Sophie Pierce
BBC Radio Devon

The owner of a pub in Torquay says he feels "bullied" to vote yes in a ballot in which tourism businesses are being asked to vote on whether a Business Improvement District - or BID - should be set up for the area.

If the majority of businesses approve, all tourism-related firms will be obliged to pay into a central pot used to market the Bay nationally, as the local authority is axing tourism promotion funding. Those for the scheme said having no BID could be disastrous for the area.

But some firms disagreed and said they were feeling pressured into supporting it. Robert "Twiggy" Branch (pictured) said: "I don't like being bullied by big hoteliers. I don't like being told I've got to pay this."

BBC Radio Cornwall

Cornwall could be set for an additional 318 pitches for gypsy and travelling families by 2030.

The council must provide suitable, well managed sites for residential and transit purposes, including a network of emergency stopping places. A public consultation period, external finishes today to get views on current proposals before the authority sets out its Gypsy and Travelling Communities Site Allocations Plan. 

However, there are already concerns about the current sites in the county not being up to standard.

A veteran of the Normandy landings on D-Day who is taking part in a commemoration parade in Torquay says it is "sad" that Monday's event will be the last featuring some of those who took part in the invasion.

The annual event remembers the landing and fallen soldiers, but now organisers feel that there are so few remaining local veterans that they are planning a wreath-laying ceremony in future.

Ninety-one-year-old veteran Nigel Sarjent, from Ipplepen, who is due to receive the Legion d'Honneur medal, said: "In a way it's sad because it is a tremendous event, but it's really come to its natural end because there are so few of us about."

BBC Radio Devon

Two people have been taken to hospital after their car came off the road at Clyst St Mary and a fire started in the engine. 

The fire service was called to the incident on Exmouth Road just before 22:00 on Sunday and found the car in a field.

The two occupants were clear of the vehicle when emergency crews arrived but were found to be seriously injured, the fire service said, external. They were given first aid at the scene and taken to hospital.

Bethan Bell
BBC News Online

Posting on social media has a feel of impermanence. But, as some people find, the internet lasts forever and casual comments online can lead to trouble with the law.

Where we may previously have been satisfied by bragging to our mates in the pub, it's now easy to mouth off online - and therefore announce our ill thought-out opinions, not just to the general public, but to the judiciary.

Image source, Facebook

When Ben Scott, from Redruth in Cornwall, aired his not-so-admirable jubilation at avoiding prison - posting a photograph of a bottle of Cristal alongside the sentiment "that scum can stay on the bottom of my shoe where he belongs" - he was whisked back into court and his suspended sentence became custodial.

Chris Ellis
BBC News Online

Image source, Thinkstock

A man has been cautioned after a police helicopter based in Exeter was targeted with a green laser on take-off and landing, police have confirmed.

The laser was pointed at the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter while flying just after midnight on Sunday, dazzling the pilot.

Police said they tracked down the source to the Pinhoe area and a 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempting to distract a pilot in flight under the Civil Aviation Act. He was taken into custody and later received a caution.

Andrew Segal
Local Live

Six people have been rescued by Newquay's lifeboat crew over the weekend after they were cut off by tides in two separate incidents.

Four members of one family needed assistance at about 17:00 on Saturday after being trapped by the tide between Towan and Great Western beaches. One lifeboat crew member went ashore and stayed with them until they were taken to safety in two trips.

At about 18:00 on Sunday, a local middle-aged couple were trapped by the high spring tide opposite the Saltings on the River Gannel whilst walking along the shore. They were found stranded on a small rock with water around their legs, and no exit route available due to heavy undergrowth and steep, rocky terrain. They were taken to the shore by the inshore lifeboat.

Emily Wood
BBC Weather

If you're planning a trip to the coast or seaside, here are the next high water times around Devon and Cornwall. 

We'll have the latest forecast on BBC Spotlight at 13:30. 

