Summary

  • Updates on Tuesday 21 June 2016

  • The latest News, Sport, Travel and Weather from 08:00 Wednesday

  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 at 08:00 on Wednesday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather. 

    Don't forget that Spotlight is on BBC One at 18:30, and there is BBC South West's late bulletin at 22:30. There's also more news on your local BBC radio station.

  2. Tourist attraction goes for largest wooden plant tub recordpublished at 17:54

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

    A Cornish attraction has built what it believes is the largest wooden plant tub in the world.

    Hidden Valley tubImage source, Hidden Valley

    Staff at Hidden Valley, near Launceston, said the planter was about 4.8m high, 5.1m wide and currently had 30 trees in it. The attraction plans to feature a Christmas display in it this festive season.

    The record attempt is still subject to Guinness World Records' verification.

  3. Exeter Book: The answer to Riddle 44published at 17:47

    Rachael Thorn
    BBC News Online

    We asked earlier if you could solve Riddle 44 from the Exeter Book, which has been granted Unesco status for its "outstanding significance" to British history.

    Exeter Book

    The rather rude riddle goes: 

    A wondrous thing hangs by a man's thigh, under its lord's clothing. 

    In front there is a hole. It stands stiff and hard. It has a good home. 

    When the servant raises his own garment up over his knee, 

    he wants to greet with his dangling head that well-known hole, of equal length, 

    which he has often filled before.

    Q. What is it?

    A. A key

  4. Latest weather: Murky overnight, brighter on Wednesdaypublished at 17:41

    Bee Tucker
    BBC Weather

    It'll become increasingly murky overnight, with outbreaks of drizzly rain pushing up from the south and some heavy bursts are possible. Extensive low cloud will shroud moors, with fog affecting coastal locations. Minimum temperature: 14C (57F).

    Weather

    Wednesday will start grey and damp, with the drizzly rain slowly easing. The cloud will lift and thin into the afternoon, allowing brighter skies, which, in turn, may trigger some heavy showers. Maximum temperature: 20C (68F).

  5. Latest headlines in Devon and Cornwallpublished at 17:30

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

    • Fire crews spend the day at the scene of a serious blaze in Exmouth
    • A 74-year-old man bludgeoned his partner with a lump hammer to "liberate her", a murder trial hears
    • Multimillion-pound plans have been unveiled to expand Glendinning Quarry in south Devon
    • The publishing of a report on suggested improvements to the South West's rail service for the next 20 years is delayed until after the summer
    • NHS patients on the Rame Peninsula will have access to a full-time GP after concerns a surgery could could close
  6. Listen Again: EU Referendum - The BBC Radio Cornwall debatepublished at 17:25

    Did you miss this afternoon's EU Referendum debate with Laurence Reed on BBC Radio Cornwall?

    With less than two days to go before voting, have you made your mind up? Are you in or out? 

    You can catch up with the discussion on the BBC iPlayer.

  7. Devonport-based flagship completes NATO operationpublished at 17:18 British Summer Time 21 June 2016

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  8. Rail investment report publishing delayedpublished at 17:11

    BBC Spotlight

    A report on investment needed to improve rail infrastructure in the South West has been delayed.

    Train on tracks

    The Peninsula Rail Task Force, external said it was not publishing its report on ways to boost the region's rail connectivity until after the summer. 

    The campaign group - made up of a series of organisations including Devon County, Torbay and Plymouth City councils - said it was waiting for more information before it could make its case to the government. 

  9. Exmouth town centre closed in tanning studio firepublished at 17:03 British Summer Time 21 June 2016

    Hamish Marshall
    BBC Spotlight

    Part of the centre of Exmouth has been shut for most of the day after homes and businesses had to be evacuated after a fire in a tanning studio.

    Media caption,

    Video: Alan Mills

    More than 40 firefighters tackled the blaze which destroyed the Consol studio on The Parade. There were fears the blaze would spread to a parade of shops until firefighters brought it under control. 

    It's not known how the fire began and investigations are under way. But as well as the damaged salon and a neighbouring branch of Ladbrokes, other businesses could be closed for a while for clear-up work to be carried out. Two people were treated for the effects of inhaling smoke.

