Devon

Devon chef jointly wins MasterChef: The Professionals

A Devon chef has been named joint winner in the final of this year's MasterChef: The Professionals . Anton Piotrowski, 30, who runs the Treby Arms in Sparkwell near Plymouth, and Keri Moss, 41, from London, became the first joint winners in the history of the competition. "It's absolutely amazing; to share the title with someone that's so talented and so amazing is unreal," said Piotrowski.

Piotrowski's winning menu included squid ink and malt vinegar crumble and cocoa-marinated venison.

The Professionals spin-off, which pits working chefs against one another, is now in its...

Slight train delays but services now running

Update: The trains going are getting back to normal after earlier heavy rains. Trains are now running between Newton Abbot and Exeter St Davids, but slight delays may still be possible.

National Rail are reporting that poor weather conditions are causing disruption in the Dawlish area.

Because of this, there are no trains between Newton Abbot and Exeter St Davids. This will continue until further notice.

Ticket Acceptance:

  • First Great Western and CrossCountry passengers may use each others services on all reasonable routes until further
  • ...

Big improvement in Devon primary schools’ SATs results

Devon’s primary schools have achieved a significant improvement in this year’s Key Stage 2 SATs tests for 11-year-olds.

The county’s combined figure for English and maths was up six per cent on last year and Devon schools continue to out-perform results nationally and regionally.

The percentage of pupils achieving the benchmark Level 4 or above in English and maths in Devon was 82 per cent in 2012 – up six points on last year’s county results.

And the Devon figure was three points ahead of the national figure for the two subjects combined at 79 per cent and ahead of...

School bus and car involved in collision on Telegraph Hill

Update: It has been reported that the A380 has now reopened on Telegraph Hill in Kennford after the earlier accident due to bad weather earlier involving a school bus and a Ford Ka. More details below...

Earlier: The A380 at Telegraph Hill in Kennford is closed and with queueing traffic northbound at the A38 junction, because of an accident involving multiple vehicles, including a Ka, with a female driver trapped inside, and a school bus. Reports are stating that no children have been hurt. The driver of the bus is thought to have been knocked unconscious and the bus continued to...

Flooding possible as heavy rain returns to Devon

The Environment Agency has placed a Flood Alert on the following areas: Hemyock, Cullompton, Stoke Canon, Broadclyst and Clyst St Mary, meaning that flooding is possible tomorrow morning following rainfall overnight and into Friday.

14 to 35 millimeters of rain is forecast for the early hours of Friday 14th December and heavy showers are indicated to persist into late afternoon. This could result in river levels rising and an increase in surface water.

Overtopping and onshore flooding may occur on the South Devon Coast between Plymouth and Lyme Regis as a result of strong...

Consultation on the new Exmouth Splash continues

What do you think of plans for the new ‘Exmouth Splash?’ That’s the question East Devon District Council has been asking all Exmouth residents and visitors about plans for a new, vibrant and colourful leisure and recreation area on Exmouth seafront.

Go to www.eastdevon.gov.uk/exmouthsplash to see the plans in full and for details of how to give EDDC your views.

‘Exmouth Splash’ covers the area between the old Lifeboat Station and the Maer on Queen’s Drive. There will be two large play and recreation areas, a public square, shops, amenities and a new ‘watersports hub’...

Debt problems with payday loans more than double

Following the launch of a new payday lending customer charter , local charity, Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau, is releasing new figures demonstrating a worrying increase in the number of serious debt cases relating to payday loans.

The Citizens Advice service has seen a ten-fold increase in the proportion of clients receiving help with multiple debts which included a payday loan debt in the last four years. In the first quarter of 2009/10 only 1 per cent of CAB debt casework clients had at least one payday loan; in the same quarter last year this had risen to 4%. This year's figure...

Carry on christmas crackers not permitted

Exeter International Airport has reminded passengers travelling to friends and relatives for the festive period that Christmas crackers are not permitted in hand/cabin baggage.

If the crackers are in a sealed box (original packaging, cellophane not broken) they may travel in hold (checked-in) baggage. However, party poppers are not permitted in hand or hold baggage.

There are no hand (cabin) baggage restrictions on Christmas cakes but passengers should be aware of the DfT 'Liquids' regulations and airline hand (cabin) baggage limits.

At the Security Search Area...

Calling all costume buffs - The Northcott needs you!

Exeter's Northcott Theatre has revealed to The Exeter Daily that it has a very exciting opportunity coming up for a small but dedicated group of volunteers in the New Year.

Beth de Tisi, Wardrobe Manager at the Northcott, says: "We have this amazing resource that we are no longer able to utilise to full advantage since we are currently not putting on our own productions at The Northcott."

Beth, who worked at The Northcott for 10 years, has a terrific sense of what costumes are in the department already. However, in order to make the stock available to a host of outside...

Look who’s got a seasonal driving job with Stagecoach!

Customers waiting for the 57 service at Exeter Bus station were delighted to see they had a very special seasonal bus driver – Santa Claus!

Between now and Christmas, Santa (also known as Clint Woodman from Stagecoach South West's Exmouth depot) is busy raising money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society and certainly put a smile on everyone’s faces.

In fact, Stagecoach are already getting letters and Facebook comments from happy customers who are saying how much he's cheered their day up with one mum commenting "It made my children's day and they haven’t stopped talking about...

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