How do you learn how to be a good gorilla? You go to gorilla school, of course. And 12-year-old Kivu is earning top marks when it comes to sitting in a barrel.

He was photographed at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park in Devon by Curator of Mammals Neil Bemment. "I'm not sure if he was being Father Christmas coming down the chimney, but he certainly seemed to be enjoying himself!"

Top zoos provide animals with what is known as environmental enrichment, scientifically designed to help keep them stimulated mentally and physically. Enrichment can range from novel scents and hidden foods to – well, plastic barrels.

Kivu was born on 27th November 2002 and came to Paignton Zoo in 2006. Neil: "Kivu is a very smart gorilla, he loves playing with the public through the window. His favourite food is lettuce - he always eats his lettuce first."

The gorilla school is at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park in Devon. The charity's bachelor group of Western lowland gorillas – a Critically Endangered species - plays a vital role in international gorilla conservation, providing somewhere for young males to grow up in a social environment before moving on to form breeding groups in collections across Europe.

Paignton Zoo is currently home to five gorillas; silverback Pertinax, Kivu, Matadi, N'Dowe and Kiondo. We hope Kivu doesn't become the butt of any jokes…

Gorillas are great apes, as are orang utans and chimpanzees. Monkeys are not apes. Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is a registered charity. For more information go to www.paigntonzoo.org.uk or ring 0844 474 2222.

Exeter's Jo Pavey came third in a Sportswoman of the Year awards on Wednesday night. The event, which is sponsored by the Sunday Times and Sky, saw dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin named 2014 Sportswoman of the Year ahead of skeleton racer Lizzy Yarnold and long-distance runner Pavey. Pavey, who became the oldest female European champion in history when she won 10,000m gold in Zurich earlier this year, is also in the running to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award. She is currently joint third favourite to pick up that accolade with former England rugby star Jonny Wilkinson at 40/1. Ahead of Pavey in the bookmakers' odds are Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton (11/2) and golfer Rory McIlroy (1/6) Pavey will be back in Exeter tonight to switch on the City's Christmas lights.

Fire crews attended a home in Alphington Road in Exeter this morning after a woman got locked in her bedroom. They attended the property shortly after 7am and crews used small tools and a short extension ladder to gain entry to the room and release the woman.

Three Exeter pubs have won acclaim for the quality and standards of their toilets ˗ in the Loo of the Year Awards 2014. George's Meeting House in South Street, The Sawyer's Arms in Cowick Street have each been awarded a platinum star rating by inspectors ˗ the highest award possible, while The Chevalier Inn in Fore Street has achieved a gold rating. The awards are aimed at highlighting and improving standards of 'away from home' toilet provision across the UK. Authorised inspectors make unannounced visits to hundreds of toilets at sites across the UK, in order to judge them. The platinum rating is given only to outlets which offer "exceptional toilets." All of the toilets are graded from bronze to gold with unacceptable toilets not graded at all. The toilets are judged against numerous criteria, including décor and maintenance, cleanliness, accessibility, hand washing and drying equipment and overall management. George's Meeting House manager, Laura Martin, said: "I am delighted with the award. Staff at the pub work hard to ensure the toilets are in a first-class conditional at all times and it is great that this has been recognised by the inspectors." The Loo of the Year Awards 2014 managing director, Mike Bone, said: "The toilets at each of the pubs have been designed and fitted out to a very high standard and are both clean and well maintained. "The pubs richly deserve their awards."

Exeter Chiefs prop Alex Brown has joined Plymouth Albion on loan. He will go straight into their squad ahead for their trip to Leeds on Friday night. It will be Brown's second spell on loan at the Brickfields having previously featured for the club during the 2012/13 season when Nat Saumi was in charge. With Brown's game time for the Chiefs somewhat limited this season due to the form of summer signings Tomas Francis and Moray Low, Baxter believes his move down the A38 will be a 'win-win' for both clubs. Baxter said: "Our front-row is going very well at the moment and touch wood we're not having to much injuries issues either. Alex has played a fair bit of Premiership rugby for us during his time here, but his game time this season has been a bit limited. "It's important for us that we keep all our players topped up, whilst at the same time we have a good relationship with Plymouth who have several of our dual-registered and loan players down there already this season. "As I said, it works for both of us, but it's a good opportunity for Alex to get some game time under his belt in what will be a very tough fixture up at Leeds." Brown will have no shortage of familiar faces around him as fellow Chiefs Jack Arnott, Dan Pullinger and Sam Simmonds have all been featuring for Albion in recent games. His arrival at Albion - who currently lie bottom of the Championship - has been welcomed by their player-coach, James Shanahan, who added: "We've got Alex in from Exeter and he will come straight into the squad this week. "I had him at Old Albanians and then he went to Doncaster before signing for Exeter. We spoke to Exeter and they were keen to send him down. With Andrew Tiedemann away on international duty it just gives us that bit more experience as Leeds have got a good, dominant scrum and the game could come down to the set-piece."

An appeal has been issued urging people to give generously to the Exeter Foodbank in the run up to Christmas. The community-owned Real Food Store has partnered with the vInspired's Team V programme [1] to host a food donation day on the 26th November. Shoppers, suppliers and the community are invited to donate essentials to help create emergency food packages for those facing immediate hardship in Exeter. 3,981 people received a 3 day emergency supply package from Exeter's Foodbank over the last year. But the vInspired campaign is also looking behind the numbers to raise awareness about why people need help. Jenny Miller, organiser of the "Beyond A Tin Food" campaign said: "Every year more and more people are relying on foodbanks. We might live in the sixth richest country in the world but food poverty is still a massive problem in the UK. Team v are stocking up local foodbanks but this alone isn't a long term solution. "So we're inviting people to donate food to the local Foodbank, and to find out more about what a food bank is and why there's food poverty in Exeter." The Real Food Store is taking donations between 11 am - 3pm on 26th November. The Foodbank is in particular need of: Uht milk 1L semi-skimmed, 1L long life fruit juice, tinned meat meals, pasta sauce, noodle/pasta snacks, tinned veg and fruit, cereal, 1kg sugar, 500g rice, tinned/packet soup, tinned tomatoes, tinned puddings. Exeter food bank currently has sufficient beans and pasta. Natalie Ohlson, store Manager said: "We're passionate about making good local food accessible to all and we're pleased the Real Food Store can help in this small way."

