Western Morning News
Items stolen in museum raid never recovered
ADRUG addict who burgled the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter and stole historical artefacts worth £50,000 has been spared jail. Keith Freeman, and an unidentified friend, smashed a window, cut through security curtains and raided a cabinet full...
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Fearful Brits store ready cash, tins and torches
BRITONS are storing items like physical cash, torches and tinned goods at home so that they could turn to them in the event of an emergency, according to a new survey. The prediction comes as one prominent UK economic forecasting group also warns that...
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Attenborough thanks nation for good wishes
SIR David Attenborough said he has been “completely overwhelmed by birthday greetings” as he thanked well-wishers “most sincerely” ahead of his centenary today. The beloved naturalist said he had hoped to celebrate his 100th birthday...
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Government urged to act over 5.8% inflation fear
INFLATION could peak as high as 5.8% if the conflict in the Middle East ends up in a prolonged stalemate, a leading think-tank has warned. New modelling by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) also predicts that the Iran war could cost the...
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MP calls for diesel tax cut to help farmers
ADEVON MP has called on the Government to extend a helping hand to “struggling” farmers by introducing an emergency fuel tax cut, amid soaring prices for red diesel and agricultural supplies. Richard Foord, Liberal Democract MP for Honiton & Sidmouth,...
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Tourism levy ‘will deter holidaymakers’
ALMOST one in five Britons fear a visitor levy will stop them booking a holiday in England, according to new polling. Allen Simpson, chief executive of UKHospitality, warned the levies “would deter millions from holidaying” in the country. The...
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Cost-of-living crisis sees food prices soar by 50%
UK food prices are on track to be 50% higher by November compared to levels at the start of the cost-of-living crisis in mid2021, according to research. A combination of extreme weather driven by climate change, global supply disruptions, and...
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Scrap costly pensions triple lock, says institute
THE triple lock should be scrapped ahead of replacing the current pensions system to enable people to access funds earlier in life, Sir Tony Blair’s think tank has said. A report by the Tony Blair Institute (TBI) said the state pension is “outdated,...
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ROYALS RELAX IN ANNIVERSARY PHOTO
THE Prince and Princess of Wales have shared a holiday snapshot of their family, lying together in the grass in the sunshine, to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary. William and Kate, in the never before seen image taken by photographer Matt...
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KING HAS NATTER ABOUT KNITTING WITH DALEY
CHARLES and Camilla met Westcountry diving star Tom Daley as they began a four-day State Visit to the United States. The King and the Queen ended the first day of their much-anticipated visit by attending a Washington garden party on Monday. There,...
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Devon man held over attacks on Jewish sites
A37-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts by counter-terror police investigating a string of attacks on Jewish sites in London. He was arrested at an address near Barnstaple, Devon, on Sunday, the Metropolitan Police...
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New bid to get tough on shoplifting ‘free-for-all’
SIR Keir Starmer is to launch a crackdown on the shoplifting “free-for-all” epidemic today by setting out plans to curb retail crime. The Prime Minister will highlight his Government’s measures to boost neighbourhood policing and punishments for...
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Assisted dying Bill ‘sabotaged’ by Lords
PEERS opposed to the assisted dying Bill are “condemning generations of terminally ill patients to die in agony”, Dame Esther Rantzen said ahead of the fall of proposed legislation this week. The broadcaster and Childline founder, who is terminally...
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£1m romance fraud victim died in Africa car accident
AWIDOW died in a road accident in Ghana having lost up to £1 million in a series of romance frauds, an inquest has heard. Janet Fordham, 69, suffered fatal injuries in the collision on February 14, 2023, having travelled to the African country the...
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Conflict is no excuse for hiking prices – ferry firm
BRITTANY Ferries has pledged it will not raise prices in the coming months or be disrupted by fuel shortages, despite the conflict in the Middle East. The ferry company boss Christophe Mathieu accused other transport providers of “profiteering”. The...
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Health workers call for weedkiller ban
MORE than 200 healthcare workers, including over 70 doctors, have added their names to dissent over Cornwall Council’s decision to reintroduce a controversial chemical weedkiller for use on the county’s roads and kerbs. More than 13,000 people have...
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Backlash over failure of assisted dying Bill
THE inevitable fall of the assisted dying Bill this week is “upsetting” and lets down terminally ill people, campaigners said while insisting the fight for a change in the law is not over. But opponents have warned against what they described as an...
