Herald Express; Torquay (UK)

Home-Cooking British Mums Deserve Top Prize for Dinnertime Variety Show

SO, the survey appearing in all the papers at the moment is the one about Mums cooking the same old dinners week after week. The survey found that nine out of 10 British Mums know only nine recipes and one in four cooks the same favourite meals on a weekly rota.

Adopt-a-Tree Bid to Ease Council's Budget Fears

AN adopt-a-tree scheme could help bridge a Pounds 50,000 gap in Torbay's tree management budget. Mayor Nick Bye is to consider using volunteers to help pay for tree maintenance in new recommendations due to be discussed at the next cabinet meeting.

Suspended Sentence for Drugs Dealer

A CANNABIS dealer has been given a five-month suspended sentence for selling drugs for commercial gain. Colby Hennequin, 24, of Seaway Road, Paignton, kept a list of names and cash amounts in a safe discovered by police, Exeter Crown Court was told.

Food Firm Snapped Up in Pounds 13m Deal

epearcy@heraldexpress.co.uk A FAST-GROWING Newton Abbot business has been snapped up in a Pounds 13million deal. Food service supplier Pasta King, at Milber Trading Estate, is under new management following a multi-million management buy-in financed by private equity firm NBGI Private Equity Ltd.

Gig Guide

Songstress Christina Off to Open Mic Finals

RECENTLY I reported Kingsteignton-based songstress Christina Warn had won her way through to the Open Mic UK Regional Finals in Bristol's St George's Hall. A few days after the event an excited Christina (pictured right) contacted me to give me some good news.

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The Hair Lounge

PAIGNTON hairdressers are enjoying success after stepping out alone. Terri-Anne Ely and Lisa Hines have set up their new salon The Hair Lounge in Torquay Road, Preston.

Icing On the Cake

A KINGSWEAR-BASED cookery school is celebrating not one but four regional nominations this week. David Jones of Manna from Devon has been shortlisted to the final three for the Taste of The West Local Food Champion.

Refuse Business Helps Staff Learn New Skills

PUTTING their staff through training at South Devon College has proved a winning combination for one refuse business. Focsa Services is through to the final three in the Best People Development category of the South Devon Excellence Awards.

Builders Buck the Economic Trend

A FAMILY building firm which blends old and new techniques is in line for a gong in this year's South Devon Excellence Awards. Character Builders in Moretonhampstead has been bucking the national trend when it comes to the credit crunch and is now recruiting more staff to cope with growing demand.

Outdoor Classroom for Pupils

PUPILS are enjoying a new outdoor classroom after it was opened at Denbury Primary School. The learning area was a joint project between the school and its parents and teachers association.

Girls Team Up with Charity for Festive Poetry Evening

FESTIVE poetry will herald the start of Christmas as a Torbaybased charity and local school join forces to present a garland of seasonal stanzas. Torquay Girls' Grammar School and the Samaritans of South Devon have teamed up for a Christmas cracker of an evening called The Holly and the Ivy.

Youngsters Offered Free Activities ; People

YOUNGSTERS in Torbay are being given the chance to take part in free outdoor activities. Torbay Council's Youth Service and Groundwork South West have teamed up to provide a timetable of activities for 11 to 19 year olds.

Village Goes Green for Christmas Lights

SOUTH Brent gets turned on for Christmas on Friday, November 27. The village's Christmas lights are being switched on in time for the community's annual winter carnival which goes ahead the next day.

Agency Vows to Tackle Mystery of Beach Pollution

SOLVING the pollution riddle of Torquay's main beach is a priority for the Environment Agency, said its national chairman Lord Chris Smith as he visited the resort yesterday. Torre Abbey Sands, Torquay, has been dogged by erratic bathing water quality for years, which has seen it gain Blue Flag awards only to lose them just as quickly.

Cyber-Bullying Targeted in Schools Campaign

PUPILS in all Torbay schools have joined a national campaign to combat cyberbullying. This year's campaign 'Stay safe in Cyberspace' is offering opportunities for all pupils in Torbay to explore the issue of bullying through mobile phones and the internet.

The Terrace and the Valley ; Carter's Country Www.Thisissouthdevon.Co.Uk

AS THE gas lamps came on in our part of Paignton the backstreet world was taken over by kids and cats. We filled it with shouts, laughter and mischief. Under cover of darkness we crept into the Dawsons' back yard while big Mrs Dawson was using the outside lav.