A DEVON D-Day veteran has died aged 92.

When George Stephen from Exmouth landed on Sword Beach on D-Day, in June 1944, it was the second time he had fought in France.

As a 19-year-old, his battalion of the Gordon Highlanders retreated all the way across France before the German Blitzkreig in May 1940.

He narrowly escaped capture and was evacuated back to England from Cherbourg.

It was four years later, after helping defeat Rommel's Afrika Korps in the Western Desert, that he landed in Normandy to assist in the massive British assault. He worked in a unit clearing German minefields.

In a 2004 interview with the Echo he said: "I joined the Territorials in Scotland in 1938 and my father said at the time 'You'll regret doing that'. The week before the Germans invaded France, we were put into the line near Metz and then spent the next six weeks retreating.

"I can remember marching across Normandy to get to Cherbourg to be evacuated from there in late June 1940. I have always felt lucky to have survived it all. Many didn't."

A PETTY criminal who joined his flatmate's £1m plot to rob and murder soul singer Joss Stone has been jailed for 18 years.

Junior Bradshaw acted as a foot soldier and driver for Kevin Liverpool, who devised the plan to kidnap and kill the star at her isolated Devon home.

He was a psychiatric patient who stopped taking his medication after being released into the community and who fell under Liverpool's spell after moving into his flat in Manchester.

He drove much of the journey to Devon and was arrested alongside a chilling arsenal of weapons including a Samurai sword, two hammers, knives, balaclavas and a body bag.

Bradshaw, 32, of St Stephen's Close, Manchester, denied conspiracy to murder and rob Joss Stone at her home in Ashill, near Hemyock, in June 2010.

Both he and 35-year-old Liverpool were found guilty at a trial at Exeter Crown Court in April at which Liverpool was jailed for life with a minimum term of 10 years and eight months.

Judge Francis Gilbert QC jailed him for 18 years after ruling that he should not be classified as dangerous, although he said it was "a close run thing".

Mr Martin Meeke QC, defending, said the reports confirmed Bradshaw was vulnerable by virtue of his low intelligence which made him susceptible to being manipulated by Liverpool.

POLICE are continuing their investigations after a young woman was found dead on rocks under the cliffs near Sidmouth.

The body of a woman in her 30s was discovered near Jacob's Ladder at around 1.25pm on Tuesday, July 9.

It is understood she was from Sidmouth. Next of kin have been informed.

A police spokesperson confirmed that a woman was reported missing by a family member at around 5pm the night before with concerns for her welfare.

A police community message was subsequently issued to businesses in the town around half an hour before the discovery of the body asking for sightings of a woman called Jackie from Lindemann Close, 5'6" in height and of Oriental appearance, to be reported to them.

On Wednesday morning, July 10, police had not officially linked the missing woman with the discovery and formal identification was still due.

Scenes of crime officers launched an investigation into the woman's death which is currently being treated as unexplained. Sidmouth Lifeboat assisted in the incident.

THE annual Zoopla Property List has recently been published and even lottery winners can only fantasise about owning a home on some of the streets like London's Kensington Palace Gardens and The Boltons.

These areas, now termed super-prime areas, have astronomically-high property values which have risen substantially over the past year.

Only the super-wealthy can entertain the notion of living on the most expensive streets and they are paying as much for the address and location as they are for the size and quality of the property.

You can find magnificent mansions in other parts of the country for a similar price to even just average properties in areas like Kensington.

However, as a nation, we're obsessed with property and the Zoopla Property Rich List reveals that the number of streets in Britain where the average property value is more than £1m has risen by 23 per cent over the last 12 months to 8,230.

Rising house prices, particularly at the prime end of the property market, have created 77,894 more property millionaires in the past year and Britain is now home to 323,684 properties worth more than £1m, up 32 per cent from 245,790 12 months ago.

Of the 8,230 Million Pound Streets in Britain, 34 per cent (2,789) are located in the London. However, unsurprisingly all of the top 20 most expensive streets are located in the capital with Kensington Palace Gardens – dubbed 'Billionaires Row' – once again retaining its position as Britain's most expensive street.

