A police raid has seen the recovery of a quad bike stolen in Ottery last August more than 150 miles away. Read this and more.

CRIME: A police raid has seen the recovery of a quad bike stolen in Ottery last August more than 150 miles away. After a joint operation between Avon and Somerset Police and the Thames Valley force, officers arrested four men and recovered �20,000 of stolen items from a property near Banbury in Oxfordshire. Among the items was a quad bike stolen from Ottery last August, which has now been returned to its owner.

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TALK: Devon Rural Archive’s 2012 lecture series kicks off on Thursday, February 2 at 7pm with an illustrated talk by John Michael-Kennaway about the dramatic history of Grade II listed Escot House near Ottery St Mary, entitled The Fall and Rise of a Country Estate. It takes place at the Devon Rural Archive’s building in Shilstone near Modbury. Tickets cost �5 including refreshments, to book contact Abi Gray on 01548 830832 or for more information visit www.devonruralarchive.com

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GIG: Local band ‘Thick as Thieves’ are playing a charity concert at the Institute on Yonder Street to raise money for the British Heart Foundation on Saturday, February 11. It starts at 8pm, contact Dave on 07920 534994 for tickets and more information.

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CONCERT: Bach and Bruckner are coming to Ottery with the first performance by the West Devon Chorale in the parish church on Saturday, January 28, at 7.30pm. Conducted by the chorale’s music director Michael Johnson, with organist Christopher Moore, the concert is divided in two to celebrate both these great church musicians. Tickets cost �8 in advance from Ottery information centre, call 01404 813964, and tickets on the night are priced at �10.

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BLOOD: The NHS is moving their blood donation centre in Ottery from the Institute on Yonder Street to the football club on Washbrook Meadows. All future sessions will be in the new venue after it said they had a new lorry which they were unable to get into the old car park at the Institute.