Crews attended a fire in a combine harvester within a field near Exeter.
They were sent to Sidmouth Road, Aylesbeare just before 2pm yesterday (Thursday) and located a small fire within the harvester.
They used small tools and one hose reel jet to extinguish the fire.
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Crews called to combine harvester fire near Exeter
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Casualty freed by fire crews after crash in Exmouth
A casualty had to be freed by fire-fighters after a crash in Exmouth last night.
Two appliances from Exmouth attended a road traffic collision at St John's Road, just before 8,30pm on Thursday.
On their arrival crews found an RTC involving two vehicles and one person was trapped inside one of the vehicles. They went to work to release the trapped person using hydraulic rescue equipment. The Ambulance Service was also in attendance
The casualty was released from the vehicle by Fire Service personnel and was taken to hospital by ambulance. No details of their condition have been released.
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Resident rescued after fire at Galahad Close, Exeter
Exeter fire crews were called out to a fire at Galahad Close, Beacon Heath after a report of alarms sounding and smoke issuing from the building.
On their arrival crews found a fire involving a chip pan in the kitchen of a flat.
Crews rescued one occupant from the flat, extinguished the fire and ventilated the property.
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Pictures: Spectacular lightning strikes over Exeter
Last night saw a spectacular display of lightning strikes across the region as Mother Nature lit up the night sky across Exeter and the rest of Devon.
This picture of Exeter was sent to us by @MrDunford on twitter while the one at Beacon Heath was sent in by @roythomson2.
If you took a photo of last night's storm and want it to be added to our online gallery e-mail echonews@expressandecho.co.uk
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Concern after high rise in violence and public disorder offences in Devon and Cornwall
Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg has expressed concern over the high rate of violence and public disorder in Devon and Cornwall.
The crime figures published by the Office for National Statistics yesterday revealed that Devon and Cornwall was ranked seventh for levels of violence with 20,876 incidents during 2013-14, an increase of 7%.
It included 17 murders, 10,946 crimes in which people were hurt and a further 9,913 offences of so-called "violence without injury".
Per head of population, the region also has the worst public order problem with 5,862 crimes equating to three offences per thousand people.
Mr Hogg said the figures were mixed with the force having one of the lowest rates for serious acquisitive crime but high levels of reported violent and sexual crime.
He said: "I remain concerned at the relatively high rate of violent crime and public order offences which I am certain is intrinsically linked to alcohol misuse.
"On the positive side what these figures do show is that police are taking action against those who commit such crimes. Offenders are getting arrested and I am encouraged that this is not an area where such behaviour is tolerated. Many people will be aware that my police and crime plan focuses on alcohol-related crime and harm because I believe this is a significant driver of violent crime.
"That is one of the reasons why I have written to the leaders of all the major political parties on minimum unit pricing and continue to lobby on alcohol issues.
"As a result my office has set up a performance management framework that requires the chief constable to deliver a transformational change in this area and we continue to work with the police and other partners to support his delivery of this aspiration."
The level of violence in the two counties has been a cause for concern for several years and been the subject of studies by the force, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Home Office.
The national figures do not separate out domestic abuse, which, with increased reporting, could be one of the reasons for the sustained problem.
Assistant Chief Constable Andy Bickley conceded that the violence figures have been "stubbornly higher than we want them to be".
He said about a third of violent crime was related to domestic abuse while a fifth was attributed to the "nighttime economy" – late night attacks in town and city centres.
The force, Mr Bickley stressed, had "done an awful lot of work" to try to understand the complexities of the problem so it could respond appropriately.
Officers are currently examining contributory factors such as high-energy drinks, psychoactive substances or "legal highs" and issues around school opening and closing times.
He was also confident in the standards of crime recording within the force "unlike some other forces".
"The concern we have around violence has been with us for a number of years. It is not a sudden spike but it has remained stubbornly higher than we want them to be."
He added: "Our place in the national tables is out of kilter with my experience as a member of the community but we can't keep challenging the data."
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Picture of the day: Lightning strike over Exeter Quay
This image of lightning over Exeter Quay was posted on our Facebook wall by Benjamin Lawley.
Tweet your pictures to @expressandecho using #echopics, email them to eephotos@expressandecho.co.uk, post them on our Facebook wall or simply upload them on this website on our galleries page.
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Devon drivers warned of storms to come
Road users are being warned to take extra care during heavy, thundery showers expected this weekend.
