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Mansfield Town 2 Exeter City 3: Match report

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Exeter City recorded an unlikely 3-2 victory at Mansfield Town on Saturday to move up to eighth in the League Two table and above arch-rivals Plymouth Argyle. The victory came courtesy of two late strikes from Scot Bennett and Alex Nicholls, from the penalty spot, but Mansfield will have been stunned at the final whistle at how they managed to lose a game that they dominated for almost the entire 90 minutes. Part of that has to go down to City's stubborn and excellent last-ditch defending as they cleared six efforts off their goal line as the home side kept them constantly under pressure from corners and crosses into their box. Paul Tisdale made two changes to the side that lost 2-0 at Northampton Town as the injured Christian Ribeiro and out-of-form Danny Butterfield were replaced in the starting line-up by Jordan Moore-Taylor and Scot Bennett. That allowed the manager to switch to a 5-3-2 formation using Craig Woodman and Arron Davies as wingbacks. Mansfield Town were unchanged from the side that lost 2-1 to Burton Albion last time out, with new signing Matty Blair only good enough for a place on the bench. City took a 1-0 lead into the break, thanks to Tom Nichols header on 36 minutes, but it was hardly deserved. Mansfield Town created much the better chances in the first-half. They had two headers cleared off the line by Arron Davies, with the first coming from a corner in the seventh minute as defender Michael Riley sent an effort towards goal. Davies had to perform the same task in the final minute of the half as Kee sent a close ranger header towards goal. The former Torquay United striker had reacted quickest after James Hamon had made a great save to deny Michael Raynes. That chance was arguably Mansfield's best of the half but they had plenty of other opportunities. Bennett had to make a goal-saving interception to deny Junior Brown, Hamon produced a great diving save to stop Vadaine Oliver's 28th minute header from finding the top corner and Kee's follow up was cleared off the line by Moore-Taylor. City weren't without their chances, in the first half, with Liam Sercombe sending a shot from distance into the side netting and Arron Davies having an effort from the edge of the box well saved by Stags keeper Adam Smith. It was Davies who provided the cross for Nichols' goal as he swung the ball in from the left. Nichols made a great run to the near post to glance a header over Smith and into the far corner of the net. It was a great finish for his 10th goal of the season, but there was little doubt that the goal had come against the run of play. There wasn't much change in the flow of action in the second half as the home side continued to create chances. Matt Oakley had to clear two headers off the line in the first seven minutes of the second half, from Riley and Oliver, before Hamon produced an instinctive save to stop Kee from turning the ball home from two yards out. It seemed at this point that Mansfield, for all their effort, were just not going to score. However, from another corner Kee got his head to the ball and this time there was no defender in the right place to clear off the line. City's last-ditch defending continued moments later though as Moore-Taylor threw himself in front of a shot from Brown just as it looked as though the 25-year-old midfielder was going to put the Stags in front. However, Mansfield had their lead in the 68th minute as the ball broke to Oliver in the box and the Crewe Alexandra loanee thrashed the ball past Hamon from 12 yards out. Mansfield were well on top at this point and visiting supporters' frustration grew as leading scorer Nichols was replaced with 15 minutes to go. Chants of 'you don't know what you're doing' were aimed at manager Tisdale, before City drew level a minute later – Bennett firing home from the near post from Liam Sercombe's corner. Nichols had been replaced by Alex Nicholls and it was he who provided the winning goal with six minutes to play. He pressurised Riley into making a poor back pass and Wheeler nicked into steal the ball and forced a foul from keeper Smith to win a penalty. Nicholls stepped up to fire the ball low into the bottom left hand corner and give City an implausible victory. Mansfield Town (4-4-2): Smith; Sutton, Riley, Raynes, Elder; Lambe (Blair, 62), Clements, Ravenhill, Brown; Oliver, Kee. Substitutes: Studer, Fisher, Rhead, McGuire, Heslop, Beevers, Blair. Booked: Ravenhill, Oliver Exeter City (5-3-2): Hamon; Davies, Bennett, Oakley, Moore-Taylor, Woodman; Sercombe, Noble, Harley, Morrison (Wheeler, 30, Cummins 89), Nichols (Nicholls, 75). Substitutes: Pym, Butterfield, Keohane, Nicholls, Tillson, Cummins. Booked: Nichols

