Western Morning News
West frigates track Russian warship
WESTCOUNTRY-BASED warships have been involved in Royal Navy operations to monitor Russian vessels in UK waters as part of coordinated NATO efforts. Naval helicopters and ships HMS Somerset and HMS St Albans, based at Devonport, along with HMS Mersey...
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£50m Devon deal to build sea drones
NEW investment will boost expertise in maritime drone production and drive broader defence innovation across the South West of England, the UK Government has announced. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed £50 million has been allocated as part of...
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Ten crimes a day at churches
NEARLY 4,000 crimes were committed on church property and at other religious premises last year – including dozens of incidents in the Westcountry, according to research by the Countryside Alliance. Figures were obtained by the countryside campaigning...
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Treat online privacy for children like road safety
PARENTS should treat their children’s online privacy like stranger danger and road safety, a regulator has warned. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said new research shows three in four parents fear their child cannot make safe online...
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AA calls for crackdown on misuse of Blue Badges
COUNCILS have been urged to crack down on misuse of Blue Badge parking permits as the proportion of people holding them has reached a record one in 20. The AA called for more to be done to detect offences such as using fake or stolen Blue Badges. The...
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Air link axed early over fuel cost and low demand
THE Public Service Obligation (PSO) air service from Newquay airport to London Gatwick has pulled out two months earlier than originally expected, with the final flights taking place yesterday. Customers received emails this week saying flights have...
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Millions hit the roads – despite fuel price hike
MILLIONS of drivers are embarking on Easter getaway trips despite the soaring cost of fuel – with heavy traffic forecast for routes into the Westcountry. The AA estimated that 21.7 million journeys across the UK have been planned for today. This is...
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MARAZION BIDS FOR CULTURE CROWN
ONE of Cornwall’s smallest towns, but with certainly one of the most recognisable landmarks, has thrown its name into the ring to become UK Town of Culture. Marazion, home of St Michael’s Mount, has filed an 11th hour bid with the Department of...
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Local elections held in ‘uncertain’ times
SIR Keir Starmer has acknowledged May’s local elections are set to take place against an “uncertain” backdrop amid the war in Iran. The Prime Minister launched the party’s campaign yesterday, accompanied by most of his Cabinet in Wolverhampton. Sir...
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Ancient mine now worth $1.5 billion
AN ancient mine in Cornwall is estimated to be worth more than a billion dollars, after it was found to contain vast amounts more critical metal than previously thought. London-listed Strategic Minerals has announced that the site between Kelly Bray...
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Trail hunt ban moves step closer
THE Government is set to ban trail hunting – launching a public consultation on its proposals. In an exclusive statement given to the WMN, animal welfare minister Baroness Sue Hayman said: “Twenty years ago a Labour Government banned fox hunting. For...
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Devon man is accused of migrant smuggling
ADEVON man owned up to investigators about making a number of voyages to smuggle illegal migrants into the UK, prosecutors have told a jury. Tony Williams and Monet Roberts have gone on trial, charged with conspiring to assist in the unlawful...
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Hospice crisis means ‘too many’ dying in hospital
TOO many people are dying in hospitals instead of at home or in a hospice, MPs have said as they criticised health leaders for not taking financial “crisis” in the hospice sector seriously enough. The Public Accounts Committee said the hospice sector...
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Where’s the funding to fix road wrecked by storms?
THE storm-battered community of Torcross has been overlooked in a flood defence funding update from the government, prompting dismay from the area’s MP. Liberal Democrat Caroline Voaden, whose South Devon constituency covers Torcross and Beesands,...
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£53m to help homes hit by heating oil price hike
SIR Keir Starmer has announced a £53million package of financial help for households struggling with the soaring cost of heating oil as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. US-Israeli strikes and volatility in the Middle East – compounded by...
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Activists target supermarkets to ‘liberate’ food
AN activist group has said it carried out a mass campaign of “liberating boxes of food” from supermarkets to food banks. Take Back Power said supporters in Exeter and Truro, as well as in London and Manchester, “took back food and necessities from...
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Extra cash to help plug our potholes
DEVON’S roads are set to get a £3 million boost in a bid to help repair significant damage caused by torrid weather over the winter. The unexpected cash will be diverted to the county’s highways instead of its initial purpose of paying down a deficit...