The Met Office has issued an amber warning for rain, starting on Friday night (18 July) and continuing through Saturday (19 July), warning of torrential downpours and a risk of localised flooding.
According to the forecast, the showers will begin in the south of the country overnight on Friday and move northward throughout Saturday. The showers are expected to be localised and short, but torrential and thundery, and are possible across much of England over the weekend. It is possible that some of the showers will be heavy enough to cause temporary, localised flooding on some roads.
The Highways Agency, which operates and maintains motorways and major A roads in England, is working closely with the Met Office to monitor weather conditions and keep journeys safe and reliable.
Simon Sheldon-Wilson, Director of Traffic Management at the Highways Agency, said:
"With schools across the country now broken up for summer, lots of people will be taking to the roads this weekend. While this weather should not prevent people from making a journey, it's important that drivers are aware of the forecast and drive appropriately.
"Rain and spray can reduce visibility and when the road is wet it can take up to twice as long to stop so it makes sense to slow down when it's raining and leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle in front. It's also a good idea to check the latest conditions before setting out on a journey – it only takes a minute and can save you a lot of time if there is an incident on your route."
Highways Agency Traffic Officers across England will be monitoring weather and traffic conditions around the clock and will be on hand to quickly respond to incidents, while colleagues in regional control centres will be monitoring CCTV cameras, answering emergency telephone calls and setting advisory signs for drivers to warn of spray and other road conditions.
The Highways Agency previously issued advice to people driving over the summer holidays. Drivers can check planned roadworks on motorways and major A roads in advance on the Agency's website. Just before they set out they can get up-to-date information about incidents and congestion hotspots on the road network by calling the Agency's helpline on 0300 123 5000 or by checking Twitter.
Information about the Agency's road network is available on the Traffic England website and drivers can download a live traffic info app to their smartphone so they can check on current road and traffic conditions while en-route. But remember it is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving.
For information on weather conditions, visit the Met Office website www.metoffice.gov.uk.
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Devon schoolboy writes to mother's killer to say 'you have ruined my life'
An angry Devon schoolboy wrote to his mother's killer to tell him he had ruined his life.
A court heard ten year old Olly Power sent the letter to David Wilder who throttled the boy's mother to death as he slept in their house just before last Christmas.
Part of his letter was read to a court by his grandmother Stephanie in which he said:"I feel very angry. If I was you I would ashamed. I have a sad miserable life. You have ruined my life and my family's life. It was nearly Christmas and we were happy."
Today (Friday) tearful bus driver Wilder admitted murdering 36 year old Kerry Power at her home in Plymouth, and was jailed for life.
Judge Graham Cottle said Olly heard the life being strangled from his mother but 'mercifully did not come downstairs to witness the act itself or the immediate aftermath'.
He added:"It is entirely likely that he will be haunted by his memories of that night for a very long time if not forever."
He said the murder was 'dreadful act' and when Olly did see his mother under a duvet he did 'not realise she was dead'.
Jailing him for a minimum for 17.5 years, he said Wilder was a man 'who liked to dominate and control women'.
In the days before the killing, he bombarded her with texts and phone calls, stalked her and turned up drunk at her house and was prepared to use violence when his demands for a reconciliation were rejected.
The judge said Kerry dialled 999 at 1.10am as she was attacked. It was almost a silent call but police could later hear her say:"You have to leave. I don't know how you got in here but I need you to leave, you have to leave.
He then strangled her as Olly heard noises which the judge said were his mother 'struggling for life'.
And he said no one could failed to have been moved by the boy's letter to Wilder about 'how he feels about the terrible loss of his mother'.
Taunton Crown Court heard that Olly was disturbed in the middle of the night when he heard his mother making 'strange noises' like she was being sick and Wilder making 'muttering noises'.
Early that morning Olly got up and found his mum – now dead – lying under a duvet in the front room of the house with Wilder lying next to her.
The court heard he strangled the primary school assistant to death in December 2013 – four years after he had nearly killed his ex wife Kelly in a carbon copy attack.
The judge was told Wilder, 42, was given two police cautions for a series of domestic abuse incidents against his former wife, including one when he tried to throttle her too.
Wilder's own barrister Michael Fitton QC described him as 'possessive'.
He told the court:"He could not and would not let go."
The controlling defendant harassed dark haired Kerry after she told him their two year romance was over.