Sophie Pierce
BBC Radio Devon

About 1,000 tourism businesses in Torbay will be voting in a controversial ballot over the next four weeks to see if a Business Improvement District - or BID - should be set up in the area. 

Image source, Andrew Segal

If the majority of businesses vote yes, all tourism-related firms will be obliged to pay into a central pot which will be used to market the Bay nationally. 

It comes as the local authority is axing all funding for tourism promotion.

Plymouth Herald

A vulnerable 16-year-old girl was found this morning after search and rescue volunteers looked for her through the night, external.

BBC Spotlight

A Devon entrepreneur who campaigns to reduce the amount of fire retardants in our homes has invented a new fire-safe fabric.

Mark Dowen is patenting Cottonsafe, which is made of natural fibres but passes fire safety tests without the need for chemicals. 

Retardants have saved hundreds of lives since their use became widespread in the 1980s, but there are some concerns over their potential impact on health and the environment.

BBC Radio Cornwall

People are being warned to dispose of barbecues properly after one caused a bin to catch fire, external.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze in a bin on Sunday near Porthlevan Church was caused by the "careless disposal" of a barbecue.

A crew from Helston was called to the scene on Institute Hill at about 20:20. They used buckets of water to put the fire out.

BBC Travel

• In Cornwall, the A388 Tavistock Road near Launceston is partially blocked due to an incident near the A30
• One westbound lane of the A30 at Fraddon is blocked due to an incident. Traffic is slow-moving
• In Devon, the A361 is closed in both directions at Station Road, near South Molton, due to an incident 
• Traffic lights have failed on the A377 Alphington Road in Exeter, near Marsh Barton Road. Traffic is slow-moving
• Also in Exeter, there's slow traffic at the entrance to the services on Moor Lane due to another traffic light failure

James Law
BBC Sport Online

Torquay United have signed former Aldershot and Forest Green Rovers striker Brett Williams.

Williams, 28, left the Shots in June 2015 and had a spell at Stevenage before joining Rovers, where his five goals in eight starts helped them reach the National League play-off final.

Image source, Rex Features

"Brett's a proven scorer at this level," said Gulls player-manager Kevin Nicholson. "He did well at Forest Green and did very well at Aldershot where he pretty much averaged one in two."

West Briton

A businessman has offered to pay the £80 fine a tourist was slapped with for dropping his ice cream cone , externalwhen he was attacked by seagulls.

Claire Jones
BBC News Online

A Devon and Cornwall Police helicopter has been targeted with a green laser on take-off and landing.

The laser was pointed at the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter while flying in the Exeter area on Saturday night.

The incident was highlighted by Devon & Cornwall police officer RDO Garry Bacon on Twitter, external. A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said the person has been located and arrested.

Andrew Segal
Local Live

It's been a busy weekend for Newquay's RNLI lifeboat volunteers, who were called out four times over the weekend.

Incidents included rescuing a total of six people who were cut off by the tide. 

On Saturday, they also helped police search for a missing woman after a handbag was found in the sea. She was found safe inland later. On Sunday evening, they were also called to reports of two stand-up paddle boarders who appeared to be in difficulty, but who were able to reach the shore safely themselves.

BBC Travel

• In Cornwall, on the A30 at Fraddon heading westbound, there are reports one lane is blocked due to an incident
• At Polyphant, on the A30 eastbound between Two Bridges and Launceston, one lane is closed due to drainage work. There is slow traffic in the area
• The Mevagissey-Fowey Ferry is out of service due to the forecast of winds in the bay
• In Devon, traffic lights have failed on the A377 Alphington Road in Exeter, near Marsh Barton Road. Traffic is slow-moving
• Also in Exeter, there's slow traffic at the entrance to the services on Moor Lane due to another traffic light failure
• National Rail Enquiries is tweeting, external that station screens and travel apps are falsely showing trains as delayed, saying "apologies for confusion, we are working to fix this"

Plymouth Herald

After recent high-profile operations on major and rural roads around Plymouth, police mobile speed camera units are targeting residential routes, external across the city.