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Watchdog to probe spike in price of heating oil
THE UK’s competition watchdog is probing concerns that households relying on heating oil are facing sudden price increases on the back of conflict in the Middle East. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it had kicked off a review after...
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SW support ship gets ready for Iran war role
A WESTCOUNTRY-BASED naval auxiliary vessel is being prepared for potential deployment to the Mediterranean, as the Iran war continues. Falmouth-based amphibious landing vessel RFA Lyme Bay was yesterday being put in a state of ‘heightened readiness’...
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Suppliers warned over rising heating oil costs
THE competition watchdog has warned that it expects consumers who have ordered heating oil to receive it at the agreed price, as the Middle East conflict sends the cost of the fuel soaring. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it “won’t...
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AIRSHOW TO RETURN FOR 10TH YEAR
TORBAY is set to cash in on millions of pounds worth of business as the English Riviera Airshow celebrates its 10th birthday, writes Guy Henderson. The three days of displays and events are estimated to have brought at least £5 million of business to...
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Rural homes face heating oil price hike as war rages
HOUSEHOLDS that rely on heating oil are grappling with immediate rising costs as the Middle East conflict causes prices to soar. Home heating oil is used by around 1.5 million households in the UK, but sudden volatility in global oil trade has caused...
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SWW admits unfit water charge
SOUTH West Water has admitted supplying water unfit for human consumption after a parasitic outbreak in Devon. South West Water Ltd pleaded guilty to an offence under Section 70 (1) of the Water Industry Act 1991 to supplying water unfit for human...
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Million more pensioners face having to pay tax
UP to a million more pensioners are set to pay income tax as a result of frozen tax thresholds, the budget watchdog has predicted. The Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecasts, published for Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement yesterday,...
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Killer of gran took his own life ‘to avoid prison’
A COWARDLY killer took his own life because he did not want to spend the rest of it in prison, after telling his ex-wife what he had done, an inquest into his death heard. Adrian Lawrence leapt to his death after being spotted on the wrong side of the...
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Ministers consider curfew on social media
OVERNIGHT curfews on social media are among the measures the Government is considering to keep children safe online, as it hopes to begin a national discussion on the issue. The Government will also look at restricting children’s access to AI chatbots...
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DEVON RADIO SHOW BOLDLY GOES INTO ORBIT
A TORQUAY tattoo artist is etching his name across space after sending a song into orbit. Dave Perry, who was one of the presenters of the hit TV show Gamesmaster in the 1990s, now runs the Revolver Tattoo Rooms in Torquay. He also presents the ‘Dave...
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Shock as famed West brewery set to close
ONE of Cornwall’s best known and biggest breweries is set to close. International company Molson Coors has revealed plans to shut Sharp’s Brewery in Rock and has entered consultation with staff. The Carling brewer said the decision to close the...
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Government ‘determined’ to help farm businesses
NEARLY £350 million in funding for technology and green infrastructure is part of a “determined effort” to give farming the foundations it needs to grow, a minister has said. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said funding for technology, innovation...
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School forced to close after devastating blaze
ASCHOOL in Devon has been forced to close “for the immediate future” after its building was severely damaged by a major blaze. The fire broke out at The Promise School in Okehampton, at around 3.30pm on Sunday, as reported in yesterday’s WMN. Devon &...
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School is left a charred wreck by massive blaze
AHUGE fire has severely damaged a new school in Devon, with firefighters still tackling the flames as the WMN went to press last night. The blaze erupted at The Promise School in Okehampton, a specialist school for 80 students which opened in June...
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Tragic death toll during cold spells is revealed
MORE than 2,500 deaths were linked to cold weather last winter, experts have said. Most of the deaths related to a six-day cold snap in January 2025, according to a new UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) report. It comes as many parts of the UK have...
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GIMME SHELTER: DEVON HOME OF ROLLING STONE FOR SALE
THE home of Rolling Stones legend Charlie Watts where he lived for 40 years until his death is being sold by his family – for £2.75 million. Halsdon House is an exceptional Grade II listed country residence with equestrian facilities set in 55 acres...
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COULD THERE BE A RARITY AMONG YOUR SPRING DAFFS?
GARDENERS could help bring a rare pink daffodil back into cultivation, as part of a project to map the spring blooms across the country. The Royal Horticultural Society’s ‘daffodil diaries’ scheme to map daffodils across the UK is back for a second...
