Summary

  • Updates on Monday 23 November 2015

  • More news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Tuesday

  1. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00

    Live updates for Devon and Cornwall have finished for the day, but we'll be back from 08:00 on Tuesday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.

  2. Two charged after Plymouth-Exeter derby disorderpublished at 17:59

    BBC Radio Devon

    A man from Exeter has been charged with a public order offence and a man from Plymouth charged with being drunk in a sports ground after disorder at a derby match between Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City at the weekend, police say, external.

    Both men were released on police bail and were to appear before Plymouth magistrates on 9 December, officers added.

  3. Latest travel for Devon and Cornwallpublished at 17:58

    BBC Travel

    - On the A38 in South Brent one lane is blocked Plymouth-bound between Wrangaton Cross and Ivybridge due to an accident  

    - Roadworks are causing problems in several parts of Cornwall, including: the A30 westbound across Bodmin Moor, the A39 between Threemilestone and Chiverton Cross roundabout and on the A39 between Carland Cross and Truro. All routes are reported as slow moving. 

    - The A39 is closed through Arlington in both directions because of an accident, long delays are reported.

  4. Weather latest: Turning wet and blusterypublished at 17:57

    Holly Green
    BBC Weather

    Turning wet through this evening, with heavier bursts of rain likely. This band of rain will clear eastwards, leaving a dry, breezy, but rather cloudy end to the night. Much less chilly than last night. Minimum Temperature: 5C (41F).

    Weather map

    Tuesday will be fairly cloudy and breezy, with some sunny spells, but also scattered, blustery, showers. It will be milder but feeling chilly in the brisk wind. Maximum Temperature: 11C (52F).

  5. Murder witness thought Tanis Bhandari was 'punched, not stabbed'published at 17:54

    John Danks, BBC Spotlight

    A witness to the murder of a Plymouth builder says he thought the victim was only punched, not stabbed.

    Builder Tanis Bhandari was stabbed on New Year's Day by Ryan Williams, 22, from Plymouth. Williams admitted the charge earlier, halfway through his trial at Plymouth Crown Court. Donald Pemberton, 21, from Plymouth, also charged with murder, denies killing him Mr Bhandari.

    Witness Sean Cordon said he could only remember snippets from the night. But he recalled speaking to Mr Bhandari just after the attack and thinking he had been punched in the back before he "just collapsed in my arms." The trial continues.

  6. Van finally freed after getting impaled on rising bollardpublished at 17:48

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    A man whose van was stuck on a rising bollard in Falmouth for five hours, has told the BBC that Cornwall Council has admitted full responsibility for the incident

    Trapped van

    Handyman Darren Thomas said the electric bollard rose underneath his Vauxhall this morning, turning his rear axle into a "banana".

    He said the operation took so long because the part of the bollard underground bent out of shape and had to be hammered back down once his van was removed.

  7. Defence Review: What about the South West?published at 17:42

    Martyn Oates, Political Editor

    As well as laying out the government's £178bn defence spending plans for the next decade, the prime minister has also been clear that savings need to be made as well.

    In terms of places like Devonport, there are a lot of civilian jobs attached to that.

    The naval base's importance to Plymouth and the surrounding area is also based on its contribution to the local economy, and there'll be some concern as to what the future for those civilian and support jobs is.

  8. Arts health charity hopes legacy 'can be take forward'published at 17:31

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    Cornwall's Arts for Health charity, which has announced it is to close, says it hopes other organisations and individuals can "take forward the legacy" of its work, external.

    It said that the "increasingly challenging economic climate for small charities has required some tough decisions to be made", when it announced its closure after 14 years. 

    It added: "Our decision in no way reflects upon our staff, who have been ceaseless in their efforts to try to ensure a future for the organisation."

  9. Nicholson slams Torquay defencepublished at 17:24

    Brent Pilnick, BBC Sport

    Torquay United manager Kevin Nicholson has criticised his side's defensive abilities after their 3-1 loss to Lincoln City in the National League. 

    Kevin Nicholson

    The Gulls have conceded seven goals in two games after they were thrashed 4-0 by Barrow last week and are now third-from-bottom of the division. 

    "The three goals this week and a couple of the goals last week are just poor defending and individual errors. That's where people have got to stand up and be counted," he said. 

  10. Fire dog Nelson 'popular with everyone'published at 17:16

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

    A fire dog was "popular with everyone he met", the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service has said.

    Nelson, the seven-and-a-half-year-old springer spaniel, has died after a short illness. The service said his role "extended beyond fire investigation", with him often helping schoolchildren learn about fire safety. He also had a Twitter account, external with almost 4,000 followers.

