Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

A professor has said there's "no limit" to the craze of taking extreme selfies after a group of schoolchildren recently risked their lives trying to take photographs of themselves with their mobile phones close to the edge of cliffs in Sidmouth.

Image source, Apex

Andy Phippen, professor of social responsibility at Plymouth University, said: "We all want to appear interesting and have more likes on social media and you take greater and greater risks in order to do that.

"If it goes viral all of sudden you're an internet celebrity which is the sort of thing that drives young people nowadays."

Coastguards have also warned about the dangers of going too near to the edge of cliffs.

West Briton

A shameless couple shocked Cornwall bus passengers by apparently having sex on the top deck in plain sight of passengers., external

BBC Radio Devon

Exmoor Zoo, which lost its entire collection of penguins to malaria, is not the first to contract the pathogen, with Flamingo Land in Yorkshire and Longleat in Wiltshire also having experienced the disease.

Image source, Google

The pathogen lives in the blood of its hosts and is usually spread by mosquitoes or biting midges from the host bird.

"We need a really cold winter to kill the insects and then think about whether we should be getting more penguins," Danny Reynolds, Living Collection manager at the zoo, told Radio Devon.

Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

The family of a 23-year-old man who died after falling from a van in Polzeath have said they are "heartbroken". 

Dennis Corbin, from Salcombe in Devon, fell from the vehicle in Farmhouse Lane and died later in hospital, said police.

In a statement, his family said: "We would like to thank everybody who visited Dennis in intensive care, sent messages and supported us. 

"It was comforting to know he has touched the lives of so many people. As a family we ask for privacy during this difficult time."

The Isles of Scilly could see the number of councillors on the islands cut by five from 21 to 16, as part of a review being carried out by the Local Government Boundary Commission, according to a report in thisisscilly.com, external.

The recommendations also propose that 12 councillors should represent St Mary’s with one councillor representing each of the off-islands.

The commission is asking local people to comment on its recommendations and an eight-week public consultation begins today and will end on 25 November 2016.

Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

Exmoor Zoo says it is "very carefully considering" whether to have another collection of penguins after all 10 died in a suspected malaria outbreak.

Image source, Exmoor Zoo

"The disease may never strike again for another 25 years or more, but could just as easily occur again next year," said Danny Reynolds, Living Collection Manager at the zoo.

"The protozoan pathogen cannot be easily identified in the blood of the penguins and dies very quickly so it cannot be seen with blood samples," he said. 

"Unfortunately, all drugs given from pathological reports had no effect and it is now known that once the malaria is contracted even the anti-malarial drugs cannot help the infected bird but the drugs can stop other penguins from contracting the disease. 

"The problem for us was that our penguins were in summer moult, with skin exposed and typically do not feed well or regularly during this natural period of feather replacement which hid the symptoms." Fond farewells have now been said to the colony of penguins, named Buster, Newquay, Ludo, Percy, Lemmy, Truddle, Owlie, Blossom, Friendly and Arthur. 

Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

Tributes have been paid to a 53-year-old biker who died after a crash with a van in Newton Abbot.

Image source, Devon and Cornwall Police

Father-of-two Jerry Daniell from Torquay died in hospital after the crash at Shaldon Road last Thursday afternoon.

His family called him a "broad shouldered and big hearted man who was the kindest father, brother, uncle, partner, boss and friend".

Image source, go

The van driver, a 68-year-old man from Newton Abbot, was uninjured.

He was arrested for failing to provide a breath test and on suspicion of driving without due care and attention. He has been bailed until 21 October pending further enquiries.

Plymouth Herald

Thousands of sellers are auctioning off new five pound notes, external on eBay – including one fiver in Plymouth which has a hefty price tag of £50,000 attached to it., external

Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

Coastguards are warning people about the dangers of getting too close to the edge of cliffs, after a group of schoolchildren risked their lives trying to take "extreme selfie pictures".

Image source, Apex

The boys from Isca Academy in Exeter, were on a school field trip along the top of these cliffs at Sidmouth.

Image source, Apex

A woman raised the alarm and no-one was injured.