Members of Exeter Univeristy's Choral Society have been given a once in a lifetime opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York. The choral society, which is made up from a mixture of students, staff and community members, will sing at the prestigious Manhattan concert venue on January 19. They will join up with a number of other international music groups to form the Distinguished Concerts Singers International and be part of the United States premier of Karl Jenkins's new work The Healer. EUCS president Maria Liu, said: "It is a huge honour for the choir to be invited to perform in Carnegie Hall and a once in a lifetime opportunity for those members who are taking part. "It is also a wonderful recognition for the talents we have in the choir and all the hard work we have put in to reach where we are today musically. "I am sure all of us will enjoy and benefit from this experience immensely, being excited is an understatement." The society were picked for the honour after Jeffery Thyer, director of programming at Distinguished Concerts International New York, came across their performance of Karl Jenkins's The Armed Man, which EUCS performed at Exeter Cathedral in March. There is a chance to see EUCS before they head out to New York as they are performing Faure's Requiem at Exeter University's Great Hall on Friday, December 5. Tickets can be bought on the door or reserved at euchoraltickets@gmail.com.

A beer garden drug dealer has been jailed and the pub closed down after police posed as buyers in an undercover operation. Staff at the Wells Tavern in Exeter directed the police to dealer Andrew Killen who supplied six different deals during a two months surveillance operation. Three undercover officers, operating under the false names of Joe, Kelly and Kyle, went to the pub and asked where they could buy green. They were directed to 52-year-old Killen who sat in the beer garden behind the pub or at a table at the back of the bar and he sold the £10 bags of cannabis. The Wells Tavern closed down on Tuesday, 48 hours before Killen was jailed at Exeter Crown Court. Recorder Malcolm Galloway asked what was happening about the pub's landlord and staff, who appear to have colluded in the drugs sales. He was told the pub's licence would be reviewed by the police and local authority and that it has now closed. The pub in Well Street is the closest to Exeter City's football ground and has always been a favourite venue for both home and away supporters before and after matches. A message was posted on the pub's Facebook page on Tuesday which read:"Thanks for a great six and a half years but we regret the Wells Tavern is now closed … but they can never take away the good times we had." Killen, of Legion Way, Exeter, admitted six counts of supplying cannabis and one of possession with intent to supply and was jailed for 12 months at Exeter Crown Court. James Taghdissian, prosecuting, said three under cover officers took part in an investigation in July and August this year, culminating in Killen's arrest in September. He said:"They went into to Wells Tavern and asked if they could buy green and were pointed towards the garden where Killen was sat. An arrangement was made to buy £10 worth. "The officers made purchases on August 13 and 19 and on September 8 the defendant was found with a box containing £150 worth of herbal cannabis in 15 bags and £30 of resin." He said text messages suggested other sales including one to a user who told him he needed drugs because he was 'rattling my tits off'. Recorder Mr Galloway asked:"What has happened to the landlord of the pub and the staff, who must have been in the know? It is plain there was undercover evidence that at least one member of staff was involved and taking part in the transactions." Mr Taghdissian told him the information was in the system and would be looked at. Scott Horner, defending, said:"The position is that the pub is now closed. My client's offending arose from his links to the pub so there is no prospect of him returning there. "He was found with a relatively low level of cannabis. He was a heavy user who was supplying to fund his own use." The recorder told Killen:"This was a commercial operation which was ingrained into the public house, which you were using as a front for your operation. "It was not selling to a small group of friends, you were selling to anyone who came in."

A man has been arrested by officers investigating an attempted armed robbery at an Exeter garage. The man is expected to appear at Exeter Magistrates Court tomorrow. It follows a major police operation following reports of an attempted robbery at Dunns Garage, off Trusham Road, Marsh Barton, yesterday morning. A number of Exeter detectives and police officers were involved in the investigation including Det Sgt Mark Oldershaw, Police Sgt Rob McMahn, Det Constables Palmer and Hingston and Det Sgt Voaden.

The RSPCA is appealing for information after two young rabbits were found dumped in a pet carrier next to bins in Exmouth. The two bunnies were discovered at 8.30am on Friday 14 November near to the entrance of flats in an alleyway off High Street, next to the Famous Ship pub. They were inside a bright blue plastic pet carrier. It is thought that the rabbits may have been left there some time during the night and, despite having no food, water or bedding in the carrier, both were in good condition. The rabbits, a male and a female, are both grey with white patches and are thought to be around six-months-old. RSPCA inspector Tony Frow said: "It's lucky that these two rabbits were found when they were or they could have been in a much worse condition with no food and water and left out in all weathers. "We're hoping someone knows where these rabbits came from or saw something suspicious. If anyone does have any information they should contact us in confidence on 0300 123 8018." The rabbits are being cared for at the RSPCA Little Valley Animal Shelter in Exeter where staff have named them Merlin and Mimosa. To find out how to rehome an animal from Little Valley please call 01392 439898 or visit http://www.rspca-littlevalley.org.uk As part of its winter campaign, the RSPCA revealed that there were 685 animals reported as abandoned in Devon in the first nine months of 2014. To help support the campaign, please text RESCUE to 70800 to donate £3 (texts cost £3 plus one standard network rate message).

Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale confirmed that captain Scot Bennett will miss this Saturday's match against Shrewsbury, but midfielder Arron Davies will face a late fitness test. The City boss was talking at the weekly press conference ahead of the match at St James's Park this weekend. Listen to his thoughts in the game above.

Police in Exeter are appealing for information following three linked sexual assaults. Two assaults occurred along the footpath which runs alongside the River Exe opposite the Quay area of Exeter and down towards Double Locks public house. On both occasions the offender approached the female victims on a bicycle and touched them inappropriately before riding off. The first incident occurred at around 5.00pm on Tuesday, November 11, up river from the Double Locks pub. A man approached the female victim on a bicycle and sexually assaulted her before riding off. The second incident occurred at around 9.40pm on Friday, November 14, just after the female victim had crossed over Cricklepit Bridge opposite the Quay area. Again, the woman was approached by a man on a bicycle and sexually assaulted. A third incident occurred at around 5.20pm on Monday, November 17, whilst a woman cycled along the cycle path at the recycling centre, Alphinbrook Road, Marsh Barton. She was approached by a man on a bicycle and inappropriately touched. Police are particularly keen to identify the occupants in a grey car which passed the victim and suspect at the time. The suspect is described as being aged between 30-45 years old, 5ft 8–6in in height and slim build. He had stubble on his chin, with pronounced cheek bones. On each occasion he wore a dark coloured waterproof jacket with the hood up and dark trousers. The bicycle is described as being dark coloured, with a squeak. Police are appealing for any information regarding these assaults and ask that anyone with information contact them on 101 quoting police reference CR/121801/14 or alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 ore report online at www.Crimestoppers-uk.org.

Former fans' favourite Ryan Harley has re-joined Exeter City on a loan deal until January. The popular attacking midfielder, who scored 32 goals in a 128 appearances for the Grecians between 2008 and 2011, has returned to St James's Park having not featured for his current club Swindon Town this season. City manager Paul Tisdale confirmed that Harley had joined initially on a loan deal, but added that the Grecians were keen to make the move permanent when the transfer window reopens in the new year. "It is a loan as it can't be anything other than a loan at the moment, because we are outside the transfer window but, to all intense and purposes, that will transfer into a permanent signing in January," said Tisdale, who added that Harley would need time to get back up to speed with things at Exeter despite having spent a time training with the club in late September and early October. "He has not trained with us in the past month, so that process needs to happen again," said Tisdale. "We will need to assess his fitness as he has not played a game for a long time and his training has been a bit sporadic. I think we need a bit of common sense on everyone's behalf on when we thrust him back into action. "We are looking at this with a sensible view that he is someone who will add to our team, but I'm certainly not going to rush the impact that he will make on our play. We will see what happens over the next week or two, but at what point he'll start to emerge as a starter in the team I can't tell yet. "Every situation is different and it needs different decisions. Results dictate things, as does players being in-form, out-of-form and injuries. These are all things that will influence when a new player comes into the team. We have been playing very well over the past couple of months. Our form has been very good over the last dozen games and this is a player to add to what we are building at present and how we are developing."

A disgraced PE teacher has been jailed for having sex with two teenage girls on a gym horse at the school where he taught. Paul Cole was a good looking and fit young sportsman who looked like Take That star Gary Barlow when he took advantage of the schoolgirls after they developed crushes on him in the 1990s. He kissed and fondled them before having sex in a store room at the school in North Devon while they were in uniform and were either on breaks or bunking off other lessons. Cole had sexual encounters outside school with two more girls but could not be prosecuted because they were over 16 and consenting, meaning it was legal at the time. Cole, 45, moved on to teach at schools in Crediton and Exeter but was dismissed when the former pupils went to the police two years ago. He was jailed for six years after a judge told him he had committed a serious breach of trust and exploited the girls' obsession with him. Cole, of Franklyn Drive, Exeter, denied two counts of indecent assault against one girl and five against the other. He was found guilty on all charges by a jury at Exeter Crown Court and jailed for six years by Judge Francis Gilbert QC. He told him: "You were convicted on what can only be described as overwhelming evidence of serious sexual offences against two girls, one aged 14 and one aged 15, who were both pupils at the school at which you taught. "You were in a position of trust towards both of them and this was a serious abuse of that trust. The fact that both girls were besotted with you is no excuse, if anything it is an aggravating feature. "You allowed their obsession with you to give you the opportunity too take advantage of them in the way that you did. Your defence was that they were all lying. That is not attractive." During a two-week trial the jury heard from the two girls, now in their 30s and with children of their own, about how they had developed crushes on Cole, who was said to be a Gary Barlow lookalike at the time but is now bald and overweight. They said he kissed them, touched them, and had full sex with them on or next to the gym horse in the sports store in the PE block where he worked. One victim recalled how she had been in uniform and had left another lesson on the pretext that she was doing course work for a GCSE in physical education that Cole was teaching. She described the inside of the gym store in great detail, complete with the position in which netball and football posts were stored and the size and shape of the segmented vaulting horse. The two 16-year-old girls said they took part in other sex acts when he took them on trips away from the school including one to his flat in Exeter and another to the Reading Festival, where he invited her into his tent. The girls did not report the abuse at the time because they were embarrassed by it but the police began an inquiry after one made disclosures in 2011 because she was concerned Cole may still have access to young people. Cole denied having any contact with any of the girls while they were students but said he had kissed one when they met after they left. Fiona Elder, defending, said he should be given credit for all the good work he did during his 20-year teaching career. She said no other complaints had come to light despite police sending questionnaires to all Year 10 and 11 girls at Queen Elizabeth School in Crediton, where he was teaching at the time of his arrest. She said: "This was an isolated period of offending by a new and young teacher in extremely unfamiliar surroundings."