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Only six weeks’ supply of jet fuel left in Europe
EUROPE only has six weeks’ supply of jet fuel because of the Middle East conflict, the head of the world’s energy watchdog has warned. Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), warned there could be flight cancellations...
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Plea to halt spiralling fuel and food prices
THE Liberal Democrats have warned that the skyrocketing cost of red diesel is pushing British farmers to the brink and threatening to send food prices spiralling even further in the midst of a cost of living crisis. The Iran war has seen global crude...
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Fuel pay scammers preying on pensioners
PENSIONERS are being warned to watch out for fraudsters as the recovery of winter fuel payments for some people starts this month. Winter fuel payments paid in winter 2025 will be recovered from pensioners with income above £35,000. Nearly two...
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Streeting: NHS cash making a difference in Westcountry
HEALTH Secretary Wes Streeting has told the WMN how he believes the Government is making a difference in improving healthcare in the Westcountry. In a special opinion piece written for the newspaper, Mr Streeting said that people in rural areas should...
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Tourism industry ‘fighting to stay afloat’
CORNWALL’S tourism sector is facing significant pressure, with hospitality business owners warning that the county is “on the brink” as rising costs, policy shifts and declining visitor numbers threaten its viability. Six years after residents...
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West frigates track Russian warship
WESTCOUNTRY-BASED warships have been involved in Royal Navy operations to monitor Russian vessels in UK waters as part of coordinated NATO efforts. Naval helicopters and ships HMS Somerset and HMS St Albans, based at Devonport, along with HMS Mersey...
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£50m Devon deal to build sea drones
NEW investment will boost expertise in maritime drone production and drive broader defence innovation across the South West of England, the UK Government has announced. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed £50 million has been allocated as part of...
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Ten crimes a day at churches
NEARLY 4,000 crimes were committed on church property and at other religious premises last year – including dozens of incidents in the Westcountry, according to research by the Countryside Alliance. Figures were obtained by the countryside campaigning...
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Treat online privacy for children like road safety
PARENTS should treat their children’s online privacy like stranger danger and road safety, a regulator has warned. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said new research shows three in four parents fear their child cannot make safe online...
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AA calls for crackdown on misuse of Blue Badges
COUNCILS have been urged to crack down on misuse of Blue Badge parking permits as the proportion of people holding them has reached a record one in 20. The AA called for more to be done to detect offences such as using fake or stolen Blue Badges. The...
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Air link axed early over fuel cost and low demand
THE Public Service Obligation (PSO) air service from Newquay airport to London Gatwick has pulled out two months earlier than originally expected, with the final flights taking place yesterday. Customers received emails this week saying flights have...
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Millions hit the roads – despite fuel price hike
MILLIONS of drivers are embarking on Easter getaway trips despite the soaring cost of fuel – with heavy traffic forecast for routes into the Westcountry. The AA estimated that 21.7 million journeys across the UK have been planned for today. This is...
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MARAZION BIDS FOR CULTURE CROWN
ONE of Cornwall’s smallest towns, but with certainly one of the most recognisable landmarks, has thrown its name into the ring to become UK Town of Culture. Marazion, home of St Michael’s Mount, has filed an 11th hour bid with the Department of...
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Local elections held in ‘uncertain’ times
SIR Keir Starmer has acknowledged May’s local elections are set to take place against an “uncertain” backdrop amid the war in Iran. The Prime Minister launched the party’s campaign yesterday, accompanied by most of his Cabinet in Wolverhampton. Sir...
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Ancient mine now worth $1.5 billion
AN ancient mine in Cornwall is estimated to be worth more than a billion dollars, after it was found to contain vast amounts more critical metal than previously thought. London-listed Strategic Minerals has announced that the site between Kelly Bray...
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Trail hunt ban moves step closer
THE Government is set to ban trail hunting – launching a public consultation on its proposals. In an exclusive statement given to the WMN, animal welfare minister Baroness Sue Hayman said: “Twenty years ago a Labour Government banned fox hunting. For...
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Devon man is accused of migrant smuggling
ADEVON man owned up to investigators about making a number of voyages to smuggle illegal migrants into the UK, prosecutors have told a jury. Tony Williams and Monet Roberts have gone on trial, charged with conspiring to assist in the unlawful...
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Hospice crisis means ‘too many’ dying in hospital
TOO many people are dying in hospitals instead of at home or in a hospice, MPs have said as they criticised health leaders for not taking financial “crisis” in the hospice sector seriously enough. The Public Accounts Committee said the hospice sector...
