Chris Ellis
BBC News Online

People are being told to report any suspicious activity after a 97-year-old man was targeted by a distraction burglar.

The man had a jacket and wallet with £80 cash taken from his home, external by cold callers in Colyton on 7 March. Det Con Matthew Burnell said: "Legitimate callers will not mind if you shut and lock the door while you verify that they are genuine.

"Residents should ensure their doors are locked and only allow entry to those known to them or persons with legitimate ID."

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

Fowey regatta organisers made the decision to cancel the Red Arrows because the option for them to perform out at sea would pose too many difficulties, the BBC has learned.

A Military Aviation Authority audit has found that the River Fowey is not wide enough to ensure the safety of the display in its usual location over the town.

Image source, James Churchfield

Malcolm Palin, chairman of Fowey Regatta Committee said: "There are two problems with having the display out at sea. To view it, spectators would need to go into fields which would mean a lack of vehicle access, narrow footpaths and uneven ground. Also we would need to raise enough money to pay for the display while expecting a significant drop in visitor numbers."

Chris Ellis
BBC News Online

The Chancellor has announced the government will distribute £14.5m in grants to extend ultrafast broadband coverage in the South West.

In the Budget document, external it said that as part of its assessment of how the UK can become a world leader in 5G, the National Infrastructure Commission will use the South West as a case study.

Heidi Davey
BBC Spotlight

The Mayor of Torbay has predicted a new airshow planned for south Devon this summer will bring millions of pounds into the local economy.

The Red Arrows Display Team, external will headline the three-day show, described as the biggest event in Torbay since the sailing in the 1948 Olympics. Torbay Council is hopeful it will raise enough money to ensure the Torbay Airshow in Paignton becomes an annual event., external

Chris Ellis
BBC News Online

George Osborne has announced an additional £5m of funding to help secure the long-term future of the railway line in Devon.

The Budget document states, external the government will invest the money to develop options to "improve the resilience of the rail line between Newton Abbot and Exeter via Dawlish".

Image source, Reuters

It says the government will "fully consider the recommendations" in the Peninsula Rail Task Force's, external final report when it is published in June.

Chris Ellis
BBC News Online

The Budget claims, external transport routes will be strengthened across the South West, with projects including:

- The Local Majors Fund, so that local areas in the South West can bid for funding for large local transport schemes, including the A391 St Austell to A30 improvements and the North Devon Link Road

- Allocation of £3m to improve rail stations across the South West

- Allocation of £8m during 2016-17 to fill around 159,000 potholes

- The government will create a new MarineHub Enterprise Zone for Cornwall, following the transfer of the wave hub to Cornwall Council

Brent Pilnick, BBC Sport

Exeter's new flanker Dave Dennis wants to play for Australia against England before joining the Chiefs next season.

Image source, Getty Images

The 30-year-old, who has won 18 caps for his country, will move to Sandy Park from the Waratahs this summer.

"There's still ambitions to play throughout this year in the June period against the English," Dennis said. "We'll see how we go there and if that doesn't end up being my last game and I move over to England having played 18 Tests, I'll be grateful for that."

Matt Pengelly
BBC Radio Cornwall

Fuel prices and Stamp Duty were on the minds of these Cornish business people ahead of George Osborne's Budget.

Bev Plunkett works for a holiday lettings company, she's worried about changes to Stamp Duty on house sales, saying: "They're talking about extending it by 3% which would make it difficult for us to get more properties." 

Technology expert Warren D'Souza was hoping for fuel duty to stay the same, adding: "I drive all over Cornwall, lower fuel prices have helped me - it's down from £76 to fill a tank to £54." 

The Chancellor has frozen fuel duty again for the sixth year.

It's unclear exactly what help the Hall for Cornwall will get.

Claire Hawke
BBC Local Live

There are hopes the Chancellor will announce more money for studies into the future of the main railway line at Dawlish

The harbourmaster for Fowey says there will be disappointment after news that this year's Red Arrows performance has been called off due to safety concerns

The jury in the trial of three police staff accused of the manslaughter of a man who was in custody, continue to deliberate their verdict 

Chris Ellis
BBC News Online

The repeated storms which battered the coast during the winter of 2013/14 were the most energetic in almost seven decades, new research has shown.

Researchers compared data from sites across Scotland, Ireland, England, France, Portugal, Spain and Morocco, and showed the extreme weather conditions were the most energetic since at least 1948.

Dr Tim Scott, lecturer in Ocean Exploration at Plymouth University, said the extreme winter was in-line with historical trends and some climate models predicted repeated storms would be more frequent due to climate change.

Julie Skentelbery
BBC Radio Cornwall

As George Osborne delivers his eighth budget, we're asking whether you agree with his measures so far and what he should be doing to ensure a steady economic future?

He's already said that storm clouds are gathering over the global economy, which is why he chooses “sound public finances to deliver security”.

Let me know your thoughts on today's budget by calling me on the lunchtime phone-in on 01872 222222.

Chris Ellis
BBC News Online

A rare and brightly coloured hermit crab, found on Falmouth's Castle Beach, is the first record in Cornish waters since 1985, conservationists have said.

The species which does not have a common name is only known as Clibanarius erythropus.

Image source, Matt Slater

The species is common in the Channel Islands, along the French coast and historically it was found on the south coast of Cornwall, but virtually disappeared from our shores after the Torrey Canyon oil spill of 1967.

Plymouth Herald

George Osborne is to pledge an investment of £5m, external in the first stage of improvements to the resilience of the South West’s storm-hit rail link to London.

Brent Pilnick, BBC Sport

Outgoing Cornish Pirates boss Ian Davies says rugby union is too focused on appointing coaches with top-level playing experience.

Image source, Getty Images

Davies will leave the Championship club in the summer after seven years due to budget constraints.

"I'd like to think that I could step up if given the opportunity, but those opportunities haven't arisen," Davies told BBC Sport. "I haven't got a huge playing profile, I was injured out of the game at a young age. It does seem to be that you need to have played at a level, or people perceive that you have played at a level, to be able to coach at a level."

Jonathan Morris, BBC News Online

Organ donations have risen sharply after the death of a rugby player led to an appeal.

Image source, Nick Irving

Lily Partridge, 22, suffered a fatal head injury in a tackle during a Devon training session at North Tawton, Devon, in December.

She carried two donor cards and at least four people's lives have been saved after they received Lily's organs. The South West organ donor team called the rise in donors the "Lily effect".  

BBC Radio Devon

The Chancellor is expected to increase funding for education in today's budget, with plans to force every state school in England to become an academy. 

David Fitzsimmons, the head of Holsworthy Community College, said: "My major concern is we're losing the local democratic accountability."

Image source, Thinkstock

The Department for Education is expected to publish draft legislation as early as Thursday, BBC Newsnight has learned.