THE victim of an unprovoked late night air rifle attack in Exmouth, which left him with a pellet embedded in his thumb, a broken bone and unable to work for a week, has spoken out in the hope of protecting future victims. The 21-year-old Exmouth man who works in food retail and asked for his identity to be protected, said he had a "lucky escape" because if he had been hit in the eye, he could have been blinded, or if it had hit his neck, it could have severed an artery. The young man was shot at as he and a female friend walked home after a night out in the town on the corner of the Parade and Exeter Road. He explained that he and his companion were shot at several times – his friend in her back, causing bruising. He said he had no idea where he was being fired at from, nor whether the attack was deliberately malicious or if he was the butt of a dangerous joke. In his humble response to the incident, he added that as a man of 6'3" stature, he was able to deal with the incident, but he fears a child, or more vulnerable person may have suffered far worse consequences. Police are appealing for anyone with any information about who was behind the attack, which occurred at around 3am – 3.30am on Thursday, November 20, to contact them urgently so no more harm can come to anyone else. "I finished work just after midnight and went straight out afterwards for a couple of drinks with friends and then to the Q Club," he said. "Afterwards, my friends went on ahead and it was when myself and a friend got to the corner of Exeter Road that we heard a popping noise. "I felt a burning sensation on my thumb and looked down to see a metal object lodged in it and pouring with blood, and then the pain set in. "I heard another couple of pops, two or three more, and heard one whizz past my head. "I was just concerned about getting us out of there, I had no idea where it was coming from. "I was concerned for our safety so started running down Exeter Road by which point the popping stopped." Further down the road, he called an ambulance which took him to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital where he had to wait over an hour for a doctor to become available to remove the pellet, by which point his thumb was throbbing in pain which had become so extreme he was administered gas and air and morphine. An X-ray revealed that the impact of the shot had fractured his thumb and due to the extent of the injury he had to take a week off work. A testament to his good nature, he said he could take a joke, but stressed that people need to be aware of how much harm air rifles can cause. "It could have been far worse if it hit me anywhere else, such as in the eye or in my neck," he continued. "And if this was to happen to a child, the damage could have been far worse. "I just want to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else and protect other people from a potentially worse fate." Anyone with any information please should phone police on 101 quoting the crime number, CR/ 121277/14, or anonymously via Crimestoppers by phoning, 0800 555111.

Exeter's motormouth TV personality Katie Hopkins has sparked controversy today after she claimed American police officer Darren Wilson should 'get a medal' for shooting unarmed black teenager Michael Brown. The former Apprentice contestant called Michael Brown 'a thief and a thug' in the same post on Twitter. Hopkins took to social media to give her opinion on the Ferguson case after a grand jury decided not to indict officer Wilson over the killing. She posted: 'Brown was not shot for being black. Brown was shot for being a thief and a thug. Give the officer a medal. Justice with knobs on,' Afterwards several Twitter users accused Ms Hopkins of 'attention seeking', 'antagonizing', and trying too hard'. St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCullough announced the grand jury's conclusion that 'no probable cause exists' to indict Officer Darren Wilson. Earlier today, Officer Darren Wilson revealed that he believes he made the right choice to use lethal force against Michael Brown. Wilson said that while he feels remorse for causing Brown's death, he would do it all over again. 'I don't think it's haunting; it's always going to be something that happened,' the controversial cop said during an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos 'The reason I have a clear conscience is because I know I did my job right,' Wilson said. Michael Brown's family reacted with anger on Wednesday, saying Wilson's interview added 'insult to injury'. A furious backlash followed Hopkins' tweets, with Twitter user Steve Reddish posting: "A medal for shooting a thief? "You are one horrible publicity seeking lowlife. No-one is interested in what you think." Another told Hopkins she was "missing the point".

EARLIER this month the Prime Minister confirmed in his speech to the Confederation of British Industry that the A303/A30/A358 corridor would be included in the Government's road building programme. The Government is investing £15bn between 2015/16 and 2020/21 in addition to the £9bn being spend over this Parliament. This is the biggest road building programme since the 1970s and will deal with around 100 of the worst pinch points of England's roads. Anybody who has used the A303 and A30 to get in or out of the Westcountry knows that this road is not fit for the needs of road users, businesses or tourists visiting our beautiful county, and has needed improving for the past few decades. Businesses in Devon rely on this road and an independent impact study by Parsons Brinckerhoff has shown that upgrading this road could boost the South West's economy by £41.6bn, deliver £1.9bn in transport benefits from reducing journey times and create 21,400 new jobs. When surveyed more than 650 South West employers say the unreliability of the route is harming their business. This unreliability also has serious consequences for the resilience of our transport network. Whenever there is an accident on the M5 the A30 and A303 becomes the only main route in or out of the Westcountry. The recent storms and floods also demonstrate the vulnerability of the South West Peninsula's transport network to extreme weather events. Upgrading this route will improve transport resilience and help the peninsula cope with major traffic incidents and during floods. It is also calculated that these improvements will prevent more than 1,800 fatal or serious casualties over 60 years. Regular readers will know that I have long campaigned for an upgrade to this road. I have met with Ministers on a number of occasions, I asked questions in the House, spoke in debate and even received a helpful letter from the Prime Minister. I also drove the whole route of the 160-odd mile journey from London to Honiton along the A303 and A30 with the Transport Minister Robert Goodwill to show him the bottlenecks and congestion Devon motorists and visitors face on this road. Last week on November 20 I, along with a number of other South West MPs, met the Prime Minister at Downing Street to further make the case for upgrading this road. In particular we were keen to make the case that there is a strong economic and transport resilience case for upgrading both the A358 to Taunton and the A30 to Honiton. As we do not yet know the final shape of the road improvements we were keen to stress that these routes are complementary and both vital to the network. I have also been asked to pass on a letter from the Local Authorities and Local Enterprise Partnership to the Transport Minister, the Rt Hon John Hayes MP, which states the case that "local authorities consider that a whole route improvement should include improvements to the 'swallow-tail', both the A303/A30 between Ilminster and Honiton, and the A358 between Ilminster and Taunton; particularly as the combined improvements have demonstrated very high value for money in the feasibility study". I will be meeting with the Minister to make sure we can deliver a road network in the West Country that is fit for the 21st century. In other news during Business Questions I called for a debate in Parliament on the recent drop in crude oil prices and making sure that energy companies, and in particular heating oil suppliers, pass on this drop in price to their customers. Research from last November found that 76 per cent of people in the South West were worried about paying their energy bills last winter and in 2010, around 18 per cent of households in rural areas were in fuel poverty compared with 16 per cent of those in urban areas. Households in rural areas are more likely to be off the gas grid and reliant on potentially more expensive fuels such as heating oil. The leader of the House, the Rt Hon William Hague MP replied that it was "important that oil for domestic heating purposes is reduced in price. I will remind my colleagues in the Treasury of the point that he has made."

