Summary

  • Fifteen fire engines are called to a blaze in Exeter city centre

  • A neighbourhood policing newsletter claiming children could be "vulnerable to exploitation" by fairground workers has been withdrawn

  • A missing man has been found after a major search of the Plymouth area which involved the police helicopter and RNLI lifeboats

  • Plans to build a student block are under review after it's thought an underground Victorian bunker may have been found on the site

  • The first ever all-female crew to row the Atlantic from west to east has arrived in Falmouth

  • Updates on Wednesday 27 July 2016

  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 Thursday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather. 

    Don't forget Spotlight on BBC One later. There will also be news through the night on your BBC Local Radio station.

  2. Latest weather: Dry through the night, rain on Thursdaypublished at 17:56 British Summer Time 27 July 2016

    David Braine, Weather Forecaster

    It'll stay largely dry through the night, with some clear spells developing before cloud thickens from the west, with perhaps some rain by dawn. Minimum temperature: 13 Deg C (55F).

    Weather

    Thursday will be rather cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle through the day. It'll turn drier into the late afternoon, but be mostly cloudy. Maximum temperature: 21C (70F).

  3. Latest headlines in Devon and Cornwallpublished at 17:49 British Summer Time 27 July 2016

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

    • Fifteen fire appliances from across Devon and Somerset are called to a shop blaze in Exeter city centre
    • The former partner of a mother who jumped to her death on Dartmoor with her five-year-old son is spared jail after admitting threatening another girlfriend with a knife
    • Tamar Bridge managers say a man on a mobility scooter who was on the wrong side of the road was a danger to himself and other vehicles
    • The Bishop of Truro tells church leaders and congregations in a pastoral letter "to remain alert, not alarmed" after the murder of a Catholic priest in France
    • Plymouth's Derriford Hospital says it will have extra staff in place to deal with any medical situations as a result of the MTV Crashes event in the city this weekend
    • The first ever all-female crew to row the Atlantic from west to east celebrates after arriving in Falmouth
  4. Wrong-way mobility scooter driver in 'obviously dangerous manoeuvre'published at 17:38 British Summer Time 27 July 2016

    BBC Radio Devon

    A mobility scooter driver was "obviously dangerous" to himself and other road users after going through no entry signs and driving on the wrong side of the Tamar Bridge earlier this week, bridge managers say.

    Tamar Bridge

    The man, thought to be in his mid-80s, was pulled over by police after driving the scooter on the bridge at about 17:15 on Monday. Cars were reported to be swerving around the scooter. No arrest was made and no one was injured.

    Tamar Crossing general manager David List said: "He came the wrong way down a slip road in the rush hour, down through two no entry signs, and went against red crosses on the road [denoting which direction that lane was being used for].

    "He eventually crossed over to the right side of the road. and ended up on the A38. It was an obviously dangerous manoeuvre, not just for him, but also for other roads users, who had to take evasive action."

  5. Fairground sex warning evidence 'largely anecdotal'published at 17:29 British Summer Time 27 July 2016

    Lynne French, BBC News Online

    Police have admitted information that led them to produce a newsletter claiming children could be "vulnerable to exploitation" by fairground workers is "largely anecdotal".

    Leaflet. Devon and Cornwall PoliceImage source, Devon and Cornwall Police

    The letter, sent to Plympton residents by Devon and Cornwall Police, external, said perpetrators could come into contact with young females at fairs. It has since been withdrawn. One funfair operator said the comments were "incredibly unfair". 

    Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Fun fairs and other large social gatherings of young people have historically led to some intelligence suggesting those attending may be at risk of exploitation. This intelligence is largely anecdotal and the message is general safety advice for parents and those young people attending such events."

  6. Fire-hit store staff 'all OK'published at 17:22 British Summer Time 27 July 2016

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    A major part of Exeter city centre has been closed and a number of buildings evacuated after the fire broke out in the basement of the shop. 

    The company also Tweeted, external that its priorities were "ensuring our staff are ok & that the building is sound".

  7. Atlantic rowers: The crewpublished at 17:05 British Summer Time 27 July 2016

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

    The first ever all-female crew to row the Atlantic from west to east arrived in Falmouth this morning. 

    The five women, on board the Rannoch Women's Challenge, external boat, Liberty, left New York for the 3,000-mile journey on 7 June. 

    Who are the intrepid rowers?

    Rowers
    • Guin Batten (skipper, left): Former professional rower who won a silver medal in Sydney in 2000. The 49-year-old also holds the record for the fastest row across the English Channel 
    • Molly Brown (second left): now the youngest person to row this route across the Atlantic, aged 20. Has competed for Team GB at youth level. Studies Oceanography at Southampton University 
    • Mary Sutherland (centre): Offshore sailor and racer, with several Fastnet and Atlantic crossings under her belt 
    • Alex Holt (second right): Outdoor enthusiast, skiing and water-skiing instructor. Ran the London Marathon in 2014 
    • Gilly Mara (right): Marathon kayaker and former GB dragonboat racer 
  8. Helicopters arrive for RNAS Culdrose Air Daypublished at 16:57 British Summer Time 27 July 2016

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    BBC Local Live will be at the show on Thursday, bringing you the best of the sights.