Police were called to her house twice in the days leading up to her murder. And officers told her to call them if Wilder turned up again.
Kerry had told friends and family that she had been subjected to 'emotional abuse' but not physical attacks at his hands.
The court heard in 2005 he threw a beaker at his ex wife and then bent her legs so that her right hip came out pof her socket. He was given just a police caution.
But in 2009 he broke into his ex's home through a window and climbed on top of her as she lay in bed.
Prosecutor Richard Smith QC said:"He had both hands around her neck in a strangling motion."
He put his hand over her mouth and said chillingly:"I am going to kill you."
He then grabbed her throat and she lost consciousness.
Mr Smith said there were 'striking similarities' between the 2009 attack and Kerry's murder. But in 2009 'no further action as a result of his conduct' was taken.
The court heard Wilder was a man who intimidated and dominated and lost self control.
He bombarded Kerry with texts and social networking messages which she admitted left her feeling 'a little bit scared'.
But late night knocks at her door by Wilder was, she said, the 'final straw'.
She told him:"It's over."
She called his actions 'emotional blackmail' and could not believe he had 'stooped so low' and he had 'scared the living daylights out of me'.
She said shortly before her death:"He is behaving like a madman."
Kerry's mum Stephanie Power said she had lost Kerry, her husband and her mother within months of each other and blamed the stress of the murder for losing her husband of 42 years.
The 65 year old said:"It has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions."
She said she would never know why Wilder had done it but said she and Olly had had to 'endure so much grief'.
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Looking, learning - and lunching
Torquay's coastal zoo and aquarium is celebrating fish in all their forms this summer.
There will be looking, learning – and lunching.
The Living Coasts Fantastic Fish Festival will include cooking demos by top local chefs, trails, aquarium talks, craft activities and dive shows.
Clare Rugg: "Some fish species are part of our collection - others are food! Fish are amazing, vital, beautiful and useful. Fantastic Fish is a year-long event promoting sustainable fishing and a greater awareness of just how great fish are."
Exhibitors from the marine world including Divers Down, Sea School, Great Escapes (Monty Halls), Devon Wildlife Trust and The Shark Trust will be providing information on our local seas.
Chefs taking part include Nicolas Legendre of Paignton Zoo and Living Coasts, formerly at The Carved Angel, Dartmouth; Simon Hulstone, chef / proprietor at The Elephant restaurant, in Torquay; Lucas and Austin from On the Rocks in Torquay; and Oliver Stacey, head chef from No 7 restaurant.
Clare: "We want to have fun, talk about sustainable fishing, highlight the need for marine conservation and raise awareness of the Big Fish campaign."
The aim of the Big Fish Campaign is to raise awareness about the problem of aquarium fish that grow larger than the vast majority of home aquaria can accommodate, and to promote responsible buying and selling of these larger species.
The Fantastic Fish Festival, sponsored by Kingfisher Brixham, runs from Monday 28th July to Friday 1st August. For more information go to www.livingcoasts.org.uk or ring 0844 474 3366.
There will be looking, learning – and lunching.
The Living Coasts Fantastic Fish Festival will include cooking demos by top local chefs, trails, aquarium talks, craft activities and dive shows.
Clare Rugg: "Some fish species are part of our collection - others are food! Fish are amazing, vital, beautiful and useful. Fantastic Fish is a year-long event promoting sustainable fishing and a greater awareness of just how great fish are."
Exhibitors from the marine world including Divers Down, Sea School, Great Escapes (Monty Halls), Devon Wildlife Trust and The Shark Trust will be providing information on our local seas.
Chefs taking part include Nicolas Legendre of Paignton Zoo and Living Coasts, formerly at The Carved Angel, Dartmouth; Simon Hulstone, chef / proprietor at The Elephant restaurant, in Torquay; Lucas and Austin from On the Rocks in Torquay; and Oliver Stacey, head chef from No 7 restaurant.
Clare: "We want to have fun, talk about sustainable fishing, highlight the need for marine conservation and raise awareness of the Big Fish campaign."
The aim of the Big Fish Campaign is to raise awareness about the problem of aquarium fish that grow larger than the vast majority of home aquaria can accommodate, and to promote responsible buying and selling of these larger species.
The Fantastic Fish Festival, sponsored by Kingfisher Brixham, runs from Monday 28th July to Friday 1st August. For more information go to www.livingcoasts.org.uk or ring 0844 474 3366.
