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BEING a parent is a precious gift. So what are we to make of Britain's youngest mum and dad, aged 12 and 13? Their own parents seem proud of the achievement. And maybe that's where the problem lies. There is so much around us that threatens the freedom and innocence of childhood. Home should be a place to allow those formative years full of learning and play to unfold safely. We need to protect children from the dangers of knowing too much too soon. Not least among those threats is the technology all around us. Pornography is just a click away; social media provides peer pressure; and the TV is full of images pressurising the young to grow up too quickly. The best way to guide our off-spring is through education. Schools can do a lot, but it is in the home, through example and careful guidance, that we can achieve the most. So make sure you set the parental controls on your TV receiver and internet connection. Talk about smartphones and social media. And when the time comes to talk about the birds and bees, take time to explain the lifelong consequences. The latest figures show the number of teenage pregnancies in England and Wales has continued to drop. Office for National Statistics data show the under-18 conception rate is the lowest since 1969 at 27.9 conceptions per 1,000 women aged 15 to 17 – just under three in every 100, but still three times the rate in France and Germany. This is a drop of 10 per cent on the previous year, but experts say it is not enough to bring the UK in line with other western European countries, where our rate of teenage pregnancy is still the highest despite being one of the world's biggest users of contraceptives. These figures seem to show that the UK's high teenage birth rate is not due to ignorance of sex and contraception. Four out of five females between the ages of 15 and 44 in Britain – 80 per cent – use some form of contraception. In Exeter, in 2012, there were 162 pregnancies among under-18s, a rate of 35 in every thousand. That is above the national average, and the highest in Devon outside Plymouth and Torbay, but falling in line with the national trend. There were 33 pregnancies reported among under-16s, again above the average for England and Wales at seven in a thousand. The UK's new youngest mother, now in her first year of secondary school, was 10 when she met her boyfriend. The schoolgirl, from North London, lives with her mother, who is 27. Sources say they are in love and intend to stay together, bringing up the child with help from their families. I hope they are able to build a happy life after such a difficult start. But what will their child eventually make of the way he or she came into the world?

Comment: We must protect our children from the pressure to grow up too soon

A drugs courier has been jailed after he was caught with £3,000 worth of heroin and crack cocaine at Exeter St David's station. Andre Hackett was intercepted by British Transport Police who became suspicious and searched him. The 40-year-old was on his way from his home in Slough to Bideford in North Devon, where he was staying at the time, and was transporting drugs as a way of paying off debts. Hackett is an addict who owed money to his dealers and who agreed to make the delivery trip to Devon in return for a rebate on his debt and a small share of the cargo. Hackett, now of Bideford, admitted possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply and was jailed for three years by Judge Francis Gilbert QC at Exeter Crown Court. The judge told him: "You were stopped and searched and found with drugs which you planned to take to North Devon for others to sell. "You were acting as a courier because you were in debt but when your house was searched nothing was found to suggest you were dealing." David Bowen, prosecuting, said Hackett was stopped by officers from the British Transport Police at St David's Station on the evening of March 6 en route to North Devon. He said: "He was found to be carrying heroin and crack cocaine and he told the officers he was only doing it because he was in debt and planned to take a bit for himself. "He said he was going to drop it off in Devon and go back. He said he was a user and not a dealer. There were around 30 grams of drugs. He played a significant role as a courier." Hackett has previous convictions for cannabis and heroin dealing and has previously served a four-year sentence for drug offences. Rupert Taylor, defending, said Hackett deserved credit for being open and cooperative with police and for admitting his guilt as soon as he got to court. He said: "He was not going to receive any financial advantage. He was living from hand to mouth and was not enjoying the lifestyle of a drug dealer. He was at the bottom end of the chain. He was a mere courier."

Drugs courier jailed after being caught with heroin and crack cocaine at Exeter St David's

