Plymouth Evening Herald, The

Murder Trial: Wife Admits Setting Fire to Husband's Bed

A woman accused of murdering a man who was "like a brother" to her has admitted she was covered in blood when she left his flat with her husband. Wendy Shobrook and her husband Barry Johnson were married a year ago today.But they will be celebrating their anniversary in separate jails because they are on trial for the alleged murder of Scotsman George Auchterlonie, 45.

Charles Church Fence Plan Scrapped

Plans to throw a fence around the bombed-out Charles Church in the city centre have been abandoned after a public outcry. Plymouth City Council backed down yesterday in the face of opposition from Herald readers and city councillors. The council had applied for planning permission and listed building consent for a 1.5-metre painted steel fence to the north side of the church.

Residents Given the Hump by Return of Camels Head Smells ; People Living Near the Camels Head Sewage Treatment Works Say They Are Once Again Being Driven to Distraction by a Familiar Foul Stench.

People living near the Camels Head sewage treatment works say they are once again being driven to distraction by a familiar foul stench. The saga, known as "the Keyham Pong", is said to have been continuing for the last 50 years and has been well documented in The Herald.

Pavement Artists Leave Trail in Plymouth ; Students Have Been Accused of 'Vandalism' After They Left Trails of Paint Around the City's Roads and Pavements in the Name of Art.

Students have been accused of "vandalism" after they left trails of paint around the city's roads and pavements in the name of art. Traders and councillors are fuming over trails of white paint that appeared in the city centre, the Barbican, the Hoe and Millbay over the weekend.

Wildlife Trust Needs Dolphin and Whale Spotters

Devon Wildlife Trust is running a training session for people interested in helping to record sightings of whales and dolphins on the south Devon coast. The training takes place on Saturday , from 10am at the Eddystone Inn, in Heybrook Bay.

Life Skills Event Gives Kids Explosive Advice

Children are being given a demonstration of the potential effects of a bomb at a health and safety event organised by Plymouth City Council and the Royal Navy. The third annual Junior Life Skills event is designed to help keep children across the city safe by teaching them modern-day survival skills.

Call to Object to Controversial Widewell Fence ; a City Residents' Association Is Urging People to Object to a Retrospective Planning Application for a Controversial Fence Around Disputed Land.

A city residents' association is urging people to object to a retrospective planning application for a controversial fence around disputed land. Local residents were furious when a 1.8metre steel fence was erected around the fields adjacent to Widewell Primary School last year.

Geek Night at Bookshop

Geek night was the latest event at Waterstones in Drake Circus. Roxanne Cotgreaze, who works at Waterstones and organised the event, said: "The event was a gathering for people who are into the same kind of books - manga, sci-fi, fantasy, classics, anything slightly geeky."

Funding for Grassroots Causes in City ; People in Plymouth Are Being Urged to Pledge Their Support to a Charity That Helps Give Grants to Local Causes.

People in Plymouth are being urged to pledge their support to a charity that helps give grants to local causes. The Drake Foundation assists groups and individuals who want to give back to their communities by donating grants from pounds500 to pounds5,000.

Strawberry Banquet at Special Summer Celebration

Drug Treatment Facilities Celebrate Grant Boost

Drug treatment centres in Plymouth are to receive a pounds132,000 government funding boost. Broadreach House residential drug and alcohol treatment centres have been awarded the grant towards refurbishment.

Advice On Health and Well-Being for Women

A health fair is being held in the city this week to raise awareness and give advice to city women. The Women's Health Fair is being held at the Guildhall on Thursday and will offer information on health and well-being. There will also be stalls at the event offering advice on a number of issues including family planning, osteoporosis, breast cancer and smoking, as well as free taster sessions in reiki, massage and reflexology.

Science Day at School ; a Wow Factor Science Day Was Held at Old Priory Junior School in Plympton.

A wow Factor Science Day was held at Old Priory Junior School in Plympton. Children at the school enjoyed a range of scientific experiments - and got involved themselves on the day.

Plympton Primary School Earns Artsmark Status

A primary school in Plympton has been given an award for its commitment to - and excellence in - arts education. Woodford Infants School, in Litchaton Way, has been given the Artsmark by Arts Council England.

Fellowship to Present Merry Widow

Doggy Paddle Partners

Don't be confused if you see a large shaggy dog gliding serenely down the Tamar - it'll probably be Shadow, the kayaking dog. Watersports enthusiast and Royal Marine Dave Stewart takes his one year-old 55kg Newfoundland companion out in the bow of his kayak in the area of Torpoint and Mount Edgcumbe whenever he can.

Tories and Ukip Top the Polls in Europe Ballot ; Plymouth Joined Forces with Voters Across the South West to Give the Labour Party a Bloody Nose in the European Parliament Elections.

Plymouth joined forces with voters across the South West to give the Labour Party a bloody nose in the European Parliament elections. Glyn Ford, Labour's long-serving MEP for the South West, was unceremoniously dumped by voters angry and frustrated at the MPs' expenses scandal.

Once More Onto the Beach ; Royal Marines From Plymouth Have Marked the Anniversary of One of the Most Important Military Events in History by Doing What They Do Best.

Royal Marines from Plymouth have marked the anniversary of one of the most important military events in history by doing what they do best. More than 200 commandos, many from city-based ships and units, conducted a series of beach landings in Brunei on Saturday as part of the huge Taurus 09 training deployment.

Mccormick 'Sorry' for 'Hurt and Heartache'

Former Plymouth Argyle footballer Luke McCormick has written to the mother of two young boys he killed in a motorway crash while drunk to apologise for the "hurt and heartache" he had caused. Amanda Peak, from Partington in Manchester, told a national newspaper that she had received a hand-written letter from the ex- goalkeeper before the first anniversary of her two boys' deaths.

Robbery Charges

Two men have appeared in court charged with robbery. Danny O'Brien, aged 40, and Nathan Knowles, aged 24, are accused of robbing a man of property of unknown value in Waterloo Street, Stoke, on Saturday.