More beaches in our region than last year have failed water quality tests after the UK suffered the wettest summer for a century.
Across the South West, 177 beaches passed the minimum European standard with 16 fails.117 beaches passed the tougher 'guideline' tests with 76 failing. Our reporter Kathy Wardle has been to one beach in Cornwall which failed both tests.
Charlie Green, owner of the Edgcumbe Hotel in Bude which overlooks Summerleaze Beach says tourists have no need to worry that the waters have failed a quality survey.
South West Water have given their reaction to the results of a Defra survey which shows that 16 bathing water beaches in the region have failed to meet the required quality.
Richard Gilpin, the Head of Waste Water for South West Water, told The West Country Tonight that there can be many contributing factors to water quality on individual beaches which failed the test:
New figures show that 16 beaches in the South West failed to reach the required standard for bathing water in the latest report on quality standards published by Defra today.
Lyme Regis' Church Cliff Beach, Budleigh Salterton and Summerleaze in Bude were amongst the beaches which failed to reach the required standard.
Nationally the figures show that 93 per cent of England’s bathing waters met the minimum European water quality criteria.
A bus driver in his 50s was stabbed in the leg when he stepped out of his bus in Budleigh Salterton last night.
It happened at around 8.20pm in South Farm Road.
The driver was out of the Stagecoach bus at the time when he was approached by a man who assaulted him in a completely unprovoked attack. He was stabbed in his right thigh. The offender then ran off.
The victim was taken to the R D & E Hospital where the knife was removed, and he remained recovering in hospital overnight.
The offender is described as a white man, over 25 years of age, with dark shoulder length hair, slim to medium build and wearing a olive green parker style, knee length jacket.
Hilary Mantel, who lives in Budleigh Salterton, has won literature's Man Booker Prize for the second time
Read the full storyArchaeologists in Budleigh Salterton have discovered a hand grenade whilst digging in a field at Bicton College.
A bomb disposal squad has been called to the scene. The grenade appears to be a similar those used in World War 2.
A 70-year-old man and his 10-year-old grandson have been rescued by helicopter off cliffs between Budleigh Salterton and Exmouth.
Although Portland Coastguards attended the scene, they were unable to get to the pair.
A helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was called to rescue them at around nine fifteen this evening. They had been out for a walk and when cut off by the tide, tried to climb the cliffs to safety.
Just two weeks ago we had major flooding and dismal weather across large parts of the region. This weekend it's all sun and blue sky. Our reporter Richard Lawrence has revisited one of the affected areas to see what a difference a fortnight makes in the great British summer
A Flood Warning has been issued by the Environment Agency for the River Otter (Lower) from Fenny Bridges to Budleigh Salterton. People living nearby are warned to block doors and to move family, pets and any valuables to safety.
Flooding is expected for riverside properties and roads between Fenny Bridges and Budleigh Salterton, including Gosford, Cadhay, Harpford, Colaton Raleigh, Budleigh Salterton, the A3052 at Newton Poppleford and the A376 at Budleigh Salterton.
