More than 700 athletes are expected to run around the Killerton Estate, near Exeter, after it was chosen as the new venue for the 2014 England Athletics South West Club and Cross Country Championships.
Runners aged from eight to 80 years old will compete from running clubs across seven counties over the a challenging course of various distances to suit different age categories.
The Championship event on Sunday, January 5, is organised by South West Athletics Academy on behalf of England Athletics.
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Exeter's Killerton estate to host 700-strong cross country run
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Exeter Community Initiative's 'Bike Bank' appeals for help
A PROJECT to give training and skills while supplying free recycled bikes to people in Exeter on low incomes is appealing for help.
The Bike Bank, run by Exeter Community Initiatives (ECI), has less than two weeks to raise £1,500 in donations after it was chosen by the Government's Cabinet Office to take part in a nationwide challenge.
It means that any money donated to the Bike Bank via The Big Give website will be doubled if it is donated this week, on Thursday, December 5, Friday, December 6 or Saturday, December 7.
The project has already cleared the first hurdle and raised more than £1,500 in pledges from individuals as well as Exeter organizations such as The Beautiful Days Festival and computer specialists IT Champions.
Chief executive of ECI Matt Bell said:
"If people can go online and donate £10 this week we can make it £20. It is a great opportunity to support a local project that is going to change lives.
"We're so proud of the Bike Bank. It's good for the environment, it encourages a healthy lifestyle and it can give vulnerable people the chance to work."
The Bike Bank will run along similar lines to a food bank, using a voucher system, helping people on low incomes who need a bike for work or for health reasons.
The Bike Bank will offer a sheltered workshop to provide a supportive environment to provide skills and training for people with physical or mental health problems.
The Bike Bank grew out of the successful Exeter Community Bikes which received backing from around the city including bike-fan Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw.
"We have had so much support for this project so far and this is an amazing chance to double money that is donated. We really hope people will get behind us," added Mr Bell.
Money can still be donated after December 7 until December 18 and will go towards the final total, but it won't be match funded by the Cabinet Office.
Anyone wanting to donate on December 5,6,7 should log on www.thebiggive.org.uk or they can find out more information on www.eci.org.uk
The money raised will go towards supporting the project for the next year with one part-time paid co-ordinator who will oversee training and manage volunteer support.
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OPINION: Gow's goal crucial, but City must build on point gained the Saturday
Well, at 9.25pm on Tuesday evening things were looking very gloomy.
Exeter City were trailing Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 away and heading for their sixth defeat in a row.
The only silver lining that could be found was the fact that Plymouth Argyle were being held at second-from-bottom Torquay United and, as a result, they wouldn't overtake the Grecians in the table. It was a very faint silver lining.
But, as watchers of Exeter City's 2-1 win against York City at St James's Park earlier this season know, Alan Gow has a habit of popping up with a timely goal.
And how important could his late strike against Wycombe Wanderers turn out to be?
Well, in terms of City's season it could be crucial, but that all depends on how Saturday goes as well.
It is certainly true that going into the Bury match this weekend on the back of six straight defeats would have put a lot of pressure on the players.
It is a game that most supporters will be looking at and expect Exeter to win, but on the poor run of form you do feel Bury would, and probably still will, look to get off to a good start and pounce on any nervous and negative energy around St James's Park on Saturday.
I expect there still to be the chance of that happening, but Gow's strike has at least given the side some confidence and something positive to take into that match. Could that goal manufacture itself into a good opening first half on Saturday? Quite possibly.
The Bury game also represents the last match before City take a two-week break – they are not involved in FA Cup action on December 7 having been knocked out in the first round by Peterborough.
It was therefore doubly important that City got something positive out of the Wycombe match to take into the Bury game because – in my view – it is a massive game in terms of City's season.
If City win on Saturday, they will go into the break with the mood around St James's Park a positive one.
City are only five points off the play-offs now, so a win will have fans talking again about the possibilities of a promotion push rather than Argyle overtaking them in the table.
If they lose though, it is another two weeks of gloomy predictions going into what looks like a difficult December for the club.
City have to face in-form Accrington Stanley and Chesterfield after that.
Chesterfield are unbeaten in the last six league games, while Accrington have lost just once in the same period.
Just as a victory could start to shoot City back up towards the play-off places on Saturday, a defeat could have them nervously looking over their shoulder with some tough games to come.
And it does seem Exeter City are going into games each week against sides just starting to pick up.
Bury is a good example of that. Without wanting to seem like I'm making excuses for what could be City's fourth defeat at the Park in a row – I don't think it will be – it would have been a much more appealing game for the Grecians six weeks ago.
A small part of it comes down to the sacking of Kevin Blackwell in mid-October.
But since the departure of the former Luton Town and Sheffield United boss, Bury have sold the naming rights to their stadium.