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Tourism tax ‘could add £100 to cost of holidays’
GOVERNMENT plans to allow a holiday tax would add an extra £100 or more on to the cost of a fortnight’s holiday in England, hospitality, leisure and hospitality bosses say. A group of some 200 industry bosses coordinated by the UKHospitality trade...
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No funding pledge for storm-hit community
THE prime minister has acknowledged communities have been “badly affected” in the wake of the severe damage wreaked on Torcross and the devastated Slapton Line – but he fell short of pledging any extra cash for repairs. The comments came in response...
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More troops head north to counter Putin threat
THE number of British troops in Norway will double as part of efforts to bolster defences in the High North against Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Defence Secretary John Healey will also commit UK forces to Nato’s Arctic Sentry mission, the alliance’s...
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Local green energy projects get £1bn boost
RENEWABLE energy projects that cut bills and generate cash for local libraries, places of worship and community centres are to get a £1 billion boost. The Government and publicly owned Great British Energy are announcing the “local power plan” backed...
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Apprentice scheme to help boost trainees
YOUNG people who narrowly miss out on an apprenticeship are to be matched with similar opportunities under a pilot scheme announced by the Government. The university clearance-style system will be tested this year in a bid to help more young people...
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Trump set to boost revival of tin mine
PRESIDENT Donald Trump could be responsible for spurring the revival of Cornish tin mine, after its owners announced the United States government is lining up a £166 million investment. Cornish Metals, which bought the historic South Crofty mine, at...
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Voice-clone scam targets pensioners
CRIMINALS are using artificial intelligence (AI) to clone people’s voices and set up unauthorised direct debits over the phone experts have warned. National Trading Standards (NTS) said “advanced” voice cloning was part of an organised criminal...
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New heartbreak after latest storm battering
WESTCOUNTRY leaders have issued a desperate plea for financial help from the Government to cushion the latest blows from this winter’s storms. It comes after a 200-metre section of a coastal road in a Westcountry beauty spot washed away, after being...
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Bid to curb ‘forever chemicals’ in water
PROPOSALS to limit the levels of so-called forever chemicals in drinking water have been unveiled in the Government’s firstever plan to confront harmful toxins found widely in the environment. Called “forever chemicals” because they can take centuries...
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Police launch double death probe after bodies found
POLICE have launched an investigation following the deaths of a woman in Torquay and a man 150 miles away. Emergency services were called just before 4pm on Saturday after concerns were raised for a woman at an address in Shirburn Road, Torquay. The...
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Women’s pension payout is denied
WOMEN affected by the way changes to the state pension age were communicated have been told for the second time they will not receive compensation. Labour’s previous policy not to offer redress was reviewed after the rediscovery of a 2007 Department...
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MP’s plea to boost flood defences
ADEVON MP has pushed for greater financial support to tackle flooding, after telling Parliament that his part of the county was “submerged” amid this week’s storms. Richard Foord, Liberal Democrat member for Honiton and Sidmouth, addressed Prime...
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Chandra flood chaos
LARGE swathes of the Westcountry were left under water yesterday as Storm Chandra brought flooding chaos to parts of the region. Some towns and villages in East Devon were temporarily stranded after getting 67mm of rain in 12 hours, with 88mm of...
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AI facial recognition roll-out for West police
DEVON and Cornwall Police will be able to use live facial recognition vans as part of the biggest shake-up in policing in decades. An existing 10 vans in the country will rise to 50, rolled out nationwide, to catch criminals on police watchlists and...
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Storm breaches seafront rail defences
PART of the sea wall at Dawlish was damaged along with a Victorian pier at Teignmouth, after Storm Ingrid battered the Westcountry coast. A section of sea wall protecting the railway line near Dawlish station was reduced to rubble beside the train...
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STORM HELP ‘NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE’
THE leader of Cornwall Council has slammed the way the Government helps unitary authorities such as Cornwall following a major event like Storm Goretti. Liberal Democrat councillor Leigh Frost said the Bellwin system of funding – which reimburses...
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Coroner’s warning after girl, 2, drowns
ACORONER has warned of the dangers of leaving young children unattended near water after a two-year-old girl drowned in a river. Eva-Rose Wainwright was two years and five months old when she died on farmland in Lifton, Devon, on June 16 in...