Around Exeter area by area, the news down your street edited by Anne Byrne. Contribute by emailing Anne on abyrne@expressandecho.co.uk or give us a call on 01392 442233 -- body Alphington Doggy day care IF granted planning permission by the city council there could soon be a day care centre for dogs in Unit 8 in Alphin Brook Road. Home4hounds wants to take over the use of the building which was formerly used by the South West Music School. It would cater for no more than 12 dogs a day. Brampford Speke Tree festival THERE is to be a Christmas tree festival in St Peter's Church on Saturday, November 29, and Sunday, November 30, from 2pm to 5pm, and all proceeds go to church funds. Visitors will be invited to vote for their favourite tree and there will be a special memory tree for messages to remember departed loved ones. Seasonal refreshments including mince pies will be available together with a prize draw and tombola – and Father Christmas will be making an appearance. City centre Cathedral yard PROGRESS is at last being made regarding plans to create a car-free zone in Cathedral Yard. Cllr Jill Owen, chairman of Exeter highways committee, has told Community News that traffic officers have now approached her as to who should be present at a meeting to discuss the issue. In the summer a new traffic order was implemented and parking enforcement officers were blitzing the area to stop it looking like a car park. Pete Edwards, leader of the city council, has been particularly critical of vehicles parking on the pavement area, saying that it "looked a right mess". The vision is to make Cathedral Yard vehicle-free. Bazaar for ELF THE Rotary Club of Exeter Southernhay has organised a Christmas bazaar to be held in St Stephen's Church in the High Street with the proceeds to be given to Exeter Leukaemia Fund. The bazaar is on Friday, November 28, from 10 am until noon. There will be cakes and savouries, tea or coffee, and there will be stalls selling turned-wood gifts, Christmas decorations and cards, preserves, candles, designer handbags, Christmas tree gifts and potted hyacinths. Lorna Wickers will be playing seasonal guitar music as an accompaniment to the proceedings. City-wide Gully cleaning A SPECIAL meeting is to be convened to talk about the cleaning of gullies across Exeter. The idea came from Councillor Jill Owen, chairman of Exeter's highways committee, after several fellow committee members raised concerns about blocked gullies in their wards. Cllr Owen said: "This meeting is partly to clarify what is happening and what isn't. "One the one hand we have highways officers saying that gullies are being cleared and that they are clear but then all the comment is that they don't appear to be clear. "Are they just getting a peremptory clean or are they going down really deep as there have been instances of drains being blocked way down in the system?" Cllr Owen added: "We also want the county council to clarify what they have said about only cleaning the gullies once every three years unless there is a problem. "I am told that there are a number which should never be left as long as that." "I understand that the city council's street cleaners have also been asked to sweep leaves from the gullies where possible." Cllr Owen further added: "The weather is getting more severe when we have these downpours and this is also an issue." South West Water is also to be invited to attend the meeting. Project pursuit THE residents of St James' are hoping that the whole of the city will support them as they set up a community trust. The trust is a spin off from the Exeter St James' Forum and will enable St James' ward to progress its top priority project as voted on by residents – the refurbishment of a neglected triangle of land called Queen's Crescent Garden. Following consultation with residents, as well as the mosque and St Sidwell's School which are across the road from the garden, concept plans for the garden have now been created. The trust expects to take on a long lease for the garden following a compulsory purchase order by the city council and this is to be completed in the next 12 months. The trust may also be used to ensure that allotments on Network Rail land can have a secure future and there are hopes that some affordable housing might be built. Once created the trust, which has been set up as a community benefit society, and has applied for charitable exemption, has the powers to raise funds from shareholders. The first shareholder meeting will be on Friday, January 16 next year. Trust chairman Di Boston said: "I hope that many residents will support the Exeter St James Community Trust by taking up this one-off opportunity to purchase five £1 shares in the company. "Residency is not a condition of becoming a founder shareholder/member and we hope all who have an interest in St James', including current and past students, will take an opportunity to support this vibrant part of the city." Leaflets and application forms are being delivered to St James' households, and copies can be picked up in Central Library and Civic Centre as well as on line at http://www.exeterstjamesforum.org/Community%20Trust St James' has only existed as a ward in Exeter for around 30 years. Gun to go THE starting pistol which was used to signal the beginning of the very first Great West Run is to be handed in to the city's police. The police have been holding a gun amnesty and Exeter's Lord Mayor, Cllr Percy Prowse, has decided that it is time to hand the pistol over. Cllr Prowse said: "The pistol was used to start the first marathon and the first two half marathons. "It is still in its box and I have decided to put it into the police amnesty box as it may still be classed as a firearm. It hasn't been used for some 30 years" The Great West Run has been started for some time by a horn. County-wide Bus popularity BUS patronage across Devon has increased by 45 per cent in the last 10 years, Mike Watson, managing director of Stagecoach South West has revealed to members of Exeter's highways committee. Cowick Pothole woes FURTHER to our piece last week about the amount of compensation which has been paid out to owners of damaged vehicles because of the state of the roads, Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon's cabinet member for highway management and flood prevention, has said: "Devon's 8,000 mile highway network, which is the biggest of any authority in the country, has been devastated by the storms and flooding we've experienced over the past two years. "So far this year we have repaired more than 54,000 potholes and using £16m of Government grants we are currently carrying out a comprehensive programme of surfacing and drainage repairs to improve the resilience of our highway network. "Devon sustained around £24m of damage last winter and we are still dealing with the legacy of the remaining repairs from the £18m of damage caused by the storms of 2012/13, so compensation will remain an issue while we are playing catch-up. "However, we are working hard to keep roads safe, regularly inspecting our network. "Devon County Council and our insurers investigate claims but compensation can only be offered where there is evidence that the council may be held at fault in law." Digby Advent journey DECEMBER will see the garages, sheds and porches of Digby and Newcourt receiving a festive makeover in an initiative from Trinity Church. The ancient story of the Nativity is being given a contemporary twist, as lawnmowers and old bikes make way for stars, shepherds a few kings and even some merry gentlemen! Each night between 6pm and 6.30pm, at a different location around Digby and Newcourt, one garage will be open and displaying its own unique take on this year's theme of Christmas carols. Pop along to one or two – and maybe even enjoy a festive glass of mulled wine – or follow the trail from start to finish. To follow the progress of the ADVENTure and find out each day's venue, please visit: https://www.facebook.com then go to Trinity ADVENTure, or contact us at info@trinityexeter.com Exminster Cast your vote! EVERYONE is being urged to vote for the Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP)in the village. This will give the community a much greater say in what goes on locally when it comes to planning matters. The vote will be held in the Victory Hall on Thursday, February 12, between 7am and 10pm, and it will be a simple yes or no for the plan. It will be a first-past-the-post winner and the parish council is hoping for a good turnout. Parish councillor Caroline Aird said: "I want people to be really clear what they are voting for here. "It will give Exminster an extra layer of protection. "It will help to protect Exminster's boundary as Teignbridge District Council, if the plan is adopted, will have to take into account, on any planning issues, what we have in the Teignbridge Local Plan and NDP." With an NDP in place the parish council would receive 25 per cent of Community Infrastructure Levy payments. Cllr Aird said: "This is not for providing 'sweeties' for Exminster but for providing the infrastructure for the new homes at Matford and the whole parish. "As a parish council we are responsible for residents who are already here and for those who are yet to arrive and get the best deal for both. "New homes will be Matford but we know that people value the countryside and open space and don't want more and more building going on in our green space. "Another element is quality of