Community news in brief from across East Devon and Exeter. Send your local news, photos, what’s on, to newsdesk@eastdevonnews.co.uk
Seaton
A storm-battered bus stop on Seaton seafront.
Photo: Beer Coastguard Rescue Team.
These photos show how Storm Goretti battered a bus stop in Seaton, amid high stormy seas and gale force winds.
Beer Coastguard Rescue Team was on January 8 tasked to the seafront during the worst of the weather amid concerns storm watchers were too close to the breaking waves.
Seawater on the road at Seaton.
Beer Coastguard Rescue Team.
The rescue team gave safety advice to night-time bystanders watching waves during the storm.
A Beer Coastguard Rescue Team spokesperson said: “We stayed until after high tide and the wind turning northerly when the waves were flattening out.”
The coast at Seaton amid Storm Goretti.
Photo: Beer Coastguard Rescue Team.
Sidmouth
The Donkey Sanctuary at Sidmouth celebrated the end of 2025 winning a Gold Devon Tourism Award for its onsite restaurant.
The Kitchen was awarded a gold in the café/tearoom category for the second year running, presented at a ceremony held in Exeter.
Staff celebrating winning the gold award.
Photo: The Donkey Sanctuary.
The restaurant in 2025 also won gold in the Taste of the West and Food Drink Devon awards.
Sophie Keech, front of house manager at The Kitchen, said winning was a ‘great way’ for the team to end the year.
She said” “To be awarded the gold award two years in a row is an incredible achievement.
“The team works so hard every day to give our customers the best experience, and this shows the dedication we have for them and for the donkeys that benefit from our hard work.”
Honiton
The students with the art installation in Honiton.
Photo: with permission.
A new art installation created by college students has been unveiled at a community hub in Honiton.
Honiton Town Council and the Thelma Hulbert Gallery (THG) recently revealed the new art panels at the Beehive in Honiton.
The work was created by Year 10 Honiton Community College students during Thelma Hulbert Gallery summer workshops with graphic artist George Barron.
Students worked with printmaker to create the work.
Photo: with permission.
A spokesperson for the project said: “Thelma Hulbert Gallery commissioned George Barron, an expert printmaker based at Positive Lights in Exeter, to work with the students.
“George encouraged them to experiment with different print processes.
“The students learnt new skills including letter press, monoprint and screen printing to produce a set of multi-coloured, graphic collages.”
They added: “The installation is part of a reworking of the area in front of the Beehive. Honiton Town Council has spearheaded the removal of unsightly storage containers so the area could be newly landscaped with bedding plants and a restored historic bench.”
Pictured here are Honiton Community College students working on the project.
Photo: with permission.
Exmouth
Exmouth Stroke Survivors Club has publicly thanked all who have supported the ‘lifeline’ group over the last five years.
The club meets weekly and hosts activities, games, talks, coffee and lunch for its members for an annual £25 subscription, £5 session charge to help with the hall cost, and £3.50 for a two-course meal.
The group meets from 10am until 4pm every Wednesday at All Saints Church, Exmouth.
New members are welcome and can call in at the church.
A club spokesperson said: The club based in Exmouth at All Saint’s remains a life line to stroke survivors and their families to come to a safe place.”
Cranbrook
Tax payer cash is being used to fund a new Saturday night bus service from Exeter to Cranbrook.
Police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez – who recently announced she was an independent after defecting from the Conservatives – is now funding a Saturday night bus service to the town.
Pictured here is Alison Hernandez, centre front, with supporters of the night bus project she is funding.
Photo: with permission.
Ms Hernandez has agreed new funding from the police and crime commissioner’s purse – taxpayer cash – for the Stagecoach services including a route from Exeter to Cullompton, Cranbrook, Crediton and Exmouth.
She said: “Being the main funder of these late-night buses is something I’m really proud of, and I’m delighted to add Cranbrook to the list of communities who now have a safe way to stay out late without worrying about the cost of a taxi or making a bad decision to drive after having a drink.”
Passengers can expect to pay up to £3 for the bus to Cranbrook, which runs hourly on Saturday nights into Sunday morning.
Councillor Vikki Wright, Cranbrook Town Council chair, said: “Cranbrook residents now have the benefit of a late-night bus service connecting the town to Exeter, making it easier and safer for people to travel home after an evening out.