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Drink-driver who killed gran is jailed
AMAN who killed a grandmother while driving dangerously and under the influence has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison. Jamie Hawken, 30, attended Truro Crown Court for sentencing, having previously appeared at Bodmin Magistrates Court in...
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SCHOOL EVACUATED IN BOMB ALERT
A SCHOOL in Devon was evacuated after a suspected bomb was found at a nearby building site. Pupils from Millbay Academy, in Plymouth, were moved after a 100 metre cordon was set up by police, after the force was called out to Martin Street at 11.40am...
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Plymouth bidding for UK City of Culture title
PLYMOUTH is to bid for the title of UK City of Culture 2029 with a chance to land £10 million to fund a year of events. Bid leaders say it is a great opportunity to showcase the city and its people with a yearlong celebration of the arts, heritage,...
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Red alert as storm hits West
ARARE ‘red’ warning for dangerous winds was issued for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly last night as Storm Goretti made landfall. The Exeter-based Met Office issued the warning yesterday, saying forecast “violent gusts” of up to 100mph posed a...
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AMBER STORM ALERT FOR THE FAR WEST
THE Met Office has issued a “danger to life” warning as stormy weather is expected to bring strong winds to Cornwall. The weather forecaster said the storm, which has officially been named Storm Goretti by Meteo France, may bring a spell of very...
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New SW warning for Storm Goretti
THE Met Office has issued a “danger to life” warning for a storm expected to bring strong winds to the South West. The storm, which has officially been named Storm Goretti by Meteo France, will batter Devon and Cornwall with strong winds. A weather...
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Gas outage – second homes hold up engineers
EMPTY second homes are causing delays for engineers battling to restore supplies to parts of Devon hit by a gas outage in freezing weather. As thousands of homes in the South Hams continue to struggle without gas, as another cold weather front...
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BULLSEYE! TIVERTON’S FINEST INTO THE DARTS SEMI-FINALS
RYAN Searle booked his place in the Darts World Championship semi finals by again showing his class in a 5-2 victory over number five seed Jonny Clayton. Searle, who had not dropped a set in reaching the last eight, will face the winner of last...
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Cold alert upgraded to amber for South West
AFREEZING start to the new year has seen a cold weather health alert for the South West upgraded from yellow to amber. Chilly conditions are set to persist, meteorologists have warned, with concerns over potential impacts on the health of vulnerable...
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HOUSE OF FRASER STORE TO CLOSE
PLYMOUTH’S huge House of Fraser store is to close in the spring of next year with staff fearing they will lose their jobs. Signs appeared in the city centre store today saying “this store will be closing in March 2026”. Shoppers are advised to shop...
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No10 denies burying farm tax news at Christmas
DOWNING Street denied trying to bury a U-turn by changing inheritance tax policy during the Christmas week, and said the move came after “open dialogue” with the farming sector. The Government will end farmers’ full relief from inheritance tax in...
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Pothole compensation claims nearly double
POTHOLE compensation claims made to councils in Britain have spiked by 90% in three years, according to new analysis. RAC research found 53,015 claims were submitted to 177 local authorities in 2024, compared with 27,731 claims in 2021. The RAC...
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KING INVOKES WARTIME SPIRIT IN MESSAGE
THE King has used his Christmas message to urge the nation to “never lose sight” in a divisive world of the Second World War values of “courage and sacrifice” and community spirit. In the wake of the Bondi Beach shootings and the Manchester synagogue...
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‘Relief’ for farms as tax rates eased after protests
THE Government will raise the inheritance tax relief threshold for farmers from £1 million to £2.5 million in a climbdown following months of protest. The change to the reforms initially unveiled at Labour’s first Budget last year comes after...
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OUTFITS TURNING HEADS AT PARADE
THE midwinter solstice was celebrated with ‘misrule’ as thousands came together in Penzance to ‘turn the world upside down’. The longest night of the year saw fire, beasts and masked revellers filling the streets for the return of the increasingly...
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‘Bewildered’ farm sector needs profitable new deal
THE farming sector is “bewildered and frightened”, with inheritance tax and farming payment changes causing significant ongoing concern, a review for the Government has found. The farm profitability report by former National Farmers’ Union president...
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