You could have argued that Bury couldn't buy a win just over a month ago, but since then they have brought in former Grecian Daniel Nardiello on loan in from Rotherham.
And it has worked. He scored the winning goal in their 1-0 victory over Hartlepool United on Tuesday night, and with 17 goals for the Millers last season in this division he is certainly capable of getting more.
It hasn't been disclosed how much the Greater Manchester club got for calling their ground the JD Stadium, but you do wonder whether it is something Exeter City have considered.
But that is probably another opinion column altogether.
Right now, Bury are pleased to have got a goalscorer through the door and will be looking at back-to-back wins.
But just as Nardiello's arrival at Gigg Lane has made the tie a bit more tricky for City, Gow's well-timed strike has done the same for Bury. It will be an interesting game and interesting to see who takes their new found momentum into the opening half-hour of the match.
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Exmouth man, 48, admits having sex with girl of 15
An Exmouth man has admitted four offences of having under age sex with a 15-year-old girl.
Gary Sparkes has been warned he could face jail after admitting the offences when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court.
Sparkes, aged 48, of Tennyson Way, Exmouth, admitted four offences of sexual activity with a child. They all relate to the same 15-year-old girl and took place during a ten week period between February and April this year.
He was ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders' Register by Judge Francis Gilbert, QC, who bailed him but warned:"All sentencing options will remain open. You should expect immediate custody. You are a man of 48 who had intercourse with a girl of 15."
No details of the allegations were given during the short hearing but Mr Rupert Taylor, defending, asked for the case to be adjourned for reports.
He said:"His is aged 48 and of hitherto good character. We are seeking a report into his mental health."
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Job losses expected as South West police forces merge forensics services
Police forces in the South West are set for job losses after the announcement that forensic services in the region will merge.
Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Dorset, and Wiltshire police will collaborate on laboratory work, such as fingerprinting it was announced yesterday.
Fingerprinting hubs will be reduced from five to two, based in Exeter and Portishead.
The move has been described as a 'worrying time' for police staff.
Debi Potter, Unison regional convenor, told the BBC.
She said: "This is a very worrying time for staff in forces where there will be no hub.
"We have been told there will be an opportunity for consultation in the near future, when the full details of the proposal will be explored.
"To date, there has been no formal consultation with the recognised trade unions in relation to this matter."
The Dorset Police-led programme was announced at a meeting in Portishead yesterday.
The current total cost of forensic services across the forces is £10.8m, with about 400 staff employed.
Deputy Chief Constable of Dorset Police James Vaughan said the savings of £1.9m will "inevitably involve a reduction in overall headcount" estimating that 25 to 30 posts will be under review during the first year.
He said the aim would be to minimise any compulsory redundancies.
Dorset Police's Chief Constable Debbie Simpson said: "In the coming months we will engage with all forensic staff across the five force areas to ensure that the best possible service is provided in the South West, while also identifying the required savings."
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill added there would be an "improved service delivery at a reduced cost".
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Paramedics called to Exeter house after carbon monoxide leak
An ambulance was called to a house in Exeter yesterday morning after a carbon monoxide leak in a house in Pennsylvania.
The Fire Service received a call to a carbon monoxide detector activating at Belle Vue at 08:29.
One fire appliance from Danes Castle Exeter and one fire appliance from Middlemoor Exeter attended with gas detection equipment.
Fire crews confirmed a high level of carbon monoxide detected from fumes coming from a solid fuel stove.
Fire crews inspected and ventilated the property using two breathing apparatus wearers, chimney gear, gas detector and a positive pressure ventilation fan.
One adult female was check over by paramedics as a precaution.
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Crews called to car fire in Pinhoe, Exeter
Fire crews were called to a car on fire in Exeter yesterday afternoon.
Devon and Somerster Fire Service were called to Exhibition Way, Pinhoe at 17:37 after a call from a member of the public reporting a car fire.
A fire appliance from Middlemoor was mobilised and on arrival crews extinguished the small fire in the engine compartment using a hose reel jet and a thermal image camera.
The vehicle was then made safe.
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Exhibition marking centenary of Exeter City's historic match with Brazil is launched
A new exhibition and website telling the remarkable story of Exeter City FC's tour to South America in 1914 was launched last night.
The exhibition marks the start of a programme of events commemorating the centenary of the game between the Grecians and the newly formed Brazilian national team which has since gone on to win the World Cup five times.
The club's St James Park ground hosted the launch of'Have you ever played Brazil?',a joint project which has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Curator Kiera Gould said: "For me the most interesting thing about this story is extraordinary events happening to ordinary people. Professional footballers weren't the celebrities they are today, they didn't earn what they earn today and through a twist of fate this most amazing thing happened to them and it's the birth of this legacy that goes on and on."