design. "In the past the parish council feels that design has not been the top priority so the NDP will have some influence on this." The final piece of the NDP will give the parish council a say in sports and leisure facilities provided in the parish and sited at Matford. Cllr Aird said: "The population of Exminster has doubled in the last 20 years but our leisure provision and other infrastructure has not done the same." Cllr Aird is urging everyone to make sure that they are registered to vote and to apply for a postal vote if they suspect they will not be able to get to the polling station on the day. Heavitree Festive concert FOLLOWING on from the success of the summer concert, there is to be a Christmas concert featuring the Heavitree Team Handbell Ringers, the parish church's senior and junior choirs, and readings and festive music performed by members of the congregation. It will also feature a return performance by the clergy of the Heavitree Team Ministry. Their off-beat performance of Beatles songs at the summer concert went down such a storm that they are back by popular demand. They are being coy as to what their programme will be but they are promising "a musical interlude". The concert will be held in the parish church in Church Street on Saturday, December 6, beginning at 7pm. There is no charge for entry but there will be a bucket collection with money raised being divided between Devon Air Ambulance and the upkeep of the church. There will also be a raffle. Refreshments include mince pies which have kindly been provided by Waitrose. Pinhoe Dry-cleaning SAINSBURY'S Pinhoe has been granted planning permission for the installation of a small retail concession 'pod' for Timpson's dry-cleaning service. RD&E Hospital Big thank you! KEVIN Hooper, a patient at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, has donated £1,000 to the MacLeod Diabetes and Endocrine Centre (MDEC) for the third year running to say thank you to staff there who have cared for him. In the past, Kevin found living with Type 1 Diabetes challenging and was not taking his insulin regularly. However, thanks to the commitment and support from staff at the diabetes centre he started getting the regular treatment he needed. In recent years Kevin has come to appreciate the help RD&E staff have given him and decided to give something back. He raised the money by holding a party for more than 160 family and friends at Exeter City Football Sports Centre to celebrate his birthday and to also thank those who have supported him. Kevin provided a buffet and a cake, and funded the evening's entertainment. He asked for donations from his guests and raised around £300 on the night. Kevin then rounded up the sum to a thousand with his own money. Tracey Courtney, diabetes nurse specialist at the centre said: "Kevin is fantastic and we are all very grateful for his support. "This year, we're hoping to use Kevin's donation to make improvements to our education and training facilities, and buy equipment for our foot clinic." St David's Richmond Court THE St David's Neighbourhood Partnership (SDNP) is appealing to Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw to break the deadlock over the provision of a proper road into Richmond Court. The residents and local councillors have been battling to get the road into the housing development, off St David's Hill, completed for more than SEVEN years. They have complained to the Local Government Ombudsman about the lack of progress and it seems that even this watchdog has hit a brick wall. Devon County Council agreed to adopt the completed road which joins Richmond Court to St David's Hill but it cannot do this until the road is actually completed. Christine Fraser, chairman of SDNP said: "Devon County Council has specific design requirements before it will agree to completion/adoption. "Network Rail has specific designs relating to safety/stress as the road goes over a railway tunnel. "Taylor Wimpey cannot complete the work until the designs are approved. During the seven years, negotiations between Devon County-Network Rail-Taylor Wimpey-Devon County-Network Rail-Taylor Wimpey-Devon County-Network Rail-Taylor Wimpey, which clearly resemble something of the Magic Roundabout, there has been failure to agree the design and get the work carried out." The complaint to the Ombudsman is being re-submitted. Mr Bradshaw told Community news: "Devon county council must get a grip on this. "It has dragged on for years, which is totally unacceptable for the residents. "The leader of the council John Hart and his chief executive, Phil Norrey, really do need to knock some heads together. "For months they insisted that Network Rail were causing the delay. Then they acknowledged they weren't and confirmed it was the council's responsibility and they would progress the work. "The same officer who gave that assurance is now saying it's Network Rail's fault. "This is supreme incompetence. "Residents and the local councillors are rightly furious and it's time the county sorted this out once and for all." Festive fair FOR the first time in many years a Christmas 'Fayre' is to be held at St David's Church. It will take place on Saturday, November 29 and there will be crafts, music and carols, Father Christmas with treats, children's craft zone, games, tombola, books, draw, BBQ, mince pies, mulled wine, tea and coffee. Entry is free and the event will run between noon and 4pm. St Leonard's Plea to renew EXETER Gymnastics Club in Bull Meadow Road is seeking to renew its planning permission, which has lapsed, to create a dance studio from an existing store. The club has now successfully secured funding from the Sports' Council, which it has match funded, and has also had an offer for the additional finance funding required to carry out the necessary work. It had proposed to start work in December 2014, but unfortunately discovered that the original planning permission had expired. St Thomas Crib festival THE congregation of St Thomas parish church in Cowick Street are hard at work organising a crib festival and Christmas 'Fayre'. The crib festival is to run from Tuesday, December 2 until Sunday, December 7 from 9.30am until 5pm each day in the church. The Christmas fair will be held in the church hall on Saturday, December 6 between 10am and 4pm. There will be refreshments and stalls. Topsham Sports hall plan SOUTHBROOK School which provides education for students with varied complex needs and a broad ability range, is seeking planning permission from the city council for a new sports hall. The new hall would be towards the front of the school. Crime talk WELL-KNOWN crime writer Graham Hurley is giving a talk at Topsham Library on Thursday, December 4, at 7pm, to coincide with publication of his new novel, Sins of the Father, which is set in Topsham. He will be selling and signing copies of the book after his talk. Tickets are £2 to include refreshments, available in advance from Topsham library. Alternatively, to reserve a ticket please e mail topsham.library@devon.gov.uk. University India trip THE University's vice-chancellor, Sir Steve Smith, has just returned from India, where he was part of a delegation led by Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Minister for Universities and Science, to attend the India-UK Science Innovation Council meeting and the UK-India Bilateral Education Forum. His seven day visit involved giving the keynote speech to open the second day of the global FICCI Higher Education Summit 2014 and hosting a University of Exeter alumni and supporters reception in New Delhi. Sir Steve said: "It is becoming increasingly important for the UK to forge meaningful international partnerships in key regions across the world. "For a UK top-10 university like Exeter, having close links with other institutions internationally is vital to producing world leading research. "Our aim is to be recognised in the global top 100 and raising our profile around the world is key to achieving this goal. It is also about informing prospective Indian students that the UK continues to welcome the brightest and best to study with us. "Despite the recent downturn in the number of Indians studying in the UK, current Indian enrolments at Exeter are up 53 per cent this year for Masters programmes and up 58 per cent for undergraduate programmes – a trend we want to see continue at Exeter and across the wider UK higher education sector." This latest visit follows on from February 2013 when Sir Steve accompanied the Prime Minister David Cameron on a three-day visit to India, one of just six UK universities to do so. Westexe Street lighting LOCAL councillors Roy Hill and Rob Hannaford are to have a meeting at county hall on Friday, November 28, over issues with the part-night lighting across the whole of West Exe. Cllr Hill told Community News: "We have been getting a lot of complaints from residents about lights not being on at all and lights being left on all day. "This is causing problems so Cllr Hannaford and myself have requested this meeting to try to find out what is going on." Whipton Special events SPECIAL events are coming up at St Boniface church in Whipton – at 7.30pm on Saturday, November 29, the City of Exeter Railway Band will be playing their 70th anniversary concert. Tickets on the door are £5 for adults and £2 for children. The following day, Sunday, November 30 at 4pm, the annual Christingle service takes place in aid of the Children's Society. All are welcome.