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Man admits arming himself with axe during dispute in Cullompton
A man has admitted arming himself with an axe during a dispute on an industrial estate in Cullompton.
Lee Gillett was already on bail for an incident in which he threatened to set light to a pub when he was arrested with the weapon on the Alexandria estate in January.
The 37-year-old will now face sentence for both offences when he returns to Exeter Crown Court in September.
Gillett, aged 37, of Rivermead, Cullompton, admitted having an article with a blade or point in a public place and his case was adjourned for a pre sentence report by Judge Erik Salomonsen.
He is already awaiting sentence after admitted to threatening to set light to The Bell Inn where he sprayed petrol through a window onto the carpet.
Mr Rupert Taylor, defending, said the axe charge arises out of a dispute between Gillett and a group of other people at the industrial estate.
Judge Salomonsen said he was making no promises about the eventual sentence.
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Man admits burglary and drug dealing charges at Exeter Crown Court
An Ilfracombe man has admitted taking part in the burglary of a home in the town and dealing in Valium.
Dean Hawkins, aged 31, pleaded guilty to a break in at an occupied house at The Shields in Ilfracombe on March when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court.
His case was adjourned for a pre sentence report after a judge was told he has convictions for 77 previous offences including one burglary.
Hawkins, of Coronation Terrace, Ilfracombe, admitted burglary and possession of 1,500 diazepam tablets with intent to supply.
Judge Erik Salomonsen bailed him with a tagged curfew and ordered a probation report. He warned him all sentencing options remain open.
Miss Janice Eagles, prosecuting, said Hawkins admits the burglary on the basis he was on the periphery of a group of other people who were the main participants.
She said it would not be necessary to have a special hearing to establish the exact facts because it is unlikely to affect the sentence.
She said the case is likely to be dealt with as one in which there was greater harm because the house was occupied at the time of the burglary.
Mr David Sapiecha, defending, said Hawkins accepts he was part of a joint enterprise and that the home was entered while there were people living there.
The drugs charge was accepted on the basis that he had 1,500 tablets which he could have sold for 10 pence each to a group of associates.
Sentence was adjourned until next month at Exeter Crown Court.
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Crediton pensioner who tried to smother husband with pillow allowed back to family home
A pensioner who tried to smother her seriously ill husband may be allowed to return to the family home after he moved into a care home.
Margaret Sandercock, aged 69, had been banned from living at the house in Crediton by a restraining order which prevented her having any contact with her husband Graham.
She has lived elsewhere in Crediton ever since she admitted her part in an incident in which she was accused of putting a pillow over his face.
Graham, aged 69, suffers from advanced Parkinson's Disease and his wife had been struggling to cope at the time of the original incident in 2011.
The final straw came when her 16-year-old cat called Fluffy had to be put down and she felt her husband of 44 years had not given her the sympathy she needed.
She was originally accused of attempted murder but the charge was dropped and she admitted harassment in the case at Exeter Crown Court three years ago.
Sandercock, who was by then living at Trobridge, near Crediton, was spared jail and ordered to receive supervision and treatment for an alcohol problem.
She was also made a subject of an indefinite restraining order which prevented her contacting her husband or visiting the family home in Western Road, Crediton, where he lived.
That order has now been lifted by Judge Erik Salomonsen after he was told his worsening condition has resulted in him needing full time care at a nursing home.
Mr Richard Crabb, prosecuting, said Mr Sandercock still wanted to have nothing to do with his wife but was willing to see her to sort out practical arrangements for the house.
He said:"It appears she wants to move back into the family house in Crediton and wants to be able to discuss issues with him. He is in a nursing home and says he does not want to speak more than is necessary.
"He does not want to discuss anything other than the house but has agreed to the restraining order being lifted. There are two sons who are keen for this to happen and may have their mother's interests at heart."
Mr Crabb said there was no danger of any further incident because Mr Sandercock is under the care of staff at the home and his welfare is being monitored by social services.
Mr Rupert Taylor, defending, said:"She needs to be able to talk to him about issues such as utility bills which are in his name and to organise their affairs. They were married for a very long time."
Judge Erik Salomonsen lifted the order at Exeter Crown Court.
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Fire crews rescue horse stuck in ditch near Honiton
Fire crews were called to rescue a horse that was trapped in a ditch near Honiton.
