An oil buying collective helped Devon residents save more than �11,500 this year. Read this and more.

COACHWORKS: Plans to build a workshop, office and customer reception building at Thorn Coachworks in Salcombe Regis have been approved.

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OPENING TIME CHANGES: Lloyds Pharmacy in Church Street, Sidmouth, will be open from 12noon until 1pm on Christmas Day.

The chemist at Boots in Fore Street will open from 10am until 4pm on Boxing Day.

The Boots in Woolbrook Road will be open from 1pm until 2pm on New Year’s Day.

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SEASONAL SOCIAL: Newton Poppleford’s gardening club is holding its Christmas bring-and-share social in the village pavilion from 2.30pm on Thursday, December 13.

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PRESENT APPEAL: Kids in Newton Poppleford gave their all to help fill 102 shoeboxes for a Christmas appeal to send gifts to underprivileged children in Africa.

The MAD (Making a Difference) group at St Luke’s filled 32 of those boxes.

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NEW YEAR BUZZ: Bee buddies can join a beginners’ course with the East Devon Beekeepers next year.

The group are taking booking for the next session, which starts in January 2013.

They meet in Kilmington Village Hall near Axminster, and the apiary is nearby.

For more information go to eastdevonbees.org.uk.

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STAY WARM: An oil buying collective helped Devon residents save more than �11,500 this year.

The Devon Oil Collective launched in February to combat the rising prices of heating oil and consolidates orders from across the county to get the best price.

The scheme has 272 members who have ordered 264,000 litres between them.

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NATURE CHAMPIONED: The Devon Local Nature Partnership (LNP) held its first board meeting this week in its role as champion for protecting the county’s natural environment.

The group, which covers all of Devon except Plymouth and was given LNP status by Defra in July, is supported by the county council and a host of other agencies, including, Natural England, Devon Wildlife Trust, RSPB, and the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council cabinet member for environment and community, said: “It is important that Devon has a strong voice to support the county’s valuable natural environment.

“Our environment is a tremendous asset, providing many benefits, from leisure, health and wellbeing through to the economy.”