The exhibition will tour to further venues in the city during 2014, including Exeter University, where it will coincide with performances of 'The Day We Played Brazil', an original play by Nick Stimson which opens on July 17.
A new book by Aidan Hamilton will also be published by Kingfisher Press revealing in-depth historical research into the events of the tour, in collaboration with Exeter City Supporters Trust.
In January 1914, the minutes of a Argentine Football Association Council meeting record that their contact in London, a Mr Grundy, should be instructed to meet with the FA to organise an opportunity for a professional English team to visit Argentina and play a series of matches the following June.
As a result of these instructions, invitations were extended to Tottenham Hotspur and to Exeter City, a typical team in a mid-table position of the Southern League. While Spurs declined the offer of repeating the journey they had made in 1909, the Grecians' manager Arthur Chadwick was keen to offer his team a change of scenery, while also acquiring additional funds for the club.
Setting sail from Southampton on May 22, the team included long-serving players Dick Pym and Jimmy Rigby alongside new signings William Hunter, Augustus Harding and Fred Goodwin.
When their ship docked in Rio de Janeiro, a meeting was arranged between Exeter chairman Michael McGahey and Harry Robinson, a British expatriate player who was a well known member of the local Paysandu team.
For years, Brazilian officials had attempted to arrange matches against a visiting professional team but with no success. However, Robinson's polite manner and his brother's regular attendance at St James Park back in Devon swayed McGahey to accept the proposed addition of extra games to be played on the return leg of their journey.
But knowing that the unfamiliar conditions of South America would be tiring for his squad, he declined to travel further to São Paolo – the other major centre for football in Brazil.
While the Grecians continued on their journey to Buenos Aires, the Rio press began to suggest that São Paolo players should be invited to take part in the matches against Exeter, in preparation for sending a national team to Argentina later in the year for the Julio Roca Cup competition.
Acting on this suggestion, the date of the final match was changed to allow four players – Lagreca, Rubens Salles, Friedenreich and Formiga – to combine forces with Rio players in the first match of the national team – the Brasileiros XI.
The game took place at the Estádio de Laranjeiras, home of the Fluminense club, on July 21, 1914. Despite the capacity of the ground being a mere 6,000, it is estimated that 10,000 spectators attended the match, many climbing onto the roof of the stands.
Despite achieving six wins in eight games in Argentina, and further success against the Inglezes do Rio and Rio de Janeiro teams, Exeter lost the match against Brazil 2-0.
Exeter City departed from Rio on board the Royal Mail Steam Packet the Alcantara bound for Southampton, but their homecoming journey was disrupted by news of war in Europe, and the ship was redirected to Liverpool after warning shots from the French Navy.
The 1914-15 season began as normal, but as the war progressed footballers came under criticism for continuing to play sports instead of joining the armed forces. Amid the catastrophic events of the next few years, the story of the Grecians' summer tour fell to the back of people's minds, and the significance of its final match was largely forgotten.
In 2014, Brazil hosts the World Cup finals competition to mark the 100th anniversary of their first match – their match against Exeter City.
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Veteran wife beater attacked her within hours of her begging for him to be allowed home
A serial wife beater has admitted causing his partner serious head injuries just hours after she went to court to beg a judge to allow him home.
Ex soldier Barry Powles was freed after his wife Elizabeth went to court on her invalid buggy to tell the judge she could not live without him, even though he has attacked her repeatedly.
Her plea for mercy resulted in 71-year-old Powles being allowed back to the retirement bungalow they shared in Seaton, East Devon but within hours he had put her in hospital again.
She suffered a suspected brain hemorrhage after being attacked within two days of the couple being reunited and going home.
Powles, of Wessiters, Seaton, admitted causing grievous bodily harm to his wife between June 30 and July 2, 2013 when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court.
He stood in the same dock of the same courtroom where he was freed on Friday, June 28, thanks to an intervention by his 70-year-old wife. That was his third assault on her and left her covered in blood and with bruises on her legs.
Powles was already subject to a suspended sentence for he earlier attacks when he was arrested and has spent ten weeks on remand at Exeter Prison since the incident.
On that day he was freed by Judge Barry Cotter, QC, but warned he would face another jail term if he ever assaults his wife again.
Mrs Powles sat at the side of the court during the hearing after arriving on a mobility scooter. She told the judge:"I definitely want to live with my husband."
The couple have been married for more than 50 years. Mrs Powles suffers from breathing and mobility problems while her husband walks with a stick. They consider themselves to be each others' carers.
In the hearing on June 28 Powles admitted common assault and was jailed for two weeks. The sentence meant he was released immediately because he had already been on remand for two months.
He was reunited with his wife at court and they started arguing again in the cafeteria within minutes of him being freed.
In the latest hearing Judge Francis Gilbert, QC, remanded Powles in custody and ordered a pre sentence report and a psychiatric report.
