winter

As temperatures drop, people living in Exeter and across Devon may be able to get extra help with their heating this winter thanks to a new scheme.

The CosyDevon service, which is operated by a partnership of some councils in Devon, including Exeter City Council, was one of only 20 bids that were successful in securing funding as part of the Government’s £25m Central Heating Fund. The Fund is designed to support local people living in homes that don’t currently enjoy the efficiency and comfort of gas central heating, which is much cheaper to run than most forms of electric heating...

Many parts of Devon woke up to a dusting of the white stuff this morning.

Gritters were out last night and snow ploughs dispatched to Dartmoor this morning.

Motorists whose journeys take them across higher ground are being warned to delay their journeys, if possible.

Forecasters have warned that temperatures could plunge as low as -4C tonight.

And there could be further flurries this afternoon.

The Met Office five day forecast is as follows:

Today:

Some sunny spells today and mostly dry. However, bands of cloud and showers will move...

This winter's wet and blutsery weather is set to continue this week with the Met Office issuing a yellow warning of rain for today.

The Met Office warns the public and emergency responders of severe or hazardous weather which has the potential to cause danger to life or widespread disruption.

The Met Office five-day forecast is as follows.

Today:

Blustery showers will continue to feed in from the northwest today, becoming heavy in places, especially over higher ground. Some may become organised to bring prolonged periods of rain but there will also be some...

People have evolved to have subconscious urges to over-eat, and limited ability to avoid becoming obese, especially in winter, a University of Exeter study has found.

There is not yet an evolutionary mechanism to help us overcome the lure of sweet, fatty and unhealthy food and avoid becoming overweight for understandable and sensible reasons, according to researchers.

This is because in our past being overweight has not posed a significant threat to survival compared to the dangers of being underweight. The urge to maintain body fat is even stronger in winter when food in...

The New Year may not be very happy for hundreds of thousands of people in the South West, as research by Shelter reveals a fifth of rent or mortgage payers in the region are cutting back on winter heating and clothing to meet their housing payments. This is the equivalent to 500,000 people.

The study by housing and homelessness charity Shelter and YouGov shows the strain people in the South West face this January, with one in eight rent or mortgage payers fearing they will be unable to meet their housing costs this month.

This is despite the fact that many have already cut...

The mild weather is set to continue but as temperature records are broken and the ice rinks melt, Devon Wildlife Trust is asking us to spare a thought for our local wildlife. Winter is a tough time for wildlife. It is a time of hibernation, migration and survival. But with temperatures reaching 14 degrees in Exeter at the beginning of the week, Devon’s wildlife is not following its usual seasonal patterns. The charity Devon Wildlife Trust is reporting some strange goings on at the 50 nature reserves it cares for across the county. David Wodehouse who helps manage DWT’s Meeth Quarry nature...

Temperatures may be dropping but tempers could be set to rise, according to new research which reveals that nearly 36% of people in the South West argue with their partners or housemates over the central heating.

As the nights are getting colder, things could be turning frosty in more ways than one. New research commissioned by Toolstation, the trade and DIY supplier, reveals that over a third of the South West argue with their partners or housemates over the central heating – on or off? Hotter or colder?

The survey, conducted this month, showed that turning on the heating...

Devon County Council is reminding road users to “brighten up” when the clocks go back on Sunday 25 October.

As British Summer Time ends, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders are being urged to wear reflective and fluorescent clothing to ensure they can be seen on the county’s roads as the winter nights draw in.

Car drivers are also being asked to “give cyclists space” and look out for all other road users, especially when visibility is limited due to mist, rain and fog.

Between October and December in 2014, two pedestrians in Devon were killed and...

Powderham Castle, the family seat of the Earl and Countess of Devon, is the setting for this year’s Michaelmas Fair, which is hosted by ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. The Soldiers’ Charity is the National Charity of the British Army.

The Fair will be a chance to undertake some early Christmas shopping whilst enjoying the grandiose surroundings of the Castle. The Music Room is just one of the many rooms that will be housing stalls selling jewellery, accessories, china, cards, clothing, soft furnishings, books, Christmas puddings, handbags, and a wide range of gifts.

All proceeds...

More than 4,000 grit bins across Devon are currently being inspected and re-filled by Devon County Council in preparation for winter.

Although the Autumn sunshine has dominated the recent weather, the County Council is gearing up for the coming season as it has now started its winter service operations.

The County Council spends between £4 million and £5 million a year on roads affected by winter weather – whether it is salting roads, clearing snow or responding to flooding issues.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management...