West Country (W) Barnstaple News

A North Devon plumber who fraudulently claimed to be a registered gas fitter has received a suspended prison sentence and tagging order preventing him from leaving his home after 8pm.

Ben Laverty failed to check gas appliances he had been asked to test and produced false certificates declaring them safe at four properties in Barnstaple, a court heard yesterday.

He appeared before Barnstaple Magistrates charged with two breaches of safety law after the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated his fraudulent activity.

All gas engineers must be members of the Gas Safe Register by law so customers can be sure they are dealing with someone who is properly trained and qualified to do the job.

Unregistered installers who carry out gas work could expose people to unacceptable risks that can prove fatal. Any business or sole trader who carries out work on any gas appliance without being properly trained and registered is breaking the law and HSE will not hesitate to prosecute.

• UK
• Devon
• Barnstaple

With some of the world's best players taking part, and a record number of British women making the first round, organisers of Barnstaple's international tennis tournament say they're delighted to be back.

Seth Conway reports:

• UK
• Barnstaple
• tennis

Top seed Switzerland's Romina Oprandi (far end) is on her way to victory in the first round of the Aegon Pro Series in Barnstaple. Eight British women have lined up in the main draw this year.

• UK
• Barnstaple
• tennis

Round one of the $75000 Aegon Pro Series tennis tournament at Barnstaple starts this afternoon [Wednesday]. An incredible seven British women are in the main draw with a further two through to the final round of qualifying this morning.

The tournament runs until Sunday and champion GB'a Anne Keothavong is back to defend her singles and doubles titles.

• UK
• Barnstaple
• tennis

Round one of the $75000 Aegon Pro Series tennis tournament at Barnstaple starts this afternoon.

An incredible seven British women are in the main draw with a further two through to the final round of qualifying.

The tournament runs until Sunday and Great Britain's Anne Keothavong is back to defend her singles and doubles titles.

• Sport
• Barnstaple
• Tennis

The AEGON pro-series tennis tournament starts in Barnstaple today.

British number three Anne Keothavong is the top British player on show. The 29-year old is hoping to retain the ladies' singles title she won last year with a top prize of around £45,000. The tournament runs until Sunday.

• UK
• Barnstaple

On the trains, there are delays of up to 40 minutes on First Great Western services between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple due to overrunning engineering works. Normal service is unlikely to resume before 10 am.

• UK
• Exeter
• Barnstaple

Police in Barnstaple are appealing for information after live cables worth £5,000 were stolen from a local quarry.

The incident took place at the open part of the Aggregate Industries site at Landkey between Friday 21st - Sunday 23rd September.

Those responsible cut into live 415-volt cables and stole 150 metres of the cabling.

To cut into live cabling is obviously extremely foolhardy and could have had disastrous consequences for those involved.

I would urge anyone with information regarding this theft, or anyone who may have been offered this cabling, to contact the police.

Anyone who may have information is asked to call the police on 101, quoting reference CB/12/3141.

• UK
• Barnstaple

• UK
• Barnstaple
• North Devon