Weekly round-up: Stories you may have missed

Alison Hernandez said there had been "a sudden announcement" about the abolition of police and crime commissioners

A government announcement that the role of police and crime commissioner (PCC) was set to be abolished and a fire at Exeter City Football Club were among the stories in the news over the past week.

We have selected seven articles from the past week for Devon and Cornwall.

Concern over plan to close police custody centre

The police custody centre in Torquay could be closed

Legal professionals have warned against plans to close a police custody centre saying the closure could strain resources.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the closure of Torquay's custody suite and temporary redeployment of staff were being considered on a pilot basis as part of a review into the force's estate.

But the plan sparked concerns in south Devon with a group of solicitors and legal advisers writing to Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Alison Hernandez to urge a reversal.

Chief Constable James Vaughan said no decision had been made on the proposals.

Half marathon holiday 'ruined' by food poisoning

Nicky Putman booked a trip to Mallorca to take part in the TUI Palma Marathon on 19 October

A runner who trained for eight months to complete a half marathon abroad has said her holiday was "ruined" when she was unable to take part due to food poisoning.

Nicky Putman, from Plymouth, booked a Tui sports package holiday for herself and a friend to run the Palma Half Marathon in Mallorca in October, but during her stay she said she became ill and collapsed in the hotel lobby.

She said she was taken to hospital and put on an intravenous drip for two days after eating in the hotel.

Tui said it was "very sorry" to hear Ms Putman fell ill and said its legal team was reviewing the case.

Seal sanctuary's oldest resident mourned

Sheba was rescued in 1974 by Ken Jones, one of the founders of the sanctuary

Staff at a wildlife sanctuary are mourning the passing of a seal who had lived there for more than 50 years.

The seal - known affectionately as Queen Sheba - had been a resident of the Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek since 1975, when the sanctuary was built.

She was a pup when she was rescued in 1974 by founder Ken Jones and his wife Mary, who cared for Sheba and other seals at their home in St Agnes before the sanctuary was built.

Paying tribute to the seal after her death, sanctuary staff said she had "won the hearts of staff, guests, and fellow seals alike".

Crime commissioner 'shocked' role to be abolished

Alison Hernandez said it had been "a sudden announcement without any consultation with the office of the PCC".

A police and crime commissioner (PCC) has said she was "shocked and surprised" to hear the role is to be abolished in England and Wales.

Devon and Cornwall PCC Alison Hernandez was reacting to the announcement in Parliament on Thursday in which the policing minister Sarah Jones said the PCC model had "not delivered what it was set up to achieve".

Hernandez said it had been "a sudden announcement without any consultation with the office of the PCC".

The Home Office said the PCC role would move to either an elected mayor or council leaders at the end of the commissioners' terms in 2028.

Stadium fire caused an estimated £100k of damage

Clive Harrison said about 60% of the medical room was damaged

A fire at Exeter City's home ground may have caused about £100,000 of damage, the club's general manager believes.

Firefighters were called to the blaze at St James Park at about 22:00 GMT on Wednesday after smoke was seen billowing from a cabin near the Well Street end of the ground.

Clive Harrison said the community had rallied round with offers of help after the fire damaged the club's control room, medical room and the Adam Stanfield stand.

"It's early days to estimate on the cost of things but I imagine about £100,000 worth of damage I guess," Mr Harrison said.

Age is no barrier, says marathon champion

Andrea Simmons won the marathon's 70+ category

A woman who clocked a personal best at the New York Marathon and scooped a world championship title has said running is possible at any age.

Andrea Simmons, 71, from Newlyn in Cornwall, won the marathon's 70+ category and finished the race in a time of 3:37:48.

The race doubled up as Age Group World Championship and made the Hayle Runners member the Marathon Majors Worldwide Champion.

Simmons, who also claimed the 70-74 age group crown at the Boston Marathon in April, said she got a "huge sense of achievement" with the win but added running was more than bringing home titles.

Escaped flamingo doing 'extremely well' in France

Frankie was first photographed in northern France on 9 November, a week after she escaped

A juvenile flamingo which escaped from a wildlife sanctuary more than a week ago is thought to be doing "extremely well" in the wild, keepers have said.

On 2 November Frankie escaped from Paradise Park Wildlife Sanctuary in Hayle, Cornwall, despite her feathers being clipped on one wing to prevent her from reaching full flight.

The escape prompted a search before the wading bird was eventually spotted in northern France - where she is thought to have settled.

David Woolcock, curator at the park, said staff were "devastated" when Frankie escaped but he felt relieved she had "shown the resilience and skills" to aid her as a wild flamingo.