Summary
Updates on Wednesday 24 February 2016
More news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Thursday
Presenter to leave BBC Radio Devonpublished at 15:45 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Vulnerable residents 'shut in empty room more than 1,000 times', court toldpublished at 15:28 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Press AssociationVulnerable disabled adults, living in the Veilstone and Gatooma care homes in Devon, were shut in and left alone in an empty room more than 1,000 times, a court has heard.
A deliberately-cruel culture developed where staff tried to correct residents' behaviour as if they would train an animal, prosecutors allege.
They are accused of being responsible for the "systematic" imprisonment of disabled residents. Paul Hewitt, 70, and employees Lee Farrant, 30, James Lawson, 41, Julie Barlow, 51, and Aaron Jones, 33, all of Devon, deny the charges.
Young Lando takes internet by storm with midnight pasty cravingpublished at 15:18 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
A young Cornish lad has proved that it's never too late to tuck into a pasty after a night-time recording went viral, external.
Argyle boss not giving up title hopespublished at 15:04 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Brent Pilnick, BBC SportPlymouth Argyle manager Derek Adams has not given up hope of winning the League Two title, despite his side being 12 points behind leaders Northampton Town.
Image source, Getty ImagesArgyle drew 0-0 at struggling Yeovil Town on Tuesday, while the Cobblers earned a 10th successive league win.
"You can never say it's over, there's 14 games to go, so there's a lot of points to play for, but they're in a very good position," Adams said.
Hospital staff holiday ban claims made by union disputed by Mitiepublished at 14:51 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Mitie says no holiday requests have been refused, as union bosses claim a holiday ban is in place for staff at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust.
Unison said the firm, which provides catering and cleaning staff at the trust, had denied further leave for March, because bosses had failed to deal with a blacklog or request.
But a company spokesperson said: "It is right to say that there is a lot of holiday booked in March and at some point we would have to talk to people about alternative plans if we were concerned that there may not be enough people available to fulfill the terms of our contract. But so far this hasn't happened."
'Loyal' Met Office staff over 10% gap in male and female salariespublished at 14:39 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
The decision to strike by "loyal and committed staff" at the Met Office was not taken lightly, a union has said, as employees walk out for 24 hours over a 10% gap in male and female salaries.
The trade union Prospect, which represents the majority of Met Office staff, says senior female meteorologists earn about £7,000 less than their male counterparts.
Helen Stevens, from union Prospect said the government "talks the talk on fair and equal pay, but does not walk the walk". The Met Office said it was working to ensure services "critical for safety of life and property" were maintained during the strike action.
Conservationists nurse sick storm-hit turtle back to healthpublished at 14:28 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Chris Ellis
BBC News OnlineConservationists have revealed how they nursed a sick loggerhead turtle back to health.
The turtle was found stranded on a Cornish beach after storms battered the country.
Kyle Wingfield, from Newquay's Blue Reef Aquarium, said they re-hydrated the turtle by inserting a tube into her stomach, fed her every 90 minutes and everyday the tank temperature was raised by just one degree.
Council defends spending £100,000 supporting BBC Radio 1's Big Weekendpublished at 14:12 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
The leader of Teignbridge District Council is defending its decision to spend £100,000 to help fund a music festival.
The authority is supporting BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend at Powderham Castle in May, which is being publicised as an Exeter event.
Image source, Getty ImagesOpposition councillors say it's wrong to do that when council tax is going up by 3%, but the Conservative leader of the council, Jeremy Christophers, has told BBC News it's a good investment.
Latest headlines for Devon and Cornwallpublished at 13:57 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Claire Hawke
BBC Local Live- Staff from the Met Office are taking part in a 24-hour strike in a dispute over the pay gap between men and women at the Exeter-based service
- The company running cleaning and portering services at the Royal Cornwall Hospital denies union claims that it's banned leave for staff in March
- Meanwhile a staff satisfaction survey of staff at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust and Derriford Hospital shows they are in the bottom 20% of acute hospital trusts in England
- A tiny loggerhead turtle that was expected to die after being stranded on a beach has made a remarkable recovery
Newton Poppleford worshippers get supervised loo opening after sex propositionpublished at 13:47 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Jonathan Morris, BBC News OnlineA village's toilets have been closed after a bearded man in a wedding dress reportedly propositioned people for sex there.
Image source, David SmithThe public block, in Newton Poppleford, Devon, was locked up on Monday after a local was "accosted" the day before.
Image source, GoogleWorshippers at a local church will be able to use the toilets on Sunday under supervision, the parish council said. The long-term future of the loo is being discussed with owner East Devon District Council.
