Community stories, local news, police appeals and photos from across East Devon and Exeter, including Exmouth, Cranbrook, Sidmouth, Honiton, Budleigh Salterton.
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Exmouth
The Big Sing workshop at Holy Trinity Church, Exmouth.
Photo: with permission.
A Big Sing event held in Exmouth in February raised more than £550 for the town’s Open Door centre.
More than 100 Good Afternoon Choir members from across Devon and Somerset took part in a workshop.
In the evening the town’s own buoy band, The Exmouth Shanty men, performed at a concert at Holy Trinity Church.
Lisa Pike from Open Door Exmouth thanked the audience for the ‘incredibly generous’ donation of £561 to boost the charity’s community work.
Exeter
Pupils made dog toys and visited the Exeter RSPCA branch.
Photo: with permission.
Pupils at Exwick Heights Primary School made dog toys to give to the RSPCA Little Valley Animal Shelter, in Exeter.
The youngsters, working towards gaining a Torbay & Devon Civic Award, made the toys as part of their community work, which they presented to the animal shelter during a visit to the charity to meet some of the animals and staff.
Gemma Wills, Exwick Heights Primary School headteacher, said: “It was a real joy to see our pupils so engaged throughout the day.
“They loved socialising the kittens and met the funniest ferrets with the loveliest personalities.
“It was a great way for them to learn about caring for animals and have fun while putting our values of kindness, curiosity and determination into practice.”
Cranbrook
Police have released a photo of a man they are keen to identify in connection to a mobile phone theft scam in Cranbrook.
Can you help police identify this man?
Image: D&C Police
Investigating officers said a phone, worth around £800, was sold from Cranbrook in December 2025 through Facebook Marketplace to a man who called to collect it, but failed to transfer any money.
The force has released a photo, believing the man pictured can help with police enquiries.
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson said: “Officers are trying to identify him in connection with a mobile phone theft scam.
“Two phones, each around £800, were fraudulently taken from unsuspecting sellers from Cranbrook and Torquay after being posted on Facebook Marketplace.
“A man attended their homes under the guise of buying the phones and asked the sellers to input their bank details on his phone.
“A screenshot of a bank transfer confirmation was then shown but the money was never exchanged.
“The man then left with the phones in a white Citroen Berlingo van.”
Investigating officers said the phones were picked up from Torquay on November 27 2025 and Cranbrook on December 19.
The force spokesperson added: “Police have released an image of a man they would like to identify as he may be able to help with their enquiries.”
If you have any information to help, report it through the force website or call 101, quoting reference 50250306097.
Exeter
Police are keen to trace a man who saw an attack at a railway station in Exeter and got off his train to help.
Investigating officers believe the man can help with police enquiries.
British Transport Police (BTP) said a witness got off an Exeter-bound train to help break-up a fight at Digby & Sowton railway station in autumn last year.
The witness is described as a white man with a beard. He was wearing a black baseball cap bearing the logo of a local brewery, and a blue and white checked hooded jacket, with dark trousers and black and white trainers.
A BTP spokesperson said: “Officers are appealing for a witness who intervened in an assault at Digby & Sowton railway station to come forward.
“At around 10.45pm on Thursday 30 October 2025, a young man chased and attacked another man on the ramp up to the footbridge before the witness got off an Exeter-bound train and intervened to stop the assault.
“Officers believe he may have information that could assist their enquiries.”
A 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of Actual Bodily Harm and has been released on bail while enquiries continue, BTP said.
If you are the witness, or you think you know who he is, text BTP on 61016, or call 0800 40 50 40, using the reference 2500132253.
Exmouth and Exeter
David Reed, MP for Exmouth and Exeter East, has welcomed the U-turn move now allowing city voters to go to the polls in the May local elections.
Mr Reed said he had received confirmation from the Secretary of State that Exeter’s cancelled local elections – a decision supported by Exeter City Council – will now go ahead in May 2026.
He said the decision ‘sparked significant concern locally’ with voters, many who contacted him ‘angry’ at losing their right to go to the polls.
David Reed MP said: “This is the right outcome. Local people should never have their vote taken away, and I’m pleased that voters in Exeter will now get their say at the ballot box.
“I challenged ministers repeatedly to reverse this decision and allow these elections to go ahead, and I’m glad they have listened. The people of Exeter will now have the opportunity to vote, which is exactly how our democracy should work.”
