South West news

• Ann Widdecombe was hit on head 21 times with hammer, prosecutors say

  21-07-2026 17:35 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Joshua Kerry, 28, attacked Widdecombe while she was eating lunch at her home in Devon before stealing her wallet, prosecutors say.
  
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• Boy, 7, dies after beach tragedy that killed mum and daughter

  29-07-2026 14:12 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Musa Ahmed is the third person to die after getting into difficulty in the water last Wednesday.
  
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• More than half of England officially in drought, Environment Agency says

  29-07-2026 14:10 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Scorching temperatures and very low levels of rain have seen droughts declared across much of England.
  
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• Teenage Norwegian 'hitman' guilty of UK murder plot

  29-07-2026 14:09 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Johannes Natland travelled to Huddersfield to carry out a 'hit' in March last year.
  
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• Chief constable resigns before misconduct tribunal

  29-07-2026 14:01 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Chris Noble faces a misconduct hearing regarding his behaviour, having been suspended in August.
  
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• Complaints soar over car seller's 'faulty' motors

  29-07-2026 13:33 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Customers claim they are being sold cars that break down within weeks.
  
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• Reward of £20k over unsolved murder of boy in 1981

  29-07-2026 12:28 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The Crimestoppers reward goes live on the 45th anniversary of Vishal Mehrotra's disappearance.
  
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• Philp seeks answers over French navy firing drill

  29-07-2026 12:26 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The shadow home secretary says he is planning to contact the French ambassador by next Monday.
  
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• Buck Moon lights up skies across South West

  29-07-2026 12:22 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The July full moon is expected to peak at 15:36 BST on Wednesday.
  
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• Henderson nears Chelsea move as Welbeck has medical

  29-07-2026 12:06 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Brighton striker Danny Welbeck is given permission to have a medical at Stamford Bridge as his switch to Chelsea moves closer.
  
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• Palace hold talks with ex-Arsenal defender Tomiyasu

  29-07-2026 11:22 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Japan's Takehiro Tomiyasu, who is training with Crystal Palace, was named as a substitute in the pre-season friendly against Lens.
  
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• How to stay safe while exercising in hot weather

  29-07-2026 11:20 via bbc.co.uk
  
  With the fourth heatwave of the year set to begin, how can we exercise safely in the sun?
  
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• Stonehenge circle to be opened up for rare visits

  29-07-2026 11:16 via bbc.co.uk
  
  One paying visitor or group will be chosen to enter the site's inner circle every day in August.
  
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• Tower that would have dwarfed historic pub scrapped

  29-07-2026 10:54 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A plan for a 26-storey tower block next to the Britons Protection pub has been withdrawn.
  
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• 'Stopping screen time for my son was a gamechanger'

  29-07-2026 07:18 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Jade says her four-year-old's son Reggie's communication has improved since making the change.
  
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• Cow showers and fans help farmers keep cattle cool

  29-07-2026 07:18 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Dairy farmers are using cow showers and fans to protect cattle as hotter summers hit milk production.
  
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• 'What teachers saw as flaws have made me thrive'

  29-07-2026 07:16 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Sam Bell quit school at 17 after struggling with dyslexia – she now credits it for her career success.
  
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• 'Britain's loneliest' dog finds his forever home

  29-07-2026 07:13 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Greyhound Danny spent 15 times longer than most dogs at the Battersea Old Windsor centre in Berkshire.
  
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• Unauthorised airport car park grows despite stop notice

  29-07-2026 07:12 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Customers says they returned from their holidays to find their cars damaged and dirty.
  
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• The over-60s skaters chasing every UK ice rink

  29-07-2026 07:12 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Girls on Tour are a group of women - who took up ice skating later in life - aiming to skate every UK rink.
  
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• 'Humiliation' of foreign dentists who cannot work in UK

  29-07-2026 07:10 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Hamza Ryad says some internationally-qualified dentists like him are having to work in takeaways.
  
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• 'I climbed mountain after being told I'd never walk'

  29-07-2026 07:09 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Sam Baldwin climbs Yr Wyddfa 16 months after being paralysed from the waist down in a motorcycle accident.
  
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• Baby found 'emaciated' 19 days after social services closed case

  29-07-2026 07:09 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The girl was covered in sores, severely dehydrated and had "paper-thin skin" when she was treated.
  
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• Fire at peat nature reserve 'could burn for days'

  29-07-2026 07:08 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The fire is "deep-seated in peat" about 1m (3.3ft) below the surface, a senior firefighter says.
  
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• Women's street watch 'consistently' abused by men

  29-07-2026 07:05 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Women's Street Watch founder Charlie says men need to "call out" their friends' behaviour.
  
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• Heatwaves linked to record groundings of young swifts

  29-07-2026 07:05 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Rescue volunteer network, Swift SOS, says it has had more grounded fledglings than ever before.
  
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• Animal sanctuary facing closure due to hot weather

  29-07-2026 07:05 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The sanctuary in Devon sees money problems because of "astronomical" bills because of hot weather.
  
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• Mum pleaded for support before son's fatal stabbing

  29-07-2026 07:04 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A review into teenager's death in Woolwich highlighted failings in the way agencies worked together.
  
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• Night terrors, flashbacks and panic attacks - former police reveal trauma

  29-07-2026 07:01 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The Home Office says it will expand support for officers exposed to trauma from policing.
  
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• National park partnership with car brand criticised

  29-07-2026 06:48 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Skoda installs adverts for one of their new cars on Peak District National Park signs.
  
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