Sunny afternoon ahead, but cold and frosty weather expected overnightpublished at 13:36 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
It'll be a mostly bright afternoon with plenty of winter sunshine around and will feel quite pleasant in a light northeasterly wind. Maximum temperature: 8 Deg C (46 Deg F).
Skies will be clear again overnight, allowing temperatures to dip once more and another frost to form. Western parts may also see the odd shower during the early hours. Minimum temperature: -2 Deg C (28 Deg F)
Manslaughter accused tells court he did not consider mental illness as a factor in Thomas Orchard's behaviourpublished at 13:23 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Scott Bingham, BBC SpotlightA civilian detention officer charged over the death of a man with paranoid schizophrenia has told a court he did not consider mental illness may have been a factor in the detainee's behaviour.
Michael Marsden said Thomas Orchard, 32, was angry and aggressive when he was restrained at an Exeter police station in October 2012.
Image source, Devon and Cornwall PoliceMr Orchard later died in hospital. Mr Marsden denies manslaughter and said: "It just didn't cross my mind. He was just an angry aggressive male and I wanted to get him to a place of safety."
Two other men, police custody sergeant Jan Kingshott, 44, and civilian detention officer Simon Tansley, 38, also deny manslaughter charges. The trial continues.
Message in a bottle washes up in Newquaypublished at 13:12 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Claire Hawke
BBC Local LiveNeil Purdy has emailed to tell us that he found a message in a bottle on Lusty Glaze Beach in Newquay.
Image source, Neil Purdy"It has travelled some 2300 miles across the Atlantic from Pouch Bay, Newfoundland, Canada", he writes. "We have emailed the sender who cast the bottle into the ocean on 1 August 2014, but have not heard back from him as of yet."
Were police right to deliberately run over a dog?published at 13:01 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Bill Buckley
BBC Radio DevonPolice deliberately run over a dog which was loose on the road saying it was the "only safe option". How do you feel about this?
If the police made the decision that there was a serious risk of a major collision putting human lives at risk, did they have no other choice? Or do you think a dog's life is just as important?
Join me Bill Buckley from 1:00 and get involved in today's phone-in by calling 0345 3011034
Met office workers strike as union bosses lobby MPs in Londonpublished at 12:49 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Holiday ban for hospital staff, union claimspublished at 12:39 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Rachael Thorn
BBC News OnlineA holiday ban for hospital staff is the "latest in a long line of incompetent behaviour", a union has claimed.
Sarah Woodward from Unison said the private firm Mitie, which provides catering and cleaning staff for the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, had denied further leave for March, because bosses had failed to deal with a backlog of requests.
She claimed it followed a "pay mess up" last month, and said "the stress" of Mitie's actions was "impacting on people's health and wellbeing". Mitie has yet to comment.
Zoo's cheetah put to sleep after 'abnormalities'published at 12:20 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Chris Ellis
BBC News OnlineA male cheetah who received extensive treatment using the latest technology at Paignton Zoo has been put to sleep.
Christa van Wessem, a Veterinary Associate, said: “Unfortunately we found abnormalities with his liver and guts – we tried treatment but he didn’t respond to this and showed no improvement.
Image source, Paignton Zoo"Based on this, and his long term prognosis, the difficult decision was made to euthanise him."
Staff satisfaction survey puts major hospitals in lowest 20%published at 12:09 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Laurence Reed
BBC Radio CornwallA new survey of staff at Cornwall's main hospitals reveals they're in the bottom 20% of acute trusts in England when it comes to satisfaction.
The latest feedback from hospital workers does show improvements in several areas.
Derriford Hospital in Plymouth also found itself in the bottom 20%. Are you concerned about how staff at our major hospitals are treated? Let me know on today's phone-in by calling 01872 222222.
Exeter 'dismal' in Oxford defeatpublished at 11:55 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
Brent Pilnick, BBC SportExeter City manager Paul Tisdale said he could not remember many performances as poor as the one by his side in his 500th game in charge of the club.
Image source, Getty ImagesCity lost 4-1 at home to Oxford United, their heaviest home loss since a 4-0 defeat to Huddersfield in October 2011 when the club was in League One.
"It was a pretty poor night. We had no real excuses for such a dismal performance," he told BBC Radio Devon.
Billy Elliot comes to Plymouth's Theatre Royalpublished at 11:41 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016
The West End production of Billy Elliot opens tonight at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth and we've been behind the scenes to see what it takes for a regional theatre to take on a big production.
The scenery has come from the USA, and is being refurbished for the show in house at the TR2 building in the city. Find out more on BBC Spotlight at 18:30.