He added: “This is a victory for everyone who wrote in, signed petitions, and spoke up. The strength of feeling across Exeter was clear. People care deeply about their democratic rights, and they were right to demand answers.”
“Those responsible for the original decision will now have to face up to it in May when they are up for election. That is how accountability and democracy works.”
Honiton and Sidmouth
The MP for Honiton & Sidmouth Richard Foord has written to the energy secretary, highlighting at-risk areas in East Devon, to demand the Government thinks again on weakening laws to protect nature in favour of development.
In a letter to Ed Miliband, energy security and net zero secretary, Mr Foord wrote: “Before the election, protecting nature was something that the Labour leadership appeared completely committed to. But their rhetoric since taking power has been dismissive of the natural world, even going as far as to blame nature for blocking growth, which is complete nonsense.
“In my own constituency, the Habitats Regulations (under the designation of Special Areas of Conservation) protect a number of locations that support rare species, marine life or plants.”
These places include:
- Beer Quarry Caves and the surrounding area
- The East Devon Pebblebed Heaths (specifically Aylesbeare Common and Venn Ottery Common)
- Lyme Bay
- The River Axe catchment
Mr Foord added: Now is the time to invest in protecting our natural world, not to weaken the only laws that protect it.
“Allowing the natural world to be neglected in this way will only benefit a handful of developers who can cut costs by bending the rules in future.”
Sidmouth
Visitors to The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth can take part in the charity’s new spring activity, Strawberry’s Hoofprint Trail, which runs from now until March 29.
Trail sheets cost £5 each which includes a prize on completion.
A spokesman for the charity said: “Strawberry is one of the sanctuary’s adoption donkeys and is instantly recognisable thanks to her unique reddish-brown strawberry roan coat.
“By following her hoofprints, people will learn how sanctuary grooms keep all the resident donkeys’ feet healthy to then be able to answer the questions on their trail sheets and win a prize.”
Stock photo: The Donkey Sanctuary.
The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth is open every day from 9am until 5pm. Entry is free.
Exmouth
Police in Exmouth are inviting the public along to meet-and-greet sessions in a bid to learn about issues in the town.
The neighbourhood police team said the events are to ‘ask questions or express concerns’.
Police will be at:
- Exmouth Library, Exeter Road, Exmouth, Friday, February 27, 12noon-2pm
- Albion Court, Union Street, Exmouth, Tuesday, March 3, 11am – 1pm.
Sergeant James Dalley, at Exmouth police station, said: “Whether it’s anti-social behaviour, careless driving or any other issue, we want to know about it.
“Information shared with us helps to build an accurate picture of the issues affecting our communities and means we can work more effectively within our teams and alongside our partners to look at any issues and devise a plan to tackle them.
“We hope that these events will enable us to make lasting, sustainable and meaningful change within the town to make our spaces safer for everyone.”
Budleigh Salterton
Residents enjoyed a Valentine-themed afternoon tea.
Photo: with permission.
Love was all around at The Firs care home in Budleigh Salterton when residents celebrated Valentine’s Day with afternoon tea and live music.
The home’s manager said: “The afternoon tea was a wonderful way to celebrate Valentine’s Day together, and seeing the joy on everyone’s faces made it truly memorable.”
Music and entertainment had a love-theme to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
Photo: with permission.
Budleigh Salterton
Hundreds of protesters recently turned out to protest against 700 homes planned for the outskirts of Budleigh Salterton.
Campaigners with placards joined forces, hitting out against the East Devon Local Plan proposal to build the development two miles away from the town, on the B3179 Budleigh to Woodbury road, on land opposite the archery club.
Campaigner Chrissy Howick said the strong turnout proved the strength of feeling against the super-sized housing plan dubbed EXMO_20 which borders protected heathland.
Chrissy said: “To get hundreds of people attending a protest organised with only a couple of days’ notice and on a rainy day shows the strength of feeling against this development.
“EDDC say they have considered other sites but surely there are better options that this beautiful green land site on a dangerous road right beside a protected conservation area home to rare wildlife? They claim this site has the best infrastructure to accommodate the housing but I’m not sure what infrastructure they are referring to –certainly not traffic, flood management or sewerage”.
Residents turned out to object against plans to build 700 homes on the outskirts of Budleigh Salterton.
Photo: with permission.
Campaigners say Budleigh residents are ‘worried’ about the proposed site access and how the development would impact on the town’s ‘already overloaded’ sewerage system.