People in Devon are being urged to take extra care during a strike by firefighters this weekend, following four fires during a walkout on Friday. Members of the Fire Brigades Union will stage a 12-hour strike starting at 2pm on Saturday, May 3, in a long-running dispute with the Government over pension reforms. It follows a five-hour stoppage on Friday afternoon. Another five-hour strike is due to start at 10am on Sunday, May 4. During Friday's industrial action, from midday to 5pm, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service said crews attended the following incidents: Two property fires; Two vehicle fires; Two co-responder calls; An animal rescue; A lift rescue; Four fire alarms – three residential and one at a retail premises. A spokesman for the service thanked people for taking extra care during this period. Ahead of the latest round of strikes, Area Manager Phil Martin, Head of Community Safety for Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, said: "The service has contingency plans in place and ours will again be put into place ahead of these dates for industrial action. "Our plans worked well during the previous period of action, but we are asking the public to help us again by taking extra care. We will continue to respond to 999 calls and do everything we can to keep the public safe. "You can help us again by taking extra care and time to think about fire safety in your home during this period – checking smoke alarms, ensuring you know what you would do if there was a fire and not making unnecessary calls to the fire and rescue service." Businesses are also reminded to be mindful of their responsibilities - it remains the responsibility of employers, landlords and other premises occupiers to comply with fire safety law. Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service's advice is to take extra care with these six steps:• If you haven't already got one, install a smoke alarm and test it every week• Take extra care in the kitchen - this is where most fires start• Check your electrical appliances - turn them off and don't overload sockets• If you smoke, put cigarettes out properly• Sleep safe - check everything in your home every bedtime• Plan a safe escape - make sure you know how to get out of your home in an emergency Find more safety advice at www.dsfire.gov.uk.

'Take care' plea as Devon firefighters go on strike this weekend

Plans for a 12-bed hotel with 38 units of self-catering holiday accommodation at Seaton Heights have been given the go-ahead by East Devon District Council. The proposal was initially refused because of objections from Natural England who were concerned about potential interference with bat movements in the area. A revised plan was submitted, showing a two-metre wide 'bat corridor' on the site, which satisfied the requirements of Natural England. The two-storey hotel building and holiday units, with a central amenities building housing a restaurant and leisure club, plus car parking, may now be built once a Section 106 agreement has been signed. Councillor Helen Parr, Chairman of EDDC's Development Management Committee, said: "We are keen to see new holiday accommodation provided in East Devon and in particular in the Seaton area, but we must always be mindful of the environmental impact. "Now that a proposal has been drawn up that will satisfy Natural England, we are only too pleased to give the development our blessing."

Follow live updates from Exeter City's last game of the season when they face Hartlepool United at Victoria Park. Both sides are safe from the drop and may use the game as a chance to play some younger members of their squad in the first team.

Hartlepool United v Exeter City: Matchday live

Green-fingered visitors are flocking to the second and final day of Toby Buckland's Garden Festival at Powderham Castle. The celebrity gardener's inaugural festival, which started on Friday, aims to inform, inspire and entertain everyone from novice and expert horticulturalists to those with more diverse interests such as dowsing or bee keeping. Organisers reported an "extremely successful" first day, adding that there will be lots of activities for children on Saturday. Toby, who has three children, is keen to get young people gardening. The show is packed full of award-winning horticultural exhibitors, talks and demonstrations covering a range of topics to inspire novice planters, specialist planters, weekend gardeners, want-to-get-into-gardening-but haven't-quiet-yet gardeners and allotment holders. There are also a variety of other activities including dowsing, bee keeping and tree surgery. And Toby, who's been running the Toby Buckland Nursery and Plant Centre at the castle with his wife Lisa for just over two years, is making sure the family-friendly festival will make the most of its setting in the castle's idyllic and rambling landscape which takes in ancient parklands and quaint kitchen gardens and has the stunning Exe Estuary as its backdrop. There is also plenty of live music and food stalls. Toby's credentials include presenting Gardener's World, BBC2's Great British Garden Revival and the 2014 RHS Chelsea Flower Show. He is also an award-winning garden designer, author of five books, and is a regular contributor for various publications. His demonstrations will be about his favourite Westcountry plants and growing for continuous colour and flavour. Other demonstrators include, Anne Swithinbank of Radio 4's Gardeners Question Time; organic expert and author Charles Dowding; Neil Lucas from award-winning Dorset nursery Knoll Gardens; Devon garden historian Dr Todd Gray and garden photographer Jason Ingram. There will also be various 30 minute informal talks in the kitchen garden on a range of subjects including those entitled Waste not Weeds, Bugs and Beasties in the Garden and Rhubarb, Rhubarb, Rhubarb. Other matters being discussed will include composting, plant heath and disease and natural burials. "I thought about all the things I like – plants, music and good food – and mixed it all together," said Toby. "It's a very green show with lots of entertainment. The festival will show off the best horticulturalists in the Westcountry, and there's all sorts of things people can learn about. Devon has never seen a garden festival like this before," Toby continued. "We've got a fantastic line-up of experts, an amazing plant range and all the know-how from award-winning nurserymen and women, and all in one of the Westcountry's most beautiful castle settings." "There's no county that does spring better than Devon," he added. "You don't need much excuse to come and visit anyway, and the location at this time of year is beautiful." Tickets for the show, which runs from 10am until 6pm on Saturday, May 3, are £5 for adults and free for children under 16. Group discounts are available for groups of 12 and over. For more information visit www.tobygardenfest.co.uk.

