Western Morning News (Saturday)

Fury over Trump’s ‘insult’ to UK troops

THE Westcountry father of a serviceman killed in Afghanistan is among those who have criticised US president Donald Trump’s comments diminishing the role of British troops in the conflict. Mr Trump made his comments in an interview with Fox News in...

Trail of destruction in wake of storm

STORM Goretti left a trail of destruction across the Westcountry after its near-100mph winds battered the peninsula. Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly bore the brunt of the storm on Thursday night, with a rare Met Office ‘red’ weather warning in place,...

Icy weather adds to NHS pressures

THE “bitingly cold snap” will put extra pressure on NHS hospitals, the Health Secretary has warned, as temperatures plummet. In the Westcountry, a Met Office yellow weather warning for ice was in place from yesterday evening until 10am this morning,...

CHRISTMAS SEA SWIM TRAGEDY

THE coastguard search for two men missing after a Christmas Day swim in the sea has been called off. Emergency services were called to Budleigh Salterton at 10.25am on Christmas Day after concerns for people in the water. A number of people were...

Anger at prospect of election delays

THE Electoral Commission has voiced concern about the prospect of further delays to local elections, saying capacity constraints are not a legitimate reason to postpone long-planned polls. Some 63 council areas due to hold elections in May could...

SCULPTURE TRAIL TO HONOUR ARTIST

FOUR life-sized sculptures based on Beryl Cook’s famous paintings are to appear in Plymouth to coincide with a major exhibition of the artist’s work. In partnership with Theatre Royal Plymouth, The Box is bringing some of Cook’s beloved characters off...

ART HOUSE: EVERY WALL A PAINTING

ACCLAIMED artist Emily Powell has transformed her terraced home into a lived-in artwork and is now putting it on the market with a guide price of £2 million. The five-bedroom property in Brixham, Devon, is adorned with floor-to-ceiling pieces which...

DECKING THE HALL WITH MAJESTIC GARLAND

COTEHELE’S celebrated Christmas garland has reached record heights this year as gardeners said a remarkable 38,000 flowers had been grown, picked, stripped, dried and prepared on site for the 2025 display. Thanks to a ‘near-perfect’ spring and summer,...

Bus firm to axe all services in county

HUNDREDS of jobs are at risk after First Bus announced plans to withdraw all bus services from Cornwall. The transport provider announced that the entire operation in Cornwall will cease after the last service on Saturday, February 14, 2026. The...

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Devastating fire left us ‘with nothing’

POLICE have said that it may be a while before some residents can return to their homes after a devastating house fire. Around 40 residents were evacuated as 15 fire crews battled the intense flames, after fire crews and police officers were called to...

EVERY WITCH WAY TO CROSS THE BAY

OVER a third of UK workers are at risk of not being able to cover the cost of their basic needs in retirement, research from Scottish Widows indicates. A ‘national retirement forecast’ model was created by Scottish Widows and Frontier Economics to...

GATHERED IN FROM THE MOOR

ONE of the great Exmoor spectacles, the gathering in of Exmoor ponies, took place this week as the Anchor Herd were rounded up. Every Exmoor pony on the moor is owned, not wild as many people believe. The Anchor Herd lives wild and the ponies run at...

GRAB YOUR COPY FOR LATEST FOOD FEATURES

ONE of the region’s most prestigious food festivals is promising to welcome ‘even more top chefs and food and drink producers’ as it returns this month. After celebrating its 20th anniversary last year, the Dartmouth Food Festival prides itself on an...

ANGELA SHARES LOVE OF HORSES

VETERAN presenter Angela Rippon has made a heartfelt appeal supporting ponies in need and remembering the emotional bond she shared with her own beloved horse. The Strictly Come Dancing star takes centre stage in the Mare and Foal Sanctuary’s new...

COUNTRY PUMPKINS

A GIANT pumpkin patch the size of 18 football pitches is sprouting excitement once again as the South West’s largest pumpkin festival returns for its ninth year. Pumpkin Fest 2025 will take place at Strawberry Fields in Lifton, on the Devon and...

