John Danks
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Senior Journalist Reporter/VJ for @BBCSpotlight. Don’t play baseball. DMs open. john.danks@bbc.co.uk
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Articles by John Danks
Lorry rumbles go on despite bypass, villagers say
Follow Lorry rumbles go on despite bypass, villagers say Zhara Simpson; John Danks - South West Thu, October 8, 2026 at 6:47 AM EDT Bugle and Stenalees residents, who held a demonstration on Saturday, are urging lorry drivers to use a new link road [BBC] Villagers are urging lorry drivers to use a new bypass instead of "blindly following their sat navs" along an old route.
Water firm fined £8m for 'horrendous' sewage spills
A water company has been fined almost £8m for a series of pollution-related offences over six years. South West Water pleaded guilty at Plymouth Magistrates' Court after an investigation by the Environment Agency into incidents between 2015 and 2021 in Bodmin, Harlyn, Playing Place, and Polperro in Cornwall, and Plymouth in Devon. Sentencing, Judge Jo Matson described the pollution as "horrendous" and "very significant".
Water company fined almost £8m for sewage spills
Follow Water company fined almost £8m for sewage spills John Danks - at Plymouth Magistrates' Court; Archie Farmer - South West Tue, September 29, 2026 at 6:24 AM EDT Water company fined almost £8m for sewage spills A water company has been fined almost £8m for a series of pollution-related offences over six years.
Meeting on maternity services suspension
Health bosses responsible for running maternity services in Devon have been questioned about the ongoing suspension of the service. The maternity unit at North Devon District Hospital has been closed since 11 August due to staffing problems. Simon Higginson, chief executive of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said the Trust had been trying to recruit new staff since late 2025.
Meeting on maternity services suspension
A special meeting was held to discuss the latest on maternity services in north Devon. Health bosses responsible for running maternity services in Devon have been questioned about the ongoing suspension of the service. The maternity unit at North Devon District Hospital has been closed since 11 August due to staffing problems. Simon Higginson, chief executive of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said the Trust had been trying to recruit new staff since late 2025.
Plea to not feed ponies over welfare fears
Dartmoor National Park said it was illegal for people to feed the Dartmoor ponies Visitors are being urged not to feed semi-wild ponies as it is making them unwell and causing "unnecessary issues". The Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society said the animals were now waiting in car parks in the national park in Devon expecting to be fed, which was leading to health conditions such as colic, which can cause abdominal pain.
Plea to not feed ponies over welfare fears
Visitors are being urged not to feed semi-wild ponies as it is making them unwell and causing "unnecessary issues". The Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society said the animals were now waiting in car parks in the national park in Devon expecting to be fed, which was leading to health conditions such as colic, which can cause abdominal pain. Dartmoor National Park said it was illegal for people to feed the animals and if it continued, people could be charged under the Animal Welfare Act.
Facial recognition deployed in county first
Police have used live facial recognition (LFR) for the first time in Devon. The technology, which scans faces in crowds from a live camera feed and checks them against a watchlist of wanted people, was used in Exmouth town centre at the end of August, officers said. Sgt Angela Galasso, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said the technology was probably "scanning far more faces than a police officer ever could", adding: "It's a tool.
Childhood 'taken from me' through fake illnesses
A man whose mother falsely claimed he was suffering from serious illnesses says he will never regain his lost childhood. Lisa Hayden-Johnson from Brixham won public sympathy for her fight for Matthew Johnson's medical care after claiming he was unable to walk, eat or breathe without assistance - she was jailed in 2010 for three years and three months for putting him through unnecessary treatment.
Childhood 'taken from me' through fake illnesses
Matthew Johnson said he has processed what happened in his childhood A man whose mother falsely claimed he was suffering from serious illnesses as a young boy says part of his childhood was stolen from him. Lisa Hayden-Johnson from Brixham won public sympathy for her fight for Matthew Johnson's medical care after claiming he was unable to walk, eat or breathe without assistance - she was jailed in 2010 for three years and three months for putting him through unnecessary treatment.
Pubs scoring big cash boosts during World Cup
Follow Pubs scoring big cash boosts during World Cup John Danks; Cameron Weldon - South West Sat, July 11, 2026 at 11:02 AM UTC Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Landlord Lewis Challen said trade during the World Cup has been great [BBC] Pubs across the South West have had a real boost in trade as a result of the World Cup, landlords say.
Row between couple and water firm over sewage leak
Follow Row between couple and water firm over sewage leak Tue, July 7, 2026 at 11:39 AM UTC Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Marc Slegg and Lesley Raache said raw sewage had entered their home after prolonged rainfall in January [BBC] A couple who had raw sewage enter their home after prolonged rainfall have said their sewerage system was not to blame.