    Fire dog Nelson. Pic: Cornwall Fire and Rescue ServiceImage source, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service

    The service said, external he was trained as a hydrocarbon detection dog when he was nine-months-old after not quite making the grade as a champion gundog.  

  11. Latest headlines in Devon and Cornwallpublished at 17:07

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

    - A man accused of murdering builder Tanis Bhandari on New Year's Day pleads guilty halfway through his trial

    - Two men are charged with alcohol and public order offences by police after disorder at the Plymouth Argyle-Exeter City derby match this weekend

    - Forty people may lose their jobs as south west housing association DCH tries to save money, the organisation says

    -  The charity Arts for Health Cornwall and Isles of Scilly is closing after 14 years

    - A new scheme has been set up to help Exeter's growing community of rough sleepers

    - A van driver in Falmouth spends five hour stuck on an automatic bollard

    - Tributes are paid to Cornwall's Fire Service's sniffer dog, Nelson, who has died after a short illness

  12. Cornish police call off search for missing Hackney womanpublished at 16:57

    The Cornishman

    Devon and Cornwall Police have confirmed that their support of the Metropolitan Police's search for a missing woman, who was thought to be in West Cornwall, has been called off, external.

  13. Argyle missed experience says Adamspublished at 16:48

    Brent Pilnick, BBC Sport

    Plymouth Argyle manager Derek Adams says his side missed their experienced players as they lost 2-1 to local rivals Exeter City.

    Derek AdamsImage source, Getty Images

    Luke McCormick, Peter Hartley, Carl McHugh and Reuben Reid were all missing as the Pilgrims were beaten for the third time in four games.

    "You always miss experience in your team," Adams told BBC Radio Devon. "We've got a youthful side, a lot of them are in their early 20s and it was a big occasion for them."

  14. Forty DCH staff 'may be made redundant' as 85 job roles changedpublished at 16:24

    Jonathan Morris, BBC News Online

    Forty people could lose their jobs as housing association DCH tries to save money, the organisation has confirmed.

    It plans to cut costs by £3.5m - £4.5m, about 3% of its annual income, after a fall in rental income and changes to the welfare system.

     "We have now entered into a consultation period with staff groups to discuss future plans for changes within the business structure," they added.

  15. Investigation into faulty electric bollard after van strandedpublished at 16:13

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    Cornwall Council says it is working with a contractor which maintains an electric bollard in Falmouth to establish why a van was left stuck on it. 

    Driver Darren Thomas's vehicle was left stranded and damaged on top of the bollard earlier.

    The council said: "When the investigation is complete and the error established, we will be able to comment further."

  16. Police meeting Argyle officials after derby match violencepublished at 16:04

    Simon Hall, Home Affairs Correspondent
    BBC Spotlight

    Police will meet with Plymouth Argyle officials to discuss security following violence which saw five officers injured at a derby match against Exeter on Saturday. 

    An Argyle fan is believed to have set off a flare in a stand at Home Park. Police said stewards attempted to intervene and were assaulted and then officers sent in were also attacked. 

    Senior officers told the BBC the meeting was a lesson-learning exercise to avoid such trouble at future games. CCTV footage will also be analysed to see if prosecutions or banning should can be brought.

  17. HIV patient numbers up 33% since 2010published at 15:55

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    There has been a 33% increase in the number of people living with HIV in Cornwall since 2010, county health officials say.

    There are 196 people currently accessing care for HIV in the county, up from 148 in 2010.

    Conrwall Council said newly diagnosed HIV incidence was still very low in Cornwall, at 2.8 per 100,000 compared to England's average of 12.3, but that one in five people with the virus did not know they had it, and it was supporting HIV Testing Week, external to encourage people to get tested.

  18. Council to support homeless charity during base demolitionpublished at 15:45

    BBC Radio Devon

    A Devon council is to help a homeless charity relocate to temporary accommodation while it seeks planning permission for a new unit.

    South Hams District Councillors will consider replacing five industrial units on Burke Road in Totnes next month. 

    If approved, the authority said it would support Revival Life Ministries to provide a drop-in facility for the homeless until it could return. 

  19. Steve Tully delight at Truro City comeback at Hayes & Yeadingpublished at 15:36

    Brent Pilnick, BBC Sport

    Truro City boss Steve Tully says he is "delighted" with his side as they came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Hayes & Yeading in National League South.

    Les AffulImage source, Truro City FC

    Les Afful scored in the 73rd minute before Jake Ash ensured Truro's unbeaten league run was extended to 11 games with an 89th-minute equaliser.

    "It keeps the run going. We felt like it was one of those days, their keeper had an unbelievable game," Tully said.