Mansfield Town 2 Exeter City 3: Match report


Mr & Mrs Disraeli: Exeter academic throws new light on "Dizzy" romance that shocked nation

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AN Exeter academic has thrown new light on the society-splitting union of a wealthy Devon woman and a young man who would become one of the foremost politicians of his time. Mr & Mrs Disraeli: A Strange Romance, by University of Exeter English lecturer Dr Daisy Hay, tells the untold story of 19th century Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli and his wife Mary Anne. From the outset they made an unlikely couple. Mary Anne was born in Brampford Speke near Exeter. She was the daughter of a sailor, 12 years Disraeli's senior, and married to someone else when they met. She was also highly eccentric, rich and embarrassingly overdressed for grand society dinners. Disraeli was of Jewish decent, a mid-ranking novelist who was mired in debt, and an aspiring Conservative politician. Disraeli spent much of his early life on verge of financial ruin, and his marriage to Mary Anne, a well-off widow, caused a scandal. His debts only finally disappeared when he acquired a rich patron in Devon, Sarah Brydges Willyams, who the Disraelis visited each Christmas. On her death she left the couple her house in Mount Braddon along with the rest of her estate, finally solving their money worries. According to the book, they made perfect targets for the vicious Victorian press and society gossips, yet their odd match appeared to make them impervious to the negativity. The Disraelis were also good at telling tall tales, and together they spun their unusual tale into a romance worthy of the novels they enjoyed reading. At the Bodleian Library, Oxford, Dr Hay examined the great cache of their letters and the anecdotes of others; and was able to show how the Disraelis rose to the top of the social and political pile. Dr Hay said: "Politicians talking about their private lives are a commonplace in our age. However, long before it became obligatory for aspiring statesmen to be photographed or filmed doing mundane activities, Benjamin Disraeli spun a public fantasy about his private life to win votes. "The Disraelis were from unusual backgrounds, and created fantasises about their origins to make themselves more interesting. Both were born story tellers and as outsiders they knew the importance of image and spin in a world where new money was frowned upon. " In an age where first ladies are under ever-increasing pressure to perform and conform, my book offers a portrait of a couple who refused to do either, in a society which demanded you do both." The book also explores women of a similar station in life and situation whose endings were far unhappier than Mary Anne's fairy tale life at 10 Downing Street. Dr Hay will be interviewed about Mr & Mrs Disraeli: A Strange Romance on BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking programme on Thursday, January 22.

Mr & Mrs Disraeli: Exeter academic throws new light on

Plans for Devon's "biggest jumble sale" now underway

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Preparations are under way for Devon's biggest jumble sale which attracts buyers from all over the county and beyond. The sale for the Ottery St Mary Scouts, starts with the jumble collections on the evenings of January 26 and 27 when the Scout vans and drivers will be out in town collecting jumble from those who wish to make a donation. January 31 is the first Saturday of the jumble sale when the day starts with a books sale at 11am in the Coleridge Play School. Then on Saturday afternoon the doors of the Institute and the Old Boys School on Yonder Street will open for the sale of furniture, bric a brack, electrical items and antiques. The sale is rounded off with an auction of larger goods. Group Scout Leader John Green said: "The money we raise helps us subsidise many of the events and activities that we organise for the young people within the Scout group, so it is a hugely important event for us and as usual we will have a host of friends, parents and supporters rally round to ensure that the whole process runs smoothly." "We are obviously deeply indebted to all the people who help organise the event by collecting jumble, sorting the lots out and then assisting us with selling, but none of this would be possible without the generous donations from the public. "It's quite amazing what people do offer us for sale, we've had golf clubs, bikes, office chairs, entire sets of crockery, arm chairs, electric mowers, Hi-fi systems and any number of fantastic toys and games. It really is worth coming along to and even of you can't manage to find just what you're after, you can usually be sure to find something you hadn't planned on and failing that there's always lashing of tea and cake" . Events Details: January 24: 10am – 12:30pm Drop off point on village store car park in West Hill January 26 and 27: 6.30pm onwards door to door collections in Ottery town January 31: Week one of the Jumble Sale – Books, bric a brac, electrical items, furniture and antiques. February 7: Week two of the Jumble Sale with men's, ladies and gents clothing, shoes, and haberdashery goods.

