News in Sidmouth

Sidmouth is gearing up for an evening of festive fun at this year's Late Night Shopping event.

Next Friday, December 6, Sidmouth's town centre shops will be staying open until 8pm and the town will play host to dancing, singing and even a visit from Santa Claus himself.

This Friday, November 29, Ottery St Mary will host its Christmas lights switch on and late night shopping event.

The evening will begin with a brass band playing outside Downs Motors at 5.30pm. It will then move to the steps outside the Parish Church, where the La La Choir will perform hymns and people can enjoy the Christmas Tree Festival.

Donkeys are in a state of global crisis with the animals facing population collapse across a number of countries as traders target their skins to export as an ingredient for ejiao, a traditional Chinese medicine, a new report from The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, shows.

The Donkey Sanctuary's latest report into the trade, the Under The Skin Update, has found that local donkey populations have crashed in a number of countries as increasing demand for ejiao has led to an unsustainable number of donkeys being slaughtered.

A crash has partially blocked the A30 near Ottery St Mary this morning – leading to queuing traffic.

Police report the crash took place at around 8.10am today on the A30 Westbound between Gosford Road and the B3174, Daisy Mount Cross, West Hill.

East Devon District Council is looking for someone to take on the role of Deputy Operations Manager for its Streetscene service covering Sidmouth and the wider East Devon area.

The role would require the successful applicant to work out of the council's depots in Manstone, Sidmouth, and Camperdown, Exmouth. The position comes with a salary ranging between £28,785 and £31,371.

Sidmouth's Jurassic Paddle Sports, which is currently on 'rocky ground', was the subject of two complaints in the run up to a crucial meeting to secure the business' future, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.

The FOI request to East Devon District Council (EDDC) was sent in by Sidmouth resident Lois Swarbrick after the public were made aware the business was at risk of closure and an online petition was created which stated that: "Due to a small number of complaints from the public and the actions of East Devon District Council the viability of this service is under threat."

A 73-year-old man has died after a single vehicle crash on farmland near Sidmouth.

On the afternoon of Monday, November 25, a single-vehicle collision occurred on farmland in the Salcombe Regis area of Sidmouth, where, sadly, a 73-year-old local man was fatally injured.

A prospective parliamentary candidate for Sidmouth, East Devon, is once again standing to try and help solve Britain's longest running missing person's investigation.

Peter Faithfull, who is also a town and district councillor, is one of six candidates standing in East Devon.

The Met Office has issued a fresh weather warning for heavy rain in the Sidmouth area.

A Yellow Weather Warning for heavy rain has been issued by the Met Office for Tuesday (November 26) and Wednesday.

Sidmouth Swimming Pool has been chosen to receive funding for a Poolpod, which will allow members of the local community to gain safe access to the water.

Swim England has revealed that 20 sites across the UK are receiving funding to create inclusive swimming environments for people with long-term health conditions, disabilities and rehabilitation needs.