News in Axminster

THE coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated in many different ways what a great community spirit exists in Axminster.

The ACER (Axminster Community Emergency Response) is a good example of this with all the principal charitable organisations in the town coming together to ensure that the vulnerable and elderly popular of the town are well cared for during the Covid-19 crisis.

Axminster's weekly street market will be back in business on Thursday, June 4.

The market in Trinity Square was forced to close on March 19 due to coronavirus.

I STARTED my journalistic career as a cub reporter in 1965 at the same time Douglas Hull was elected to the old Axminster Rural Council representing the parish of his home village, Hawkchurch.

The rural council was chaired by the frightening (at least to a rookie reporter, aged 17) and highly respected Mr D.F. Baker, owner of the tannery at Colyton, who had occupied the chair for many years.

Axminster and district has been saddened by the death of David Warner, much respected chairman of the Axminster branch of the Royal British Legion.

Mr Warner, aged 82, was admitted to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital for a routine operation but caught COVID-19 and died.

POLICE believe a car fire at Trinity Hill Nature Reserve, near Axminster, last night was started deliberately.

Axminster Fire Brigade were called to the beauty spot at around 11.30pm. The vehicle was well alight when they arrived at the scene.

AXE Valley Wildlife Park, one of the most popular attractions in the Axminster area, especially for children, is likely to be closed due to coronavirus for another month and is running out of food for its animals.

The owners are appealing to the public to provide them with foodstuffs for the many animals at the park.

DEVON'S carbon emissions have reduced by almost a quarter during the lockdown, new data suggests.

The data has been collected on behalf of the Devon Climate Emergency Response Group (DCERG), a group of public, private and voluntary sector bodies working to make Devon carbon neutral by 2050 at the latest.

AXMINSTER county councillor Ian Hall has appealed to residents taking walks in the countryside to behave more responsibly following an incident in which a pregnant cow suffered a miscarriage due to fright and died.

The incident happen on private land at Whitebridges, Axminster, where police received reports of youths with a dog chasing cows.

The father of Axminster Town Council Douglas Hull died this afternoon (Monday) after a long illness.

A life-long Liberal, Cllr Hull gained a seat on the old Axminster Rural Council representing his home village of Hawkchurch where he was active in the youth club and village hall committee as well as serving on the parish council.

COMMUNITY leaders have welcome news that the government has set up a new £50million fund to support local high streets which have been decimated by coronavirus.

East Devon District Council will receive £130,000 and Cllr Andrew Moulding has assured traders that he will fight for Axminster to get its fair share.