Herald Express

POLICE are hunting a hit-and-run van driver who sped off after smashing into a car containing three young men.

The Transit-style van drove off after it was in a collision with a Volkswagen Lupo after coming off the A38 slip road at Chudleigh Knighton.

The small car containing the three men, from the Chudleigh area, was travelling towards Bovey Tracey when the van, which had come off the dual carriageway, hit it head-on.

None of the teenagers was seriously hurt but they needed hospital treatment for whiplash injuries and shock.

The mother of one of those involved, who did not wish to be named, said: "It was lucky no-one was killed."

The incident happened at 9.45pm on Monday.

The three friends were driving towards Bovey Tracey along the B3344 when the van came off the A38 slip road and hit their car.

The vehicle made off without stopping.

A passing motorist alerted emergency services. Police, ambulance and fire crews attended. The three young men were taken to Torbay Hospital suffering whiplash injuries and shock.

The VW Lupo was written off.

The mum said: "The car was completely smashed in at the front.

"My son had to climb through the window of his car to get out and he chased the van down the road, trying to get a registration or something. But it went back on the A38 towards Plymouth.

"It's a miracle no-one was seriously hurt and police said that they were lucky no-one was killed.

"The car is written off. The boys were all very shocked.

"We drove around the next day trying to see if we could find the van but we found nothing. The car has got scrapes of what looks like green and yellow paint on it from the van.

"We are desperate to track down the van and want anyone who may have seen anything to contact police.

"The van must be in a pretty bad way itself so it would be quite noticeable."

Police inquiries are focusing on vans caught on camera travelling down the road at the time of the collision and they are also following up lines of inquiry around the registration plate.

A police spokesman said: "We are looking for a white Transit-style van. We believe it may have had a fruit logo on its side.

"Police have conducted a search of the area and are now following other lines of inquiry to try and track down the van driver.

"We would appeal for anyone who may have seen the van, either at the time or since the incident, to come forward."

Anyone with information can call police on 08452 777 444 quoting crime reference number 1065 of August 30.

TORBAY Tory leader Kevin Carroll (pictured) has said Brixham Town Council is getting 'too big for its boots' in the latest war of words over a major redevelopment scheme in the fishing port.

The row has blown up after Councillor Mike Morey, who is vice-chairman of Brixham Town Council, asked for a special meeting of Torbay Council's planning committee to be held in Brixham to consider the sensitive Wall Park application.

The current proposals include plans for 231 homes, 14 holiday chalets, a care home, two bat barns and use of land for caravanning and camping on the former Wall Park holiday park site.

Mr Morey had branded Torbay Council councillors 'chicken' after the local authority said this wasn't possible because planning meetings are held at Oldway Mansion in Paignton.

Today, Councillor Kevin Carroll, who sits on Torbay Council's Development Control Committee and is a member of the Cabinet, hit back saying: "Brixham are trying to decide what we are doing in Torbay when they are just a parish council and they should concentrate on doing that.

"I think once again it is Brixham trying to run the whole council. We saw it with the Old Market Place and it seems to me that the town council are getting too big for their boots."

He added: "I can't understand why Mike Morey is calling us chicken.

"This is a decision that needs to be taken by Torbay Council and we will determine where and how that decision is taken. I think Brixham councillors should get down to looking at how they could improve the lives of Brixham people.

"Torbay Council and the planning committee is a function of Torbay Council not Brixham Town Council."

He said that the planning committee had met at Oldway Mansion for the past four years because it was set up for meetings and if 200 people did turn up then they could accommodate them.

"There is the issue of bringing staff, officers and councillors together. I think the Wall Park application is up at the next meeting and here we are, right on top of the meeting saying that we should hold the meeting in Brixham. It's not that easy getting everyone together and get the rooms. We will make that decision because Torbay Council runs Torbay Council."

He claimed the Opposition was about 'electioneering' with the local elections only eight months away, adding: "All of a sudden Mike Morey is jumping up and down as if he is Mr Brixham himself. He should make his representation through the chairman of Brixham Town Council.

"He is just playing politics."

However, Mr Morey said they had been trying since July to try and bring the meeting to Brixham.

He pointed out again that a precedent had already been set with past planning meetings for two Torquay planning applications not taking place at Oldway.

"It is about bringing the decision-making process to the people rather than getting them to traipse over to Oldway," said Mr Morey.

He said there had been a series of things he had been trying to 'protect' in Brixham and said the Wall Park issue had been going on for two or three years so denied it was 'electioneering'.

The fishing port's residents attended a Brixham Town Council meeting in July, where the application was the only item up for discussion and met with strong opposition.

Ki Barnes, the clerk for Brixham Town Council, said: "At a planning meeting that we held to discuss this application in July, we had more than a hundred people attend, so it is very important to the residents."

She said it could affect not only housing, but the town's employment and the number of people able to access the town easily in the evening and thereby affecting restaurant trade too.

"It is a matter of prime importance and a precedent has been set when a Torquay application was heard in Torquay and residents and councillors believe that this application should be heard here in the port," said Ms Barnes.