Cable fight heading for the High Court

COMMUNITY groups in North Devon have raised £50,000 to take their fight to stop a wind farm cable route going through protected landscapes to the High Court. Love Braunton, supported by the Save Our Sands campaign group, is applying for a judicial...

Peer pressure over assisted dying Bill

THE MP behind the assisted dying Bill has rejected the idea it could lead to cover-ups for medical mistakes, as the proposed legislation was branded a “licence to kill”. Kim Leadbeater watched from the gallery as peers in the House of Lords debated...

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Downpours bring half a month’s rain

HEAVY and persistent showers are forecast during the last weekend of meteorological summer after parts of the region had more than half a month’s worth of rain in 11 hours. The heaviest downpours were between Thursday night and Friday morning, as the...

CAR POOL – WITH A TWIST

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ARTIST’S ISLAND INSPIRATION

BRITISH artist Emily Powell, known for her colourful canvases, has spoken of the importance of ‘plein air’ painting as she undertakes a residency on the Isles of Scilly. Powell, 35, was so inspired by the colours and light on the archipelago off the...

Housing targets hit by build delays

LOCAL authorities in the Westcountry say they are facing a headache hitting housing targets as work has yet to begin on scores of approved schemes. Mid Devon District Council said developers have failed to start building more than 1,500 new homes even...

CRUISE VISIT FIRST FOR BARBICAN

NHS ‘doing all it can’ in doctors’ strike

WES Streeting has said “we are doing everything we can to minimise” patient harm as thousands of doctors go on strike over pay. A five-day walkout by resident doctors in England is under way, with members of the British Medical Association (BMA)...

Tributes to school coach crash victims

TRIBUTES have been paid to the victims of a “heartbreaking and devastating” crash after a school coach trip returning from Exmoor Zoo slid down a 20ft slope in Somerset. One child died – a boy aged 10 – and 21 staff members and pupils from Minehead...

South West Water boss to leave

THE boss of South West Water parent company Pennon has revealed plans to retire from the firm. It comes days after the company agreed to a £24million package of improvements following an industry watchdog report into wastewater treatment...

HIGH POINT FOR BISHOP

THE Right Reverend Moira Astin has been consecrated as the new Bishop of Crediton in a service at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. She was ordained a bishop by the Bishop of London, the Rt. Rev’d Dame Sarah Mulally, who was herself the first female...

Farm tax ‘will cost SW 7,000 jobs’

THE South West is set to shed more than 7,000 jobs and have hundreds of millions of pounds wiped from its economy due to the Government’s inheritance tax changes set to come in next year, according to a new study. The Country Land and Business...

Majority of West MPs back end-of-life Bill

MPS have paved the way for assisted dying to become legal – with the majority of politicians in the Westcountry voting in favour of proposed legislation. Labour MP Kim Leadbeater described backing in the Commons for her Bill as “convincing”, despite...

King honours bravery of bomb heroes

TWO Royal Navy divers who safely dealt with a massive WW2 bomb which led to the evacuation of residential streets in Plymouth have been awarded honours by the King. Petty Officers Craig Maddock and Paul Cartwright, from Plymouth-based Bravo Diving...

CHEERS! ROYAL DOUBLE AT SHOW

PRINCE William, Duke of Cornwall, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, sipped gin, shared cider, met crowds and viewed livestock when the pair made a rare official outing together as they visited the Royal Cornwall Show yesterday. William, Prince of...

LAKES CHARITY REFLECTS ON QUARTER CENTURY OF WORK

SOUTH West Lakes Trust is running a ‘Love Your Lakes’ photography competition as the organisation marks 25 years of protecting, enhancing and sharing the region’s inland waters. Established in 2000 with support from South West Water, South West Lakes...

PRINCE WILLIAM’S TV SERIES INSPIRATION

THE Prince of Wales has described Sir David Attenborough as the “inspiration” for his new wildlife documentary project highlighting the work of rangers. William hopes the six-part series will help nature’s wardens be “valued, respected, seen” and...