Gardening fans flock to Toby Buckland’s Garden Festival at Powderham Castle

The boss of Exeter's main hospital has warned of tough choices ahead after revealing mounting deficits for the next three years parallel to predictions of dwindling income. Angela Pedder, chief executive of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, says the trust is being paid less for more work while at the same time is under pressure to make massive savings. "We don't want to scare people or frighten people," said Mrs Pedder. "We are saying that we are a good organisation and we deliver good care for patients and will continue to do so. "But in five years' time it will be a different (health environment) and that is the dialogue we have to enter into." Since hospitals were ordered to reduce costs by the Government four years ago, the R&DE has made £50million worth of savings. However, for the first time the trust has not been able to balance the directive to make ongoing savings without dipping into the red. The organisation has been forced to declare a £3.1 million deficit this year, while next year is predicting an £8.9 million deficit and the year after a £13.5 million one. Meanwhile, said Mrs Pedder, the price the hospital is actually paid for its work has been similarly squeezed. "On April 1 this year, for the same amount of work next year we will be getting paid £11 million less. "That is not sustainable without significant change. "There are few organisations that could deliver that level of savings." The trust, along with others in the peninsula, is hugely disadvantaged by a national funding formula which takes geography into account and put simply means they receive less money per patient for delivering the same services as hospitals in other areas. "If the RD&E was based in Bristol, we would be paid an extra of £18 million a year to provide the same levels of service we do in Exeter," said Mrs Pedder. The trust has reserves of £30 million, but at an operating cost of £1 million a day this rainy day fund would be exhausted within a month. Mrs Pedder said she was keen to kick start the debate about how health services should be organised in the future. She said reconfiguration - shorthand for moving or centralising services - must be part of that discussion. "There are significant challenges ahead and the resources envelope for the acute sector means that there will be reconfiguration." She said she was intensely proud of the NHS: "It is something to be treasured, but not something to be kept in aspic. "If things do not change they are not sustainable. "Innovation drives quality. Innovation is change. We need to embrace all aspects of change." The RD&E is not the only hospital to be struggling to balance demands to make savings with diminishing income levels. The region's biggest, Plymouth's Derriford Hospital, has already declared it is facing a financial black hole of up to £20 million. In the last financial year, the trust announced a £13 million deficit and has projected that the 2014/15 the deficit is likely to be between £13 million and £20 million.

Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital boss warns of tough choices ahead as trust dips into red

