , Have I Got News for You and Never Mind the Buzzcocks.
Tony Law - nominated for the most prestigious prize in live comedy, the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2012 - brings some gloriously absurd, loud and ridiculous comedy to Exeter Phoenix on 31st January following sell out gigs all over the country. The acridly funny Katherine Ryan can be seen this Friday night on Channel 4’s...
Police were called to Lymington Road in Torquay this morning following reports of a suspicious package in the vicinity of the coach station.
Police have since closed off parts of Lymington Road, Parkfield Road and Forest Road and they will remain closed for the time being. Motorists are advised to avoid the area.
Officers currently remain at the scene.
Eight properties are said to have been evacuated at this time.
Police investigating the Christmas Day burglary at Bridgetown Post Office, Totnes, are appealing for information about a wooden post that was left at the scene. The post was marked Torbay Totnes Trail, John Musgrave Trail, and County Road, Devon County Council. Officers hope that someone who regularly walks the trail may be able to pinpoint where the sign was taken from.
A 4-wheel drive vehicle was used to smash a window in the premises and the suspects made off in a Subaru. The Subaru later crashed on the A381 and one of the occupants, a 25-year-old man was arrested.
After hearing a collision right outside the Exmouth Fire Station, at the junction of Liverton Business Park and Salterton Road, fire crews were quickly on hand to help the two vehicles involved.
On arrival they reported that one person was still in one of the vehicles awaiting assessment by the paramedics. The Exmouth retained appliance was then also mobilised. The Police were requested to assist with traffic control.
The casualty did not require extrication from the vehicle and both vehicles were made safe using small tools.
Budleigh Salterton-based author Hilary Mantel has added to her growing collection of awards as she has been named as the winner of the The Costa novel prize for the second book in her historical trilogy, Bring up the Bodies . Having already received the accolade of being the first living UK author to receive the Man Booker Prize twice, Hilary is said to be delighted with the latest honour.
The judges described the historical story as "quite simply the best novel of the year". Continuing what began in the Man Booker Prize-winning Wolf Hall , the reader is transported back to the...
A fire appliance from Danes Castle and another from Middlemoor were called out to rescue three shoppers - two adults and one child - stuck in a lift in Princesshay, Exeter this afternoon (2nd January).
On arrival the fire crews made contact with the occupants of the lift and used small tools and a short extension ladder to release the shoppers. All were uninjured and released to a place of safety.
Protests have taken place in Kathmandu against rape, after a week of protests in neighbouring India.
The Nepal Women’s Association, Nepali Congress’ sister organisation, announced a protest programme calling for the end of rape and incidents of violence against women and guaranteeing the rule of law to the citizens.
The NWA wants to exert pressure on authorities to begin punishing the culprits of violence against women and providing justice to the victims. Rights activists say the government has not been paying due attention even when women’s sanctity was being robbed and...
According to National Trust wildlife experts, unsettled, unpredictable and at times chaotic weather has meant that last year was a particularly challenging one for wildlife.
Whilst birds and insects have struggled, slugs and orchids have done well throughout Britain in our special places.
Matthew Oates, Naturalist at the Trust, said: "This has been a highly polarised year, with wildlife in the places we look after doing either remarkably well or incredibly badly.
"In general, plants and slugs were the big winners and insects the big losers. But even in this wet...