Life-long youth hostel fan laments closures
Victor Ient says he "fell in love" with youth hostels in the 1970s because of his son A man who "fell in love" with youth hostelling in the 1970s has condemned the Youth Hostel Association (YHA) for closing locations. Victor Ient and his friends were on a cycle tour in Devon last month when they discovered two hostels were about to close.
PC thought she was going to die in balcony attack
Follow PC thought she was going to die in balcony attack PC Alice Beer said the attack would affect her in all aspects of her life, especially while working [BBC] A police officer who thought she was "going to die" after nearly being thrown from a first-floor balcony said she was simply trying to do her job.
Shipwreck thought to be torpedoed US warship Tampa
More than 130 crew lost their lives when the USCGC Tampa was attacked [Naval History and Heritage Command] The wreck of what is believed to be a United States Coast Guard cutter sunk by a German submarine in 1918 has been located off the coast of Cornwall. Members of the Gasperados Dive Team said they spent three years searching for the wreck of USCGC Tampa, which they said was lying at a depth of 100m (328ft) about 50 nautical miles (58 miles, 93km) north of Newquay.
Thousands take part in Plymouth Half Marathon
Suzi Cumberland, Managing Director, said there were more than 10,000 participants [BBC] A record-breaking field of about 10,000 people took part in the Plymouth Half Marathon, 10k or Schools Challenge races, organisers said. The 13.1 mile (21km) half marathon route started and finished on Plymouth Hoe on Sunday, with people raising money for various causes. The first person to cross the half marathon finish line was Shane McNerney in one hour 14 minutes and 16 seconds.
Cornwall joins Surfers Against Sewage protest
One protest took place at Gyllingvase Beach in Falmouth [BBC] Dozens of protesters have taken part in a paddle out protest against water pollution to demand reform of the water industry. The protest at Gyllingvase Beach in Falmouth, Cornwall, was arranged by Surfers Against Sewage as part of nationwide campaign involving more than 50 beaches, rivers and lakes. Among those speaking was the mother of Heather Preen, who died after contracting E Coli during a family holiday in Devon in 1999.
Cornwall joins Surfers Against Sewage protest
Dozens of protesters have taken part in a paddle out protest against water pollution to demand reform of the water industry. The protest at Gyllingvase Beach in Falmouth, Cornwall, was arranged by Surfers Against Sewage as part of nationwide campaign involving more than 50 beaches, rivers and …
BBC's Beyond Paradise leans into South West myths
John Danks; Zhara Simpson - Devon The latest series of BBC TV comedy-drama Beyond Paradise is leaning into the myths and legends of the South West. The drama, set in the fictional Devon town of Shipton Abbott, is predominately filmed in Looe, Cornwall, as well as other parts of both counties.
BBC's Beyond Paradise leans into South West myths
The Mermaid of Zennor, which inspired a story in the drama, was immortalised on a late medieval bench-end [BBC] The latest series of BBC TV comedy-drama Beyond Paradise is leaning into the myths and legends of the South West. The drama, set in the fictional Devon town of Shipton Abbott, is predominately filmed in Looe, Cornwall, as well as other parts of both counties.
Children asked to consider STEM careers
Caroline Robinson; John Danks - South West Tue, April 14, 2026 at 5:00 AM UTC Neil Young, global engineering capability director at Babcock, said it was about opening young people's minds to STEM A new pilot initiative to inspire young people in Devon to get into STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) has been launched.
Woman hears heirloom mechanical bird for first time
A woman who was born profoundly deaf has had a mechanical musical bird restored on the television programme The Repair Shop, allowing her to hear it for the first time. Fenella Haffenden from Tavistock said the bird belonged to her grandmother who she used to visit in Jersey as a child. She could only watch when it was wound up for people to hear it sing. About 20 years ago she had a cochlear implant and has finally heard the bird sing.
Cancer patient 'chuffed' to get new treatment
Brian Holmes is the first man in the UK and only the fifth in the world to take part in the clinical trial [BBC] A prostate cancer patient hopes a new treatment can help prolong the lives of thousands of men with the same condition. Brian Holmes, from Callington, Cornwall, has become the first person in the UK and fifth in the world to receive a drug which combines antibodies with chemotherapy to deliver the treatment directly to wherever the cancer is.
Anger as cycle path work shuts road for 14 months
Plymstock resident Bob Hembry said he thought the 14-month road closure was a mistake [BBC] A group of residents are facing long diversions and more than a year of disruption for the construction of a new cycle path. People living on or near Colesdown Hill, in Plymstock, Devon, said they were given three weeks' notice the main road to their properties would be closed for 14 months.