NEXT is proposing to build a new superstore on the eastern edge of Exeter. At 58,000sq ft and two storeys, it would be similar to a new store opened by the fashion retailer this year at Hedge End in Southampton. The Hedge End store is the first of a "selected and limited number of high-quality, new-build stores being planned by Next" across the country. The plans have come to light in a letter on the city council's planning website and reveal that the new store would be on the site of B&Q in Avocet Road, on the Sowton Industrial Estate. The letter – sent to the city council's planning department by Peter Brett Associates on behalf of Next and property developer British Land – states that B&Q is "considering options to enhance their representation in Exeter, including accommodating on the existing site alongside the proposed new Next store". Next would retain its prominent landmark store in the city centre at the top of Paris Street. The new store would stock clothes as well as expanded home ranges, selling furniture, soft furnishings, carpets, furnishing accessories, kitchenware and DIY products. According to the letter, the new store will be "wholly complementary" to the city centre store. In addition to Next, there would be other shops included in the new scheme, including a 17,000sq ft "quality convenience store operation". In total the scheme will cover 101,000sq ft and there will be a small group of "larger-format retail stores" which would be complementary to the city centre. The letter was among documents referring to the Moor Exchange, a mix of shops and leisure facilities off Honiton Road and which is recommended for refusal when the city's planning committee meets on December 1. The documents also contain a letter from those promoting the Western Power Distribution site off Moor Lane, and adjacent to B&Q, for redevelopment. They are objecting to the Moor Exchange scheme and state that they themselves will be submitting a planning application within the next four months for a scheme that will have a mix of retail and employment uses. This letter states that: "This site has the potential to make a significant contribution to the Sowton area and the application will enable a well-designed and high-quality scheme to come forward on this gateway site that has remained an eyesore for many years. The Moor Exchange application will, if approved, prejudice these objectives."

