Updates on Thursday 14 July 2016
Campaigners for improved rail links in the South West are wasting no time in lobbying the new government.
South West Devon MP Gary Streeter's written to the new chancellor to "alert" him to what he describes as "the most important issue" affecting the peninsula.
A task force is due to present its 20-year plan for improvement to ministers in September.
Elisabeth Mahy
BBC News Online
A Lottery millionaire is sponsoring sepsis warning leaflets in memory of baby William Mead who died of the condition.
Image source, William Mead's familyThe leaflets will be handed out to expectant parents throughout the UK and outline the warning signs for blood poisoning in babies.
Truro millionaire Peter Congdon has stepped forward to pay the printing costs, which are around £6,000. Melissa Mead, William's mother, said Mr Congdon's gesture was "humbling".
Chris Ellis
BBC News Online
A two-year-old lynx is still on the run after escaping from a zoo a week ago.
Dartmoor Zoo, external said some people had "expressed concern" that Flaviu had been separated from his mother and people had "questioned the ethics of doing so".
Image source, Dartmoor ZooIn response, the zoo said: "We can fully understand how the implications of separating the mother/child bond would inspire feelings of anxiety in people; some have assumed that his escape was an attempt to get back to his mother.
"However, with regard to animals, and the lynx in particular, the opposite is actually true. Flaviu is approaching sexual maturity. It is at this age, and often earlier, that we would expect him to be leaving the immediate care of his parents and setting off to establish a territory of his own.
"In the wild, there would be no further contact with the parents and any close proximity might well lead to territorial conflict." Keepers are still trying to find the lynx after it escaped from the zoo last week.
A Truro lottery millionaire has stepped forward to sponsor sepsis awareness leaflets, external to be given to expectant mothers across the UK as a lasting legacy to a Penryn baby who died of the condition.
Thousands of jellyfish have been washed up on a Cornish beach just days after a sperm whale got stranded and died at the same place.
Marine specialists say the current onshore winds are bringing in large numbers of jellyfish from the Atlantic.
Image source, Reg ButlerThe jellyfish, known as moon jellies, which used to be rare in Cornish waters, do not have a painful sting.
On Sunday, a female sperm whale was discovered in the shallows on Perranporth beach.
Image source, Reg Butler
Claire Jones
BBC News Online
BBC Travel
BBC Sport
Torquay United midfielder Courtney Richards has signed a new undisclosed-length contract.
The 22-year-old joined the National League Gulls on a two-year contract in 2014 after leaving Brighton, and he has scored six goals in 74 league games.
"I'm delighted to have Courtney back on board," player-boss Kevin Nicholson, told the club website., external
"He is a leader and our vice-captain, and the kind of player who you want alongside you in a battle".
A dog walker who came across a dead sheep near Dartmoor Zoo, external believes it may be connected to the missing lynx.
Jonathan Morris, BBC News Online
Cornwall Council said it was "sorry to hear about" a three-year-old boy left with an injured hand after an attack by a "pack" of six squirrels.
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A spokesperson said: "Many people visit Tehidy Country Park to see the squirrels so they are quite used to people being around and unafraid to approach if they think food might be available.
"However, they are wild animals which are naturally capable of finding their own food and we do not encourage or advise people to feed them or any of the wild birds at Tehidy."
Finlay Renouf was pounced on as he fed a squirrel at Tehidy Country Park in Cornwall.
Devon and Cornwall Police has released a statement after they were served with dozens of detailed questions by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) about their procedures following the death of Thomas Orchard while in their care.
A police spokesman said: "The force has fully co-operated with the IPCC during the course of this investigation and continues to do so.
"The force has now received a series of questions from the IPCC, together with several files of documentation.
"We are in the process of considering the documentation and seeking to answer the questions that have been posed.
"Whilst the force remains concerned about the length of time that it has taken to reach this stage of the IPCC's investigation, we are working hard to answer the questions as soon as possible."
Claire Jones
BBC News Online
Devon and Cornwall Police has said missing man Lee Hayden has returned home of his own accord.
The 44-year-old has been missing from the Bodmin area for the last nine days and returned home last night at around 22:00.
Police said Mr Hayden was last seen by his family on 5 July and his family had grown increasingly concerned for his safety and whereabouts.
Image source, Devon and Cornwall PoliceThe Independent Police Complaints Commission have now served on Devon and Cornwall Police a file containing hundreds of documents they are examining in connection with the Thomas Orchard case.
They've also raised questions about the force's training, health and safety procedures, and guidance issued to officers and police staff.
A senior source at Devon and Cornwall Police told us it would take them “several months” to respond to the questions.
Image source, Devon and Cornwall PoliceA brave young woman who was nearly blinded when she was hit with a stiletto in a random attack is calling for justice after her assailant was spared jail, external.
Jonathan Morris, BBC News Online
A three-year-old boy was left with blood pouring from his hand after an attack by a "pack" of six squirrels.
Finlay Renouf was pounced on as he fed a squirrel at Tehidy Country Park in Cornwall said his mother Sophie, 22.
"All of a sudden six of them came at him. I've never heard such a heart-rending scream. There was blood dripping everywhere," she said.
Cornwall Council said it may put up warning signs about feeding animals "if this becomes a regular problem".
The mother of a Penryn baby who died of sepsis infection has welcomed new national guidelines which say the condition should be treated as an emergency in the same way as heart attacks, external.
Tens of thousands of jellyfish have been stranded at Perranporth beach in Cornwall.
On Sunday a sperm whale was stranded, and later died, on the same beach.
Image source, iWalk CornwallKristian McConville, from the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, said the stranding of jellyfish was "not unusual".
"It's likely the prevailing wind has drawn the jellyfish close to the shore and then the tide has landed them on the beach.
"Jellyfish do not have a huge amount of control over their movement."
Claire Jones
BBC News Online
Alison Orchard, the mother of Thomas Orchard, told the BBC: “We are pleased that the process is moving on as it’s now nearly four years since Thomas died.”
Devon and Cornwall police have been served with dozens of detailed questions about their procedures by the watchdog investigating whether to bring corporate manslaughter charges over the death of the church caretaker.
The trial of three police staff accused of killing Mr Orchard was halted in March this year for legal reasons.
Custody sergeant Jan Kingshott, 44, and civilian detention officers Simon Tansley, 38, and Michael Marsden, 55 were on trial for manslaughter. They denied the charges. A retrial is due to be held in January 2017.
Firefighters were called after a woman reported her car was on fire, external on the driveway outside her property.
The crew said the vehicle was "well alight" but that it had not spread to the house.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said it was thought the fire was started deliberately.
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