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Where’s the funding to fix road wrecked by storms?
THE storm-battered community of Torcross has been overlooked in a flood defence funding update from the government, prompting dismay from the area’s MP. Liberal Democrat Caroline Voaden, whose South Devon constituency covers Torcross and Beesands,...
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£53m to help homes hit by heating oil price hike
SIR Keir Starmer has announced a £53million package of financial help for households struggling with the soaring cost of heating oil as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. US-Israeli strikes and volatility in the Middle East – compounded by...
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Activists target supermarkets to ‘liberate’ food
AN activist group has said it carried out a mass campaign of “liberating boxes of food” from supermarkets to food banks. Take Back Power said supporters in Exeter and Truro, as well as in London and Manchester, “took back food and necessities from...
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Extra cash to help plug our potholes
DEVON’S roads are set to get a £3 million boost in a bid to help repair significant damage caused by torrid weather over the winter. The unexpected cash will be diverted to the county’s highways instead of its initial purpose of paying down a deficit...
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Watchdog to probe spike in price of heating oil
THE UK’s competition watchdog is probing concerns that households relying on heating oil are facing sudden price increases on the back of conflict in the Middle East. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it had kicked off a review after...
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SW support ship gets ready for Iran war role
A WESTCOUNTRY-BASED naval auxiliary vessel is being prepared for potential deployment to the Mediterranean, as the Iran war continues. Falmouth-based amphibious landing vessel RFA Lyme Bay was yesterday being put in a state of ‘heightened readiness’...
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Suppliers warned over rising heating oil costs
THE competition watchdog has warned that it expects consumers who have ordered heating oil to receive it at the agreed price, as the Middle East conflict sends the cost of the fuel soaring. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it “won’t...
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AIRSHOW TO RETURN FOR 10TH YEAR
TORBAY is set to cash in on millions of pounds worth of business as the English Riviera Airshow celebrates its 10th birthday, writes Guy Henderson. The three days of displays and events are estimated to have brought at least £5 million of business to...
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Rural homes face heating oil price hike as war rages
HOUSEHOLDS that rely on heating oil are grappling with immediate rising costs as the Middle East conflict causes prices to soar. Home heating oil is used by around 1.5 million households in the UK, but sudden volatility in global oil trade has caused...
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SWW admits unfit water charge
SOUTH West Water has admitted supplying water unfit for human consumption after a parasitic outbreak in Devon. South West Water Ltd pleaded guilty to an offence under Section 70 (1) of the Water Industry Act 1991 to supplying water unfit for human...
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Million more pensioners face having to pay tax
UP to a million more pensioners are set to pay income tax as a result of frozen tax thresholds, the budget watchdog has predicted. The Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecasts, published for Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement yesterday,...
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Killer of gran took his own life ‘to avoid prison’
A COWARDLY killer took his own life because he did not want to spend the rest of it in prison, after telling his ex-wife what he had done, an inquest into his death heard. Adrian Lawrence leapt to his death after being spotted on the wrong side of the...
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Ministers consider curfew on social media
OVERNIGHT curfews on social media are among the measures the Government is considering to keep children safe online, as it hopes to begin a national discussion on the issue. The Government will also look at restricting children’s access to AI chatbots...
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DEVON RADIO SHOW BOLDLY GOES INTO ORBIT
A TORQUAY tattoo artist is etching his name across space after sending a song into orbit. Dave Perry, who was one of the presenters of the hit TV show Gamesmaster in the 1990s, now runs the Revolver Tattoo Rooms in Torquay. He also presents the ‘Dave...
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Shock as famed West brewery set to close
ONE of Cornwall’s best known and biggest breweries is set to close. International company Molson Coors has revealed plans to shut Sharp’s Brewery in Rock and has entered consultation with staff. The Carling brewer said the decision to close the...
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Government ‘determined’ to help farm businesses
NEARLY £350 million in funding for technology and green infrastructure is part of a “determined effort” to give farming the foundations it needs to grow, a minister has said. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said funding for technology, innovation...
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School forced to close after devastating blaze
ASCHOOL in Devon has been forced to close “for the immediate future” after its building was severely damaged by a major blaze. The fire broke out at The Promise School in Okehampton, at around 3.30pm on Sunday, as reported in yesterday’s WMN. Devon &...
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School is left a charred wreck by massive blaze
AHUGE fire has severely damaged a new school in Devon, with firefighters still tackling the flames as the WMN went to press last night. The blaze erupted at The Promise School in Okehampton, a specialist school for 80 students which opened in June...