The average property in Kensington Palace Gardens, home to Leonard Blavatnik, the second wealthiest man in the UK, and a stone's throw from where Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge live, is currently valued at a cool £36,066,148, more than 156 times the value of the average UK home (currently £230,924 according to Zoopla.co.uk).

The Boltons in SW10, formerly home to Madonna, takes second place on this year's list with an average house price of £23,375,758, followed closely by Grosvenor Crescent in SW1 where a home will set you back £19,768,963 on average.

Kensington, W8, was named the most expensive neighbourhood in Britain by Zoopla in the latest Property Rich List. The exclusive area, where the average property value is currently £2,326,439, is home to celebrities such as Dustin Hoffman, Rita Ora and most recently The Beckhams.

The average property in Kensington has risen in value by 4.5 per cent (£100,871) over the past 12 months and an area the size of a standard doormat (2.58 sq ft) is currently valued at an eye-watering £3,586 in Kensington.

Knightsbridge, SW7, where the average house price is now £2,034,706 has overtaken Chelsea this year as the second-most expensive area to live in Britain. Outside London, Virginia Water in Surrey, home to Bruce Forsyth and Eddie Jordan, is the most expensive area in Britain with an average property value of £1,034,368.

Footballer-filled Cobham in Surrey takes second place outside the capital with an average property price of £842,806.

But, don't worry, 98.9 per cent of properties fall below the £1m threshold, so while 323,684 sounds grand, it's actually a very small percent of all properties.

POLICE are continuing their investigations after a young woman was found dead on rocks under the cliffs near Sidmouth.

The body of a woman in her 30s was discovered by a member of the public to the west of Jacob's Ladder (pictured) at about 1.25pm on Tuesday, July 9.

It is understood she was from Sidmouth. Next of kin have been informed.

A police spokesperson confirmed that a woman was reported missing by a family member at about 5pm the night before with concerns for her welfare.

A police community message was subsequently issued to businesses in the town around half an hour before the discovery of the body asking for sightings of a woman called Jackie, from Lindemann Close, 5'6" in height and of Oriental appearance, to be reported to them.

On Wednesday morning, July 10, police had not officially linked the missing woman with the discovery and formal identification was still due.

Scenes of crime officers launched an investigation into the death, which is currently being treated as unexplained.

A team of three coastguards searched the area, including the cliff tops, for items which may have belonged to her.

Her body was found approximately half a mile from Jacob's Ladder on the rocks to the east of Peak Hill. She was pronounced dead at the scene and her body was taken to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital in a police helicopter.

A Sidmouth Lifeboat crew also assisted with the incident.

Mark Roden, a coxswain with Sidmouth Lifeboat, said: "We got the shout at 1.51pm and luckily, as most of the crew work nearby, a team of four launched five minutes later, with help from one member operating the tractor.

"The crew assisted transporting police and coastguard to the body which they couldn't access from where they were on the rocks.

"We also transported a scenes of crime officer to the scene."

FORMER Olympic champion Dame Mary Peters will open McCarthy & Stone's assisted-living development in Exmouth today.

The pentathlon gold medallist from the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich will cut the ribbon at Roswell Court in Douglas Avenue at 12.30pm.

Roswell Court provides 52 one and two-bedroom purpose-built assisted living retirement apartments exclusively for the over-70s.

In addition to stylish, low maintenance properties, Roswell Court benefits from communal facilities, including a table service restaurant and homeowners lounge, plus personal care, domestic assistance and other support services all in a safe and secure environment that offers peace of mind and continued independence in a property they continue to own.

Staff will be on site 24 hours a day and can be called in an instant courtesy of the 24-hour emergency call system.

All properties are low maintenance and energy efficient and prices start from £199,950.

Since retiring from track and field, Dame Mary has continued to serve Northern Irish and British athletics, as a team manager for the British Women's Athletic Team (1979 – 1984), Womens Committee member for the International Amateur Athletics Federation (1995 – 1999), President of the British Athletics Federation (1996 – 1998) and Patron of the Northern Ireland Amateur Athletic Federation.

Dame Mary Peters was awarded the DBE (Dame Commander of the British Empire) in 2000.