Competitors love 'addictive' sport of speedcubing
Benji and Charlie, both 11, at a speedcubing event in Devon [BBC] Competitors of all ages have spoken of their love of speedcubing – solving the Rubik's cube and its variants as quickly as possible. Among those hoping to show off their skills in Honiton, Devon, was Taylor, 12, who described the sport as "addictive". He travelled from Bournemouth for the two-day Devon Winter Speed Cubing competition. "It's the satisfaction of getting them solved again and learning the algorithms," Taylor said.
Inside the Devon farm that inspired War Horse
A horse and donkey currently occupy a field at the Devon farm that inspired War Horse [BBC] A boy who would not speak found his voice with a horse on Michael and Clare Morpurgo's Devon farm. That moment became War Horse. Half a century later, their City Farm charity is still changing children's lives, one muddy boot at a time. The story starts in the yard, on a wet November night. A boy who would not speak stood in his slippers and dressing gown, his hand on a horse's neck.
NHS offers parents advice amid flu cases
John Danks - Devon Mon, December 15, 2025 at 6:06 AM UTC 2 min read Experts say since the Covid-19 pandemic parents have been more cautious sending children to school [BBC] Amid a flurry of headlines about rising flu cases this winter it is not surprising that some parents or carers might think twice before sending their child to school if they have a cough or a cold.
Film inspired by woman suing water firm premieres
Search query Film inspired by woman suing water firm premieres George Thorpe; John Danks - Devon Mon, November 17, 2025 at 8:54 AM UTC Exmouth sea swimmer Jo Bateman is taking action against SWW [BBC] A film about a woman campaigning against sewage pollution in the sea has premiered. Jo in the Water follows the journey of Exmouth sea swimmer Jo Bateman, who is taking legal action against South West Water (SWW) over the amount of sewage dumped into the water along the Devon coast.
Film inspired by woman suing water firm premieres
George Thorpe; John Danks - Devon November 17, 2025 at 12:56 AM Exmouth sea swimmer Jo Bateman is taking action against SWW [BBC] A film about a woman campaigning against sewage pollution in the sea has premiered. Jo in the Water follows the journey of Exmouth sea swimmer Jo Bateman, who is taking legal action against South West Water (SWW) over the amount of sewage dumped into the water along the Devon coast.
We're coming - airline boss tells passengers
George Thorpe; John Danks - Channel Islands November 15, 2025 at 10:08 AM An airline boss says he wants to reassure passengers flights operated by a collapsed airline will return as his firm plans to take over the services. Luke Farajallah, Loganair chief executive, said the company wanted to pick up routes operated by Jersey-based Blue Islands after the airline announced on Friday it was ceasing trading.
We're coming - airline boss tells passengers
Search query We're coming - airline boss tells passengers George Thorpe; John Danks - Channel Islands Sat, November 15, 2025 at 3:30 PM UTC An airline boss says he wants to reassure passengers flights operated by a collapsed airline will return as his firm plans to take over the services. Luke Farajallah, Loganair chief executive, said the company wanted to pick up routes operated by Jersey-based Blue Islands after the airline announced on Friday it was ceasing trading.
Pasty contest launched with 250-year-old recipe
Mr and Mrs Pasty are the mascots for the Cornish Pasty Association [BBC] An international pasty competition has been launched with the help of a 250-year-old recipe. The Global Pasty Championships, which is due to take place in February next year, was announced at the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall. Chief executive David Harland said the first recorded written recipe of a pasty was by John Tremayne, from the Heligan estate, in 1746.
Ramblers create 100-mile walking route
Debbie Board said she knew the variety of Devon landscapes would be an "attraction" [BBC] A new 100-mile (161km) trail has been created by a walking group in a bid to show off Devon's countryside. The circular South Hams Way takes in sections of the South West Coast Path, South Devon National Landscape and Dartmoor National Park. Alan Mighall, from the South Hams Ramblers, said they used "existing paths and linked them together" and raised £5,000 and bought 860 waymarkers for the route.
Packham praises teens for harvest mouse project
Wildlife television presenter Chris Packham has praised two teenagers who have been trying to increase the number of harvest mice. Thirteen-year-olds Eva and Emily, from Devon, have been breeding harvest mice at home before releasing them back into the wild. Mr Packham visited the girls while they were releasing mice near Tiverton and told them what they were doing was "inspirational".
Presenter praises teens for helping harvest mice
Wildlife television presenter Chris Packham has praised two teenagers who have been trying to increase the number of harvest mice. Thirteen-year-olds Eva and Emily, from Devon, have been breeding harvest mice at home before releasing them back into the wild. Mr Packham visited the girls while they were releasing mice near Tiverton and told them what they were doing was "inspirational".
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