Pensioner admits killing his sister

AMAN has admitted killing his sister at his home in Devon. Richard Law, 67, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Judith Law, 70, during a hearing at Exeter Crown Court on Friday. Devon and Cornwall Police previously said Ms Law died at a property in...

ROYAL TOUR OF CORNISH TIN MINE

THE Princess Royal has been given a tour of an historic Cornwall tin mine that is being brought back into working order. Mining exploration company Cornish Metals is working to revive South Crofty near Redruth. Princess Anne was shown around the site...

Voters turn to Reform and Lib Dems

REFORM UK has swept to victory across more than half a dozen English councils, as Nigel Farage said his party had eaten “Labour for lunch” and “wiped out” the Conservatives in parts of England. The party has taken control of seven local councils,...

Murderer told: You’ll go straight to hell

AFORMER doorman who murdered his estranged wife after a six-month campaign of stalking and harassment when he refused to accept their relationship was over has been jailed for life. Paul Antony Butler, 53, stabbed university lecturer Claire Chick, 48,...

FISH-FLAVOURED CAKE FOR OLDEST PENGUIN

THE world’s oldest known penguin has celebrated her 37th birthday – with a cake made of fish and ice. Humboldt penguin ‘Spneb’ has lived at Paradise Park zoo, in Hayle, Cornwall, since 1988. Marking the occasion on Wednesday, the park presented her...

DOCTORS SPEAK OUT OVER ASSISTED DYING

WE write as local doctors from several medical specialties and including many who work regularly with the dying. The views and opinions contained in this letter are personal to the authors and do not represent the views or position of any of the...

PHOTO GOES DOWN A STORM

STRIKING photographs capturing the essence of the South West Coast Path have been named as competition winners. Run by the South West Coast Path Association in partnership with Great Western Railway, the South West Coast Path Photographer of the Year...

Fishing quotas challenge rejected

ACHARITY has lost a High Court challenge against the Government over the setting of maximum fishing quotas. Blue Marine Foundation brought legal action against the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), saying it had acted...

TWISTS AND TURNS OF LABYRINTH

ACORNISH labyrinth made up of more than 140,000 stones and the largest of its kind has been opened to the public. The stones have been laid by hand as part of 445m of Cornish hedging to create labyrinth Kerdroya by master hedgers and community groups,...

Great South West wins more funding

THE Government has agreed to continue funding a partnership aimed at making the region a powerhouse, despite looking to scrap similar initiatives elsewhere. The Great South West provides a unified voice for Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset in...

Locals set to pay the least to cross Tamar

MOVES are underway to make the cost of crossing the Tamar cheaper for regular local users relative to cash charges paid by visitors. Politicians from across the political and geographical divide have united in a bid to increase the savings afforded by...

End in sight for ‘8am scramble’ to see a GP

GPS in England have accepted new contract amendments which would “bring back the family doctor” and end the “8am scramble” for appointments, the Government has said. The British Medical Association (BMA), the trade union for doctors, and the...

Train reliability falls to record low

RELIABILITY on Britain’s railways has reached a record low with more than one in 25 services cancelled in the past year, as operators are suffering from industrial disputes and staffing shortages. A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We have...

Farming chief hits out at tractor rally

THE National Farmers’ Union has hit out at what it described as a “misjudged” and “counter-productive” protest held this week over the Government’s controversial inheritance tax changes. It comes as the Prime Minister was forced to leave a visit to a...

‘Tax bombshell’ to hit SW tourism

THE leader of the Liberal Democrats has called for the hospitality industry to be exempt from a national insurance hike during a visit to the Westcountry – warning it will cost the sector in the South West hundreds of millions of pounds. Ed Davey says...

Stores told farmers deserve ‘better deal’

DOZENS of Labour MPs – including three from the Westcountry – have written to the ‘big six’ UK supermarkets to voice concern about pricing policies, which they argue are severely impacting farmers and growers in the UK. A total of 46 MPs from across...