The Lord Mayor of Exeter will sound an air horn to start the South West's biggest free celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities in the region. Councillor Rachel Lyons will start the largest rainbow flag parade the city has seen as part of Exeter Pride at 12pm on Saturday, May 10. Preparations are well in hand for what will be the sixth Exeter Pride. It promises to be the biggest, most colourful event to date with more than 2,000 people expected to take part in the parade down Exeter's High Street and attend a full programme of activities after the parade at Exeter Phoenix in Gandy Street. Community groups, firefighters, police, students, trade union groups and individuals will be among those taking part in the parade. The parade will include many people wearing colourful masks, made at recent workshops run by Exeter Pride. It will also include Street Heat samba band, the Devon and Cornwall Police band and volunteers carrying a 50-metre rainbow flag. All are invited to walk in the parade in support of Exeter's LGBT communities. Groups or organisations are asked to register by email: parade@exeterpride.co.uk. Roads will be closed along the route of the parade which, this year, will be longer to accommodate the large numbers who take part. It will start at Exeter City Football Club's Fountain Centre car park. Events and activities at Exeter Phoenix will be family-friendly and include activities for children, young people and adults. A full programme of events which will continue on into the evening will include a family zone, a Victorian Fair, a Market Place, a new Health Zone and the return of the popular drumming workshop, a ceilidh and a panel debate. The theme of the panel debate is "After the Honeymoon: setting an LGBT Agenda for the future". Chairman will be Shaun Dellenty, openly gay deputy head teacher at Alfred Salter Primary School in London and founder of Inclusion for All, a charitable organisation that helps to effect organisational change in schools and other educational contexts to pro-actively prevent homophobic language and bullying. Panellists will include Rebecca Cook, founder of LGBTransaction, an organisation that provides a comprehensive programme of support for trans people, their families and friends; Miranda Nicholson, Strategic Mental Health Project Worker for the Intercom Trust; Bridget Garood, a Specialist Family Lawyer at Cartridges Solicitors; a representative from Devon Partnership Trust and a representative from Devon and Cornwall Police. There will be information from local and national organisations, demonstrations, as well as fun activities. Evening events include live music and DJs through until 2am. Admission to some evening activities will be by wristband only, which are £3 from selected outlets. Rainbow flags adorn some streets and buildings in the city to mark the event. There will also be some pre-Pride parties and some local radio stations are broadcasting Pride Radio Shows. There will also be a "Pride on Campus" Day at the University of Exeter. Tom Grigor, chairman of Exeter Pride committee, said: "Exeter Pride is a celebration of the city and county's lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities. "It is about us having pride in our contributions to not just a vibrant and diverse city, but all of Devon and the city and county having pride in us." He added: "Exeter Pride would not be possible with generous donations from local businesses, organisations and individuals and the fundraising efforts of many volunteers. "Together with generous sponsorship from our partners, we are able to keep all our daytime events, free-of-charge." Tom added: "Volunteers are an important part of helping to make things run smoothly and more volunteers are still needed to help steward the parade as well as helping to set up at Exeter Phoenix. "Anyone who could spare some time to help can make contact through the Exeter Pride website." Devon and Cornwall Police chief constable, Shaun Sawyer, said: "Devon and Cornwall Police are proud to support Exeter Pride as part of our commitment to service the LGB and T communities across Devon and Cornwall. "We would also like to congratulate Exeter Pride on establishing this as a successful annual event." Lee Howell, Chief Fire Officer of Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said: "As a public service we have a strong belief in treating people fairly and with respect and challenging prejudice and discrimination. "We welcome the opportunity to show this commitment by standing alongside the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community in this spectacular celebration of diversity." In addition to organising the Pride event, the committee organise a wide range of events and entertainment throughout the year to promote inclusivity, self-confidence and a sense of community in a supportive environment. Further information about Exeter Pride on May 10 and other pride committee-organised events or to sign up as a volunteer, visit the website: www.exeterpride.co.uk or Twitter: @exeterpride or Facebook: facebook.com/exeterpride

Exeter Pride organisers expect 2,000 people at biggest event to date

A planned pub crawl which could have seen hundreds of students floating down the River Exe on inflatables has reportedly been cancelled. More than 3,600 people had pledged to participate in Inflatables down the Exe after the alcohol-fuelled challenge was promoted on Facebook. Revellers were originally due to travel down the waterway on an eclectic range of blow-up objects – from wild animals to pirate ships – during a 4.5-mile (7.2km) journey from the Quay to Topsham, via a number of local taverns. But following talks with Devon and Cornwall police, organisers opted to scale-down the route to a 1km (0.6 mile) stretch from the Mill on the Exe pub to the Quay. University of Exeter student newspaper Exepose has now reported that the event has been cancelled after a meeting between organisers and police.

A key A380 Torbay to Exeter road junction is to be improved as part of the £36 billion which will be invested by the Government in more than 200 infrastructure projects this year. Drivers heading towards Exeter will see the benefits as an additional lane will be created at Splatford Split at the bottom of Haldon Hill. This investment will extend the two lanes of the A380 to meet the A38, rather than the current arrangement where traffic is forced into one lane as it joins the dual carriageway. The extra lane created will then continue along the eastbound A38 carriageway to the Wobbly Wheel junction, widening this stretch of road to four lanes. The additional lane will then carry through to Marsh Barton. The estimated cost of the scheme is £5.5m. Also included in the spending, due to start in 2014-5, are improvements to the A38 Drumbridges roundabout to improve access, Dawlish Warren and Exmouth Beach Management Scheme, M5 J30 sliproad improvement (Exeter).