Mr Carroll said he was not involved with the special planning meeting held at the Riviera Conference Centre in September last year to discuss the Palm Court Hotel development and the Torwood Street development and maintained that 'Torbay Council runs Torbay Council'.

UP TO 50 officers took part in a series of raids yesterday as police launched a new assault on the hard drugs underworld of Torbay.

Yesterday's Operation Tucker involved raids on suspect addresses across Paignton and Torquay.

The aim was to punch as many holes as possible in the heroin supply chain which fuels acquisitive crime across the two resorts.

Detective Inspector Dave Thorne, who headed the strikes, revealed afterwards: "Altogether we arrested six people which is what we expected — and we did seize a quantity of a substance we believe to be heroin."

He said all those arrested were detained on suspicion of either supplying Class A drugs such as heroin or being concerned in the supply of the drugs.

"These arrests are all part of the continued disruption we are trying to maintain over the supply of heroin in Torquay and Paignton which will in turn reduce the harmful effects this trade can have on the community," Mr Thorne said.

He praised the efforts of the neighbourhood policing team who played a primary role in yesterday's series of attacks against the drugs trade.

"They are continuing to do good work in the community," said Mr Thorne, who warned the fight against dealers would be unflagging.

He said more arrests and seizures might be notched up before the end of the day.

Seizures in the early part of the operation included 20 wraps of a substance reckoned to be heroin.

The swoops were executed after a special briefing with senior officers at Paignton Police Station just before 9am yesterday.

In Dartmouth Road, Paignton, police arrested two men — aged 23 and 60 — and in the resort's Palace Avenue they detained a 27-year-old man.

In Torquay a 48-year-old from Lichfield Avenue was taken in for questioning as was a 34-year-old from Factory Row.

A street arrest was made in nearby Castle Road where a 20-year-old man was detained.

Mr Thorne confirmed 50 officers were involved in the planning and execution of the raids.

He urged anyone with information about illicit drug dealing in the Bay to call police on 08452 777444 or to use the confidential Crimestoppers number of 0800 555111.

EVERYONE'S been there: the purchase of an 'emergency' bottle of wine.

This type of purchase usually takes place at the end of a long, hard day at work, when you just want to sit down with a nice glass of wine and switch off for a while. Sometimes, the 'emergency' wine is sought out in celebration — a new job, perhaps — but in every case the bottle is usually bought hastily at short notice and turns out to be a bit underwhelming.

I drank this Pinot Grigio with my parents, and we all agreed that it tasted like a hastily-bought bottle of wine: serviceable enough, but no great shakes on the taste front.

The label loftily promised an 'elegant finish', but didn't quite deliver. A decent Pinot Grigio, according to my research, is supposed to be rich and full-bodied, with a fruity, floral bouquet.

Well, this was certainly fruity (sharp citrus), and I suppose vaguely floral, but isn't every bottle of white wine?

This is a good, reliable choice if you're just looking for a quick glass, but don't bother putting it aside for a special occasion.

NICOLETTE FRANCES SMITH

A 15-YEAR-OLD boy from Totnes underwent emergency surgery in hospital after accidentally firing a spear from a gun into his foot.

Firefighters cut off most of the spear so he could be transported in greater comfort by ambulance to Plymouth's Derriford Hospital where the missile was removed.

Details of how Sunday evening's accident in Kingsbridge happened are unclear.

It's thought the lad may have been with his father at the time of the accident which happened under Bowcombe Bridge near Kingsbridge.

Salcombe's inshore lifeboat was called out amid fears the lad may have been in the water.

A fire and ambulance crew from Kingsbridge was also dispatched to the scene as were the Prawle Point coastguard rescue team.

The casualty, who has not been named, was taken to a nearby location at New Bridge for an awaiting ambulance.

A coastguard spokesman said: "It would appear he somehow shot himself through the foot."

An ambulance spokesman said paramedics were alerted at 7.30pm.

The patient was treated at the scene with painkillers before firefighters used a bolt cutter to remove a section of the spear.

He was admitted to the accident and emergency department at 9.47pm.

BONARDA is a new varietal for me, someone who has only recently started to explore the wines of the South American continent.

A little bit of research shed light on the fact that the Bonarda varietal is actually the most widely planted grape in Argentina. Controversy surrounds its origins — some say it hails from Italy (where there are actually three Bonarda types ) while others go for the theory that Bonarda may be the California Charbono. Either way, the proof of the pudding is in the taste, so a bottle of 2009 Las Moras Bonarda was duly uncorked and given an hour's breathing time.

Finca Las Moras is located in the Tulum valley in San Juan, with vineyards at an altitude of 660 metres. Winemaker Daniel Pi made the 100 per cent Bonarda from 30-year-old vines through natural fermentation in contact with oak staves.

Despite being a young wine it wasn't at all as harsh as I expected. It's a light, smooth-tasting wine with distinct, but not overpowering, fruit flavours of cherry and blackberry, with an added touch of vanilla just to smooth things down. In short, it's very drinkable.