They were called to Fenny Bridges just after 2.15pm today (Friday) and on arrival discovered the horse was found in a ditch approx 6ft deep.
A vet had been requested by the owner.
On arrival of the vet, the horse was sedated and crews had to cut away brambles to get better access.
The horse was rescued by the crews and the farmer with a telehandler, small tools and lines.
Duty of care was then left with the owner.
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Met Office heightens weather warning for storms throughout Saturday
The Met Office in Exeter has increased the severity of its weather warning for Saturday.
They say torrential rain which will caise localised flooding is likely in places.
Frequent lightning, large hail and locally strong gusts should also be expected and there could be "significant flooding".
The Met Office previously issued a yellow warning for heavy rain, meaning people should 'be aware'.
That's now increased to an amber status, meaning people should 'be prepared'.
A forecaster said: "Several areas of heavy, thundery showers will develop over England and Wales from Friday night before moving northwards during Saturday.
"Not everywhere within the warning area will see thunderstorms, and indeed some spells of warm sunshine are expected at times, but where thunderstorms do form, some torrential downpours are likely with frequent lightning, large hail and locally strong gusts.
"Significant flooding is possible where these do occur from surface water as well as from small, fast-responding watercourses."
The public should be prepared for the risk of disruption from any of these elements
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Exeter timekeeper at chess boxing match found guilty of knocking out a fellow referee
The timekeeper at a chess boxing match has been found guilty of knocking out a fellow referee who refused to stop a chess game when he rang the bell.
Former cage fighter and boxer Andrew Costello hit victim Rajko Vujatovic so hard he knocked him spark out at the edge of the boxing ring and broke his jaw.
He rushed around the ring in fury and hit Mr Vujatovic because he was furious that he thwarted his attempt to fix the result of the chess boxing match by altering the length of the rounds.
Chess boxing is a new sport which is designed to be a test of brains and brawn. Competitors switch between three minutes of chess and three minute boxing rounds.
Costello was trying to help a friend by altering the balance between the two contrasting disciplines by changing the amount of time the competitors spent on the chess board.
He lost his temper when the chess referee Mr Vujatovic refused to play along with his scheme and allowed the chess game to carry on after he had rung his bell.
CCTV at the event at Club Rococo in Exeter last year showed him rushing to the side of the ring as Mr Vujatovic climbed out and attacking him.
The blow itself was off camera but the injured man could be seen falling unconscious to the floor just at the edge of the picture.
Mr Vujatovic had been trying to explain his decision to let the chess round run to its proper allotted time of three minutes when he was chinned and knocked cold by a single punch from Costello which broke his jaw and prevented him eating solid food for ten weeks.
Costello, aged 47, of Mount Pleasant, Exeter, denied causing grievous bodily harm but was found guilty by a jury at Exeter Crown Court.
After the verdict the jury were told he has previous convictions for violence, having been jailed for gbh in 2004 and given a suspended sentence for battery in 2009.
Miss Bathsheba Cassel, prosecuting, said Mr Vujatovic had made a victim impact statement in which he said:"This incident left me deeply shocked and bewildered and it has upset my family.
"The operation to repair my jaw and the treatment for it were extremely unpleasant and I am fearful of further attacks in the future."
During the trial the jury heard how the violence flared during the last bout of the day when the two men disagreed over the timings of the chess game.
Costello was acting as timekeeper and cut it 30 seconds short but Mr Vujatovic went by the chess clocks and allowed it to run on.
CCTV showed Costello rushing out of the club after the attack.
He claimed he was acting in self defence despite being several inches taller and much more heavily built than the victim, who is a chess player rather than a boxer.
Judge Erik Salomonsen adjourned sentence and asked for a probation report. He told Costello he was making no promises about his sentence.
He told him:"You know the form. You have previous convictions for offences of violence. For whatever reason, you assaulted a man who was causing you no trouble.
"He may have been annoying, who knows? That was not your case. You knocked him out and broke his jaw. It was mindless violence between the man who was keeping the bell and the chess referee."
Ends
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Exeter's weed problem has made city and county councils look 'incompetent'
Exeter's weed problem has made the city and county councils look incompetent.
That is the view of Councillor Rachel Sutton, deputy chairman of the Exeter Board, which was created to ensure that the two councils worked closer together on city affairs.