I SPY WITH GARDEN BIRDS

CONSERVATIONISTS are calling on the public to join the world’s largest garden wildlife survey this weekend to see how birds are faring across the UK. Hundreds of thousands of people take part in the RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch, spending an hour...

Solar panels on new homes call rejected

APROPOSED law aiming to force housebuilders to install new solar panels on the roof of every new home has failed to get Government backing. Housing minister Matthew Pennycook said the Government could not support Liberal Democrat Max Wilkinson’s...

MAKING THE NEWS IN 1860

A REMARKABLE automaton celebrating the Western Morning News has been created as the newspaper marks its 165th anniversary. Artist and master craftsman Alan Foster, 80, who was born in Plymouth, created the intricate mechanical marvel for his...

Flu cases rising at ‘alarming rates’

THE number of people in hospital with flu is rising at a “very concerning rate” and is more than four times the level it was a month ago, according to NHS data. Figures from NHS England show an average of 4,469 flu patients were in beds in England...

FARMERS TO STAGE ‘DAY OF UNITY’

FARMERS will stage a ‘National Day of Unity’ in the new year as pressure mounts on the Government to halt the controversial family farm tax. On January 25, towns in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will see members of the farming...

Pay-outs aim to fix ‘broken’ GP care

GP surgeries will be offered financial incentives to ensure patients see the same doctor at every appointment under new Government proposals. Family doctors who identify the most patients with high blood pressure while working to tackle killers like...

Clean energy plan aims for lower bills

THE Government has unveiled a clean power action plan to decarbonise the electricity grid by the end of the decade to protect households from future energy price spikes, boost growth and tackle the climate crisis. The plan, revealed yesterday, sets...

SENSATIONAL SEASONAL SALADS

Some of the best ideas are simple and straightforward. Take the selling of freshly prepared food… There is a temptation to offer a wide and extensive menu with the idea that it’s going to both impress and offer a selection which can’t be seen or tasted...

BRIGHT LIGHTS OF THE BAY

> A range of colourful displays are planned for the festive season as part of the Bay of Lights event for Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, which includes train rides, lantern parades and candlelit carols

I’M A ROCK ’N’ ROLL GYPSY... ALWAYS ON THE MOVE

SHE has chalked up hit singles and platinum albums and shared bills with The Beatles and the Rolling Stones, but Elkie Brooks reveals that at 17 she was ready to turn her back on music altogether. Elkie, who turns 80 in February, found fame with her...

Access to cash is worst in the West

THE South West is one of the areas worst impacted by the loss of cash machines, according to new figures. Across the country one in 10 ATMs have closed over the past three years. Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said free access to cash...

GLORIOUS GARLAND

WORK to create this year’s festive garland at a National Trust property on the banks of the River Tamar has got under way. Gardeners at Cotehele have counted almost 30,000 dried flowers for their annual Christmas Garland, a festive tradition at the...

LITTLE NEV STARS IN HEARTWARMING FILM

MORE than 50 schools in the South West have been invited to watch a unique short documentary film made by a Devon charity about the tumultuous first month of a newborn foal’s life. The chestnut colt, later named Little Nev, was born at the Mare and...

Navy helicopter base set for £100m rebuild

APROJECT worth almost £100million has been agreed to kickstart the major rebuilding of Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose – home of the Royal Navy’s anti-submarine warfare helicopter fleet. The first phase will see the construction of a new air...

Life sentence for hammer attacks

APUBLIC schoolboy who attacked two sleeping students and a teacher with hammers at a boarding school has been detained for life with a minimum term of 12 years after being found guilty of attempted murder. The 16-year-old was wearing just his boxer...

DATE SET FOR DEBATE ON ASSISTED DYING

ADATE has been set for the first House of Commons vote over changing assisted dying laws in almost a decade. MPs will be able to make their opinions known in the Commons on the controversial subject when they debate the bill on choice at the end of...