Miss Emily Pitts, prosecuting, said the Crown are no longer pursuing the more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to do so.
Mr Robert Linford, defending, said a psychiatric report was needed to investigate whether Powles's violence is the result of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder arising from military service earlier in his life.
Judge Gilbert said:"This man has repeatedly attacked his wife, not just on this occasion, which was really very violent. This attack happened within 60 hours of his last release."
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Millions to be invested in Westcountry post offices
Millions of pounds are to be invested in maintaining the Westcountry's vital post office network, the Government has announced.
Under a £640 million investment boost, ministers said the current number of 11,500 branches would be maintained until 2018, services will be improved and a "new style" of branch introduced.
Paula Vennells, chief executive of the Post Office, said: "The additional funding allows us to develop our branch investment programme and bring its benefits to more customers.
"It will see up to 8,000 branches modernised and additional investment in over 3,000 community and outreach branches. Over 1,400 have already been modernised since April 2012 with 34,400 additional opening hours across the UK.
"The size of the branch network will be maintained at around its current position of over 11,500 post office branches. Customers have been clear, that they want Post Office services in their communities and on high streets, we want this too whilst also meeting their changing needs, and in turn helping subpostmasters thrive."
Post offices across Devon and Cornwall, particularly in isolated villages, are regarded as a vital community assets and social hubs.
Nick Harvey, MP for North Devon, said: "In a rural area like ours, the Post Office is a vital part of the community and a service many people rely on. I'm sure the residents of Forches and Combe Martin will appreciate the longer opening hours and faster service this funding will help deliver."
Fellow Lib-Dem MP Dan Rogerson, who represents North Cornwall, added: "In our area residents have appreciated the modernisation of the post offices at Launceston, South Petherwin and Tintagel.
"Under successive Conservative and Labour governments we saw thousands of Post Offices close, including branches in Trevone, Marhamchurch, Tregadillett and at Newport in Launceston.
"Instead of spending money on closing Post Offices like Labour did with their closure programme, Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government are investing to maintain and modernise our Post Offices for the future."
Concerns though have been raised over the programme with Consumer Futures saying much of the new package would be spent making it compulsory for subpostmasters to leave or convert to a new-style branch.
The Communication Workers Union said the Government could "no longer deny that this is not a closure programme".
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New Liberal Democrat leader announced at County Hall
Devon councillor Alan Connett will take over as Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Devon County Council from this Monday.
The councillor succeeds Des Hannon (Tiverton East), who has stepped aside having been appointed to a full time role in the private sector.
Cllr Connett has been a member of the county council since winning a by-election in 2008, and was returned this May with a increased majority of 578 in the Exminster and Kenton division. He is also a member of Teignbridge District Council, leading the authority between 2003 and 2011.
Cllr Connett said:" Following as Leader from Des and, before him, Brian Greenslade, is no easy task but I am looking forward to the challenge, particularly as the county council faces many difficulties - including managing its money, care of older people and, of course, the problems identified by Ofsted in relation to safeguarding children.
"The Conservatives have such a big majority that it can be difficult at times for them to remember other councillors also have a voice and represent communities affected by their cuts and decisions. Our task, as the official opposition, is to challenge robustly and hold the Conservatives and officers to account.
"Both Des and Brian have been strong leaders for the Lib Dems on Devon and I will be able to call on their experience as we move into the new budget planning round for next year and beyond, along with the group's deputy leader, Cllr Julian Brazil."
Welcoming Cllr Connett, Des Hannon said "It's been a huge honour to lead such an effective Lib Dem team. We're punching well above our weight for Devon people. I know Alan will carry that on with skill and tenacity. Personally, it's a wrench to set the leadership aside but I was elected to serve the people of Tiverton East. With a challenging new professional role my time is limited and I'm putting my community first. I'm delighted we have people of Alan's calibre to take us forward. Devon's Lib Dems are in rude health."
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East Devon woman forced to live as single mother due to new immigration rules preventing husband moving to the UK
New rules introduced by the Home Office last year to reduce the flow of migrants have prevented the daughter of a Tory councillor from a long-established Westcountry family from bringing her doctor husband back to the UK to start a new life.
The regulations, which were imposed by Theresa May in 2012 and include a £18,600 minimum salary, are now keeping Elizabeth Celi Parr's family thousands of miles apart, making her a single mum.
Elizabeth, 29, from Colyton, has been refused permission to bring husband Ramiro Alexander Celi Moreno from his native Ecuador, despite the couple being offered jobs with the family firm and rent-free accommodation in the large family home.
Frustrated by red tape, the mother-of-one has turned campaigner, battling to overturn the Government decision and helping other families who have been similarly affected in the South West.