At the latest meeting of the board it emerged that a lack of communication between the two councils meant that a vital weed spray for the city was not carried out.
One councillor called the failure to deal with the weeds a "fiasco" while Priory city councillor Lesley Robson said that she had heard from several residents who had tripped and fallen because of the weeds.
Cllr Robson said: "Because thee are gaps in the paving you get great lumps of weeds coming through and people have been falling."
Last month the Echo reported that councillors had described the weeds as an "absolute disgrace" that is bringing shame on the city.
The row stems from the county council cutting its budget for weed maintenance back in 2011. It pledged to carry out one "spraying" per year but this has not been done yet in 2014.
City council leader Pete Edwards said in June: "This is the third year the county council has failed to get rid of the weeds. It is an absolute disgrace.
"The public should be complaining as much as they can but nothing seems to be waking the county council up."
Devon County Council said it still treated noxious weeds, and weeds where there are safety or structural damage concerns, across the county.
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Honiton's Hot Penny day shifted for the sake of the children
Children are being given a chance to take part in one of Devon's oldest and best known ceremonies.
With fewer children able to attend Honiton's Hot pennies Day last tear the organising committeehave decided to break with the tradition of holding it on 'the first Tuesday on or after the July 19'.
A number of the committee remember 'Hot Pennies' as one of the highlights of their own childhoods and felt it important to re-engage with their modern day counterparts.
In consequence the Ceremony will be a week later this year 0n July 29.
Keeping old customs like 'Hot Pennies' going is increasingly difficult in these ever more constrained times; Health and Safety dictates, Road Closure Orders and Marshalling requirements are but a few of the hurdles along with the declining Pub trade and a longstanding worry that the 'Penny' might one day disappear from our coinage!
As last year, to comply with the Road Closure requirements the Ceremony which marks the beginning of 'Fair Week' will not start in the centre of the town outside the Old Pannier Market.
Instead the Ceremony will start at 12noon outside The Volunteer (with cry) moving to The Holt and then back up the High Street to The Old Pannier Market (with cry) followed by The Three Tuns and finishing at Café 102 with final cry and throwing of pennies by the proprietors accompanied by the Mayor; Peter Halse.
Honiton Fair dates from 1221, originally held on Allhallows Eve and Allhallows Day (1st November), the date was changed in 1247 to the eve and feast of St Margaret (19/20th July) and 766 years on, still commences with the Hot Pennies Ceremony which will take place this year on Tuesday July 29.
Town Cryer – Dave Retter hoists the garlanded pole topped with a gloved hand to start the ceremony with the famous cry …
"Oyez, oyez, oyez. The glove is up, the glove is up, the glove is up. The Fair has begun, the fair has begun, the fair has begun. No man shall be arrested, no man shall be arrested, no man shall be arrested, until the glove is taken down, until the glove is taken down, until the glove is taken down. God save the Queen!".
Pennies will then be thrown from each of the venues with the crowds following the garlanded pole through the High Street to from The Volunteer to Café 102 where after the final 'Cry', the last pennies will be thrown by the landlord assisted by The Mayor Peter Halse. The Pole will remain there for the remainder of the week.
The origins of the ceremony date back to the thirteenth century when Honiton was granted a Royal Charter. The protection from arrest was arranged to ensure that everyone would come to Honiton for the fair that followed the ceremony, without fear of being 'locked up' for their debts; they would otherwise have stayed away.
Originally hot chestnuts would have been thrown and over time these gave way to hot pennies which were thrown by the more affluent inhabitants. Legend has it that these people took great delight in seeing the peasants burn their fingers whilst collecting the pennies. Reassuringly these days the pennies are merely warm
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New Exeter study highlights plastic pollution threat to sea life
A new Exeter study has shown the tiny plastic particles polluting the seas are not only eaten by marine creatures, but also enter their systems through their gills
Exeter University scientists also discovered that when microplastics are drawn in through this method they take over six times longer to leave the body compared with standard digestion.
Lead author Dr Andrew Watts of the University of Exeter said: "Many studies on microplastics only consider ingestion as a route of uptake into animals. The results we have just published stress other routes such as ventilation. We have shown this for crabs, but the same could apply for other crustaceans, molluscs and fish – simply any animal which draws water into a gill-like structure to carry out gas exchange.
"This is highly important from an ecological point of view, as if these plastics are retained longer within the animal there is more chance of them being passed up the food chain."
