Sleeping away from the family home is linked to health risks for badgers, new research by the University of Exeter and the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) has revealed.
Scientists found that badgers which strayed away from the family burrow in favour of sleeping in outlying dens were more likely to carry TB.
The 12-month study of 40 wild badgers was funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and could have implications for the management of bovine TB in parts of the UK.
The behaviour of individual animals is thought to be a...
Ashfords LLP's multi award-winning conveyancing team has gained further recognition for the quality of its service at the 2012 Equity Release Awards, which took place at the end of last month (note: 27 November) at Merchants Taylors’ Hall in London.
The firm’s Equity Release team, led by Partner Peter Barton, was the overall winner in the National Equity Release Conveyancing category, beating Equilaw and Goldsmith Williams to win the award, which was voted on by participating advisors and providers.
Peter Barton, Partner and Head of the Equity Release practice at Ashfords,...
Equality South West has condemned a government move to allow local authorities to publish official documents only in English.
ESW says the move – published in a money-saving guide by communities and local government minister Eric Pickles – will marginalise the thousands of migrants living and working in the region who do not have English as their first language.
ESW's Brenda Weston said: "The South West is home to thousands of families from outside the UK, many of whom do not speak English as a first language, but work here and pay their taxes here.
Exeter Racecourse was left cursing the weather after its meeting was abandoned today following the latest deluge of rain, but the homeless of Exeter were smiling when they become the beneficiaries of dozens of unwanted sandwiches.
Rather than discard the pre-prepared food, catering staff at the racecourse called St Petroc’s in Exeter who collected dozens of sandwiches and distributed them among Exeter’s vulnerable citizens. General manager Tim Darby said: “It was a huge disappointment that we were unable to stage our Christmas fixture, but at least we were able to help St Petroc’s...
Honiton acrobatic gymnasts Ashley Wallis and Buster Tutcher have their sights firmly set on trials for the European Age Group Championships after securing their third silver medal in a row at British Championship events.
Archaeologists carrying out investigations in advance of the construction of the South Devon Link Road, near Kingskerswell, Devon, have uncovered the remains of a 2000 year old Roman settlement and a stone-constructed 800 year old medieval building.
The Roman settlement appears to have comprised a large rectangular ditched enclosure, which appears to have been modified three times, probably as a result of ever-increasing wealth and the construction of more elaborate buildings inside the enclosure.
While no evidence for a building survives due to subsequent quarrying, some...
The 2012 golf captains at Exeter Golf and Country Club presented a cheque for £8250 to Diabetes UK at the club’s annual ‘Turkey Trot’ golf competition.
Club members, Mike Priest and Shelia Scott co-ordinated fund-raising for their chosen charity during their year as golf captains through a series of events and prize draws including the annual Men’s and Ladies’ Pro Am tournaments and Captain’s Golf Days.
Mike and Shelia chose Diabetes UK to help raise diabetes awareness amongst the club membership whilst raising money for a charity which helps an increasing proportion of the...
The visit of Torquay United to St James Park in the New Year has been moved to Monday 28th January ( kick-off 7.45pm ).
The fixture was originally scheduled to be played on Saturday 26th January, but the fixture has today been altered in order to be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Torquay and Exeter City are also due to meet this weekend at Plainmoor in the reverse of the fixture, bringing up the halfway mark of the league season. Exeter City’s away allocation of 1450 for Saturday has now completely sold out.
Tickets for the Monday night game in January will be...
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service has been presented with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents’ (RoSPA) top health and safety award.
The award acknowledges the high standard of health & safety management within the Service and a high level of dedication from staff to improve health, safety and welfare systems.
Chief Fire Officer Lee Howell received the ‘Diamond’ award from RoSPA at Service Headquarters. He said: “We are all aware that we work in a potentially dangerous environment sometimes. As such we need to ensure that we are doing all that...
One of the ducks in the Walled Garden Pets Corner at Powderham Castle has hatched out 6 gorgeous fluffy chicks. This is a surprise, not only due to the unusual timing, but also due the fact that ducks aren’t known to be the best surrogate parents!