She met Alexander, 33, in 2006 – ironically the pair came together as she struggled to get to Quito to register her visa as an English teacher – and they were married in 2011, going on to live in Argentina and Chile. But when baby Olivia, now 21 months old, was born the pair realised they needed the support of a family and decided to settle in England, where Alexander's medical training – he was working for a 24-hour on-call service – could lead to a well-paid job.
By the time she applied, Elizabeth was earning maternity pay from her job as a financial assistant at Trans America investment bank.
The £13,000 salary she received – three times the minimum wage in Chile – met the Government's minimum requirement when her savings were added, but the application was still refused, leaving her angry and upset.
"I am a British citizen, we are happily married and both very skilled – I never thought for a moment I would not be allowed to come back to live in my own country with my husband," she said.
"The ridiculous thing about not allowing Alexander to come here, where he could earn good wages, is that I am now a single mother – were it not for my parents I would probably have to go on benefits.
"We would not be a burden and there is plenty of room here – even with me, my parents and my sister we are rattling around here.
"The Government idea is supposed to be to lessen the burden on taxpayers but it increases it – I cannot understand how these rules are helping anyone."
Following her refusal from the Home Office, Elizabeth set up the South West United Families Facebook site, to help other divided families share information.
This week she travelled up to London to meet with the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols.
Campaigners point out that 47% of British families would fail to meet the income requirement, which is much higher than the minimum wages, and would be unable to invite a spouse to join them from outside the European Economic Area (EEA).
Some believe the Government may scale back the salary level but others feel David Cameron's pledge to reduce migration to the tens of thousands means the rules will remain tough.
Elizabeth now works for the family business J & FJ Baker & Co Ltd, Britain's only remaining traditional oak bark tannery still in production.
It has been owned for 150 years by the family of her father Andrew Parr, chairman of the parish council, and his wife Helen, who represents the Conservatives at East Devon district council.
Elizabeth, a project manager at the firm, appealed in April and received notification this month that she will now have to go to court.
When asked how she copes without her husband, she becomes emotional and tearful, describing having to raise her daughter alone while working and fighting the Home Office as "exhausting".
And to make matters worse, now the couple have applied for a permanent visa, Alexander cannot be granted a tourist visa for fear he will not return to Ecuador.
"Myself and Olivia went over for a holiday in July but it was a nightmare – I spent 24 hours travelling with a crying baby," she added.
"She couldn't eat the food, developed and infection and came back two kilos lighter."
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Newton Abbot police appeal after man approaches child
POLICE in Newton Abbot are appealing for information about a man who approached a child in Kingskerswell.
Local businesses and community groups have been made aware of the incident, although it is not being treated as a crime because no physical contact was made.
The man is thought to have chatted to the child and asked questions about school.
The police statement says: " "We are appealing for witnesses and also observations please, we have received a report of a male being in the area in and around Coles Lane, Kingskerswell on Tuesday, November 26 at approximately 3:50pm.
"We are trying to locate this male to help us with our enquiries as it is believed that he has approached a school child, no physical contact was made.
"He is described as a white male, with grey hair in a ponytail and a distinctive flesh tube earring in his ear.
"If a male of this description is seen or you know someone of a similar description please phone 101 quoting crime JN/13/3351."
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Teignmouth schoolgirls shot by airgun
THREE schoolgirls were hit by airgun pellets in Teignmouth on Tuesday.
The 11-year-olds were walking home from school along Bitton Park Road at the junction with Combe Vale Road when they were struck.
A police spokesman confirmed that one of the girls felt a pain in her leg and then realised she had been hit.
The two other girls were also hit and left with reddening on the shin and the leg.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting crime reference JG/13/2254
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Video: Exeter astronomer John Maclean spots "zombie" comet before NASA
A "zombie" comet that survived a close encounter with the Sun has won worldwide fame for an Exeter astronomer.
John Maclean, an astronomer at the Norman Lockyer Observatory, Sidmouth, has been given credit for spotting the fact that Comet ISON had survived a close encounter with the Sun .
His videos and images of the comet have been reported by CNN on both the web and TV.
They showed the comet slicing toward the sun and then something -- apparently ISON -- emerging from the other side.
Mr Maclean is a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society at the Norman Lockyer Observatory
He said afterwards: "The discovery stunned many in the comet-watching community and led some to nickname ISON the zombie comet."
Karl Battams, a comet scientist for the Naval Research Laboratory, said: "It now looks like some chunk of ISON's nucleus has indeed made it through the solar corona, and re-emerged. It's throwing off dust and (probably) gas, but we don't know how long it can sustain that.
"Now it has emerged and started to brighten, we need to observe it for a few days to get a feel for its behaviour."
ISON swept about 730,000 miles over the sun's surface on Thursday.
A fleet of spacecraft watched ISON plunge toward the sun, including NASA's STEREO satellite, the European Space Agency/NASA SOHO spacecraft and the Solar Dynamics Observatory.