It has been suggested that 10 per cent of plastic which is thrown away ends up in the marine environment.
At 2013 production levels this equates to 11 million tonnes of packaging ending up in the sea every year.
Dr Watts said: "This is a human issue. We have put this plastic there, mostly accidently, but it is our problem to solve. The best way to do this is to reduce our dependency on plastic. It comes back to the old phrase: reduce, reuse and recycle."
er mitigation.
To read the article visit: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es501090e
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Exeter hotels score over Plymouth
Exeter hotels have scored a price victory over are their counterparts in Plymouth.
Figures released by hotel booking website Top10.com show that staying in a hotel in Exeter is cheaper than neighbouring Plymouth this summer.
The team looked at the average price of a double bedroom for two nights at the height of summer in both destinations, then looked at the difference in hotel prices.
The average price of a hotel in Exeter was £76 compared to neighbouring Plymouth at £89 - that's 15per cent cheaper.
The report puts Exeter at No. 33 for the cheapest destinations for a hotel break in the UK this summer compared to Plymouth which comes in at No. 46.
Compared to London, staying in Exeter is a striking 73% cheaper than a summer stay in the capital.
Top10.com director Alex Buttle said: ""The difference in price between Exeter and Plymouth is very typical of the results we are finding. Our research shows you can typically make considerable savings by booking hotels in one destination versus another down the road. If you are willing to travel just a few miles further, you can often find better value."
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Eton boy killed by polar bear: no blame on expedition company, inquest rules
A coroner has cleared an expedition company of "neglect" in respect of its responsibility to protect an Eton schoolboy mauled to death by a polar bear.
Ian Singleton, assistant coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon, returned a narrative verdict at the conclusion of a five-week long inquest into the death of Horatio Chapple.
He died on an adventure holiday to the remote Svalbard islands in August 2011 with the British Schools Exploring Society (BSES) – now renamed the British Exploring Society (BES).
The coroner found that although the group - which included Plymouth trip leader Michael 'Spike' Reid - were missing items of equipment including parts of the tripwire alert system, BSES had not acted with "neglect".
He said: "I do not find that neglect is appropriate to be considered, as failure (by BSES) was not total or complete."
The teenager, from Salisbury, Wiltshire, was sleeping in his tent when the bear went on the rampage, inflicting fatal injuries to his head and upper body on the morning of August 5.
Four others were hurt before the bear was shot dead at the camp site where the group, known as Chanzin Fire, had been staying.
Also injured during the incident were Mr Reid, from Plymouth, Devon, Andrew Ruck, from Brighton, Patrick Flinders, from Jersey, and Scott Bennell-Smith, from St Mellion in Cornwall.
In his narrative verdict, Mr Singleton said: "On the 5th August 2011, Horatio Chapple was in a tent on a snow bridge near to the Von Post Glacier in Svalbard, Norway, as part of an expedition.
"A polar bear was able to enter the camp shortly before 7.30am undetected as the tripwire alarm system around the perimeter of the camp had failed to activate due to a supporting post more likely than not being knocked over by the bear which caused the cartridge to move or fall out of the mine without it detonating.
"Horatio emerged from his tent and was in the act of standing up when the bear reared up and slammed down on him with its paws pushing Horatio to the ground where the bear then mauled his head, face and neck causing the injury which lead to Horatio's death.
"At the time of the attack the polar bear was 24 years of age, hungry and in pain from bad teeth which more likely than not made it more aggressive and unpredictable."
The Salisbury inquest heard that the tripwire system provided by BSES worked "inconsistently" and had missing parts meaning it had to be set up in triangle shapes rather than the expected larger rectangles and that group members had modified the triggering mechanism using paper clips.
Also, the inquest was told that the group members were also expected to be kitted out with pen flares to scare off a bear but there were insufficient available and were only distributed with the group leaders.
The hearing was also told that Mr Reid attempted to shoot the bear with the group's Mauser 98K but his first attempts were unsuccessful because of the safety catch mechanism which ejected the rounds rather than fired them.
Mr Reid was praised for managing to shoot the bear after reloading the rifle after he himself had been attacked and seriously injured.
In his ruling Mr Singleton said that he believed the modifications made to the tripwire had improved the system.
He said: "I find it more likely than not the tripwire system was improved following the modifications.
"I find, having the benefit of hearing from both the leaders and members of the Fire, it's more likely than not they had been tested successfully."