The Co-operative and Somerfield currently have the wine on offer at £4.25 a bottle (normal price £5.25). I'd certainly recommend it.

STEVE POPE

A MAJOR search and rescue operation was launched across Torbay yesterday after a man was reported missing.

The police helicopter was seen hovering over Paignton and Goodrington seafront while Coastguard teams from Berry Head and Torbay scoured the coastline.

The RNIB inshore lifeboat also joined in the search, which lasted for more than five hours.

A 42-year-old man from Yorkshire had been reported missing in the resort at 11am yesterday but was later found safe on Paignton seafront at 4.30pm by police officers.

Earlier the police helicopter had joined in the search efforts, with the Coastguards scrambled shortly afterwards.

Coastguards said they were searching Goodrington, Broadsands, Paignton Beach, Roundham Road, Victoria Road and Hollicombe Head, as well as out towards Sharkham.

A police spokesman said the missing man was understood to be vulnerable.

The police spokesman added: "There had been a continued and concerted effort by the police and Coastguard to try and find this man.

"We were concerned for him because he is vulnerable and from out of the area, and so we were keen to hear from anyone.

"Police had been searching the area and treated it as a priority because we were increasingly concerned for his welfare."

One witness at Preston said he had seen lots of activity along the coastline.

"The helicopter has been overhead and the lifeboat has gone from Preston to Paignton and back down to Torquay," he said.

POLICE are still trying to trace the owner of a caravan which was gutted in a mystery Bank Holiday blaze in Totnes.

Police scenes of crime officers and fire brigade experts have both been sifting through the wreckage of the caravan to try and discover the cause of the blaze which is being treated as possible arson.

Meanwhile, no-one has claimed ownership of the caravan which was parked in the car park of the Smugglers Inn – a former pub in Steamer Quay Road which has been closed and left empty for more than two years.

The blaze completely destroyed the caravan making it difficult to discover just how it started.

It was so fierce that it set nearby trees on fire.

A police spokesman said that the owner of the former pub had not even been aware that the caravan had been parked on his car park.

It is believed that at one point it had been occupied by a woman who had not been seen there for at least a fortnight before the fire.

The blaze was discovered at around 1am on Bank Holiday Monday.

Firefighters from Totnes who fought the fire, managed to haul a liquid petroleum gas container from the burning vehicle before dumping it in a water filled wheeled rubbish bin to cool it down.

A fire service spokesman aid: "Although there were signs of occupation there was no-one there at the time of the fire."

LIFEBOAT crews across South Devon have had one of their busiest weekends of the year.

Nothing unusual in that as this was, after all, a bank holiday and the area has been flooded with holidaymakers and regatta-goers keen to take advantage of the late-summer sun.

As the Herald Express reported yesterday, the lifeboat crew in Teignmouth answered three calls in the space of a couple of hours — 'shouts' which may have been avoided with a little more, let's say, common sense and responsibility.

The Dartmouth crews similarly have had their busiest weekend in years with a series of legitimate calls for help.

But also sneaked in between rescue missions concerning a sinking yacht and a boat which had lost its propeller, was an alert over sightings of what was thought to be red distress flares.

The Dart lifeboat spent hours searching from the mouth of the Dart to Scabbacombe Cove while colleagues in Torbay scoured the coast from Scabbacombe to Berry Head.

It is thought the flares were, in fact, Chinese Lanterns.

It would seem that the number of these lanterns appearing in our skies and drifting out to sea is on the increase.

Any eagle-eyed member of the public can be forgiven for confusing them for flares and the crews have no alternative but to respond once the alert is raised.

But how frustrating — and, more importantly, time consuming — it must be for them.

Thankfully, Brixham coastguards report that the public is finally seeing the light over the launching of the lanterns.

More and more people are now letting the emergency service know in advance when they intend to use the flying candles.

Manufacturers' instructions even ask them to tell coastguards before they are launched.

Nobody want to be a kill-joy. The lanterns light up the night-sky and are a delight to see, but forewarned is forearmed.

As we say, it's all down to common sense — and a phone call.

A MAN suffered a suspected broken leg and a back injury after he fell into the River Teign in the early hours of Monday.

The man, from Chagford, had to be rescued from the river after he fell off Rushford Bridge in the town in a suspected alcohol related accident.

Fire crews were sent to the scene of the accident at about 12.53am on Monday after they received a call from a woman who saw him lying on rocks on the river bed.

Two appliances from Chagford and Moretonhampstead were mobilised along with the specialist rescue team from Camelshead in Plymouth.

A specialist rescue officer and an appliance from Okehampton were stationed further down the river for downstream containment.

An ambulance from Okehampton was also in attendance.

Chagford station commander Darren Moore said: "A local man was lying on his back on rocks on the river bed. He was cold and wet and so we decided to get him out manually rather than wait for the specialist unit to arrive.

"We put up two ladders either side of the bridge and used height equipment to get the firefighters safely down the very steep bank to the river.