The protesters have urged East Devon District Council to consider the ‘countless’ objections to the proposal and stand up to the Government’s push to build on the countryside.
Tom Shillitoe, Exmouth resident, said: “We would like East Devon to revisit this and make an informed decision based on all the information provided by the various bodies and experts on this site which has been widely recognised as unviable. Not least because it is adjacent to the Pebblebed Heaths, a double internationally designated Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area and Site of Special Scientific Interest and home to the Nightjar, a rare ground nesting bird.”
John Hamill, of Dalditch Lane, Budleigh, said: “The increased footfall, light, sound and site pollution produced by the development will impact on the many rare ground nesting birds in the area. No mitigation will prevent the disastrous effect on all aspects of the wildlife on the common.”
He added: “The proposed site entrance is right onto the already horrifically dangerous B3179 – we have had many accidents there in the last year which have caused chaos and even resulted in further accidents down the tiny lanes which have then become totally clogged.”
The group End Sewage Convoys And Pollution in and around Exmouth (ESCAPE) said it had ‘serious concerns’ about the 2025 water cycle study carried out in connection to the latest version of the East Devon Local Plan.
An ESCAPE spokesperson said: “ESCAPE considers the water cycle study has been rushed, is incomplete and inaccurate and should not be used to inform planning decisions in the region until further work is undertaken to address issues raised.”
Sidmouth
The school, on the Manstone Avenue site, is expected to be finished by summer 2026.
Image: with permission.
A computer-generated image of part of the revamped primary school.
Image: with permission.
These computer-generated images show the state-of-the-art new Sidmouth CofE Primary School, expected to be ready for pupils to move into later this year.
The development has already started to take shape at the Manstone Avenue site, and once complete it will include outdoor space and a multi-use green area.
The multi-use area will give the school all-year outdoor sports access.
A spokeswoman for the school said: “Existing buildings are being replaced and renovated with the aim to create a modern indoor and outdoor space to meet evolving educational needs.”
The new build is part funded by the Department for Education (DfE) and Devon County Council.
The school will have all-year outdoor sports access.
Image: with permission.
Exmouth
A club supporting stroke survivors in Exmouth has secured funding for the next three years.
Exmouth Stroke Survivors Club said the funding was a ‘significant achievement’.
A spokesman for the club said: “It will allow us to continue providing vital support to stroke survivors in our community.”
The club, which aims to provide help and support in a number of ways, is appealing to pubs and businesses in the town to display the charity’s collection pots.
Sidmouth
The Donkey Sanctuary this month celebrated winning two Primary Times awards – an accolade in the best day out category and a runner-up gong for offering the best value for money.
The animal charity and its restaurant was recently recognised with Devon Tourism, Taste of the West and Food Drink Devon gold awards.
Pictured here are members of The Donkey Sanctuary kitchen team with their awards.
Photo: The Donkey Sanctuary.
Laura Drummond, The Donkey Sanctuary spokeswoman, thanked all who voted for the charity.
She said: “Picking up two awards in the Primary Times Star awards is a great start to the year and recognises our commitment to offering families a fun and affordable day out in East Devon.
“It’s such a joy to see children and their families engaging with our wonderful donkeys and learning more about these fascinating and often misunderstood animals.”
East Devon
A homeless East Devon veteran who spent years sleeping rough has been helped to rebuild his life with support from SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.
Nick, from East Devon, had served in the British Army.
Photo: with permission.
Nick, aged 63, who served in the British Army, became homeless after a medical condition forced him out of military service and he struggled to adjust to civilian life.
After camping alone in woodland through winters, SSAFA stepped in to help Nick secure and furnish a flat in East Devon.
Nick said the help has boosted his life from ‘five per cent to 95 per cent’.
Nick was offered a flat by the council but could not afford the bus fare to collect the keys.
He called SSAFA and the Devon branch helped Nick to secure and furnish the flat.
Nick, left, moved into his East Devon flat in December 2025. He is pictured here with his dog and SSAFA case worker.
Photo: with permission.
Photo:
His SSAFA caseworker said: “When we first walked into the property, it was clear that although Nick had somewhere to live, he didn’t yet have a home.
“There were no carpets, no bedding, no furniture and no warmth. Together, we were able to secure funding for essential items — the basics many of us take for granted, but which make all the difference when someone is starting again.”