Mr Battams said: "This has been one of the most extraordinary comets we have ever encountered, and just goes to reiterate how beautiful, dynamic and exciting our universe is."
Observers have been watching the comet for more than a year, hoping it would survive its sunbath and emerge to put on a sky show, visible to the naked eye in the Northern Hemisphere.
Earlier Thursday, NASA scientists had pretty much declared ISON dead but professional and amateur astronomers were undeterred by the reports and kept analysing NASA satellites. They found images that clearly show something emerging from the sun.Video:
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Exeter to be base for police forensics
Exeter will be the base for one of three regional centres for police forensic services after the five south west police forces agreed to a new streamlined state-of-the-art service.
Currently each force has both fingerprint and chemical laboratories but under the new agreement this will reduce to three with fingerprint services being delivered in Exeter and Portishead and the chemical service in Gloucestershire and Exeter.
The sites chosen ensure there is no further investment needed.
The five forces expect to save around £1.9 million.
The collaboration was given the green light at a south west regional meeting of police and crime commissioners and chief constables.
Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg said: "The decision follows several months of negotiation between the forces as part of their efforts to reduce budgets and increase efficiency for the future. It will mean forces sharing systems and services and adopting a similar process to inter force systems already in place in other parts of the UK.
"The fact that Devon and Cornwall is the only Force chosen to host two of the laboratories is testimony to the expertise and quality of those providing the forensics service for the peninsula."
Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Shaun Sawyer said: "The decision to collaborate follows several months of negotiation between the forces in an effort to reduce budgets and increase efficiency for the future. It will mean forces sharing systems and services and adopting a similar process to inter force systems already in place in other parts of the UK."
The current total cost of the Phase 1 forensic services across the five forces is £10.8m, with the initial potential savings identified from the proposals standing at £1.9m.
However by 2018-19 it is forecast that savings from the collaborative project could be as high as £6.6m.
As part of the plans, the new service will be headed up by a Head of Forensic Services for the South West region.
The new arrangements will complement existing regional initiatives such as Zephyr (the dedicated team set up to combat serious organised crime); Special Branch; and regional procurement.
This collaboration programme will now continue to look at Phase 2, Digital Forensics, and Phase 3, Crime Scene Investigation, during 2014.
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Ryan Giggs at 40: The day he played at Exeter City
Ryan Giggs has seen some well-documented tremendous highs in his career. But the one occasion he graced the turf at St James' Park turned into a tricky game for the Welsh wizard. For nostalgia's sake, here's the Echo's match report of Exeter City's FA Cup 3rd round reply against Manchester United on January 19, 2005.
EXETER City's epic FA Cup adventure finally came to an end at St James's Park last night — but not before they gave Premiership giants Man United an almighty scare.
For the second time in 12 days, the brave Grecians injected the FA Cup with a large dose of magic as they took Sir Alex Ferguson's men all the way in the televised third round replay.
In the end, it took goals from Portuguese whizzkid Cristiano Ronaldo and England superstar Wayne Rooney to overcome the plucky resistance of Alex Inglethorpe's men.
But when the dust settles on this heroic voyage, the Grecians will bask in the afterglow of knowing that they produced a thoroughly credible display in front of some seven million armchair fans — not to mention the 9,000-plus crammed into St James's Park.
And despite defeat, the City braves again covered themselves in glory for their stubborn refusal to bow to the cup holders.
Most feared the worst when Ronaldo snatched an early goal to conjure up deep-seated dread that a rout was about to unfold.
But the suspected avalanche never arrived, although United spurned a glut of chances to endure a bumpy passage into the fourth round.
And while United monopolised the first-half, for a large chunk of the second period a cup upset of monumental proportions seemed within City's grasp.
A stirring fightback had the Red Devils reeling, and the nation willing their downfall. And when Sean Devine stabbed home from close range with little more than 15 minutes left, an explosion of celebration erupted around the ground.
But Devine had strayed offside and the goal was disallowed.
Eeventually, it took a last-gasp piece of sublime finishing from £27m man Rooney to kill off City's hopes.
United manufactured the better chances during the match and had they showed more composure in front of goal would have wrapped up the contest by half-time.
But the longer the match went on, with United clinging to their slender advantage, hopes of a dramatic comeback flickered ominously under the glare of the BBC cameras.
And few would have begrudged Exeter taking the tie into extra-time in light of their gritty resilience and never-say-die mentality. City's FA Cup adventure had started with the visit of Braintree. Last night, it ended with the surreal sight of United's star-studded cast doing battle on the St James's Park pitch.
As expected, Ferguson — who described the Old Trafford debacle as the worst FA Cup performance in his 18 years as United manager — made wholesale changes to the side that failed to shine. The red-faced shambles prompted the volatile Scot to unleash his big guns.