The impressive roll-call of names to have graced the turf at Exeter Racecourse over the years includes such luminaries as Desert Orchid, Best Mate Denman and Cue Card. And as another successful season comes to a climax you can now add Haldon Gold Cup winner Somerbsy and Grand National winner Pineau De Re to that illustrious list. The curtain will fall on the campaign on Tuesday amidst the glitz and glamour of Ladies Night where, alongside six competitive races from 5.50pm, prizes will be awarded for the most stylish. Ahead of the meeting, Exeter Racecourse general manager Tim Darby has been reflecting on the highs and lows of the campaign. He said the on-going challenge was to continue to attract the star names and promising young horses while keeping the cost down to the race-goer. Mr Darby, who has been in the job for two years, said the lowpoint was the cancellation of the popular New Year's Day fixture. But with healthy crowds and a few star names to boot there have been plenty of positives. He said: "What we have done is build on what we started last year – with big Sunday meetings and of course the Haldon Gold Cup day that is very well attended. "Seeing Somersby winning the Haldon Gold Cup was the racing highlight for me. As always we had a lot of good young novices that we hope will go on to make a big impression. We had a relation of Big Buck's win the last race of our last meeting and we, of course, had the Grand National winner Pineau De Re, here earlier in the season. "It is also great to see the local trainers like Susan Gardner do well and she has had a fantastic year here. "The Haldon Gold Cup has always attracted a high standard of horse and we are hoping the next Cue Card or Best Mate will come to race here next season. From a hurdling point of view we had top names like Melodic Rendezvous. "It has been a difficult year with the ground but we have had several horses who have gone on to win big races. No more so than the Grand National winner Pineau De Re who won here earlier in the season." Away from the track there has been a major refurbishment of a bar that has been re-named in honour of 19-time champion jockey Tony McCoy, and corporate facilities continue to be expanded. "It has been a great season. Unfortunately we lost our New Year's Day meeting which is a very big day for us. But we were able to compensate for this by staging an extra fixture two weeks on from that. It was the only fixture we lost. We had a very wet November, December and January and it was a great effort by all the ground-staff that we were able to carry on racing." There will be no resting on laurels and thoughts are already turning to next season. "The summer will be spent carrying out a lot of routine maintenance and meeting and conferencing facilities will remain open," he added. "We have seen a 25 per cent growth in that area and hope to build on that." But before the break there is a final chance to find a winner on Ladies Night. It's a chance to get glammed up, with prizes for the best-dressed race-goers. Gates open at 3.50pm.

Exeter Racecourse gears up for glamorous finale to season

The biggest ever guide to Exeter is published today, offering tourists an array of places to visit and stay in what is fast becoming one of the region's top city break destinations. Latest figures confirm that in total almost £187m was spent by visitors whilst on holiday in the city in 2012. Spend by UK holidaymakers staying overnight in Exeter increased from £66m to £80m and for overseas visitors from £30.2m to £38.7m (between 2011 and 2012). In just four years, spend by overseas visitors in Exeter has almost doubled, from £20.9m in 2009 to £38.7m in 2012. As the 44-page guide makes clear, the city break destination continues to expand its offering to visitors, from boutique hotels like Magdalen Chapter, Queen's Court Hotel and Southernhay House, to cool independent eateries and bars like Harry's Grill Bar, Ruby's Diner, Bar Rendezvous, Oddfellows and the Fat Pig. Towns and cities across the South West and beyond are being targeted by the Heart of Devon Tourism Partnership, to make sure people are aware of what Exeter has to offer as a destination. Some 140,000 copies of the guide are being distributed to outlets across the South West and beyond. Cllr Rosie Denham, Exeter City Council Lead Councillor for Economy and Culture, said: "Tourism is a vital component of the economy of Exeter. The weather at the start of the year was a setback but there is growing optimism out there for 2014 - though of course we face fierce competition from other destinations. "That's why it is so important to promote Exeter and make sure people know what we bring to the table, just how easy it is to get here and get about, and how there really is something for all budgets and interests. It's a highly competitive market, but with the Rugby World Cup in Exeter next year, now is the time to show how Exeter provides great value, excellent customer service and a quality experience for all its visitors." Close to 5,000 jobs in the city are attributed to tourism spend in the city, with Derek Philips, Heart of Devon Tourism Partnership and Exeter Chamber of Commerce chairman, in no doubt as to its importance to the local economy. He said: "Exeter is on the up. It's a vibrant cultural city with so much to offer and set in the most beautiful countryside in the Heart of Devon – the perfect city break destination. Our part of the world is so distinctive, so special, we have to make sure people making choices about where to go and what to do, know just what a great place Exeter is. "The schedule of renowned festivals, cultural events, attractions for families, fantastic shopping and more cafes and restaurants then ever before, amount to what I believe is a brilliant offering to rival any city of comparable size anywhere in the country. All the partnership members are working hard to ensure we provide great value and a quality experience for visitors in 2014." Available online at www.visitexeter.com, the guide includes:• 48 hours in Exeter schedule• 2014 Year of the Bike details• Culture, family activities, sport and leisure• Attractions, tours and trails• Wildlife and green spaces• Shopping and eating guide• Money-saving vouchers• Accommodation guide• What's on calendar 2014 Exeter City Break Fact-file (for 2012)• 445,000 overnight trips taken, £119.5m spent• 1,818,000 day trips, £66.9m spent• UK tourists spent:£30m on accommodation£9.7m on shopping£18.2m on food and drink• Overseas tourists spent:£12.4m on accommodation£10.9m on shopping£7m on food and drink. The guide is available from a range of locations across the South West and can be downloaded at www.visitexeter.com

