With the festive season upon us, which traditionally sees an increase in incidents of domestic abuse, support agencies would like to raise awareness of the services and help available to those who are at risk, or suffering domestic abuse across the region this Christmas.
Figures from Devon and Cornwall Police show that in December 2011, a total of 231 domestic abuse incidents were recorded in the period between Christmas Day and New Year 2011 – a 48% increase on the average number of incidents during the rest of the year.
Rachel Martin from adva (against domestic violence...
Update: Roads are now open between Stoke Canon and Bickleigh and Stagecoach services are operating as normal.
Stagecoach have announced that all its services are operating normally apart from 55 and 155, which are currently unable to serve Stoke Canon and Bickleigh and are diverting down the motorway.
The Met Office is forecasting yet more rain over the next few days.
A spokesman said further rain is likely in southwest England through the next few days bringing a medium flood risk, with further significant disruption from river and surface water flooding possible across Cornwall, Devon and Somerset.
Meanwhile, the A396 Devon - A396 Stoke Road was this morning closed in both directions between the A377 Cowley Bridge Road junction in Exeter and the Green Lane junction in Rewe, because of flooding.
Rail travellers were today told not to attempt to travel west of Taunton after yet more heavy rain.
Meanwhile trains between Exeter St David's and Barnstaple will not be running until at least Deecember 28.
First Great Western issued the following information:
]We are still experiencing flooding and landslips in the following areas:
Newton Abbot to Taunton
Trains are unable to operate between Tiverton Parkway Station and Exeter St Davids and between Exeter St David's and Newton Abbot. Therefore, services from Penzance, Plymouth, towards Bristol...
Christmas has certainly come early for supporters of the Exeter Chiefs after it was confirmed two more of their senior stars have agreed new contracts with the Aviva Premiership.
Just days after full-back Luke Arscott committed his immediate future to the Sandy Park outfit, prop Brett Sturgess and fly-half Gareth Steenson have followed suit by agreeing similar two-year deals. The announcement is yet another welcome boost for head coach Rob Baxter, who has made no secret of his desire to tie down the futures of a number of his frontline stars. Speaking after his side's narrow loss...
Ongoing heavy rain in North Devon is causing extensive flooding and road closures.
Police report the A361 Barnstaple to Braunton is closed.
Also closed are the A39 Barnstaple to Ilfracombe and the A399 Barnstaple to Lynton. All minor roads in the area North of Barnstaple are also closed at this time due to rivers bursting banks, causing extensive flooding. Public are warned not to attempt to travel these roads and not to travel through any flooded roads. The River has breached again in Braunton and despite multi-agency efforts the squre is now flooding again. Braunton School...
Scouts, Cubs and Beavers from packs across Exeter, as well as in surrounding areas such as Budleigh Salterton, Woodbury and Exminster, braved the rain this morning to deliver the Scouts Christmas Post.
The Christmas post raises money for both local Scouting and the Children's Hospice South West and organisers are hopeful that this year will have been a bumper year, with almost 30,000 Christmas cards being posted at locations across the city and East Devon.
"With a card costing only 25p - half the price of a second-class stamp - it is no wonder that so many local people...
Wreaths come in many different styles and colours, but what exactly do they represent? The Exeter Daily finds out...
In ancient Rome, people used decorative wreaths as a sign of victory. Some believe that this is where the hanging of wreaths on doors came from.
The origins of the Advent wreath are found in the folk practices of the pre-Christian Germanic peoples who, during the cold December darkness of Eastern Europe, gathered wreaths of evergreen and lighted fires as signs of hope in a coming spring and renewed light.
On the morning of 22nd December, Devon & Somerset fire crews attended the following flooding incidents:
1.41 Bretonside, Plymouth 1.57 two people in vehicle pushed to safety, Heybrook Bay, Plymouth 2.18 Colebrook inn, Colebrook Road, Colebrook, Plympton 2.39 Vicarage Lane, West Alvington, Kingsbridge 2.46 Rosewood Close, Goosewell, Plymstock 2.50 Stray Park, Yealmpton 3.03 Charles Street, Dartmouth 3.08 Coleridge Lane Cottages, Chilington, Kingsbridge 3.11 Newnham, Plympton 3.20 Bickleigh, Plymouth 3.28 Movice Street, Devonport, Plymouth 3.30 two men rescued from a car, Haye...