    Video: Alan Mills

  10. Man smashed partner over head to 'liberate her'published at 16:57 British Summer Time 21 June 2016

    Elisabeth Mahy
    BBC News Online

    A 74-year-old man bludgeoned his partner with a lump hammer to "liberate her", a court has heard

    Retired scientist, Edgar Fairhurst, initially struck Marjorie Elphick, 83, twice over the head with the foot-long implement on 30 December. But when she tried to defend herself, Mr Fairhurst, from north Devon, struck her a further 10 times "to put her to sleep", he told Exeter Crown Court.

    Mr Fairhurst has admitted manslaughter but denies murder.

  11. Argyle sign midfielder Connor Smithpublished at 16:48

    James Law
    BBC Sport Online

    Midfielder Connor Smith has joined Plymouth Argyle from AFC Wimbledon less than five weeks after helping the Dons beat the Devon side in the League Two play-off final.

    The former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international played 11 times for Wimbledon after joining in January.

    Connor Smith (right)Image source, Rex Features

    The 23-year-old - who has previously played for Gillingham, Stevenage and Watford - has signed for the Pilgrims subject to completing a medical.

  12. Learning the lessons of war in WW1: How war impacted school life in Devonpublished at 16:39

    BBC Radio Devon

    Wartime education was complicated. Schools were requisitioned, teachers were called up and the lives of their pupils changed dramatically. 

    In Devon, new schools opened in Torquay and in Newton Abbot (pictured), but attendance dropped significantly across the county. In Plymouth, a school girl was murdered by a soldier.

    Find out more here.

  13. Busy afternoon for traffic coppublished at 16:28

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  14. Exeter Book 'now in same category as the Magna Carta and Bayeux Tapestry'published at 16:15

    BBC Radio Devon

    A poetry book written in Old English granted Unesco status for its "outstanding significance" to British history is a "significant recognition", a professor says.

    The Exeter Book, a rare collection of poems and riddles kept at Exeter Cathedral, is thought to have been written around 970 AD, and experts believe it is one of only four Anglo-Saxon books of its kind in the world. It's going on the Memory of the World, external register.

    Exeter Book

    Emma Cayley, an associate professor of medieval literature at Exeter University said: "This recognition now puts the Exeter Book in the same category as the Magna Carta, the Bayeux Tapestry, the Book of Kells and the Diary of Anne Franks in terms of significance." She added: "It's so important it stays in Exeter."

  15. BBC adapts Christie's Witness for the Prosecutionpublished at 16:02

    BBC Entertainment and Arts

    Agatha Christie's murder mystery The Witness for the Prosecution is to be adapted for television by BBC One.

    Agatha Christie. Pic: Getty ImagesImage source, Getty Images

    It follows the success of And Then There Were None last Christmas, which drew critical acclaim and ratings of more than 8m viewers.

    The 1925 short story by the Torquay-born Queen of Crime was one of her most popular stories and was turned into a successful stage play as well as a 1957 Billy Wilder film.

  16. Social media 'an important part of modern journalism'published at 15:36 British Summer Time 21 June 2016

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  17. Former Exeter City boss Eamonn Dolan diespublished at 15:23 British Summer Time 21 June 2016
    Breaking

    James Law
    BBC Sport Online

    Former Exeter City manager Eamonn Dolan has died from cancer at the age of 48.

    He was forced to retire from playing after being diagnosed with the illness whilst with the Devon club in 1993, but returned to manage the club for one season a decade later.

    Eamonn DolanImage source, Getty Images

    Dolan left Exeter to take over as Academy manager at Reading - a position he held until his death.  

  18. The Exeter Book: Can you solve another medieval riddle?published at 15:13 British Summer Time 21 June 2016

    Rachael Thorn
    BBC News Online

    The Exeter Book, which has been granted Unesco status, was bestowed upon Exeter Cathedral in the 11th Century by its first bishop, Leofric.

    But despite its clerical history, some rather raunchy riddles lurk among its pages.

    Can you decipher this one, Riddle 44?

    The Exeter Book

    A wondrous thing hangs by a man's thigh, under its Lord's clothing. 

    In front there is a hole. It stands stiff and hard. It has a good home. 

    When the servant raises his own garment up over his knee, 

    He wants to greet with his dangling head that well-known hole, of equal length, 

    which he has often filled before.

    So, what am I? If you think you know, why not drop us an email? We'll tell you the answer later.