New guide to Exeter aims to boost 'vital' tourism spend

A shop worker has been cleared of attacking an ex-girlfriend after telling a jury he was acting in self defence. Blake Roberts said he was protecting himself from Gemma Munday after she threw a phone at his head and jumped on top of him while he was staying at her flat in Exeter. He was acquitted of assaulting and threatening to kill her after claiming she started the violence and he was struggling to escape when he headbutted her to get free. He said a neighbour who broke into the flat to rescue Miss Munday after hearing her screams had misunderstood what was going on because he only saw the last moments of the incident. Roberts, 21, of Barrington Street, Tiverton, denied causing grievous bodily harm and threatening to kill Miss Munday at her home in Exe Street, Exeter, last October. He was found not guilty on both counts and discharged at Exeter Crown Court. In a three-day case the prosecution alleged he attacked Miss Munday after he had been sofa surfing with her and she told him to leave because his noisy drunken behaviour was upsetting her neighbours. She told the jury at Exeter Crown Court he became violent after he went to bed drunk and she accidentally hit him when she threw his phone onto the pillow. She said he grabbed her throat and throttled her while telling her he was going to kill her and then punched her in the face and only stopped when a neighbour heard her screams and smashed a window to come to her rescue. Roberts denied attacking Miss Munday or making any threats to kill and insisted he the real victim of the incident. He said he was left with a lump on his head where he was hit by the phone and a cut on his lip from the fight. He said: "She was sat on top of me and was on my arms and leaning forwards and backwards aggressively. I did not have a top on at the time. "I hit the back of my head when she was leant over me and I got blood on me when she was leaning over me while there was blood dripping from her eye. "I was trying to move my head away. After I headbutted her I wriggled my arm free and was trying to squeeze out. She still would not get off but I managed to get the other hand free and pushed her off."

Shop worker cleared of GBH and kill threat against ex-girlfriend in Exeter flat

A youthful Exeter City side ended the League Two season on a high note as goals from Jimmy Keohane and David Wheeler gave them a 2-0 win at Hartlepool. Wheeler and Keohane, who both started the match up front, scored in the first half at Victoria Park as City moved up to 16th place in the table. As expected, manager Paul Tisdale fielded a largely youthful team with eight of those starting regular members of the club's successful Under-21 side. Four more were named on the bench including Ollie Watkins and fellow Under-18 striker Matt Jay. Jordan Tillson was handed his full Exeter debut at centre half, while City fielded no recognised centre forwards with Wheeler and Keohane both superb in as their most advanced players. After weathering some early pressure from the home side, a swift Exeter counter ended with Aaron Dawson winning a corner kick. It was taken by Matt Grimes and curling into goal, it nearly caught out home goalkeeper Scott Flinders, who grabbed it at the second attempt in the line. City were playing some very nice football and a neat move involving Liam Sercombe, Wheeler and Keohane led to the Irishman laying the ball off to Craig Woodman, but he lashed a shot over the crossbar. Hartlepool went close when Michael Duckworth shot straight at Flinders and as Exeter broke, Matt Gill fed Keohane, who broke forward and lashed a stunning strike in off the underside of the crossbar from 25 yards. It was a great strike that had even the home fans applauding in appreciation. It was a really impressive performance from Exeter, who should have gone 2-0 up on 33 minutes. Woodman led a swift counter as Exeter cleared a corner and found Wheeler, who in turn crossed low for Keohane. He placed his shot, rather than put his foot through the ball, and that allowed Flinders to throw himself across goal to make the save. At the other end, Marlon Harewood shot high with an effort that could have caused some damage to the Exeter fans behind the goal and Bradley Walker's attempted volley went out for a throw in. Exeter were looking to score on the counter-attack and they did just that a minute before half-time. After a spell of short passing at the back, Gill picked out Wheeler with a superb long pass. His first touch took him round the goalkeeper and he rolled the ball into the net to make it 2-0. However, referee Darren Deadman gifted Pools a way back into the game seconds later when the unfortunate Tillson was adjudged to have brought down James Poole. It didn't look a penalty, but it was given and justice was perhaps done when Christy Pym flung himself to his left to keep out Jack Compton's effort. That brought an eventful half to a close and Exeter could be well pleased with their efforts playing into a steady breeze. The home side were booed off by their disappointed supporters, who had been a distant second best to the Grecians. Hartlepool were out a good five minutes before the scheduled start time for the second half, while City introduced Matt Jay for Sercombe. He joined Wheeler in attack with Keohane dropping into midfield. City should have made it 3-0 early in the second half when Woodman delivered a lovely free kick that skipped across goal and just behind, while Harewood's shot was blocked for Hartlepool by more superb Exeter defending. Keohane won a free kick 25 yards from goal, which was taken by Grimes and well saved by Flinders, while Compton was off target with a shot from distance for Hartlepool. The second half was failing to live up to the excitement of the first and with 14 minutes remaining, Watkins and Jake Gosling came on for Wheeler and Dawson. The youngster was soon in the thick of the action after a lovely move involving Tillson and Jay, who laid the ball off to Watkins, but he curled it just wide of the far post. Hartlepool substitute Connor Smith saw a shot deflect wide as the game entered injury time and when Pym got down well to deny Poole, the final whistle blew seconds later to end the game and the Grecians' season. Hartlepool United: Flinders; Holden, Collins, Harrison, Duckworth; Compton, Oliver (Hawkins 80), Walker, Poole; Franks (Smith 80), Harewood. Substitutes (not used): Rafferty (gk), Rowbotham, Richards, Jones, James. Exeter City: Pym; Bennett, Tillson, Moore-Taylor; Dawson (Gosling, 77), Sercombe (Jay, 45), Gill (Watkins 76), Grimes, Woodman; Wheeler, Keohane. Substitutes: Krysiak, Butterfield, Baldwin, Nichols.