By contrast, Inglethorpe had no reason to wield the axe on a side that caused quite a stir in round one of this David versus Goliath battle.
The City boss, who had earned rich praise from his opposite number hours before the tie, made just one change from the side that chiselled out a goalless draw at Old Trafford, with Kwame Ampadu recalled at the expense of Marcus Martin.
United weathered an initial spell of City pressure to exert an early stranglehold on proceedings.
Ronaldo's cross flashed across the penalty box and just eluded the onrushing John O'Shea as the fleet-footed winger served early notice of his mesmerising skills.
It marked the onset of a fearsome onslaught, with United desperate to silence a partisan crowd. And the early goal they so desperately craved duly arrived when Ronaldo pounced on some defensive indecision to bag his second goal of the campaign.
Picking up possession on the left flank, the 19-year-old continued his run, collected a return pass from Paul Scholes and buried his low shot into the bottom corner.
Ferguson's men were playing with a confident swagger, with Scholes orchestrating things from the middle of the park. His range of passing and vision was pulling City all over the place and they were increasingly forced onto the back foot.
Rooney was the next to engineer some space, swivelling on Eric Djemba-Djemba's cute through ball and firing a first-time effort that was clawed away by Paul Jones.
Ronaldo continued to wreak havoc and swept past Scott Hiley before slotting a pinpoint pass across the face of the six-yard box towards Ryan Giggs. But the Welshman blew the gilt-edged chance, steering his point-blank effort inches wide.
The home supporters then revelled with delight at a moment of Hiley inspiration, the veteran tucking the ball through Ronaldo's legs to give the Portuguese international a taste of his own medicine.
The momentary respite proved short-lived with United firing out more warning shots. Gary Neville bashed a long clearance which sailed over Gary Sawyer's head and Rooney reacted quickest only to find his drilled shot scrambled out for a corner. Ronaldo ballooned over from the resulting flag kick and Giggs fired wide when he should have done better.
To their credit, City dug their heels in and ran themselves ragged. Little had been seen of the Grecians as an attacking force, but on the stroke of half-time they fashioned their first chance. Alex Jeannin found himself in acres of space on the left and whipped over a teasing cross that Devine agonisingly volleyed wide.
If City had struggled to cope with the conditions and been overawed by their visitors in the opening period, then the second-half was a different story. Indeed, you could have been forgiven for questioning which side were comfortably perched in third place in the Premiership and who was battling for promotion out of the Conference.
City upped the tempo, denying United space to play their slick football and put them under pressure every time they had possession. The game had turned from a show of dominance and control to an evenly-contested encounter.
And what had started out as a glorified training exercise for City's exalted visitors had suddenly been transformed into a good, old fashioned, blood-and-thunder cup tie.
Yet, 11 minutes into the second-half, Rooney came within a whisker — or a patch of mud — from putting the game beyond Exeter's reach.
His delicate lob looked to be heading into a gaping net until the ball's momentum was halted by the sticky surface and keeper Jones scrambled back to smother virtually on his goal line.
At the other end, City came agonisingly close to levelling matters, the anguished Devine's volley drifting just the wrong side of the post following Jeannin's laser-guided delivery.
As the contest entered its final stages, City continued to push forward knowing they had nothing to lose and Tim Howard was forced into his best save of the match to deny Andy Taylor, whose fiercely hit 25-yard free-kick was heading in.
United were clearly rattled, and they suffered some nervy moments of indecision. Devine thought he had equalised when he turned in Jeannin's mis-hit volley but he was clearly offside and as the cavalry charge continued, Rooney and Ronaldo wasted four glorious opportunities between them to seal victory. But with the minutes ticking down, substitute Louis Saha picked out Rooney and the teenager hurried round Jones and rolled the ball into an empty net to record his first FA Cup goal.
As reality dawned that the FA Cup journey had reached its conclusion there were only smiles from City's fans and players alike. After all, the Grecians had mixed it with the millionaires over two matches and have won many friends along the way — quite a feat for a club, who 18 months ago, were faced with obscurity. Exeter City: Paul Jones, Scott Hiley, Gary Sawyer, Danny Clay, Dean Moxey, Santos Gaia, Andy Taylor (Marcus Martin, 86), Steve Flack (Jake Edwards, 74) Kwame Ampadu (Les Afful, 67), Alex Jeannin, Sean Devine
Subs not used: Martin Rice, Chris Todd
Booked: Ampadu, Clay Manchester United: Tim Howard, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, John O'Shea, Liam Miller (Darren Fletcher, 66), Quinton Fortune, Paul Scholes, Eric Djemba-Djemba (Mikael Silvestre, 80) Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs (Louis Saha, 70), Wayne Rooney
Subs not used: David Bellion, Ricardo
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Devon drivers escape bans despite having 12 points on their licences
Nearly 100 drivers in Devon and Cornwall have escaped a ban despite amassing 12 points or more, it has been revealed.