“This is a positive step for community safety and helps support the local evening economy. We are pleased to see this service extended to our town and encourage residents to make use of it.”
Peter Knight, Stagecoach South West managing director, said: “Following a successful trial period, Stagecoach, in partnership with the OPCC, who have provided funding for the service, is pleased to introduce new late-night bus services in Exeter from Saturday, January 10, 2026.”
Exeter
A service in Exeter helping disabled people to live in their own homes is celebrating an overall Good rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Lifeways Community Care, Exeter, which supports 10 people with learning disabilities and their mental health, was inspected by the independent watchdog in October 2025.
Amy Gilbert, a managing director at Lifeways, said she was ‘delighted’ the service had retained its Good rating.
She said: “It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of the leadership and the team at Exeter and I’m so proud of them. But we are not complacent and I look forward to the team building on this latest success to push the service towards outstanding in future.”
Cranbrook
Cranbrook has been successful in securing taxpayer funding from the police and crime commissioner to pay for CCTV technology.
In September 2025 councils and other groups were invited to apply for up to £10,000 funding to pay for setting up CCTV equipment from a police and crime commissioner £300,000 cash pot.
Alison Hernandez said the funds backed CCTV across 39 areas across her police patch.
Exeter
An off-duty police wildlife officer recently rescued an injured tawny owl after spotting the bird on an Exeter roadside.
The injured owl was last month spotted on the A377, at Cowley Hill, Exeter and taken to nearby vets who treated successfully treated the stricken birdsuccessfully released the bird back into the wild the following day.
Pictured here is the ole rescued by the off-duty officer.
Photo: D&C Police.
The force thanked Jonathan Woods veterinary surgeons for treating the owl, confirming the bird was returned to its natural habitat.
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson said: “An off-duty Devon and Cornwall Police wildlife crime officer spotted an injured tawny owl on the A377.
“After noticing the owl at the roadside, the officer stopped and carefully transported the injured bird to a nearby veterinary centre.”
Exeter
Pupils tried out a Victorian recipe.
Photo: with permission.
Exwick Heights pupils trying out Victorian baking.
Photo: with permission.
Pupils from Exwick Heights Primary School, in Exeter, had a hands-on history lesson, taking a step back in time at Powderham Castle.
The Year 2 youngsters baked traditional griddle cakes, helped with household tasks such as dusting the chapel and beating carpets, explored the castle’s rooms and hidden doors, and practised how to bow and curtsey.
The youngsters tried ironing using tools of the past. Photo: with permission.
Photo: with permission.
Gemma Wills, Exwick Heights Primary School headteacher, said: “It was wonderful to see the children so engaged and curious throughout the visit. Experiences like this help bring learning to life and give pupils a real sense of the past.”
Pupils explored the castle as history was brought to life. Photo: with permission.
Photo: with permission.
East Devon
Henry Gibson, from Honiton, and Aimee Gegg, from Cranbrook, are flying the flag for East Devon, reaching the shortlist for the 2026 Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers’ Dairy Student of the Year competition.
Henry, one of a trio of Harper Adams University shortlisted scholars who is now in his final year, and Aimee, who attends Duchy College, Stoke Climsland, are among six students waiting until February 4, when the winner will be announced at the Dairy Tech conference, at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire.
Henry said: “It’s a real honour to be shortlisted, especially knowing how many strong students there are in the industry.
“I’m proud to represent Harper Adams and grateful to the lecturers who have supported me so far.
“The final itself was a really enjoyable day. It was challenging but in a positive way, the presentation and questions made think hard about the future of the dairy industry and my own role in it.”
He added: “Going to London and spending the day at The Farmers Club was a great experience in itself, and it was also good to meet the other finalists and hear their perspectives – it reminded me how much enthusiasm and talent there is coming through in UK dairy.”
Exeter
Dogs with their owners on Saturday, January 31 will take part in a peaceful protest in Exeter, calling for an end cruelty to hunting dogs in Spain.
Scores of people with their dogs are expected to protest across the UK. This is the first time Exeter has joined forces with coordinated action in London, Glasgow and Manchester.