Hartlepool United 0 Exeter City 2: Match report

A football referee has been taken to hospital after allegedly being punched by a player during a match in Ashburton on Saturday. Police have confirmed they were called to the town at 3.15pm after an altercation between a match official and a player. The injured man was taken to Torbay Hospital with facial wounds. A police spokesman confirmed: "There is an allegation of an assault during a football match at Ashburton and the aggrieved has been taken to hospital. "Police have the name of a potential suspect they will speak to in due course."

A burglar has been sent on a drug rehabilitation programme after being caught red handed as he burgled a couple's home. Leon Mortimer looked dazed and was seen with drug patches on his chest when two householders found him inside their house in Exeter in the middle of the night. The unemployed 41-year-old had to be pushed out of the front door by the worried couple who alerted the police to the midnight raid. Mortimer, of Bridespring Road in Exeter, admitted burglary and was ordered to receive drug rehabilitation as part of a 12-month supervision order and curfewed for six months by Judge Francis Gilbert QC at Exeter Crown Court. The judge told him: "This was a dwelling house burglary committed shortly after midnight while the occupants were in the property. "The male occupant was disturbed by the noise and came downstairs to find you in the living room. He ordered you out but you resisted and had to be pushed out with help from the lady of the house. "I am told your response to supervision has been very good. You have been using heroin for ten years but if you can be stopped from doing so you offending will cease." David Bowen, prosecuting, said the owners of a house in Regents Square in Exeter were disturbed by noises and found Mortimer inside their home. He said: "The occupants were disturbed by the defendant and they tried to usher him out and ended up pushing and shoving him. "He appeared to have medical drug patches on his chest and looked dazed. The police were called and arrested him nearby. He was found to have a black make up case worth about £8 which he had taken from the property. "He told police he could not remember anything because he was on a cocktail of heroin and valium." Rupert Taylor, defending, said this is Mortimer's first conviction for a domestic burglary and he is already working with the probation service to address his drug problem. He asked the judge to give him credit for pleading guilty at the first opportunity and to follow the suggestions of a probation pre-sentence report.