Plans for Devon's

Exeter onesie event to banish Blue Monday misery

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Mecca Exeter is hosting a onesie charity event on Monday (19 January) to help customers banish the January Blues on the most depressing day of the year, 'Blue Monday'. Originally identified in 2005, the third Monday in January has come to be known as 'Blue Monday' - as millions struggle with December credit card bills, failed post-festive diets and gloomy weather. But this year, Mecca Exeter employees and customers are donning a onesie to raise a smile and money for Carers Trust, Mecca's partnered charity which helps the millions of unpaid carers across the UK. Nigel Green, general manager at Mecca Exeter, said: "It's no big secret that January is a depressing month as the post-Christmas holiday blues set in. "The onesie charity event will be a great opportunity to make people smile and for customers to enjoy a fun day out with friends and family, whilst helping to raise funds for a very worthy cause." Senior Fundraising Manager at Carers Trust, Pushpinder Gill, added: "We all need help and support sometimes. When your family or friends grow old or ill, you may find yourself looking after someone you love on a part time, or even full time, basis. That's when you become a carer. "The money raised by Mecca has helped us set up dedicated grant funds for carers across the UK, providing basic household equipment for those in financial need, skills training and holidays giving individuals time out from their caring role to relax." For more information on the event, please contact Mecca North Street on 01392 275216.

Exeter onesie event to banish Blue Monday misery

Storms fail to deter visitors to Exeter stately home

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A record five million visits were made to National Trust houses and gardens in the South West last year. From January 1 to December 31, 2014, there were almost 5,014,000 visits made, an increase of 2.5 per cent on 2013. This came despite storms and flooding. Knightshayes near Tiverton and Killerton made national headlines, with Killerton alone losing 500 trees in the storms. Despite the challenging start to 2014, National Trust places bounced back to record levels of popularity last year. Every county saw increases including a 1.6 per cent rise in Devon. Shona Owen, from the National Trust, said: "In contrast, this January, more of our places are open than ever before. Our parklands and gardens are perfect for a walk on bright, clear winter days, and some places like Knightshayes Court, Tyntesfield and Stourhead are welcoming dogs into the gardens this winter. "Our places tend to be quieter now, offering a chance to unwind after a hectic Christmas and reflect on what the year ahead might bring.' A few houses are open as well in January; Knightshayes Court is open every day with opportunities to see our conservation team at work on our collection items. Despite the challenging start to 2014, National Trust places bounced back to record levels of popularity last year. Every county saw increases, including a 1.6 per cent rise in Devon.

Storms fail to deter visitors to Exeter stately home

Devon pensioner is jailed for 18 years for raping two girls

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A Devon pensioner has been jailed for 18 years after being convicted of repeatedly raping two girls. Evil George Paskins was found guilty by a jury on his 81st birthday of sexually abusing three girls. One of the girls was regularly raped from the ages of three and four until the age of ten or eleven. Another was repeatedly raped between the ages of eight and 11, the court heard. The third girl was indecently assaulted. Recorder Paul Dunkels said Paskins was a "bully" who used violence and threats to make sure the girls never complained. His 16-year campaign of abuse started almost 50 years ago in 1965, but the victims only came forward to the police in 2013. The judge said: "Undoubtedly the two girls who were raped suffered serious psychological trauma. One of the girls was extremely young when you began to rape her." All three victims, two via videolink from Australia, bravely spoke of the casual and perverse brutality they suffered at the hands of Paskins up until 1981. One described during one assault that Paskins stopped to make a cup of tea before coming back to continue the abuse. Another complainant said Paskins covered her face with a comic while he abused her. Former carpenter and joiner Paskins was found guilty on all seven counts he faced after a week-long trial. Neither he nor his wife at the back of the court showed much reaction when the foreman announced the verdicts. Paskins, who used to live in St Budeaux and Ernesettle, had sworn on the "Holy Bible" that he never touched the girls. He claimed that the women should be punished by the courts for making false claims. Recorder Dunkels jailed him for 18 years on each of the rapes, to be served concurrently. He was given another two years concurrent for indecent assault of the third girl and 12 months for indecency with her. Paskins can expect to serve nine years behind bars, taking him to his 90th birthday. Paskins, now living in Hill Park Terrace, Paignton, had pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape of one girl between 1965 and 1977. He also denied raping the second girl three times between 1970 and 1975. Paskins finally pleaded not guilty to the indecent assault of the third girl and indecency with that child between 1972 and 1981.