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Tragic death toll during cold spells is revealed
MORE than 2,500 deaths were linked to cold weather last winter, experts have said. Most of the deaths related to a six-day cold snap in January 2025, according to a new UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) report. It comes as many parts of the UK have...
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GIMME SHELTER: DEVON HOME OF ROLLING STONE FOR SALE
THE home of Rolling Stones legend Charlie Watts where he lived for 40 years until his death is being sold by his family – for £2.75 million. Halsdon House is an exceptional Grade II listed country residence with equestrian facilities set in 55 acres...
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COULD THERE BE A RARITY AMONG YOUR SPRING DAFFS?
GARDENERS could help bring a rare pink daffodil back into cultivation, as part of a project to map the spring blooms across the country. The Royal Horticultural Society’s ‘daffodil diaries’ scheme to map daffodils across the UK is back for a second...
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Tourism tax ‘could add £100 to cost of holidays’
GOVERNMENT plans to allow a holiday tax would add an extra £100 or more on to the cost of a fortnight’s holiday in England, hospitality, leisure and hospitality bosses say. A group of some 200 industry bosses coordinated by the UKHospitality trade...
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No funding pledge for storm-hit community
THE prime minister has acknowledged communities have been “badly affected” in the wake of the severe damage wreaked on Torcross and the devastated Slapton Line – but he fell short of pledging any extra cash for repairs. The comments came in response...
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More troops head north to counter Putin threat
THE number of British troops in Norway will double as part of efforts to bolster defences in the High North against Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Defence Secretary John Healey will also commit UK forces to Nato’s Arctic Sentry mission, the alliance’s...
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Local green energy projects get £1bn boost
RENEWABLE energy projects that cut bills and generate cash for local libraries, places of worship and community centres are to get a £1 billion boost. The Government and publicly owned Great British Energy are announcing the “local power plan” backed...
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Apprentice scheme to help boost trainees
YOUNG people who narrowly miss out on an apprenticeship are to be matched with similar opportunities under a pilot scheme announced by the Government. The university clearance-style system will be tested this year in a bid to help more young people...
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Trump set to boost revival of tin mine
PRESIDENT Donald Trump could be responsible for spurring the revival of Cornish tin mine, after its owners announced the United States government is lining up a £166 million investment. Cornish Metals, which bought the historic South Crofty mine, at...
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Voice-clone scam targets pensioners
CRIMINALS are using artificial intelligence (AI) to clone people’s voices and set up unauthorised direct debits over the phone experts have warned. National Trading Standards (NTS) said “advanced” voice cloning was part of an organised criminal...
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New heartbreak after latest storm battering
WESTCOUNTRY leaders have issued a desperate plea for financial help from the Government to cushion the latest blows from this winter’s storms. It comes after a 200-metre section of a coastal road in a Westcountry beauty spot washed away, after being...
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Bid to curb ‘forever chemicals’ in water
PROPOSALS to limit the levels of so-called forever chemicals in drinking water have been unveiled in the Government’s firstever plan to confront harmful toxins found widely in the environment. Called “forever chemicals” because they can take centuries...
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Police launch double death probe after bodies found
POLICE have launched an investigation following the deaths of a woman in Torquay and a man 150 miles away. Emergency services were called just before 4pm on Saturday after concerns were raised for a woman at an address in Shirburn Road, Torquay. The...
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Women’s pension payout is denied
WOMEN affected by the way changes to the state pension age were communicated have been told for the second time they will not receive compensation. Labour’s previous policy not to offer redress was reviewed after the rediscovery of a 2007 Department...
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MP’s plea to boost flood defences
ADEVON MP has pushed for greater financial support to tackle flooding, after telling Parliament that his part of the county was “submerged” amid this week’s storms. Richard Foord, Liberal Democrat member for Honiton and Sidmouth, addressed Prime...
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Chandra flood chaos
LARGE swathes of the Westcountry were left under water yesterday as Storm Chandra brought flooding chaos to parts of the region. Some towns and villages in East Devon were temporarily stranded after getting 67mm of rain in 12 hours, with 88mm of...
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AI facial recognition roll-out for West police
DEVON and Cornwall Police will be able to use live facial recognition vans as part of the biggest shake-up in policing in decades. An existing 10 vans in the country will rise to 50, rolled out nationwide, to catch criminals on police watchlists and...
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