Alphington tennis player Emily Staddon is en-route to the 'home of tennis' following a series of victories in the Road to Wimbledon competition. The 14 year old qualified to play on the most famous courts in the world having won all of her opening rounds in the UK wide competition.

The "Road" allows players aged 14 and under the opportunity to progress to the national stage.  The opening rounds took place at local clubs earlier this year, with the winner going through to county qualifications. Having won at Exeter Tennis Centre, Emily defeated Beth Cooper 6-2, 6-1 in the semi final before overcoming Bethany Matthews by the same score in the Devon finals last weekend.

The national finals, taking place at Wimbledon on the All England Club's grass courts from 11 – 17 August, will see 64 of the best players in the UK compete for the crown Road to Wimbledon champion. After such a positive start to her campaign, Emily is excited by the prospect of the next stage where she is hoping to "surprise a few" with her fast service game. She commented: "I'm really looking forward to the competition and hope to come away with a good result. I play quite an aggressive game with a big serve which should work well on the fast grass courts."

A Westexe Technology College student, Emily has been playing tennis at Exeter Tennis Centre since the age of seven and is no stranger to national level events. Part of the National County Cup winning side at the tender age 10, she is a regular competitor for her county.

She added: "A family friend got me into tennis after saying I had good hand-eye coordination. I really enjoy competing at all levels. The camaraderie between the players is great and I have made a lot of friends on the court."

Emily is coached by a number of Exeter Tennis Centre's coaching team including Fed Cup coach Charlotte Wallace and Director of Tennis Will McNally. Will commented: "It is a fantastic time to be travelling to Wimbledon, with the nation in the grips of Murray fever. We are delighted with Emily's performance.

"The experience of playing on grass in such an historic place will be a new challenge for her. I think her style of game will certainly suit the grass courts and I am confident that she can come home with the top level finish she deserves."

Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw attended a champagne reception in London in skin-tight cycling shorts and no trousers.

The Labour MP raised a few eyebrows at David Miliband's farewell party by sporting a Tour de France look at a gathering of grand political figures.

Mr Bradshaw, 52, arrived by bicycle at the drinks party at West End restaurant Ozer last Tuesday, given by the former Foreign Secretary ahead of his move to the United States.

The former Culture Secretary wore cycling shorts with black socks and work shoes. According to the Daily Mail, party-goers were 'shocked', saying the outfit was 'disgraceful'.

But the former Culture Secretary hit back, saying: "I was dashing between events on my bike as it is the best way to get around London in a hurry. Obviously I was not going to be cycling in a suit in this weather."

Last week Mr Bradshaw revealed that he would be giving his 11 per cent pay rise to charity, after the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) suggested MPs should get a £74,000 salary from 2015. He said: "If Ipsa does impose a rise I will simply increase what I already give to Exeter charities and good causes by the same amount. I will also seek to ensure my expenses remain the lowest of any MP in Devon."

A MAN who drowned four kittens during an incident in Exmouth has received a suspended jail term.

Glenn Williams, 44, previously of Exmouth but now living in Pendennis Road, Torquay, was committed to prison for 18 weeks suspended for 12 months after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to animals by drowning four kittens during an incident in Exmouth on or around September 20 last year.

He was order to pay £50 costs and was disqualified from owning or keeping animals for three years. Magistrates said only a suspended jail term could be justified because of his actions.

AUCTION has often proved itself to be the best way of selling land as it can drive interest of competing parties, and consequently prices, upwards.

This often helps land sold at auction to achieve a higher figure than might have been the case if it had been offered by an alternative method such as private treaty.

With any form of sale there are advantages and disadvantages and selecting the right parcels of land to go to auction is crucial.

In the last two years Stags has demonstrated this ability, boasting an impressive figure to underline this point.

Stags Farm Agency Department has a 100 per cent success rate for land advertised at auction and this statistic was upheld at the most recent land auction held at The Devon Hotel, Matford on Friday, June 28.

Stags Farm Agency had two land lots entered, the first being land on Woodbury Road on the outskirts of Woodbury.

This consisted of 11.24 acres of level, good quality arable ground, in an accessible and prominent location. Guided at a realistic level of offers in excess of £100,000, interest leading up to the auction was encouraging and this was converted to bids on auction day, with the land realising £141,000.

