The launch of the new Tavistock Customer Service Excellence Awards is the big news of the week, but there’s been plenty going on in the tavistock area — here are the big stories in today’s edition of the Tavistock Times.

• Residents, shoppers and visitors to Tavistock are being asked to vote for their favourite stores and services as the town launches its first ever Customer Service Excellence Awards today in collaboration with the Tavistock Times.

• The unique challenges facing rural children’s centres and early years provision drew the leader of the House of Commons and high-profile Conservative MP Andrea Leadsom to Tavistock last week.

•A potential gas explosion was averted at a property in Bishopsmead thanks to the swift actions of a neighbour.

• A campaign to create a direct cycle path parallel to the A386 from Yelverton to Plymouth is gathering momentum.

• A planning application for seven properties on land currently occupied by a car sales company in Tavistock has been submitted to West Devon Borough Council.

• Twelve young people from Weir Quay Sailing Club recently completed a five-day sail training voyage on Trinity Sailing’s heritage vessel ‘Leader’, with the trip pronounced an outstanding success.

• Seventy-five occurrences of fly-tipping have been cleared by the borough council since January this year — but despite this, the unsightly incidents are apparently reducing ‘year on year’.

• Firefighters from Bere Alston took to their saddles for a 24-hour cycle ride around Burrator Reservoir for the Firefighters’ Charity.

• As if undertaking six mammoth international treks in a year for charity wasn’t enough for one Tavistock mum, she is now also attempting a record-breaking skydive attempt.

• Four pages of coverage of this year’s Ten Tors and Jubilee Challenges, including pictures of all the Tavistock area teams.

• NINE pages of local sport, including a charity game for the original Son-Rise Cup, coverage of local cricket and much more!