The headteacher of Isca Academy, Aimee Mitchell, has launched and immediate investigation into the incident. In a statement she said it was a "geography field trip to the Jurassic Coast for a class of students who were supervised by three members of staff. " She said she has "spoken to their parents and to the lady that alerted us, and will be reviewing all our procedures for future school trips.

Plymouth Herald

Over 600 dogs in the Plymouth region have been left in council kennels after their owners failed to collect them – and five per cent of these pooches were put down., external

BBC Weather Watchers

Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

A 23-year-old man who fell from a van in Polzeath has died.

Image source, Devon and Cornwall Police

Dennis Corbin from Salcombe in Devon fell from the van and died later in hospital said police.

The van driver, a 36-year-old woman who was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, has been bailed by police until 21 October.

Dennis fell from the VW Transporter, which was carrying five people at about 01:00 on Saturday in Farmhouse Lane said police.

BBC Sport

Cornish Pirates' plans for a tie-up with the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise hinge on a new stadium being built.

Image source, Stadium for Cornwall

They were recently saved from going bust by new investment from former owner Dicky Evans and a partnership with the New Zealand-based club.

"You need that stadium, we need the other revenue streams," said new Pirates chairman Paul Durkin.

"If that doesn't happen, I really fear for what the outcome will be because it's not sustainable."

Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

There's been a 44% increase in casualties relating to fires in the past four years across the South West according to new government statistics.

In Devon and Somerset there were 181 cases four years ago, and 333 in the past year. 

There's concern too many of them are vulnerable people so in Torbay the fire and rescue team is using NHS data to identify those who need extra support. 

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says this is one of its most important methods for reducing deaths and injuries as these are the people most at risk of having serious fires.  

BBC Radio Cornwall

Headteachers and unions in Cornwall are warning of a growing problem of schools struggling to recruit enough teachers.

It comes as figures reveal local authority schools in the county spent more than £4m on temporary supply staff last year. 

There are reports of particular problems in the areas of maths, science and English in secondary schools, with unions calling for better pay and conditions.

Plymouth Herald

Thugs, liars, sex offenders and drug dealers have all appeared at Plymouth Crown Court in September, and some of them have been taken off our streets., external

Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

Staff at Exmoor Zoo say they are "devastated" after their collection of penguins died.  

There have been penguins at the zoo near Bratton Fleming since it opened in 1982. 

The 10 birds died within days following a suspected outbreak of avian malaria.  

Image source, John Hammond/Exmoor Zoo

Curator Danny Reynolds said: ‘’Buster has been here all her life, she was 26 years old – penguins can live a long time.

"We get to know them individually and they all have their own personalities and traits and this is devastating for us."

Image source, John Hammond/Exmoor Zoo

He added: "It’s just the same as owning – and losing – a family pet dog. 

"This is the risk colonies face but the ones by the sea tend not to be targeted by the midges so much, we were just unlucky. I think it was a wet, humid summer and that did not help. 

"Now we are hoping for a cold winter to kill the bugs off. Then I think we will look at whether or not we can do this again."

BBC Sport

League Two club Plymouth Argyle are hoping to host a women's international between England and the USA.

Image source, Rex Features

The game in 2020 would help celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower's voyage from the city.

The Pilgrim Fathers were aboard the boat and are seen as the founders of the modern day United States.

"We've been in discussions about a series of international matches to recognise 2020," Argyle chairman James Brent told BBC Radio Devon.

"We've been talking to the FA for two years now, they have a certain calendar when they can commit to game, but we are hopeful that we can get an international or two and we are also looking at establishing a tournament."

BBC Newsbeat

Twenty-five years since one of the most well-known album covers in history was made, the star of it is recreating it.

Image source, Nirvana

Spencer Elden was the baby on the front of the 1991 Nirvana album Nevermind and to mark the anniversary he's made the iconic picture again.

The original photo was taken by Kirk Weddle, a friend of Spencer's dad.

The new picture is taken by north Devon photographer John Chapple.

Image source, John Chapple