Trading standards is advising online consumers in Devon to only buy from ‘reputable’ traders, and to refer to a new advice video if they experience any problems.
The new advice video has been commissioned by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) ahead of ‘Black Friday’ (Friday 27 November) and ‘Cyber Monday’, (Monday 30 November), the two big pre-Christmas shopping days this month. The COVID-19 lockdowns have led to a rise in consumer spending online and 87 per cent of UK consumers are estimated to have purchased a product online.
Steve Brown, Devon's Director of Public Health (Designate) has issued a new plea.
"There's so much to distract us at the moment with one thing or another, and a lot of it positive.
“We have Christmas approaching and talk of families being able to come together.
“We have new rapid test pilots happening across the country, Devon included, enabling people to see their loved ones in care homes and to hold hands for the first time in a very long time.
“We hear optimistic news about not one but several vaccines coming fast down the track, and the NHS...
Visit Exeter have launched their first ever Virtual Christmas Market.
The aim of the initiative is to promote local businesses online in the run up to Christmas, during England’s second national lockdown.
“Traditionally, this is the busiest time of the year for many of the businesses taking part, so that’s why it’s so important for people to support the Virtual Christmas Market during these difficult times,” said Cllr Ollie Pearson, Lead Councillor for City Centre and Corporate Services.
Included on the website are links to the online shops of Exeter retailers,...
Cancer services in East Devon will receive a major boost this month.
Ottery St Mary Hospital will become a new cancer hub for patients and their families.
Specialists from the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital’s oncology department and FORCE, the area’s leading cancer support charity, will be working together within a dedicated unit at the Keegan Road site.
Access to potentially life-saving treatments will be among the new services available in Ottery with chemotherapy sessions held there for the first time.
Consultants and nurse specialists will also hold...
As defending champions of the Gallagher Premiership and Heineken Champions Cup, Rob Baxter is acutely aware his Exeter Chiefs side have a huge target on their backs this season.
It’s a challenge, however, that the Devonians are clear relishing with the Chiefs’ Director of Rugby this week exuding a real air of excitement ahead of tomorrow night’s opener away to Harlequins (7:45pm).
“We’re looking forward to Friday, but so we should be,” said Baxter. “People will say it’s going to be tough for us having a short break, but I actually think not having that lengthy period off...
Charity launches new Christmas campaign - Join the Christmas Rescue - as it reveals it took in more than 7000 animals last winter and received more than 2000 calls about cruelty and neglect a day
The RSPCA is bracing itself for the toughest Christmas yet as the charity fears the financial strain from the Coronavirus pandemic could mean a rise in pets being abandoned and neglected.
Last Christmas Day, the charity received more than 950 calls, the highest number since 2013 and it received 63,000 calls throughout December, or 2,000 a day, making it the busiest Christmas...
According to the Office of National Statistics there was an 18% rise in divorces in 2019.
Figures just released indicate that both same sex couples and opposite sex couples saw an increase in divorce and/or dissolution.
There were 107,599 opposite-sex divorces in 2019, an increase of 18.4% from 90,871 in 2018 and the highest since 2014. For same-sex divorces the figure doubled from 822 to 428 since 2018.
Director Rachel Buckley from The Family Law Company said: “Although these figures do seem to indicate a significant increase, in fact many of these divorce matters...
Businesses in Devon and Cornwall can now sign up to be part of the new South West Cyber Resilience Centre (SWCRC), established to help businesses and charities better protect themselves against cybercrime.
The police led initiative, in partnership with the private sector and academia, is part of a network of centres being established across England and Wales to provide businesses with a free level of support, and an affordable way to access more bespoke cyber security services and consultancy.
The SWCRC offers a range of membership options depending on the level of...
More than one in ten Devon households live in fuel poverty, more than the national average, and this figure can only be worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic this winter. That’s according to Exeter Community Energy (ECOE), which works with some of the most vulnerable households. ECOE therefore wants to push for policy change to address cold, damp homes and rising fuel bills. ECOE invites everyone to join it in questioning Ben Bradshaw MP about these issues at its Wise Up About Fuel Poverty Webinar on Fuel Poverty Awareness Day, 27th November, at 2pm. Register now on Zoom at https://bit.ly/...
93,374 disposable face masks are sent to landfill every single day in Exeter
Exeter is binning an incredible 93,374 disposable face masks every single day, with reports that many face masks are ending up being carelessly discarded in the street and ending up in streams and rivers.
“If you walk around Exeter today you will see disposable face masks being blown around with leaves in the gutter – they are the new cigarette butt – people are simply chucking them after use. We know that 93,374 are being sent to landfill each day in Exeter – but just how many end-up elsewhere...
