Torquay Herald Express

Firefighters have rescued a 16-year-old boy who fell from scaffolding, external in Torquay on Monday evening.

The teenager, who plummeted about 30ft into a confined space, suffered broken bones in the accident.

BBC Radio Devon

Thousands of routine treatments and appointments have been cancelled at hospitals across England as junior doctors take part in industrial action in a dispute over a new contract.

Daniel Bunce, a junior doctor at Derriford Hospital, external in Plymouth, said their main concern was over rota proposals.

"It would actually see things such as finishing a night shift on a Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock and then being back in for eight o'clock on a Wednesday morning to start again," he said.

"We're not looking for a reduction in hours - we're looking for rotas that as safe working hours."

Western Morning News

A farmer who died after his tractor overturned would have suffered "very significant" injuries even if he had been wearing a seatbelt, an inquest heard, external.

BBC Radio Devon

A new study has identified the number of men and women who may require medical support after leaving the military.

The report, from the King's Centre of Military Health Research, external, predicts that 66,000 former service personnel will need help to deal with mental and physical problems, as a result of their time in the armed forces.

Plymouth MP and former soldier Johnny Mercer said: "We have to structure this properly so that people can access that care, so any veteran wherever they are in the UK knows where to go, knows they're going to be looked after... as is our duty to these servicemen and woman."

The biggest hospital in the South West of England says strike action by junior doctors is "very difficult" for patients who have had their appointments and operations cancelled.

Derriford Hospital, external said about 100 operations and appointments had been postponed, although many urgent appointments and operations were going ahead.

Image source, Autocat

It said patients with an appointment who hadn't heard otherwise, should go in as planned, adding the hospital was staffed for a bank holiday and consultants were "working flexibly" to support the hospital.

An energy company's plan for a solar farm about the size of 80 football pitches has been turned down.

Kinetica Energy, external submitted an application for a 140-acre solar farm on land near North Tawton, but West Devon Borough Council , externalrejected it because of the size and the quality of land.

"It was going to have such a big impact on the town visibly and also was going to be on very good quality farm land which we didn't want to lose," Councillor Louise Watts said.

Lucie Fisher
BBC Spotlight

Looking at the BBC Spotlight Facebook page, external, it's clear there are some very strong and very diverse opinions about today's strike action by junior doctors.

Maureen Cunningham posts: I back the doctors 100%. I was diagnosed with breast cancer 8 years ago and I couldn't have been better treated by all the junior doctors, consultants and all staff on the wards at the RDE. Without them I wouldn't be here today.

Jacki Leighton-Boyce comments: I support this strike wholeheartedly and if you still believe we live in a progressive and fair and civilised country, then you should support this strike too.

However, Wayne McIntosh argues: Disgusted by those doctors who have actually abandoned their patients. They have shown that they have no care for patients, no dedication to their job and that they are only motivated by money.

Jane Brooks adds: I don't agree with what these doctors are doing. Striking is not the way to get what you want in this day and age!!

BBC Weather

It is a day of bright spells and isolated showers and it will feel quite cold, especially in areas exposed to the strong north westerly winds that will be gale force along the north coast.

Cloud will thin overnight with clearer weather developing, some isolated showers will persist around the coasts and become more frequent and turn wintry over the moors.

Winds will ease to be moderate westerly by the end of the night. A cold night with a frost likely. Min temp: 2C (36F) .

Jonathan Morris, BBC News Online

Experts say winter storms have led to an increase in the number of turtles washing up in this country.

Sixteen warm-water turtles were found on shorelines in December - the highest number for that month since 2008.

Image source, Exeter University

This loggerhead turtle was found dead at Kennack Sands in Cornwall on 27 December.

Dr Peter Richardson from the Marine Conservation Society said: "When it gets cold they don't function. Loggerheads stop feeding after 15C (59F) and shut down at 10C (50F)."

Lucie Fisher
BBC Spotlight

Hospitals across the region are facing major disruption as junior doctors have gone on strike in a dispute with the government over a new contract.

The doctors are providing emergency cover only during the 24-hour walkout - about one in 10 operations have been cancelled across Devon and Cornwall, including knee and hip ops.

The MP for Totnes, Sarah Wollaston, who chairs the Health Committee in Parliament, has said she doesn't think the strike will achieve anything: "I think it will harm patients and ultimately I don't think that's right for patients or for doctors."

Lynne French, BBC News Online

Astromomy students from Fowey River Academy in Cornwall have been given the opportunity to speak to Major Tim Peake.

The year nine pupils won the launch category of the UK Space Agency, external and European Space Agency-funded, external competition "I’m an Astronaut, Get me Out of Here", external.

Image source, AFP/Getty

They will speak to Major Peake when he returns from the International Space Station in the summer.

Lucie Fisher
BBC Spotlight

The Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has described today's strike by junior doctors as 'unnecessary' in a robust defence of the government's position.

Mr Hunt told the BBC: "The right thing to do is to sit round the table and talk to the government about how we improve patient safety and patient care, not these very unnecessary strikes."

Mr Hunt has a tricky balancing act to perform here - he knows a direct attack on doctors and nurses would be very damaging to his political future, given the affection the public have for NHS workers.

That's why he keeps returning to his 'patient safety' theme, especially in a 'seven-day-a-week' NHS, because that is a far more palatable message.

Cornish Guardian

Police have released images of two men, external they would like to speak to in connection with the disappearance of Chad Gibson. 

The 32-year-old disappeared from his home in St Austell on 19 December and was last seen leaving the Central Inn in Newquay later that day.

Brent Pilnick, BBC Sport

Torquay United's National League game with Welling United has been postponed.

Image source, Getty Images

The Plainmoor pitch has not yet recovered from heavy rain in Torbay and some areas were deemed unplayable after an inspection on Tuesday morning,

It is the second time in four days that Torquay have been forced to call off a home game after Saturday's fixture against Braintree Town was postponed.

Bill Buckley
BBC Radio Devon

Junior doctors across Devon are on strike - this was the scene at Derriford hospital in Plymouth this morning - what's your opinion of the industrial action?

They're protesting about proposed new contracts - it's the first of three planned strikes due to take place in the coming weeks.

If you have been affected by the industrial action, please give me a call on 0345 301 1034.

Matt Pengelly
Local Live

This is the MV Ulysses at Falmouth Docks, where an engineer was crushed to death yesterday.

It's thought father-of-two Steve Summerside, who was 45 and from Sunderland, died after getting trapped between the lift and the shaft on the MV Ulysses during a refit.

Devon and Cornwall Police are investigating the death, alongside the Health and Safety Executive.