christmas

Figures show drop in Christmas drink drivers

Figures have been released for Devon and Cornwall Police’s Christmas drink driving campaign 2014.

Police officers administered a total of 1,766 breath tests of which 156 were positive, refused or failed to provide. This represents 9% of the total and is a decrease of 3.5% on last years result.

Last year the figures were 167 positive, refused or failed to provide from a total of...

Twelfth Night - time to recycle!

As Twelfth Night approaches, and thoughts turn to ‘un-decking’ the halls and taking down the tree, the Woodland Trust is urging everyone to help protect the UK’s woodland by dropping their Christmas cards off at their local M&S store.

For every 1,000 cards recycled in store, M&S will fund the planting of one tree.

The UK is already 8,135 trees richer thanks to customers...

The cost of not saying thank you for presents

After the last of the Christmas presents have been unwrapped and all the cards have been opened, you may be wise to spare a thought to writing your thank you letters if you want to avoid being given a cheaper gift next year.

New research by Royal Mail has revealed the true cost of not saying thank you for Christmas presents.

Of those people expecting thank you letters, over...

Millions wasted in unspent gift vouchers

As much as £300 million worth of gift vouchers bought this year could go unspent according to research by the UK Gift Card and Voucher Association (UKGCVA). Consumer Affairs Minister Jo Swinson is urging consumers to spend and enjoy any vouchers they get for Christmas before they expire.

Every year 6% of vouchers bought by consumers go unused as they lay forgotten in people’s wallets...

Charity wants us to have a 'wild' Christmas

A local charity is offering people ideas for a wild Christmas with a difference.

Leading conservation charity Devon Wildlife Trust has developed a series of ideas for ‘wild Christmas escapes’ and is urging people to spend just a small part of the festive season and get away from the excesses and stresses of this time of year.

Devon Wildlife Trust’s Steve Hussey explained the...

Give back to charity this Christmas

This Christmas, British Heart Foundation (BHF) shops are urging South West people to give back by donating their unwanted Christmas presents to charity. The profit raised from BHF shops goes on to fund life-saving research into heart disease.

Over half [64%] of people from the South West said they receive two unwanted Christmas presents every year. With the average price per Christmas...

Festive family fun at City Museum

Children can get crafty in the build-up to Christmas with festive family activities at the City Museum and Art Gallery.

On Saturday 20 December there's a chance to make robin-themed masks, bunting and other items at two ‘Rocking Robins’ craft sessions.

These will be followed by ‘White Christmas’ activities on Wednesday 24 December, where children can create collages, make...

Plymouth bin collection days are changing

Thousands of Christmas cards are being delivered to let people know what days their bins will be collected as part of a major reorganisation of the city’s rubbish and recycling rounds.

Seasons greetings combined with dates of new recycling and rubbish collection days are being sent out from this week to thousands of homes across the city ahead of the start of the new rounds on January...

Festive activities in Plymouth city centre

Concerts, nativity plays and Disney Frozen characters are among the latest activities planned to take place in Plymouth on the run down to Christmas.

Shoppers in the City Centre can visit the Christmas Market this weekend before Plymouth City Market ramps up their festivities.

The Christmas Market on the Piazza, operated by Market Place Europe, will trade up until 5pm on...

Are your Christmas gifts safe?

During the busy run up to Christmas and the intensive shopping period, Devon and Cornwall Police are advising people to keep their Christmas purchases safe.

Following the chaotic buying of the Black Friday period, burglars will look out for wrapped or unwrapped Christmas presents in homes and in cars.

People are advised to protect their Christmas purchases by storing them in a...

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