Bought by a local farming buyer, this equates to a figure of just over £12,500 per acre, one of the strongest results of the year so far for land.

Previous examples of successful results for land in the East Devon area sold at auction include land sold at Upham Farm, Farringdon in July 2012.

This achieved almost £11,300 an acre for 39.02 acres of good quality arable ground. Similarly, 13.45 acres of arable ground at Clyst St George went to auction in October 2012 and made nearly £14,500 an acre, which was certainly one of the standout results in the last 12 months of land sold anywhere in the UK.

The second entry in the most recent auction was 0.87 acres of amenity woodland located on the outskirts of Bridford in the Teign Valley.

A strategic marketing campaign again yielded some promising enquiries prior to the auction with significant interest coming from some of the home owners in the local area.

Guided for offers in excess of £10,000, the land realised £12,000 which equates to a figure of over £14,000 per acre.

These results highlight the importance of selecting the right parcels of land to send to auction, and furthermore, that if carried out correctly, land sold at auction may achieve higher figures than might normally be expected.

Although there is never a guarantee to success, it seems there are some key features which aid auction success; firstly, ensure it is the right parcel of land to go to auction, something for which there is a clear target market and where competing interest seems likely to drive bidding.

Secondly, generate interest through a targeted and strategic marketing campaign which encourages potential purchasers to come forward and lastly, set a realistic price guide to ensure that not only is interest captured, but people are enticed into attending the auction with a realistic view of the expected sale price.

The fact that Stags Farm Agency Department has a 100 per cent success rate in the last two years for land advertised at auction clearly demonstrates an ability not only to identify suitable land for auction, but also to ensure it receives full market exposure in order to maximise its likelihood of success.

A SECOND property website has launched which allows consumers to look for estate agents and see how they performed on the basis of past sales.

The site, called whosoldwhere.co.uk, says it aims to help consumers decide which agent to choose, while allowing agents to highlight their performance.

Potential clients can select the right agent for selling their property, either by postcode or a single road.

They can also search for an agent by property value.

The site seems similar to another that has recently launched, PropertySoldBy. Whosoldwhere – which went live to the industry last week and has yet to launch to the public – will also have for sale listings.

PropertySoldBy does have for sale listings, but only for its 'premium' agents.

PropertySoldBy uses only Land Registry information, and then invites estate agents to 'own' the property that has been sold, before verifying that this really is the case.

Whosoldwhere works differently, enabling agents to publicise details of each property they have sold the instant the deal is done – some weeks before Land Registry information is available.

It will give neighbours the ultimate 'nosy neighbour' fix, since they will immediately be able to see which agent sold the property next door and what it fetched, along with a property description, floor plans and images.

Company founder Paul Kinsler said: "Whosoldwhere doesn't just display properties for sale, as there are plenty of other sites which do this.

"It gives estate agents the chance to highlight their performance so potential clients can see for themselves exactly who has a strong market share within a given area."

North London agent Jeremy Leaf said: "This is a consumer-friendly property portal that is distinctly different as it could actually help agents gain more business."

For an initial period of at least four months, the site will be free to agents to upload their sold, for sale and rental data.

Agents who sign up before the end of the free trial period will get a reduced annual subscription which Kinsler says will be "very competitive".

He also says that when the site launches to the public, it will be supported by a full PR and media campaign.

POLICE have said a prison sentence would have been appropriate in the case of a teacher who groomed a boy and sent him explicit text messages.

Roseanna May Langley, 24, who was a science teacher as St James' School in Exeter, walked free from court after admitting "sexually touching a boy".

She also lied about being pregnant and that she had miscarried in a bid to emotionally blackmail the boy.

Langley, of Willow Walk, St James, sent the boy him hundreds of text messages. She has been dismissed from her post.

She pleaded guilty to two charges of being a person aged 18 or over in a position of trust and, not believing the victim was aged 18 or over, she intentionally touched a boy and the touching was sexual.

She was given a suspended prison term – effectively meaning that she walks free unless she re-offends. Langley sobbed in the dock at Exeter Crown Court as she was ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid community work and go on a sex offender's course.