Exeter couple pushed 'dazed' drug addict burglar out of their house

A new £91,000 grant from the John Ellerman Regional Museums and Galleries Fund will allow Exeter's Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) to re-unite material from the HMS Challenger voyage that laid the foundation for the science of oceanography. Setting off in 1872, chemists, physicists and biologists embarked upon a 70,000 nautical mile journey of global exploration, systematically surveying the geology, topography, biology and chemistry of the deep sea. They returned four-years later with a mass of data and thousands of specimens, many of which were sent to leading scientists across the globe. Over 4,000 new species were described and the reports written filled 50 volumes and nearly 30,000 pages. Many of the specimens are held in national museums like the Natural History Museum (NHM), London. These are reasonably well documented but many of the smaller collections of HMS Challenger specimens, scattered throughout regional and university museums, are less well documented. They form an important but little-known and under-utilised resource that RAMM plans to research and make globally available on a searchable, online database. W. P. Sladen was a major contributor to Challenger Reports and his collection of Echinoderms (starfish, sea urchins and their relatives) includes 300 specimens from the HMS Challenger. These are now part of RAMM's collections and will be added to the new database. Rosie Denham, Exeter's Lead Councillor for Economy and Culture, commented "We are very grateful to the John Ellerman Regional Museums and Galleries Fund. RAMM continues to bring some of the country's best exhibitions and collections to Exeter and pioneer research, but maintaining such a broad reach and high levels of excellence wouldn't be possible without support like this. This grant will make it possible for RAMM to share its expertise and take a leading role in making the scattered HMS Challenger material available for research." Camilla Hampshire, Museum Manager, added: "The voyage of HMS Challenger is of great historical significance and the data from it forms such a rich source of baseline information. With increased scientific monitoring and accelerated environmental change this information has continuing and increasing relevance today." Supported with expertise from the Natural History Museum, London, RAMM can now invite national, regional and university museums to join the project, researching their HMS Challenger collections then streamlining and sharing their information. A museum trainee will also be recruited for the duration of the project which will run from 2014 to 2016.

Royal Albert Memorial Museum wins £91,000 for HMS Challenger research project

Police seized sound equipment and turned away crowds of people in an operation to stop an illegal rave from going ahead in Mid Devon. Officers deployed as part of Operation Derig, acting on a call from a member of the public, went to Bampton Down, near Tiverton, on Saturday night. Police say they found a number of people setting up a "major sound system". People were asked to leave the picturesque rural area, which is close to Bampton and has views of Knightshayes Court, the National Trust property at Bolham. Further people on their way to the gathering were turned away throughout the evening. A Devon & Cornwall Police spokesman said: "Investigations will follow with a view to prosecuting those organising the event. An early call from a member of the public and prompt action by the police prevented a large illegal gathering in this instance." Operation Derig aims to disrupt illegal raves planned for bank holiday weekends in the force area. This was the third such event to be shut down this year. It follows similar operations to prevent raves on Woodbury Common, in East Devon, and at Fernworthy Reservoir, near Chagford, over the Easter weekend. There are concerns about other such events planned for the summer. Tickets for the five-day dance music event the Sunset Festival, near Sandford, are on sale despite the festival not having been granted a licence.

Sound equipment seized as police swoop to stop illegal rave

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has said crews across the two counties attended 25 incidents during the latest strike by firefighters. Members of the Fire Brigades Union walked out from 2pm on Saturday, May 3, to 2am on Sunday, May 4, in a protracted dispute with the Government about pension reforms. Incidents attended during the 12-hour period of strike action were as follows: Five property fires (requiring between one to three appliances); One rescue from an unstable surface; Three road traffic collisions; One car fire; Five small fires on open ground; Six co-responder calls; Four fire alarms. People in Devon are being urged to take extra care when FBU members stage another strike from 10am to 3pm on Sunday, May 4. It is the third strike in three days, following a five-hour stoppage on Friday, May 2.

Crews attend five property fires and three crashes during latest firefighters' strike

Singer Joss Stone delighted locals with a live performance at a community in Lesotho supported by the charity set up by Prince Harry. The former Uffculme School pupil is traveling the globe with her Total World Tour, a unique venture that sees her perform in countries not used to visits from touring pop stars. Arriving in Lesotho, Joss, who was raised in Ashill, near Cullompton, delighted locals with a live performance before paying a visit to impoverished communities that have been assisted by Sentebale, the charity set up by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to help those affected by extreme poverty, HIV and AIDS. In high spirits during her visit, the 27-year-old star met school children and mingled with welcoming townsfolk as she continues with her endeavour to visit every country on the continent. Speaking to Hello! about her Lesotho trip, she said: "It has been amazing to come here on this trip and see the work first hand. "Prince Harry is such a good, genuine person so when he or Prince William ask me to do anything, I know it's coming from a good place and I pay attention. "Coming here, you realise it's not going to fix the whole of Lesotho, but it'll fix a lot for a lot of people." Joss will be performing in countries including Tunisia and Slovakia, as well as Australia, America and the United Arab Emirates. Explaining her decision to expand the touring horizons, Joss writes on her official tour website: "A world tour should mean a world tour, no one country is more important than another. "Yet historically touring is kept to the countries that can be the most profitable for the artist."

Joss Stone performs to Lesotho community supported by Prince Harry's charity