Jonathan Smith, @ 45, of Thursby Walk, Exeter, admitted drink driving. He was banned for 28 months and must carry out 120 hours unpaid work. He must also pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge. Jacob King, @ 19, of High View, Feniton, admitted criminal damage of kitchen cabinets and an intercom belonging to YMCA in Exeter. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of assault of beating. He must pay a total of £160 compensation, carry out 40 hours unpaid work and attend a series of probation appointments. Matthew Turner, @ 41, of no fixed abode, was jailed for 17 weeks for stealing seven various items of meat from Co-op in Sidwell Street, Exeter on October 14. Daniel Watson,@ 33, of St Davids Hill, Exeter, was found guilty of stealing a specialised Sirrus bike worth £600. He was fined £200 and must pay a £20 victim surcharge. Michael Wilson, @ 33, of no fixed abode, stole £83 worth of fragrances from Boots in Exeter on October 14. He was jailed for 17 weeks and must pay an £80 victim surcharge. Stephen Cook,@ 36, of no fixed abode, stole a bottle of Baileys from Co-op in Exeter on October 17. He also admitted three charges of assault by beating against security officers that involved spitting blood on the same date. He was jailed for a total of 67 weeks. He must also pay a victim surcharge of £80. Jamie Davies, @ 25, of High Street, Crediton, pleaded guilty to criminal damage of a basement window worth £100 and possession of 1.3g of cannabis. He must undergo alcohol treatment with probation and pay a fine and victim surcharge totalling £110. Peter Huxham, @ 57, of Western House, Dawlish, was found guilty of drink driving. He was banned for 30 months and must pay a fine, costs and a victim surcharge totalling £560. He must also attend 10 alcohol treatment sessions. Carlen Vanstone, @ 23, of St James Place, Christow, admitted failing to provide police with information relating to the identity of a driver who was suspected of having committed an offence. The defendant was banned from driving for six months and must pay a fine, costs and a victim surcharge totalling £335. Carl Stevens, @ 20, of no fixed abode, admitted stealing £105 of meat from Marks and Spencers in Exeter. He also pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in public, namely a metal scraper. He was jailed for a total of 16 weeks, which included activation of a suspended sentence for a previous offence. Kevin Williams, @ 41, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of assaulting a police constable in the execution of his duty in Exeter on July 19. He was fined £100 and must pay a £20 victim surcharge. Terry Anderson, @ 37, of The Square, Holsworthy, admitted harassment of a female victim in Exmouth by sending several threatening and abusive text messages on September 10 and 11. He was given 16 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, made the subject of a restraining order and must pay an £80 victim surcharge. Curtis Soutar, @ 27, of School Lane, Exmouth, pleaded guilty to four charges of theft. The offences were all committed in Exmouth on August 28 and September 25 and items taken were cider, lager, wine, crisps and sausage rolls. He was given four weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. He must carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and attend several appointments with probation. He must also pay compensation and a victim surcharge totalling £122.82. Martyn Hastings,@ 25, of Park Road, Exeter, pleaded guilty to harassing a woman between April 29 and May 10 by sending her unwanted text messages and turning up at her home. He also admitted a charge of racially aggravated assault and resisting a police constable in the course of his duty. He must carry out 125 hours of unpaid work and pay £100 in costs and a victim surcharge. Habibeuz Samed, @ 24, of Portland Street, Exeter, admitted two charges of assaulting a female victim by beating between May 1 and May 31 and between July 31 and August 3. He was jailed for 20 weeks and made the subject of a restraining order. Sean Connor, @ 48, of King Arthurs Road, Exeter, pleaded guilty to possession of 0.3g of cocaine, assaulting a female victim by beating and driving without the proper licence or insurance. All offences were committed on October 5. He was given an 18-month conditional discharge and must pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £100. His licence was endorsed with eight points. Scott Hayton, @ 44, of Haldon Road, Exeter, admitted sending text messages to a woman when he was banned from doing so because of a restraining order. He was given an 18-month conditional discharge and must pay £100 in costs and a victim surcharge. Victoria Hill,@ 27, of Old Quarry Drive, Exminster, has admitted a charge of assault by beating. She was sentenced to a 10-week curfew and must pay compensation and a victim surcharge totalling £110. Kabir Islam,@ 21, of Northgate Court, Exeter, admitted criminal damage of a reinforced front door to the value of £250. He must attend a series of probation sessions and pay £220 in a fine, compensation and victim surcharge. Robert Palmer, @ 51, of Central Avenue, Exeter, was found guilty of drink driving and driving without a licence. He was jailed for 15 weeks. Magistrates said this was because it was a very high reading and his poor record. He was banned from driving for 50 months and must pay an £80 victim surcharge. Ashley Jarvis, @ 26, of Medley Court, Exeter, admitted using threatening or abusive words or behaviour in Exeter on October 4. He was fined £80 and must pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge. Daniel Allwright, @ 24, of Beacon Lane, Exeter, admitted drink driving. He must pay £553 in a fine, costs and a victim surcharge and was banned from driving for 20 months. Simon Trevors, @ 53, of no fixed abode, admitted causing a female victim harassment, alarm or distress through threatening behaviour in Exeter on October 1. He also admitted stealing a passport and possession of 0.6g of cannabis resin on the same date.He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and must pay a £15 victim surcharge.