"We took the paramedics with us and used a line to lower all the medical equipment they needed."

The specialist unit was stood down while paramedics stabilised the casualty and immobilised him by putting him on a spinal board.

Firefighters then stood in the shallow part of the river and formed a chain to pass the stretcher along towards dry land.

The rescue took about one and a half hours. The man was then taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

Commander Moore said: "The information we have is that the man was at a barbecue and had been drinking when he toppled over the bridge which is at calf height.

"Alcohol effects people in every mode of transport including on foot.

"We don't want to be kill-joys but we do want to promote drink awareness.

"If you are drinking be aware of your surroundings."

PLANS for a new £1.6million fish quay for Teignmouth have been given the green light.

The vision to extend and enhance the quay was given the full backing of Teignbridge Council's development control committee yesterday.

The organisation behind the proposals are today looking at their next step in their bid to rejuvenate the busy quay.

Teign Fisherman's and Waterman's Association had applied for outline permission to create the new quay and fishing storage enclosure area.

A focal point of their argument in favour of approval was the major tidy-up would help safeguard jobs and allow other marine businesses, such as rowing and boating schools, to thrive.

The application site, on land in Teignbridge Council's ownership, includes part of the existing foreshore and the south-western end and part of the northern end of the existing fish quay.

Association chairman Derek Bladon said: "This is a very small step — about 10 per cent of what needs to be done.

"This outline planning application is stage one of a two-stage project, stage two being the replacement of the old mortuary building currently used as fishermen stores.

"The redevelopment of the quay will enable the fishermen to continue their trade and will create future employment for the younger generations."

Teignmouth Councillor Sylvia Russell said: "It'll act as a springboard for regeneration. Many are quite surprised at how active our fishing industry is in Teignmouth and there is great potential to increase that capacity."

Shaldon Councillor Chris Clarance said: "I am thrilled about this plan. We have to get on with it."

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Bladon said: "I am very pleased we got wholehearted support from Councillor Russell and Councillor Clarance and that the plan was unanimously approved.

"We still have to go through all the regulatory hurdles, including getting financial backing from the European Union.

"There is a long road ahead of us, but I believe it is achievable."

A HOUSE closed down by police after problems with antisocial behaviour could soon reopen if certain conditions are met.

But police say they will be 'keeping an eye' on the property.

Three months have passed since police and Torbay Council used their powers to temporarily shut down a detached multi occupancy house at 3 Keysfield Road.

A closure order was granted at Torquay Magistrates Court in May, but the three-month period has now expired.

Paignton police Inspector Mel Broad said a letter will be sent to all the residents in the street reassuring them police haven't taken their 'eye off the ball'.

Mr Broad warned: "If there is a recurrence of antisocial behaviour, we will immediately go back to court to seek further closure orders and that has been explained to the landlord Angela Claydon.

"I understand that Torbay Council have served certain prohibition notices on her relating to the safety of the housing.

"The notices basically mean she has to make certain safety improvements before she or anyone else can move back in."

Ms Claydon has until Sunday, September 5, to appeal against the council's latest notices.

Mr Broad and Ms Claydon have agreed the boarding will stay up at the property to help keep it secure while the initial safety improvements are carried out.

They include work on the utilities and smoke alarms.

Mr Broad said the rubbish-filled gardens had been tidied up since the house had been closed by police back in May.

"The gardens have been improved," he said.

"The council served a notice on her that she had to remove the unsightly vehicles and rubbish that had accumulated in the garden and to be sure there has been an improvement on the outside of the building.

"The outside is looking tidy, but there is still work to do on the inside."

When the closure order was served, the court heard the police had been called 53 times in a year.

The people whose names were on the order had a combined total of 140 convictions.

This represented 224 offences since May last year.

A TREE that shaded a young Agatha Christie during cricket matches in Torquay is under threat.

The world's bestselling crime writer is known to have spent time keeping score in the shadow of the old oak tree at Barton Cricket Club.

The tree is under threat from fungus, shedding bark and old age.

But Torbay Council's arboricultural experts are making a bid to save it.

Neil Coish, the council's senior arboricultural officer, has inspected the great oak and is working on a plan of action to save the tree, which is between 300 and 350 years old.

He stressed that the tree is not going to be removed. But he said some serious pruning will have to be carried out.

The oak, which is used as part of the Barton Cricket Club logo, will be reduced in mass by 20 to 30 per cent. This will see between two and three metres removed from the top of the branches.

Mr Coish said: "It is known as Agatha Christie's tree, but it is in decline.

"That does not mean it has reached the end of its life. These trees can be in decline for around 50 years.

"At the moment it is 300 to 350 years old. It could live for around 500 years.

"We are not going to remove it. We have been looking after it for at least 11 years. But we do need to reduce its mass.

"If we reduce it down there is less chance of it falling over."

The tree takes pride of place in the Cricketfield Road car park but has numerous 'decay fungal fruiting bodies' on its main trunk and root system.

Causing particular concern is some fast-growing fungus in the 'V' of the tree.