Responding to a Freedom of Information Act request from the BBC, the DVLA has disclosed that 95 motorists in the force area have not been disqualified despite having 12 points or more on their licences. They include one driver who has accumulated 20 points.
Magistrates can exercise their discretion to spare drivers the usual mandatory ban when they reach 12 points if there are deemed to be exceptional circumstances.
The DVLA said: "In a small percentage of cases where the driver has accumulated 12 or more penalty points, the agency understands that a court can exercise its discretion and not disqualify the driver.
"In the majority of these cases, magistrates may have decided to allow drivers to retain their entitlement to drive where it is considered that disqualification would cause exceptional hardship."
Last year 2,344 drivers in Devon and Cornwall were banned from the roads, up from 1,987 in 2009.
Chris Hunt-Cook, of the Magistrates' Association, said: "The law has long recognised that disqualifying people from driving hits some people more than others."
Examples of those granted a reprieve include a small business owner who successfully argued that his business would collapse if he were banned from driving his van, leading to three other people losing their jobs.
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Paul Tisdale: I will be in the Exeter City dugout tomorrow
Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale insists he will be in the Grecians' dug-out for tomorrow's clash with Bury at St James' Park, as inevitable rumours of him leaving for Bristol City begin to surface.
The Robins, third-from-bottom of League One, parted company with manager Sean O'Driscoll yesterday after just ten months in charge, following their poor start to life in the third tier.
"I've seen that Sean has left Bristol City, which is unfortunate for their circumstances, but as manager of Exeter City I am focused on what we are doing here," Tisdale said. "It won't be the first vacancy to be available in the Westcountry. But I am Exeter City manager, so there we are.
"If [the media] are linking me, then it's flattering, but I'm not aware of being linked."
The City boss is regularly linked with roles away from St James' Park and has turned down managerial vacancies at Swansea City and Southampton in the past.
Last season, he was strongly linked with a move to Swindon after Paolo di Canio left the County Ground, while there were also rumours England were looking at the 40-year-old as a replacement for Stuart Pearce as Under-21 boss.
Bristol City vice-chairman Jon Lansdown said: "It is vital that we now look to appoint a head coach who buys into our strategy and can help us to continue to grow and develop it successfully. This, of course, includes results on the pitch."
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Wheeler urges fans to get behind team as Exeter City seek elusive home win
Exeter City winger David Wheeler has called on the 'Red Army' to get behind the Grecians and help them end their home hoodoo against Bury this weekend.
City have lost their last four games on home turf, but will fancy their chances against former Exeter striker Ronnie Jepson's side, who lie 20th in the League Two standings.
"If we can get at the, early on and the fans stay with us for the whole game, I have no doubt that we will be fine and we will come through it," Wheeler said. "We just need to start fast and keep our energy levels as high as possible.
"There have been a few games where we have started really well. I remember the Wimbledon game – we started incredibly well, but it seems to be more recently where we have started slowly and conceded the first goal too many times."
City should be in buoyant mood after ending a wretched run of five straight defeats with a point in Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Wycombe Wanderers, where Wheeler made his first start for the club since the
3-0 home defeat to Hartlepool on October 12.
"We can take a lot of confidence from the result at Wycombe, we were happy to stop the run of five losses and break that negative momentum. We just have to give it everything again on Saturday and, hopefully, we can get a result," Wheeler added.
"It always plays on your mind to an extent because you give everything every week and, if you keep falling short, then it does start grinding at you. No one gets carried away or hysterical if we win five in a row or lose five in a row, but you do get dejected because you work hard every week and it's not coming off. Hopefully this is where it turns around."
Bury will arrive in Devon having won their first game in five courtesy of former City striker Daniel Nardiello, who netted the only goal in a 1-0 win over Hartlepool in United midweek. Exeter will be looked for a first win since they beat Scunthorpe United 4-0 and a first at home since their 3-1 win over Plymouth Argyle.
However, Tuesday's point at Adams Park at least stopped the rot and gives Exeter something to build on.
"It could have been worse, but it could have been better as well because we had some chances at the end. We could have nicked it and I don't think that would have been unjust," Wheeler said.
"They were very lucky with their first goal – it took a huge deflection – and then they seemed content to stay with that for the rest of the game and kill time, there was a lot of slowing the game down and time wasting.
"But we put a lot of pressure on them towards the end of the game which paid off. We haven't been doing a lot wrong and, as you saw with the first goal, it is maybe just a bit of luck going against us at the moment."
On his return to the side, the former Staines Town man said: "I was really chuffed to get back to it, I have been out of the team for a few weeks now, but I have been working really hard and I am really happy to be back involved.
"I thought I had an OK game, I did a lot of pressing and stuff and I did OK with the ball. I just want to keep my place in the team now. "
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