After the hearing Detective Constable Steve Merrett said he accepted the decision of as part of two years' supervision by Recorder Mr Paul Dunkels, to give Langley a suspended prison term, but that he felt she could have been jailed.

DC Merrett said: "She was a woman with no previous bad character who says she made a mistake. But I think we felt that what happened could have led to an immediate custodial term."

The court heard that the school became aware of her involvement with the boy and contacted police in March.

Emily Pitts, prosecuting, said when police initially interviewed Langley she denied the allegations.

She said: "When they spoke to Langley they found no messages on her phone and she denied any involvement."

Nut when further evidence was found and Langley was arrested she told officers: "I've let so many people down."

Police searched her home and found photographs of the boy.

Miss Pitts told the court that Langley had sent the boy semi-naked images of herself, including one where she was performing a sexual act.

The court heard that Langley had been in a long-term relationship and had been engaged, but this broke off. Miss Pitts said it was unclear whether the engagement ended as a result of Langley's involvement with the teenager.

Kelly Scrivener, defending, said Langley is deeply remorseful about what she has done.

Miss Scrivener said: "This was not a teacher preying on a vulnerable student. There was no pressure or coercion.

"She feels she has let down her employers and her parents. She has thrown away her career. From the age of 10, all she has wanted to be is a teacher."

Langley may now pursue a career in the care industry having had a job in that field for a short period after leaving the school, the court heard.

He told her: "Your actions were selfish and motivated by a need to boost your own damaged self esteem.

"You groomed him and when his interest in you faltered you sent him text messages and explicit photographs to rekindle his sexual interest.

"You lied to him and intimated you were pregnant with his child and had miscarried. That was manipulative emotional blackmail intended to put pressure on him.

"You did that without any thought for the emotional damage you might inflict on him. It would be difficult news for anyone to cope with, let alone a 16-year-old. In my judgment it shows you were reckless not only with your own career and your liberty but careless for this boy's well being. You were selfishly exploiting him when you were in a position of trust.

"It was a breach of trust which cause considerable upset among your former colleagues at the school where you taught and alarm among parents.

"You are an intelligent young woman. You knew the risks you were taking but you abandoned all self discipline and judgment.

"I am told you had wanted to be a teacher since you were a child. You have destroyed that. You will never teach children again."

The sentence means Langley will have to sign on the sex offenders' register for 10 years and will be barred from working with children and young people indefinitely.

Langley has been dismissed from St James' and headteacher Moira Marder said: "The school, working with the police, carried out a full investigation into the allegation. The police have confirmed that none of the offences happened on the school premises and said that the school's follow-up and support for the investigation were exemplary.

"As soon as the formal police investigation concluded the school was able to dismiss the member of staff immediately."

A LANDLORD who took £1,000 a month rent for a house which was used as a cannabis farm has been warned he could face jail.

Jason King accepted the money even though he knew what was going on in the house in Exeter.

King, 41, of Wrefords Close, Exeter, admitted production of cannabis and will be sentenced next month. Recorder Mr John Williams bailed him and told him all sentencing options including custody are open when King appeared at Exeter Crown Court.

Sean Brunton, prosecuting, said the case had originally been listed for a jury trial but King has now admitted the offence.

He said: "He has offered a basis of plea and the Crown is content to accept it. We do not accept every single detail of it and it runs to three pages but are satisfied it reflects the situation.

"It says he knew cannabis was being grown and he admitted getting £1,000 a month for renting the property."

He said efforts will now be made to recover assets from King.

IT'S refreshing and unusual to meet an international interior designer who believes decor rules were made to be broken, trends can be trashed and money doesn't buy style.

But blonde, leggy Abigail Ahern has never been one to mince her words or conform to a stereotype, and she ably proves her point by creating adventurous decor that dazzles and rooms that rock.

Her shop is a well-established destination for style connoisseurs and her new home accessories Edition collection, full of quirky character with animal lamps and vibrant colour, launches at Debenhams in September.

"Style has absolutely nothing to do with money. I've seen hundreds – no, thousands – of tasteful, colour co-ordinated spaces that are expensively decorated and yet flat, dull, uptight and bland," she says firmly.