"This attacks the heart and the internals of the tree. We do not know what is going on inside," explained Mr Coish.

No work will be undertaken until November when the tree is in its dormant state.

Before any work takes place the iconic structure will be inspected by an expert in veteran tree management.

AFTER one of the toughest gardening years in decades, the winners of Torbay's Bay Blooms competition have been announced.

Having recovered from damage to many tender plants in the winter frost, snow and ice, English Riviera gardeners faced a long dry spell, followed by damaging heavy August downpours.

But the judges were still impressed with the quality of the displays put on by residents and businesses across the Bay.

Joint venture company TOR2 is now running the Bay Blooms competition. The company organised the judging of all 27 categories.

Lindsay Weaver, technical senior supervisor, said: "We would like to thank all those who judged the competition in their free time and also all the residents, businesses, schools, allotment holders, clubs and groups who enter the competition and ensure that the floral displays look stunning for all to see, both visitors and residents."

The first, second and third and highly commended certificate winners are invited to a special presentation ceremony at Paignton Zoo on October 5.

The results (apart from winners who wanted no publicity) are:

SUPERCLASS: 1, Miss Penelope Batley, Ash Dene House, 67 Dunmere Road, Ellacombe, Torquay; 2, Pride In Brixham Volunteers, 57 Higher Street, Brixham; 3, Mr Vic Gunbie, Paignton Sec Info Tech, 3 Midvale Road, Paignton.

PRIVATE GARDEN TORQUAY: 1, Mrs P Calland, 22 Falloway Close, Barton, Torquay; 2, Mr F Tout, Flat 4, Torwood Villas, Torwood Gardens Road, Torquay; 3, Ms YA Sims, 64 Kenwyn Road, Torquay.

PRIVATE GARDEN PAIGNTON: 1, Mr P Walling, 10 Rosemary Gardens, Paignton; 3, Mr and Mrs PN Foord, 75 Kings Ash Road, Paignton.

PRIVATE GARDEN BRIXHAM: 1, Mr and Mrs Stockman, 2 Churston Way, Brixham; 2, Ms J Wilbraham, 2 Galmpton Glade, Galmpton; 3>, Mr BS Miles, 6 North Hill Close, Brixham and Mrs CL Bayliss, 6 Elm Road, Brixham.

PRIVATE BASKET OR CONTAINER: 1, Mr P Walling, 10 Rosemary Gardens, Paignton; 2, Mrs CL Bayliss, 6 Elm Road, Brixham. 3, Mr F Tout, Flat 4, Torwood Villas, Torwood Gardens Road, Torquay.

ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY GARDEN: 1, Graham and Carol Starkie, Squirrels, 98 Barton Road, Torquay; 2, Mr S Godbehere, Estefan International, 85 Cadewell Lane, Torquay; 3, Mr W Goillau , 84 Elsdale Road, Paignton.

FLAT: 1, Mr JH Barker, 29 Elsdale Road, Paignton; 2, Mr F Tout, Flat 4, Torwood Villas, Torwood Gardens Road, Torquay; 3, Michael Rowe, 55 Littlegate Road, Paignton.

HOTEL LARGE: 1, Mr N Beck, Toorak Hotel, Chestnut Avenue, Torquay; 2, Mr S Twigger, Redcliffe Hotel, Marine Drive, Paignton; 3> Ms W Smith, Marine Hotel, 2 Adelphi Road, Paignton and Mr D Schofield, Park Hotel, Esplanade Road, Paignton;

HOTEL SMALL: 1, Mr and Mrs S and G Bay, Cottage Hotel, 4 Beach Road, Paignton; 2, Mr J Sayers, Trelawney, 48 Belgrave Road, Torquay; 3, Mrs M Gwilliam, Beverly Hotel, 46 Belgrave Road, Torquay

GUEST HOUSE: 1, Mr and Mrs S and G Bay, Cottage Hotel, 4 Beach Road, Paignton; 3, Mr J Sayers, Trelawney, 48 Belgrave Road, Torquay;

SELF CATERING ESTABLISHMENT: 1, Mr and Mrs D and L McDermott, Cranmore Lodge, 45 Marine Drive, Preston; 2, Mrs K Quaid, Harbourside Holiday Apartments, 49 Roundham Road, Paignton.

ALLOTMENT OR VEGETABLE PATCH: 1, Ms J Wilbraham, 2 Galmpton Glade, Galmpton; 2, Mr J Evans, 55 Dunmere Road, Torquay.

BEGINNER ALLOTMENT OR VEGETABLE PATCH: 3, Mrs W Foulds, 18 Crownhill Park, Torquay.