Devon pensioner is jailed for 18 years for raping two girls

Connacht v Exeter Chiefs: Matchday live

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Exeter Chiefs can secure their place in the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals when they face Connacht in Galway today (3.15pm). Rob Baxter's men currently top Pool Two by a point from Connacht, so an away win in the penultimate round of group matches would set them up to go through. However, as three of the five runners-up also progress, defeat would not end the Chiefs' hopes of making the knockout stages. Head coach Baxter has made five changes to his starting XV, with England winger Jack Nowell switched to the centre in the most intriguing change. Henry Slade is switched to fly-half, with Ian Whitten and Dave Lewis brought in to the backs. Up front there is a new front-row, with Ben Moon, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Alex Brown starting. Follow all the action below.
Live Blog Connacht v Exeter Chiefs
 

Connacht v Exeter Chiefs: Matchday live

LOTTERY RESULTS for Saturday January 18th 2014

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THE NATIONAL LOTTERY results have been drawn for Saturday January 18th, 2015. The winning numbers for tonight's rollover draw were 29, 37, 42, 46, 47, 49 and the bonus ball 4. This weekend was a Lotto rollover after nobody claimed the jackpot from Wednesday night's draw. This means last night's Lotto jackpot stood at £5.7million. There were also 50 raffle winners of £20,000 to be won. Thunderball reopens on Fridays and Saturdays at 9pm, but after Wednesday's draw reopens on Thursday morning .

LOTTERY RESULTS for Saturday January 18th 2014


Bungling robber disguised himself with tissues and left his name on the counter of Devon betting shop he held up

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A bungling robber has been jailed after he disguised himself with paper tissues and left his name and address on the counter of the betting shop which he held up. Douglas Stewart fled empty handed when the assistant at the Betfred shop in Torquay activated an alarm but he left a trail of clues which meant he was identified within minutes. His disguise consisted of bits of tissue glued to his face and he tried to conceal his strong Scottish accent by stuffing his mouth with strips of paper so he could only talk in a mumble. He wrote two notes in which he claimed he had a bomb in his bag and that ex military personnel were surrounding the shop, but neither was true. He was recognised by the only other customer in the shop during the early morning raid because he had been a regular punter until he had been banned. Stewart wrote one of his demands for money on the letter from Betfred which barred him from the shop and which included his full name and address. He left the letter on the counter when he fled and was then caught on CCTV as he took off his makeshift disguise in full view of the camera outside. He also left his fingerprints on another note which he had pinned to the door to try to stop other customers entering which read 'Closed for Health and Safety, reopening at 12 noon'. Stewart, aged 48, of Lymington Road, Torquay, admitted attempted robbery and was jailed for three years and eight months by Judge Phillip Wassall at Exeter Crown Court. He told him:"Objectively, it could be said you posed very little threat, but you have to consider it from the position of the cashier who was confronted with someone behaving in this bizarre manner and making threats. "She had the presence of mind to say she was going to call the police and to press the panic button. She was scared for her life and I can see why she was. "You pose a continuing risk to the public from the possibility of you committing further violent offences." Miss Beth Heaton, prosecuting, said Stewart went into the Betfred shop at around 8.30 am on August 27 when the only people there were assistant Stacey Evans and a customer. He entered wearing strips of tissue stuck to his face, no shoes, odd socks and carrying a sports bag and a black wheelie bag without the wheels. "He was seen rummaging in the sports bag and the assistant approached him and asked if he wanted to place a bet and to leave if he was not. "He pointed at a piece of paper and said something she could not understand because he had tissue in his mouth and a very strong Scottish accent." He then placed two notes on the counter. One was incoherent and mentioned ex members of the armed forces being outside. The other said he had a bomb in his bag and wanted money. It told the assistant to give him the keys and lock herself in the toilet. She told him she was calling the police and he left after she activated the alarm. He was seen on CCTV leaving and walking down an alley where he changed his clothes. Detectives identified him from the images and also found his name and address on the letter he left on the counter, which had been sent to him by Betfred two years earlier to tell him he was banned from the shop. The other customer also knew him by name and recognised him as someone who was banned from most of the betting shops in the area. Miss Heaton said:"The whole incident left the assistant shaken and frightened and she says she honestly feared for her life." She said Stewart has 72 previous convictions and was jailed for a robbery in Scotland in 2004. Mr Paul Dentith, defending, said Stewart's behaviour was so bizarre that it amounted to a cry for help rather than a serious attempt at a robbery. He said:"This was not somebody who was professional and organised committing a serious attempt at robbery or making serious threats or intimidation, he left behind correspondence with his own name and address." He said Stewart had overcome a heroin problem after moving to Devon from Scotland but reverted to the drug after taking a legal high called Cosh which led him to being thrown out of the drug centre where he was being treated.