"They don't seduce, tantalise or increase the pulse rate because they've been decorated to within an inch of their lives. What a yawn!"

Her own style is "indefinable", she says, as it evolves constantly and "flirts with going over the top, but I always stand a little bit back from the edge as I want it to feel beautiful not crazy".

Dithering over decor choices, poring over paint charts and generally stressing over the whole interior business is definitely not her way, nor does she believe it should be ours.

Her own rooms burst with colour and artfully-arranged possessions sourced from auctions and flea markets – a heady mixture of vintage and modern.

"Interiors that ooze style are not perfectly co-ordinated, nor can they be bought out of a catalogue," declares the designer, who reveals how she creates inspiring spaces in her new book, Decorating With Style.

"But, and this is a big but, if you want life-changing interiors – the ones that make your heart beat just a little bit faster – you need an open mind and a big dose of self-belief.

"The trick is to experiment and have fun along the way. Push the boundaries, pick pieces that tug at your heartstrings when you see them, and make you feel uplifted.

"Too much tastefulness is dull and too much fun is tacky. It's all about getting the balance right."

Follow Abigail's guide to creating three of her favourite looks: Classic, Boho and Rock 'n' Roll.

Classic cool

Who does it suit? Those who are bored of passing fads and predictable trends and want a look that stands the test of time, while reflecting the beauty of the past. Calm and order, not be confused with dull, appeal but they're brave enough to give a home their own cheeky decor stamp.

Abigail said: "It's a style that marries luxe materials – think metallics – with super-glam fabrics such as cashmere and leather. Woods are often dark, furniture often crisp and defined and symmetry abounds with pairs of lamps, urns, mirrors or vases."

Top tip: Architectural features, curved lines and decorative mouldings work perfectly with this style. Source them from salvage yards, or DIY stores for modern reproductions of cornicing, coving and ceiling roses.

Get the look: Hare lamp, £85, and Schnauzer cushion, £40, from Abigail Ahern for the Edition range at www.debenhams.com (available from September). Mud beaded chandelier, £2,750, from Abigail's shop and online (www.abigailahern.com).

Beautiful Boho

Who does it suit? Decoristas with a rebellious, hippy streak who like to do their own thing, have a quirky, eclectic mix of possessions and always have an eye for a bargain because their budget is tight!

"Boho's all about experimenting, expressing yourself and being as creative as you like. It's a fabulously fun approach and I love it because there are no rules," says Ahern.

"Boho interiors ooze personality. Dispensing with formality, they are enchanting spaces where you instantly want to sit down, hang out and fling off your shoes!"

Top tips: Pieces that tell a story, from flea market art to souvenirs, so it looks as though you've travelled the world, is the essence of this look. Comfort is everything, so squishy sofas, inviting armchairs and large coffee tables are the order of the day.

Get the look: Hand vase, £102.50, and Rasta floor cushion, from £628, Abigail Ahern's shop and online (www.abigailahern.com).

Rock 'n' roll

Who does it suit? It's all about bad-boy bling, drama and indulging your wild side. Your decor taste runs to the lean and mean – with sleek, shiny surfaces, animal print and in-your-face glittery accessories.

How do you do it? "Rock 'n' roll decorating is flamboyant, sophisticated, a little saucy, carried off with a huge dose of confidence," says Ahern.

"So think animal print rugs, gold accessories, graphic cushions, some super-cool graffiti wallpaper – all statement-worthy stuff."

Top tips: Overdose on shine from mirrored occasional tables to metallic wallpaper and lacquered coffee tables and chairs. Cool art is essential, from Banksy graffiti to pieces that you love. So are stand-alone statement pieces for drama which should be strong and masculine in style.

Get the look: Wall-mounted bulldog, £55, and pink flocked candle sticks, £28 each, from Abigail Ahern for Edition at Debenhams (available from September).

THE mother of a cadet who collapsed in scorching heat during a parade in Exeter has accused organisers of failing in their duty of care.

But a spokesman for the army cadet force said it was not unusual for people to faint at such events and said the appropriate action was taken.

About 450 army cadets took part in the banner parade in the city centre on Saturday in temperatures that topped 30 degrees Celsius.