PUBLIC HOUSE OR RESTAURANT: 1, Mr R Bowrin, The Buccaneer Inn, 43 Babbacombe Down Road, Torquay; 2, Mr J Route, Waterside Inn, 126 Dartmouth Road, Paignton; 3, Mr D Jones, Hole in the Wall, 6 Park Lane, Torquay

RESIDENTIAL OR NURSING HOME: 1, Mrs MA Parsons, Margaret Clitherow House, Priory Road, St Marychurch, Torquay; 2, Mr R Squires, Burnside Court, 104-106 Torquay Road, Paignton;

SHOP OR STORE OR OTHER RETAIL PREMISES: 1> Mr S Wills, Babbacombe Model Village, Babbacombe and Ms A Roberts, Hoopers, the Strand, Torquay; 2, Mr S Godbehere, Estefan International, 85 Cadewell Lane, Torquay; 3, Mrs T Stockman, Strand Art Gallery, 2 The Strand, Brixham.

CLUB: 1, Mr B Tottle, Torre Conservative Club, 31 South Street, Torre, Torquay.

AREA OR ROAD: 1, Ms K Babbs, ACE@ Brixham Adult and Community, Higher Ranscombe Road, Brixham; 2, Mrs L Gardner, Friends of Collaton St Mary, 2 Ridge Orchard, Totnes Road, Paignton; 3, Mr BS Miles, 6 North Hill Close, Brixham

COMMERCIAL BASKET OR OTHER CONTAINER: 1, Mr R Bowrin, the Buccaneer Inn, 43 Babbacombe Downs Road, Torquay; 2> Mr S Wills, Babbacombe Model Village, Babbacombe, and Mr D Jones, Hole in the Wall, 6 Park Lane, Torquay; 3, Mrs M Gwilliam, Beverly Hotel, 46 Belgrave Road, Torquay.

PUBLIC BUILDING OR OTHER PREMISES: 1, Mrs Margaret Forbes-Hamilton, Friends of the Churchyard, Torre Churchyard, Torquay; 2, Ms K Babbs, ACE@ Brixham Adult and Community, Higher Ranscombe Road, Brixham; 3> All Saints Church, Bampfylde Road, Torre.

STREET WARDEN AREAS: 1, Mrs M Raistrick-Taylor, The Southbank, 15-17 Belgrave Road, Torquay; 2, Mr J Wragg, Flat 18, St Martin's Court, Corfe Crescent, Torquay; 3, Miss PJ O'Hara, 21 Tor Hill Road, Ground flat, Torre, Torquay;

BANK BUILDING SOCIETY OR PROFESSIONAL: 1, Mr V Farr, Torbay School of Dance, Regency House, 47 Totnes Road, Paignton.

TWO large areas of the South Devon coast have been given marine protect status.

More than 600 square kilometres of Lyme Bay and Tor Bay, as well as parts of the South Hams coast from Prawle Point at Salcombe to Plymouth, have been chosen as special areas of conservation by the Government.

The sites were selected on the basis of scientific evidence and will bring protection to habitats including reefs and sea caves where marine life thrives.

The Tor Bay zone hugs the coastline to protect sea caves and reefs and extends 1,000 metres offshore. The Lyme Bay area goes out for six nautical miles.

Reefs off Prawle support sponges and corals that provide shelter for crabs, lobsters and fish.

Natural England says the commercial anchorage in Lyme Bay and Tor Bay should not be affected as they are outside the protected areas, while fishing and potting will be allowed to continue as long as it does not affect the reef or caves.

Alex Scholefield, Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust's biodiversity officer, who manages the flagship Seashore conservation and education centre at Goodrington, the flagship for the trust's extensive marine conservation and education work, said: "This is good news. Torbay's marine life is very special and Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust is very pleased this new protection recognises its importance and will help protect it from damaging activity.

"Torbay's sea caves have an amazing diversity of marine life including rare corals and sea sponges and this will help safeguard them for the future. The UK has an incredibly rich marine environment and in the past only a small percent of it has been protected through designations so this is a good step forward."

The Government has submitted the sites, along with others in the UK, to the European Commission to be included within the European Natura 2000 network of protected areas.

Natural England is also starting a consultation until November on a possible extension of the South Hams area eastward from Prawle Point to include about 25sq km of the seabed to Start Point.

South Hams marine officer Nigel Mortimer said: "We are hugely positive to the latest stage of this process, feeling that it helps to recognise the richness and importance of this marine area of outstanding natural beauty that too few of us see and treasure because it is underwater.

"These wonderful reefs have been out-of-sight and therefore out-of-mind for too long, the colours and variety of marine life they support are truly wonderful."

He said non-divers have no idea there is such colour, beauty and richness on their very doorstep.

"The life is so prolific on the reefs that you can't see the rock for it," said Mr Mortimer. "Even within the marine biologist world, these reefs are a real and recognised bio-diversity hotspot."

He said the designation will not significantly affect uses as the reefs are mainly fished only for crab and lobster.

DARTMOUTH Regatta was the busiest period in the history of the Dart lifeboat team, which responded to six 'shouts' in five days.

Between Thursday last week and Bank Holiday Monday, the Dart crew was called out to a sinking yacht, a fishing boat with a lost propeller and a rescue alert which could have been set off by floating Chinese lanterns.