Bungling robber disguised himself with tissues and left his name on the counter of Devon betting shop he held up

Budleigh Salteron chef banned from driving after blaming Christmas Day crash on his dog

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A chef has been banned from driving after blaming a Christmas Day crash on his dog. Joe Hitchcock was driving home on Christmas Day night when he ploughed into the back of a parked lorry which led his Nissan Micra to spin 180 degrees around and end up on the opposite pavement. Passers by called 999 and 27 year old Hitchcock told police his pet Jack Russell had jumped on to his lap and he 'lost concentration and collided with the parked lorry', said prosecutor Karen Ball. But he was over the drink drive limit and blew 69 mg of alcohol – twice the legal top limit. Hitchcock, of Chapel Street, Budleigh Salterton, Devon, admitted drink driving when he appeared at Exeter magistrates court. He told police had downed up to six pints of cider with his brother during Xmas Day but they had an argument and he decided to drive home from Exmouth when the 9pm crash happened calling it 'the final straw'. He was banned from driving for 18 months and fined a total of £360.

Budleigh Salteron chef banned from driving after blaming Christmas Day crash on his dog

WWE star Chris Jericho heads to Exeter with his band 'Fozzy'

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Former World Wrestling Entertainment star Chris Jericho will be preforming in Exeter later this year with his band Fozzy. The heavy metal band – originally named Fozzy Osbourne – consists of WWE superstar Chris Jericho. Watch a video below Speaking about Fozzy's upcoming UK tour, Jericho said that Great Britain is like a "second home" for the rock band. "The first country we ever made a real name for ourselves was in England, and that's where we've toured extensively over the years and not just in the big cities - we're going all over the place to Exeter, Margate, Middlesborough and everywhere in between. We believe in that. We don't think you should be punished because you don't live in a big city." Fozzy and The Dirty Youth will be preforming at Lemon Grove, Exeter on Friday, 13 Mar 2015 at 7:30 PM.

WWE star Chris Jericho heads to Exeter with his band ‘Fozzy’

Connacht 24 Exeter Chiefs 33: Match report

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Exeter Chiefs secured a place in the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup as they powered to a 33-24 win away against Connacht on Sunday. With one round of fixtures to go, Rob Baxter's men cannot be caught at the top of Pool Two. A win at home against Bayonne on Saturday would sew up a home tie in the last eight. The visitors were behind at half-time in Galway but scored 23 points after the break to record a great win. It started badly for the Chiefs as winger Matt Healy crossed for the opening try in the sixth minute. The line-out was letting the Sandy Park side down, but their scrum was dominating and they were awarded a penalty try which Henry Slade converted. Connacht hit back as the forwards won a line-out close to the line and the backs joined in to help drive Willie Faloon over for a try. Slade levelled the match with a penalty after more pressure from the forwards but Connacht scored a try through Danie Poolman a minute before the interval which Jack Carty converted for a 17-10 lead. Exeter fly-half Slade kicked another penalty early in the second half and then converted Dean Mumm's try after the skipper intercepted Poolman's pass and ran in from just outside the 22. Slade's third penalty, again awarded at a scrum, put Exeter 23-17 up before Don Armand drove over from close range after great build-up play. Slade added the extras. Yet another penalty from Slade took him to 18 points in the match and opened up a 16-point cushion with 11 minutes to play, but Healy crossed for his second try of the match with five minutes to play. However, the visitors held on to the win and reach the European knockout stages for the second time in their history.

Connacht 24 Exeter Chiefs 33: Match report

Drivers hit by diversions after bull spotted on Exeter road

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Drivers were hit by diversions this evening after a bull refused to moove on. The animal was seen on a road near the A379 Alphington Road. Diversions were put in place as the A379 was closed between the Devon Hotel roundabout and the junction for Exminster and Bridge Road.