The group gathered outside the civic centre before parading through the city to exchange banners Cathedral Green.

But one parent, who asked not to be named, said cadets were "dropping like flies" as a result of being made to wear long-sleeved gear and not being offered water during the march.

The mother said: "They were given water at the civic centre but not anymore until they formed up on the parade.

"I flipped my lid as a parent. The organisers were completely negligent. The kids formed up in full sun with no shade or wet berets.

"They were dropping like flies. I had to take my own son, who is just 12, off the parade because he collapsed, having watched instructors give water to adults and VIPs who were in full shade.

"It was 31 degrees on that green and I counted 18 dropping. They were left out for 40 minutes. I took my son out, stripped off his kit and gave him a change of clothes. I had some water with me and chucked it over him. As we were leaving a young girl was on a stretcher and looked in a bad way.

"All this could have been prevented with simple safety procedures. If they had been on exercise or on a camp things could have been a lot worse."

A spokesman for the Devon Army Cadet Force said: "In those circumstances it is not unusual for a few to faint. We were expecting it and had staff medically trained and carrying water to deal with it.

"One collapsed next to me but within seconds was attended to. There were very few who had fainted on parade compared to more than 500 taking part.

"The decision was made to wear long sleeves to prevent sun burn. I am quite sure that those who wanted water would have had it made available to them. I thought the cadets were remarkable in their resilience to the conditions and extent of the parade.

"We do take complaints seriously but cadets were not left lying around. This is relatively minor in respect of everything else that went on."

Cadets from B Company which consists of cadets from Exeter, Tiverton, Crediton, Cullompton, Exmouth and Sidmouth, were inspected by the Lord Mayor of Exeter. The banners were presented to Devon ACF by the Lord Lieutenant of Devon Sir Eric Dancer.

THE heat wave is bringing near record levels of patients to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital's accident and emergency department.

A warning has been issued for elderly people to make sure they drink lots of liquids during the hot weather to avoid heart problems.

Health officials are also appealing for people to watch out for their elderly neighbours

On Monday, normally A&E's busiest day of the week, the department dealt with 335 patients – just two short of the all-time record attendance. Of those 87 were admissions, of which 68 were medical, covering strokes, heart attacks and similar conditions.

The average Monday attendance figure is 270, but since the hot spell began the figure has been running at about 290. Monday is normally the busiest day of the week at A&E.

The hospital has also been coping with a higher than normal rate of medical admissions.

On Monday, there were 87 admissions - of which 68 were medical, covering strokes, heart attacks and such conditions.

The expected average for medical admissions on a Monday is 50. A hospital spokeswoman said: "In that admissions figure we have seen a lot of cardiovascular problems cause by dehydration. Basically that is people not drinking enough and it is particularly the case for elderly people.

"The warm weather is set to continue for the rest of this week, next week and possibly into August.

"This makes it even more important that people take that extra bit of care and check that their loved ones and neighbours are coping with the heat."

Devon is now officially in the midst of its first heatwave for seven years. A fifth consecutive day of 30C-plus temperatures – males it the first prolonged heatwave since 2006.

Dr Prue Mitchell, a GP from Exmouth, said people should try to stay out of the heat and cool themselves down, look out for others and to take precautions if they are elderly or have a health problem.

"Some of the danger signs to watch out for during hot weather include feeling faint and dizzy, shortness of breath and vomiting or increasing confusion. Keep an eye on your family and neighbours as well, especially if they are elderly or vulnerable. Making sure you use at least sun factor protection 15 sunscreen is also important. There are almost 250 cases of malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, and 40 related deaths every year in Devon. The county has some of the highest rates of melanoma in the country."

For advice on heat exhaustion or heatstroke you can contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or go to www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk. If you want advice on sun protection, go to http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/sunsmart."

Organisers of an army cadet march in Exeter have moved to reassure parents after a mother accused organisers of not doing enough to look after youngsters in the heat. About 450 army cadets proudly took part in the banner parade in the city centre on Saturday in temperatures that topped 30 degrees Celsius.

The group gathered outside the civic centre before parading through the city to exchange banners Cathedral Green.

One parent raised concerns that children were not properly looked after, claiming several fainted during the march.