The protest coincides with the end of the Spanish hunting season where up to 100,000 dogs are abandoned or killed each year
A spokesperson for the Free Spanish Hounds organisation said: “The end of the hunting season on 1st February marks the time when dogs deemed unfit for hunting are discarded. “Many of these dogs are treated with extreme cruelty during their lifetime, and the methods used to kill unwanted dogs are especially brutal, often designed to extend their suffering.
“In 2023, despite hopes for progress, the Spanish parliament excluded hunting dogs from Spain’s new animal welfare law – ironically one of the most progressive in Europe.
“By classifying these dogs as “tools” rather than animals in need of protection, the government effectively sanctioned their mistreatment.”
For more information about Free Spanish Hounds, and the peaceful protests, see here.
Axminster
Smoke at the scene of the shed fire.
Photo: Axminster Fire Station.
Axminster firefighters started 2026 tackling a shed blaze at the rear of a property in the Heals Field area of Millwey Rise.
Crews from the town and Lyme Regis were called at around 2pm on January 1, after the fire service received scores of calls reporting thick smoke in the area.
The blaze caused ‘significant damage’ to a hedgerow and fence next to the shed, the fire service said.
The cause of the blaze was believed to be accidental, the fire service said.
An Axminster fire station spokesperson said: “On arrival, crews were met with heavy black smoke and confirmed that a shed was well alight, with fire spread to nearby hedgerow and fencing.
“Crews donned breathing apparatus and made an immediate attack using a hose reel jet to prevent further fire spread, before concentrating efforts on the seat of the fire.”
The fire service said small tools were used to gain access to the shed and support firefighting operations.
The Axminster fire station spokesperson added: “Once the fire was brought under control, a thermal imaging camera was used to identify and dampen down remaining hotspots.
“After all hotspots were fully extinguished, the incident was handed over to the homeowner.
“Crews then returned to station and carried out equipment clean-down.”
Exmouth
Exmouth Community College’s performance of Mary Poppins was a sell-out success.
Photo: with permission.
Exmouth Community College Students recently put on five sell-out performances of Mary Poppins, after months of planning and rehearsals.
The production featured an 80-strong cast and around 100 students stepping into a variety of backstage and production roles.
Students taking part in the college’s latest show. Photo: with permission.
The production featured an 80-strong cast. Photo: wit permission.
Around 100 students stepped into a variety of backstage and production roles. Photo: with permission.
Amy Phillips, head of the college’s expressive arts faculty, said: “It is testimony to the dedication of our staff and passion of our students that we were able to produce a show accompanied by a live student band, supported by a student-led tech team and 80 strong cast members, all displaying talents that wouldn’t be out of place on a West End stage.”
Photo: with permission.
East Devon and Exeter
Dog owners in East Devon and Exeter are being urged to ‘bag it and bin it’ as part of a competition, where a special no-smell poo carry bag can be won.
Devon Loves Dogs launched the competition at the start of January, teaming up with Cranbrook Town Council, Devon Wildlife Trust, RSPB, Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust, National Trust at Killerton, East Devon District Council and Teignbridge District Council to raise awareness of how dog poo can impact wildlife, livestock, people and other dogs.
You could win one of these three Dicky bags up for grabs. Photo: with permission.
The competition includes popular dog walking locations including Pebblebed Heaths, the Otter Estuary, Dawlish Warren, Cranbrook Country Park, NT Killerton, Trinity Hill, Exeter Valley Parks, Eastcliff Park, Churchills Local Nature Reserve, Dawlish Countryside Park and Ridgetop Park.
The online competition runs until March, with a Dicky bag up for grabs to win each month.
See here for more details on how to enter.
Exeter
A flat in St David’s, Exeter, suffered fire and smoke damage after a small blaze broke out in the kitchen.
Firefighters were called to the property in the early hours earlier this month where they found the occupant living there had already been evacuated.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS) said the kitchen blaze was thought to be accidental.
Crews wore breathing apparatus and used a hose reel jet to knock down the flames, and a ventilation fan to clear smoke from the flat.
A DSFRS spokesperson said: “Two fire engines were mobilised following reports of a fire within a domestic property.
“Upon arrival crews confirmed that there was a small fire within the kitchen.
“The occupant had been evacuated from the flat prior to the arrival of the fire service.”
They added: “As a result of the fire there was five per cent fire damage and twenty per cent smoke damage. The cause is believed to be accidental.”