Drivers hit by diversions after bull spotted on Exeter road

Traffic: Burst water main creates ice on Exeter road

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A burst water main has caused problems for drivers in Exeter this morning. Commuters were warned off the ice created by the water on the A3015 in Devon near the Pynes Hill junction. Across Devon there have been several collisions due to ice on the roads. Police have urged motorists to take extra care after a weekend that saw ice cause chaos on the roads. Sub-zero temperatures overnight mean ice will still be a hazard this morning, says Devon and Cornwall Police. There were 21 crashes in just two hours on Saturday as the coldest of the weather hit. In one of them, captured in terrifying video footage, a pick-up track skidded on ice, flipped over and ended up in a tree. Snow has been all but ruled out for the day by weather forecasters, but they warned that the cold snap would continue.

Traffic: Burst water main creates ice on Exeter road

Labrador Retriever revealed as Exeter's most popular dog

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The Labrador retriever has been revealed as Exeter's most popular dog. A list of the top five favourite dogs in the city has been compiled using data from microchips. And labrador retrievers come out on top, with 6,900 listed as living in Exeter. They are narrowly followed by Jack Russels (6,000), English springer spaniels (5,100), Border collies (4,800) and 3,200 Cocker spaniels. Down the road in Plymouth the Jack Russell has been revealed as Plymouth's most popular pup. And UK-wide, the Labrador retriever took the biscuit, according to the Pet Food Manufacturer's Association, which carries out the annual pet population survey. It says around a quarter of all British households own a dog, meaning there are more than 8.5million out there.

Labrador Retriever revealed as Exeter’s most popular dog


Devon and Cornwall Police surveillance cameras take almost 100 million pictures of vehicle number plates in 2014

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Devon and Cornwall police surveillance cameras took almost 100 million pictures of vehicle's number plates across the region last year. The figure marks a 53% increase in the number of images captured by the force automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) network compared to 2013. It has attracted strong criticism from motorists and civil liberties groups, who have called for greater public debate on the use and storage of the data. But police argue the cameras have come to play a crucial role in tackling crime in the region. Emma Carr from Big Brother Watch said police had rolled technology without providing the public with "basic of information" about what data is being recorded or who is able to access it. Other critics said the use of surveillance cameras was systematically "degrading" policing by consent. But the force said it always complied with national guidelines on ANPR use and the network had public support.

Devon and Cornwall Police surveillance cameras take almost 100 million pictures of vehicle number plates in 2014

Crews move to stop 500 litres of fuel flowing into stream after collision involving lorry on A383

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A collision involving a lorry has left firefighters fighting to stop 500 litres of fuel rushing into a Devon stream. The jack-knife lorry was involved in the crash on the A383 near Newton Abbot at 6am today. On arrival crews found a crash involving one car and one articulated Lorry and requested the attendance of the Environmental Protection Unit due to the fuel tank of the lorry being ruptured and a large amount of fuel leaking onto the road. Crews got to work attempting to stem the flow and stop the fuel from entering a nearby stream . Crews confirmed approximately 500Litres of fuel leaking and contained the fuel using a dam.

Crews move to stop 500 litres of fuel flowing into stream after collision involving lorry on A383

Exeter residents encouraged to download Be My Eyes app that helps blind people 'see'

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Exeter residents are being urged to sign up for a ground breaking app that helps blind people with situations when they need it. The new app from Denmark, 'Be My Eyes', connects blind people to a sighted volunteer using a live video chat. The volunteer can then answer questions and see the blind person's surroundings using a phone's camera. The app will is set to help blind people with everyday acts such as checking the expiry date on food or navigating through a train station. Since the app was launched on Thursday, it has assisted people over 2,600 people on more than 5,400 occasions, according to the Be My Eyes website. This number keeps growing as the number of volunteers willing to "lend" their eyes continues to expand. Over 30,000 sighted people had joined the app at the time of publication. All sighted helpers are taking part in the project as volunteers. The Denmark founder, Hans Jorgen Wiberg, who is visually impaired himself, said: 'Be My Eyes makes life easier for the blind, by connecting them with sighted helpers through a smartphone app. 'This allows the blind to handle big and small tasks, while sighted get the joy of helping someone else in an easy and informal way. 'It only takes a minute to choose the right tin can from the shelf, look at the expiration date on the milk or find the right thing to eat in the fridge - if you have full vision that is. 'For visual impaired individuals smaller tasks in their home can often become bigger challenges. 'Be My Eyes hopes to change that.' Sighted assistants are encouraged to take a more active participation in the project via points assigned for each act of kindness and a "level up" system. The app is currently free, but as the firm explained, when its initial funding comes to an end in September 2015, they may consider subscription model or donations.