He added that a tripwire system was not "100% foolproof" and said he believed the bear had hit one of the posts causing a loss of tension leading to the mines failing to fire.
He said: "On balance of probabilities I find that the corner post had been knocked down by the polar bear on entering the camp as the remaining two posts were still upright."
Mr Singleton said that the use of a tripwire system instead of a bear watch was compliant with Norwegian law.
He also ruled that the distribution of pen flares to the group members could not have helped Horatio as they were not designed for use in close range and would have taken 20 seconds or more to assemble and would not have been usable in the circumstances.
Mr Singleton ruled that Horatio had received fatal injuries immediately from his contact with the bear and Mr Reid could not have saved his life if he had managed to fire the rifle on his first attempt.
He said: "I find it more likely than not from the evidence at the scene and the findings of the post-mortem report that Horatio had received extensive injuries described in the post-mortem report which were incompatible with life."
He added: "The failure of Michael Reid to fire the rifle was not a contributing factor to Horatio's death."
Mr Singleton also ruled that the rifle was probably in the safety catch position when Mr Reid first tried to fire it.
The coroner described how a post-mortem examination of the bear found it was elderly, at about 24 years, and had worn down teeth which could have led to it being "stressed, aggressive and more unpredictable" than a younger bear.
He said: "I find that on balance of predictability that the behaviour of the bear was more aggressive and unpredictable than the majority of younger bears that were encountered in Svalbard."
Mr Singleton adjourned the hearing last Friday after listening to legal submissions, including from Lizanne Gumbel QC, representing the Chapple family.
Ms Gumbel, in submissions, told the coroner Horatio's parents, GP Olivia and surgeon David Chapple, wished him to consider the issue of "neglect" in his conclusion.
The couple, as well as Horatio's grandfather, Field Marshal Sir John Chapple, former Army Chief of the General Staff and himself a president of the BSES, have attended all of the week-long inquest.
During the inquest, Ms Gumbel has criticised BSES for providing "unsafe" equipment, particularly the tripwire system which had missing parts and had been modified using paper clips by the expedition group.
The tripwire failed to go off prior to the bear attack although the expedition leaders pointed out during the hearing that Norwegian police had suggested this was caused by the bear knocking the post over rather than not triggering the wire.
Ms Gumbel said the tripwire system was designed to protect chickens from foxes, not a campsite from a polar bear.
She said: "The fact that this child Horatio was in a campsite which was not protected was down to the society (BSES).
"The equipment that was sent out was not the suitable type of equipment in the first place."
In an independent report into the bear attack by High Court judge Sir David Steel, commissioned by BSES, he criticised the society for its reliance on the tripwire system.
He said that a bear watch should be used instead and also called for an overhaul of rifle training.
Sir David concluded: "In future a bear watch must become the norm for expeditions to Svalbard. There needs to be complete review of available tripwire systems but they should be treated only as a secondary protection device. There needs to be a rigorous upgrade of rifle training."
Mr Singleton said that he would not be preparing his own list of recommendations as he believed Sir David's suggestions and BES' implementation of them was sufficient.
He said: "I do not believe it is necessary for me to make such a report on this occasion."
Lieutenant General Peter Pearson, from Earlswood, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, who is executive director of the BES, said that the organisation had adopted all of the recommendations made by Sir David in his report.
He added that he had accepted that the equipment was unsatisfactory and explained that the BES was working with a company to build a new system which was being trialled in Greenland.
Mr Pearson said: "In principle, we have accepted in the future it will be safer if there is a wire and a bear watch."
He added: "This is not a fly-by-night organisation, we tasked a High Court judge to carry out an independent inquiry which was not required, we are absolutely an open book."
The inquest previously heard the polar bear which killed Horatio was elderly and had been suffering from worn-down teeth, which would have led to it becoming stressed and behaving "more aggressively and unpredictably".
Mr Singleton said a post-mortem examination of the bear's mouth found worn down teeth caused by bad alignment, a cavity, swollen and red gums and peritonitis in several teeth.
"It's probable it affected the bear's ability to gain food and if the bear is in pain it would have increased levels of stress causing it to behave more aggressively and unpredictably than it would otherwise," he said.
Examination of the teeth showed the bear was around 24 years old, while the independent report produced by Sir David said it weighed 250kg, rather than the typical 400kg.
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