BBC Radio Cornwall

A member of Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s photographic group has won best ‘Urban Wildlife’ picture at the British Wildlife Photography Awards. 

Geoff Trevarthen, from Launceston, said he spotted the bird after hearing it singing: "I took several shots until I captured the image with the starling’s beak open, so that you can see that it’s singing!"

Picture credit: Geoff Trevarthen

Image source, Getty Images

Torquay United boss Kevin Nicholson would like to keep on-loan Exeter City forward Jamie Reid for a longer period.

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

A group of archaeologists from Exeter University start a major project next month using a drone to map out what are thought to be ancient ritual sites deep in the Amazon Rainforest.

The drone, with a special laser attached, has undergone nine months of tests.

They hope to understand the scale and activities of populations living in the last 3,000 years before the Europeans arrived in the 1490s.

Rachael Thorn
BBC News Online

The mayor of Bideford says he is "absolutely dumbfounded" at plans to axe more than 400 acute hospital beds across Devon.

Image source, Mayor

Health bosses at the NHS Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group have also outlined proposals to cut services at the North Devon District Hospital but say accident and emergency services would be protected.

"We're here in Devon with a rapidly expanding population. One which is ageing slightly but one which is attracting a lot of young people and young families into the area. I'm just astounded that it could even be under consideration," mayor David Howell told the BBC.

Image source, Getty Images

Plymouth Argyle summer signing Yann Songo'o says he is adapting well to his new role in central midfield.

BBC Radio Cornwall

Frustrated residents are calling for the resignation of their Cornwall councillor over three projects they claim have caused traffic chaos.

Image source, Google

Last night 200 people attended a town meeting in Lelant to discuss issues, including the introduction of yellow lines at Saltings Reach.

Councillor for Lelant Liz Penhaligon, external said she was not available for an interview today but a spokesperson said a statement could be expected after the weekend.

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

Cases of highly infectious whooping cough have increased by 50% across the South West, NHS England has said.

Image source, SPL

Across the region, there were 426 cases in 2014, increasing by over 50% to 641 in 2015. 

In 2012, 14 babies died in England and Wales following a whooping cough infection.  

Exeter Express & Echo

The impact Exeter's iconic Cavern Club has had on music fans across the UK has led to thousands of pounds being donated, external to help the fire-hit club get back on its feet.

Rachael Thorn
BBC News Online

A pilot killed at Newquay Airport appeared to have lost control of his light aircraft after a bounced landing, a report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has found today.

Image source, Google

Tony Richards, 68, from Falmouth, was pronounced dead at the scene in August last year when the Piper PA-34 Seneca twin-engined plane crashed off the runway on approach from London.

"The pilot made the decision to go around after a bounced landing. The aircraft was at a slow speed and a degree of directional control appeared to have been lost," the report said, external.

It concluded the plane then stalled and began to spin "at a height from which it was not possible to recover".

Rachael Thorn
BBC News Online

The friend of a woman whose arm was ripped off by a parked car in Cornwall says she is saving to attend the Tokyo paralympics in four years time.

Image source, Maggie Hayes

Claire Butler, who has set up a crowdfunding page to raise money to adapt Maggie Hayes' house, said the 78-year-old had "pulled through" thanks to her humour but said losing her arm meant "everything has changed" for her.

"Maggie is always immaculately dressed, there is never a hair on her head out of place - she asked me 'how am I going to put curlers in?'," Ms Butler said.

Exeter Express & Echo

The National Lottery is hunting for a local winner, external - who doesn't know they are a secret millionaire.

Plans for the return of a helicopter passenger service between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly could reverse the "huge decline" in visitor numbers to the islands.

Tom Matthews, from the Tresco Estate on Scilly, says the islands has seen a downward trend in visitor numbers since the helicopter service stopped in 2012.

"It's the number one question that you get asked all the time - as soon as you say that you live in the Isles of Scilly, or as soon as you meet a visitor around the island, the first question they always ask you is 'so any chance of the helicopter coming back?'," he said.

Local investors' proposals to use fields on the edge of Penzance for a new heliport are on show to the public today in the town.

Jenny Walrond
Health Correspondent, BBC Spotlight

These are draft plans, very much a work in progress and yet to be consulted upon, but their contents will be very troubling to people fighting to prevent cuts to services.

If these go ahead more than 400 acute beds would go in hospitals across Devon – almost one in six beds. There would also be 190 community hospital beds lost. Up to 900 staff may have to change role and there would be an 11% cut in nursing and medical workforce spend as well as management and admin.

Derriford hospital in Plymouth would be a fixed point for emergency care, paediatrics, neonatology, consultant-led obstetrics and strokes because it is the designated Major Trauma Centre for the region. The Royal Devon and Exeter hospital is favoured as a second site for maternity, paediatrics and neonatology.

BBC Radio Cornwall

A woman has criticised the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust Patient Transport Service after she says she was told she could not go with her 77-year-old mother to Treliske for vital cancer surgery.

Diane Wheeler is also her mother's carer and had told the Patient Transport Service that her mother could not travel alone.

"I know I could phone 999 and mum would be admitted now, today, this minute. I won't do that, I can't do that, that takes up space for someone who needs it more than mum," she said.

In a statement the Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust said it had rescheduled the appointments of Mrs Wheeler's mother to allow them to travel together.

Cornish Pirates coach Alan Paver does not get the plaudits he deserves, according to fellow coach Gavin Cattle.

West Briton

An investigation into a plane crash at Newquay Airport has found the pilot who died lost control, external of the aircraft after a "bounced landing".

An 83-year-old nurse, who still works 15 to 20 hours a week, says she has "no plans" to retire.

An injured baby common seal pup rescued this weekend in Plymouth Harbour is on her way to recovery, the National Marine Aquarium has said.

Image source, National Marine Aquarium

The baby pup was taken to local vets with a number of injuries around its tail, back flippers and lower jaw but was found to be in "relatively good health" despite being "a little slim".

"It was quite a feat for her to manage to get past all the shipping lanes, ferries and boat traffic in the Sound to this location", said James Wright, curator at the aquarium. The pup is now recovering at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary and will be released soon.

BBC Business News

The South West region had the third highest proportion of workers on zero hours contracts according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics.

Between April and June 2016, 90,000 people in the region were on the contracts which give no guarantee of a minimum number of hours.

The figures show there has been a rise in the number of people on zero hours contracts across the UK, compared with the same period last year.