Exeter residents encouraged to download Be My Eyes app that helps blind people 'see'

Asteroid to be visible from earth as it narrowly misses us next week

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An asteroid a third of a mile wide is heading towards earth this week – but don't worry we won't need Bruce Willis to save us. The rock, catchily named 2004 BL86, will just miss earth passing by at about three times the distance of the moon. Although easily far enough away to be safe, the fly-by counts as a narrow encounter in astronomical terms. On Monday January 26, it will fly past about 745,000 miles from Earth making it the nearest pass-by of Earth by any asteroid until 2027. The fly-past next week should be close enough to be spotted by amateur astronomers with small telescopes or strong binoculars. Dr Don Yeomans, retiring head of the US space agency Nasa's Near-Earth Object Programme office at the jet propulsion laboratory in Pasadena, California, said: "Monday January 26 will be the closest asteroid 2004 BL86 will get to Earth for at least the next 200 years. "And while it poses no threat to Earth for the foreseeable future, it's a relatively close approach by a relatively large asteroid, so it provides us a unique opportunity to observe and learn more." The asteroid was found on January 30, 2004, by astronomers at the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research telescope in the US. As the rock flies past, it will be watched by Nasa's Deep Space Network antennae in California, and the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. "When we get our radar data back the day after the flyby, we will have the first detailed images," Lance Banner, who is leading the Goldstone radar observations, said. "At present, we know almost nothing about the asteroid, so there are bound to be surprises." Nasa detects, tracks and characterises asteroids and comets using both ground- and space-based telescopes. The Near-Earth Object Programme, also known as Spaceguard, searches for objects that might potentially pose a hazard to the Earth.

Asteroid to be visible from earth as it narrowly misses us next week

Kevin Bryan's record reviews

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Albert King, "Live in the '70s" (Floating World)- "Live in the '70s"  captures electric bluesman Albert  King in his natural element, revisiting the cream of his sizeable back catalogue in performances recorded at a variety of venues in the U.S.of A. between 1971 and 1978.  Mainstream popularity came King's way at a fairly advanced stage of his career , and this compelling live package  showcases the Mississippi born musician in sparkling form as he wields his trademark Gibson Flying V guitar on classic creations such as "Crosscut Saw," "I'll Play The Blues For You" and his best known song, the much covered "Born Under A Bad Sign."
Kate Rusby,"Ghost" (Pure Records)- The Barnsley Nightingale's first album of wholly original material since 2010's  "Make The Light" marks a subtle musical progression from its well received predecessor, with electric guitarist Steve Iveson's atmospheric contributions appearing for the first time alongside some fine work from bluegrass banjo ace Ron Block of Alison Krauss and Union Station fame.  The bulk of this understated set is dominated by Kate's  splendid interpretations of fine traditional ditties such as "Three Jolly Fishermen " and  "The Outlandish Knight,"  although "After This" and  the haunting title track should help to remind listeners that she's an excellent songwriter in her own right too.
The Waterboys, "Modern Blues" (Harlequin and Clown)- Waterboys'  frontman Mike Scott has proudly declared  that people should always expect the unexpected from his endlessly eclectic outfit , and "Modern Blues" found him decamping to Nashville with fiddle playing sidekick Steve Wickham to channel the spirit of classic southern soul in tandem with legendary Muscle Shoals bassist David Hood. The finished product  is a little on the  uneven side but the creative  highs far outweigh the relative lows, and devotees of Scott's passionate approach to music-making  should try to  lend an ear to stand-out tracks such as "November Tale," "Destinies Entwined" and the epic closing cut, "Long Strange Golden Road."
"Simply Rhythm & Blues" (Union Square Music)- This richly rewarding 4CD set offers listeners an inexpensive introduction to all that's best in r&b, drawing on classic archive recordings  from the likes of  Big Joe Turner , Bobby "Blue" Bland and legendary New Orleans singer and pianist Professor Longhair to name but a few. The excellent Yardbirds are represented by three tracks, "Got To Hurry, " "A Certain Girl" and "I'm A Man,"  and the compilers have also unearthed an early offering from Rod Stewart in the shape of The Steampacket's  cover of Marvin Gaye's 1963 hit, "Can I Get A Witness."

Kevin Bryan's record reviews

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