Meanwhile, lifeguards at Bantham dealt with a series of emergencies as more than 4,000 people flocked to the popular beauty spot on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Dartmouth lifeboat team has dealt with 32 call-outs so far this year, which is more than the total number of shouts for all of last year.

On Sunday night, the inshore lifeboat was launched after several reports of sightings of red flares.

The Dart lifeboat, which has been in operation for three years, spent hours searching the sea from the mouth of the Dart to Scabbacombe Cove while the Torbay Lifeboat searched the sea and coast from Scabbacombe to Berry Head.

Said a Dart lifeboat spokesman: "Nothing was found. It is possible flares had been let off deliberately, or that the lights were in fact Chinese lanterns.

"It resulted in many wasted hours of time by the RNLI volunteers and those in the coastguard cliff rescue teams.

"If Chinese lanterns are released near the coast, please inform the Coastguard so a search for a vessel in distress is not set in motion."

The first regatta call-out was on Thursday after the crew was asked to assist police by ferrying officers to a boat in the harbour.

The next day the crew were tasked to search the harbour for a couple who had not kept an appointment in Kingswear. The search for their tender was stood down one and a half hours later when it was reported they had been seen putting it in a vehicle earlier in the evening.

During the regatta, the lifeboat team coordinated with a Mark 5 Sea King helicopter from RNAS Culdrose to demonstrate winching a crewman from the water and returning him to the inshore lifeboat.

The demonstration was curtailed by Lieutenant Nigel Terry, the Sea King pilot, on the Thursday evening due to equipment failure. RNLI helmsman Chris Tracey was winched up on the Friday and crewman Kevin John on the Saturday when the exercise was repeated before packed crowds on the Dartmouth Embankment.

No sooner had the Saturday demonstration finished than the lifeboat was tasked to take a paramedic and members of the Coastguard team to help a woman who had fallen down the hatch of her motorboat on the deep water moorings and injured her leg.

After pain relief had been administered, she was brought back in a basket stretcher on the lifeboat to a waiting ambulance and transferred to Torbay Hospital.

Sunday saw the lifeboat sent to bring back the two crew of a capsized Devon yawl one and a half miles south of the Castle Ledge buoy, while taking part in a regatta sailing race.

They had been picked up by the race safety boat and were treated by the lifeboat crew for mild hypothermia during their transfer to a waiting ambulance and taken to Torbay Hospital.

Finally the lifeboat was launched to a fishing boat that had lost its propeller in Mill Bay Cove on Monday.

At Bantham beach, lifeguards went into action after five people were thrown into the water when their sailing dinghy capsized in surf at the mouth of the River Avon on Monday.

The five adults managed to get to shore safely and the RNLI lifeguard team recovered the dinghy.

The incident was just one of a series throughout the day as more than 4,000 flocked to the popular beach near Kingsbridge with at least 800 people in the water at any one time.

Apart from the capsized dinghy, the lifeguards rescued two children whose inflatable dinghy capsized in the waves, and rescued seven children caught in a rip current.

They also helped search for a number of lost children during the course of the day.

Medical emergencies involved one woman in her forties who collapsed due to a previous medical condition, and another woman who suffered an allergic reaction.

An RNLI lifeguard spokesman for Bantham said: "It was tremendously busy. Thankfully we had seven RNLI lifeguards on duty as well as four volunteers from Bantham Surf Life Saving Club.

"They worked well together to keep on top of the conditions and prevented more incidents happening."

MORE than 30 South Devon firefighters rescued 15 foreign casualties in a decontamination exercise aimed at equipping the fire service for potential terrorist attacks.

Five appliances from Bovey Tracey, Ashburton, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot and a standby crew from Wellington took part in the exercise at South Dartmoor College in Ashburton yesterday.

It took three months to organise the exercise and it was the first time they had tested the decontamination equipment and procedures on non-English speaking casualties.

Firefighters were given the scenario that the Bangladeshi casualties had been contaminated by something in the air conditioning at the college.

National resilience instructor, watch manager Jon Worsley, said: "The exercise went really well. We got the structure up and managed to get the casualties from the affected area to the showering facilities and get them changed and re-robed and into a holding area.

"We had only practised on casualties who are English before and we faced problems of communication.

"We had printed picture cards showing them what we needed them to do.

"We also had a firefighter take their clothes off and re-robe themselves so they could see what they needed to do."

Watch manager Worsley said in future they would keep the casualties in a holding area where they could see the structure being erected because they grew 'restless'.

The exercise lasted about two hours and provided the firefighters with vital training in the event of a chemical or biological attack.

There were 30 firefighters involved in the exercise and five appliances with an incident response unit carrying 300 de-robbing packs.

Steve Horrill, Wellington station commander, said: "It's something that we could be called to deal with in multi cultural areas.

"It was a big test of how we get people to understand what we need them to do."

Casualty Jahed Rahman, from Tavistock, who speaks a little English said: "They did a really good job. It was an interesting experience for us because if there was a problem like that we would know what we had to do."

A DRUNKEN Brixham man pulled a knife and threatened a teenager during a scuffle in a house, a court has heard.