Organisers say no cadets actually collapsed, but a handful suffered from the effects of the sun and were quickly helped and given water.

A spokesman said: "They were absolutely commendable in showcasing the better quality of youth in the county."

View pictures and video of the event at expressandecho.co.uk

IF you're looking for a quintessentially Devonshire home, then you'll find it at Holmbush Cottage.

This beautiful Grade-II listed, traditional Devon longhouse has a thatched roof and a wealth of period features, some dating back to the 12th Century.

The property also offers glorious south-facing gardens and several outbuildings.

It is situated near the popular village of Ide, nestling in a picturesque rural setting and yet within an easy commute of Exeter city centre.

Ide itself is a thriving community with excellent amenities, including a good primary school and two pubs and the nearby Twisted Oak where Holmbush is located.

Inside the property, the two reception rooms and kitchen/dining room are all spacious and enjoy a south-facing aspect.

Both reception rooms have feature fireplaces, the main reception room having a cosy woodburner and exposed beams.

The impressive kitchen-diner has a gas Aga and a good range of wall and base units with solid woodblock worktops plus a island breakfast bar.

There is plenty of room for a large dining table and chairs in the dining area. A utility room with sink unit and space for fridge/freezer and washing machine and tumble drier lies adjacent to the kitchen and gives direct access to the covered courtyard and, beyond, to the garden.

There are four good-sized bedrooms on the first floor. Two of the bedrooms have an interconnecting door and fitted storage cupboards and one has its own staircase and bathroom with a contemporary suite, including a 'P'-shaped bath with Mira shower and screen over. There is a separate additional shower room on the main landing.

A particular feature of this property is the substantial and most attractive south-facing gardens.

These are mainly laid to lawn, interspersed with mature trees and shrubs, but with a patio area for dining out and a covered, cobbled courtyard.

There are also two outhouses, with vaulted ceilings and exposed beams, set around a covered, cobbled courtyard.

Holmbush Cottage is on the market with East of Exe at an asking price of £450,000.

For more information or to arrange a viewing, call Chris Taylor on 01392 877240 or email chris.taylor@eastofexe.co.uk

THE Met Office has confirmed that Devon is, so far, experiencing its hottest summer in seven years.

And things are set fair for more of the same during the coming weeks.

The weather agency, based in sweltering Exeter, said that sunny skies will continue into next week, with a slight cooling of temperatures today and Friday.

But the mercury is due to rise once again during the weekend.

A Met Office spokesman said: "To get this type of situation we need the jet stream to be in the 'right' place for this time of year – tracking to the north of the UK between Iceland and NW Scotland.

"In this position it guides rain-bearing Atlantic low pressure systems off to the north of the country, meaning the far north-west of the UK gets glancing blows from these systems, while the rest of the country experiences more settled conditions.

"But, of course, forecasts can still change – so do stay in touch with us for the latest."

The Met Office currently has the region under a Level 2 health warning – which means various agencies need to be "alert and ready" to provide help for the most vulnerable in heatwave conditions.

WITH Exeter still in the grip of a heatwave, spare a thought for the man with possibly the hottest job in the city.

Brian Oliver is beavering away at temperatures of 35°C plus, 11 hours a day.

Brian, who runs Olivers bakery in Magdalen Road, doesn't even get to wear shorts and flip flops to keep even vaguely cool.

He said: "It is 35°C in here, but it's all about hygiene when you are baking, so it's no shorts but rather all bakery whites with long trousers and safety shoes. I do get to wear a white T-shirt .

"We have a four deck electric oven going all day and I am right next to it from 4am until around 3pm, baking fresh bread and pasties pies and cakes.

"It is worse in this hot weather because there isn't even a breeze as you get in the winter. I have a fridge full of ice cold squash to hand to keep my liquids up."

But the work is no sweat for Brian, who has just opened the bakery in Exeter, following on from the family shop in Crediton run by his father David and brother James.

Brian, 34, added: "The only real problem is not the heat here but the fact that the hot weather means people are eating less hot food – so I'll be making more sandwiches and fewer pasties while the heatwave goes on."

Do you know someone working in warmer conditions? Get in touch by emailing echonews@expressandecho. co.uk