OKEHAMPTON Hamlets Parish Council held its annual parish assembly meeting at Meldon Village Hall.

Chairman Derek Webber gave an overview of the council's activities over the past year. The highlight was the construction of the new bridleway bridge at Fatherford in memory of Charlotte Saunders, who in October 2001 was swept away by the rain-swollen river after her pony bucked while crossing it. The bridge will be officially opened later this month.

The council was also successful in obtaining a RockETS grants from Devon County Council, which enabled repair work to be undertaken in Meldon Woods, together with the purchase of replacement bird and dormice boxes to continue the monitoring work and protection of wildlife in the woods.

The grants the council gave to local organisations were totalled at £2,325 for the year.

Guest speakers were David Roche, who gave an overview of the Meldon Rock Walk project, and Pat Sawyer of the Okehampton Community Transport Group, who spoke about the services of the group. The parish council presented Pat with a cheque for £400 to help the group continue its work.