Mark Thompson, 36, of Overgang, Brixham, pulled the 12inch kitchen blade on the youth and said, 'Go on, be a man', Exeter Crown Court was told.

Thompson is standing trial accused of one count of assault causing actual bodily harm on July 20 last year, which he denies.

He also denies two further counts of common assault against a woman and another youth who were in the house at the same time.

On the first day of his trial the jury heard prosecution evidence that Thompson had drunk around eight pints of beer before attacking the youth.

Prosecutor Nigel Wraith said Thompson had been drinking in the Red Lion during the early evening.

Mr Wraith said Thompson later met up with the female victim at her address and 'started being abusive'.

"He pulled a mirror off the wall and smashed it to the floor," said Mr Wraith.

When the teenager arrived at the house he told Thompson to leave but he refused, the prosecutor said.

Mr Wraith added: "He went to the kitchen and once in the kitchen took out a knife and started to attack [the youth] with it.

"He cut his arm and the inside of his palm and neck," said Mr Wraith.

The jury was told that when a second youth grabbed Thompson in a bear hug the defendant executed a 'backward headbutt' to free himself before landing a punch to his face.

Thompson was later arrested at the scene and interviewed by police. He denied using a knife saying the youth, who cannot be named, had brandished it at him. The trial continues.

A FIENDISHLY fishy false trail will lead Agatha Christie fans a merry dance next month.

To mark the Queen of Crime's 120th anniversary, 120 special red herrings will be hidden across the three towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.

A series of clues will be provided to encourage amateur sleuths to rise to the bait and discover the red herrings' whereabouts.

The participants who find the most red herrings by the end of the week stand a chance of reeling in one of an amazing haul of prizes.

These include a two-night stay in the deluxe Park Plaza Victoria Hotel in London, with tickets to see Dame Agatha's play The Mousetrap.

Other prizes include a trip aboard the British Pullman or Northern Belle Orient Express Train and a full series of Agatha Christie interactive computer games.

The fun-filled trail was inspired by Christie's novels, which are littered with deliberately misleading literary red herrings that put readers off the narrative scent.

Lydia Stone, tourism officer at the English Riviera Tourist Board, said: "Many of the fish will be hidden in places that featured in the life and works of Torquay's most famous literary daughter, providing the perfect hook for visitors to explore Agatha Christie's Riviera."

A clue sheet will be available to collect from Tourist Information Centres and libraries in Torquay, Paignton and Brixham from September 12.

They will also be available to download from www. englishriviera.co.uk/agatha christie.

The treasure hunt is one of more than 50 Agatha Christie-themed events that will be taking place across the English Riviera throughout the festival, which runs from September 12 to 19.

These include theatre productions, film screenings, walks, talks, a period fete, a tea dance, a cream tea day, a cocktail masterclass and a lunch at Burgh Island.

A very special fireworks display has also been organised on what would have been Christie's 120th birthday on September 15, with a special party from the Bay's best vantage point at the Grand Hotel in Torquay, where Christie spent her honeymoon in 1914.

Award-winning actress Julia McKenzie, who plays famed Christie character Miss Marple, will be among guests at the birthday bash — although she will not be wearing her Miss Marple costume or giving a talk, as previously reported.

For more information on the many events that will be taking place throughout the festival, visit www. englishriviera.co.uk/agatha christie

A 23-YEAR-OLD man with a 'bad record' has been sent to prison for two years for stealing from the staff lockers at a Torquay hotel.

Leon Hippolyte, of Torquay Road, Paignton, was also sentenced for stealing a purse and cash from the home of an elderly woman when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court yesterday.

Judge Philip Wassall said he could see 'absolutely no reason to avoid' passing a mandatory prison sentence as it was the third time Hippolyte had been convicted for burglary.

The father-of-three was convicted, after a trial in July, of two counts of burglary dating back three years.

He stole an MP3 player, mobile phone and cash from staff lockers at the Grand Hotel on Torquay seafront on July 27, 2007.

The trial was shown CCTV footage of him walking around the hotel on the day of the theft. He denied being the man caught on camera.

Hippolyte was also found guilty of entering the flat of an elderly woman in Torquay Road on September 15, 2007, and stealing a small amount of cash and bank cards.

Defence counsel Sean Brunton said yesterday that Hippolyte 'still maintains his innocence' despite his convictions.

He said his client was epileptic and dyslexic and had tried to turn his life around since the incidents.

Judge Wassall said: "You've got a bad record for burglary of dwelling houses and you now face a mandatory three years in prison."

He added: "It would be entirely wrong to impose anything other than a custodial sentence, it's simply that serious."

On the day of sentence Hippolyte also pleaded guilty to two further thefts committed in Brixham on March 7 this year and a burglary in Paignton on the same day.

Small amounts of carpets, cable and scrap metal were taken.

Judge Wassall said it would be unjust to impose the full three-year term considering efforts Hippolyte had made to turn his life around.

He was sent to prison for a total two years for all the offences and told he would serve half of that time behind bars.