  9. Bishop tells church leaders and congregations to 'remain alert, not alarmed'published at 16:47 British Summer Time 27 July 2016

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

    The Bishop of Truro has told church leaders and their congregations "to remain alert, not alarmed" after the murder of a Catholic priest in France killed while conducting morning mass in his church. 

    Writing in a pastoral letter, the Right Reverend Tim Thornton, said the Anglican Church condemned violence "wherever it happens and the wicked nature of this latest atrocity is shocking". He said: "At this time we need to ensure we continue to extend hospitality to others and to work hard to ensure we listen to all members of our community."

    He also said that there was "no current intelligence to suggest any attack was being planned of this nature in this country". But he added: "It makes sense for all church leaders to review their security plans and to encourage their flock to be vigilant. Any suspicious behaviour should be reported immediately".

  10. Fifteen fire appliances called to shop blazepublished at 16:39 British Summer Time 27 July 2016

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

    Fifteen fire appliances have been fighting a shop blaze in Exeter city centre, Devon and Somerset Fire Service says, external.

    Exeter fire scene

    Crews from across south and east Devon, plus one from Wellington in Somerset, were called to the Richer Sounds store in Sidwell Street after the alarm was raised at about 13:45.

    Neighbouring properties have been evacuated, roads closed and diversions put in place.

  11. Councillor writes open letter over Lelant road problemspublished at 16:30 British Summer Time 27 July 2016

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    A Cornwall councillor has written an open letter to the Highways Department at Cornwall Council, asking it to sort out problems at Lelant in St Ives.

    In his letter, St Ives West Councillor Andrew Mitchell said £250,000 of changes that added a cycle lane to the road had caused queues on the road to Hayle.

  12. Eco-community planning permission 'sends out a message'published at 16:19 British Summer Time 27 July 2016

    Kirk England
    BBC Radio Devon

    An eco-community in Devon getting planning permission to live there permanently "sends out a message", one of its members says. 

    Landmatters

    Originally there were strong objections to the Landmatters community near Totnes, where people live in dwellings such as yurts, grow their own food and generate their own power. 

    It has got permanent permission to be there after a 13-year legal battle after the community was initially refused retrospective planning permission. About 250 people live there.

    Simeon Warbuton

    Simeon Warbuton, who lives there with his family, said: "I think it sends out a message that this way of life is successful, sustainable, part of the society in which we live, and which will become a more important part of our future."

  13. Fire breaks out in city centre shop basementpublished at 16:00

    Harriet Bradshaw
    BBC Radio Devon

    A major part of Exeter city centre is closed and a number of buildings evacuated after a fire broke out near St Anne's roundabout. 

    Exeter fire

    Emergency services were called to the Richer Sounds hifi store after the blaze broke out in the basement, police said.

    Students from Exeter University were led from adjacent buildings to other accommodation and a number of roads have been closed as a result of billowing smoke. 

  14. DAB radio problems in Redruthpublished at 15:47 British Summer Time 27 July 2016

    DAB signals for all radio stations are suffering disruption in the Redruth area of Cornwall because of planned engineering work over the next two hours.

    You can get radio reception advice here.

  15. Yealmpton Show: A last-minute preenpublished at 15:36 British Summer Time 27 July 2016

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  16. City centre shop fire closes roadspublished at 15:23 British Summer Time 27 July 2016

    BBC Radio Devon

    A number of roads have been closed and diversions put in place because of a shop fire in Exeter city centre, police have Tweeted, external.

    Sidwell Street, Pic: GoogleImage source, Google

    Hi-fi retailer Richer Sounds is believed to be on fire in Sidwell Street, and staff have been evacuated from the building.

    Officers said the fire had led "to a number of local road closures/diversions" and people should avoid the area.

  17. Exeter streetlights to be turned off overnightpublished at 15:09 British Summer Time 27 July 2016

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

    About 780 streetlights will be switched off overnight in some residential streets in Topsham and the St Loyes area of Exeter from 1 August, Devon County Council says.

    The authority said the lights would be turned off from 00:30-05:30 as part of an "on-going programme to reduce costs and carbon emissions across the county".

    It added that feedback from a city-wide consultation ensured that "we are able to maintain a network of busy ‘walking home routes’ which will remain lit all night, along with main roads".

  18. City centre road closed as fire crews tackle building blazepublished at 14:56 British Summer Time 27 July 2016

    BBC Radio Devon

    A road in Exeter city centre is closed because of a building fire.

    The electrical store Richer Sounds is believed to be on fire and staff have been evacuated from the building.

    The B3212 Western Way in the city is closed and there's queuing traffic at St Anne's Roundabout.

    The closure is also affecting Sidwell Street between York Road and B3212 Western Way.