BBC Radio Cornwall

Tributes have been paid to Rebecca Watkins, a "selfless and beautiful person", who died following a crash on the A39, in Falmouth, on 19 September.

Emergency services were called to the A39 just before 05:30 after two-vehicles - a green VW Polo and a motorcycle - crashed.

The motorcyclist, 30-year-old Rebecca Watkins, had life threatening injuries and died at the scene.

Image source, Devon and Cornwall Police

“Beca touched so many people's lives on her travels, gaining lasting friendships and making memories. She will be greatly missed by all that have been blessed to have had a part of Beca in their lives," her family said.  

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

The stranding of a whale in on a beach near Dawlish is only the second in 26 years in Devon, Rob Daville from the London Zoological Society says.

He works on the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme , external(CSIP), which began in 1990, collecting data on strandings from around the UK.

• There are about 600 strandings each year of all cetacean species
• Number of fin whale strandings per year: Average of two to three (data 2011 to 2015)
• So far this year there have been three
• In Devon two have stranded in the past 26 years, including this latest one in Dawlish

Fifteen-year-old paper girl Aileen Jones has been commended after helping an elderly man who had been collapsed on his living room floor for "several days".

The teenager was on her round on a Sunday in May when she noticed a build-up of post and papers behind the door of a house where she could hear the sound of moaning. 

Image source, Devon and Cornwall Police

She told her employer who called the police who broke in and found the man collapsed on his living room floor, who was thought to have been there for several days. 

Chief Supt Andy Boulting presented her with a Commander’s Certificate at a ceremony at Crownhill Police Station in Plymouth.

The citation said: “She has shown exceptional personal responsibility and accountability and is a credit to both her family and her community as a whole”.  

Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

A Devon mother said she would not have taken legal action if the health trust, which made mistakes after the birth of her baby, had apologised.

Rebecca Paine, 33, from Yealmpton, gave birth to Jaycee-Anne in November 2009, but two weeks later she died after a condition suddenly got worse.

A hospital investigation showed a number of failures by staff which resulted in a £30,000 payout to Ms Paine.

Image source, Rebecca Paine

It comes as figures show a huge rise in medical negligence claims in the South West.

Ms Paine said: "I just felt forgotten about. I wasn't expecting money because I was blaming myself, like you do. I just wanted an apology, but it never came. Having them admit it was their fault took a lot of pressure off me.

"A letter from the hospital would have been more than enough. That's all I wanted."

Hundreds of pupils who have sat 11-plus exams to gain entry to two Plymouth grammar schools have had their results cancelled.

In a letter to parents, Plymouth City Council said: "As a result, we regret to announce that we feel that we have no choice but to declare the earlier examinations null and void."

The decision followed a council investigation which found that "at least one of the papers has been compromised".

Provider GL Assessment has said it is investigating the breach.

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

Police are investigating following a security breach involving exam papers for pupils taking the 11-plus exam in Plymouth.

A letter to parents from Plymouth City Council said: "The investigation is continuing and the matter has been referred to the police."

The breach involves exams for entry to Devonport High School for Girls or Plymouth High School for Girls.

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

Pupils competing for places at two Plymouth grammar schools will have to resit their 11-plus exams after security for at least one of the exam papers has been compromised.

Hundreds of girls sat maths and English exams to gain one of 240 places at Devonport High School for Girls and Plymouth High School for Girls.

A letter to parents from Plymouth City Council says: "Since the examinations, we have received comments from parents that the security of the examination papers may have been compromised and understand that many parents feel that some candidates may have gained an unfair advantage because of this.

"Following our initial investigations, we have now ascertained that at least one of the papers has been compromised."

BBC Spotlight

Plymouth City Council says girls will have to resit the 11-plus exam on 8 October after concerns children had previously seen a test paper.  

BBC Radio Cornwall

The Mayor of Truro says the city is in danger of being "overwhelmed" by street drinkers and anti-social behaviour.

Police are vowing to crackdown - in the last week four arrests have been made.

In one incident a female officer was spat at while another officer was threatened with a syringe.

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

The mother of William Mead, who died from sepsis aged just 12 months, has given birth to a baby boy.

Her partner Paul Mead shared pictures of baby Arthur William Mead on Facebook and said he was born on 27 September at 10:41 weighing 7lbs 11oz - exactly the same as William.

Image source, Melissa Mead

"Melissa has been amazing as usual and Arthur is just perfect. We all want to thank everyone in advance for messages as it could take a while before we get round to answering them as we have our hands full," he said in the post.

The pair have campaigned for better awareness of sepsis following their son's death in December 2014.

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

The fin whale's body was discovered on Red Rock beach near Dawlish Warren this morning. 

Teignbridge Council, which has begun work to remove the whale, has advised members of the public not to approach the badly-decomposed carcass.

What happens now?

• A decomposing whale can be a public health risk and Teignbridge Council will have to dispose of the body

• In some cases they can be left to rot naturally or buried

• Many are taken to landfill sites while others are disposed of through incineration or rendering

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Torquay United manager Kevin Nicholson says he is taking the chance to learn from former Eastleigh boss Chris Todd, who is training with the club.

Image source, Getty Images

Todd, 35, was sacked by the Spitfires in September after 11 months in charge, having previously played alongside Nicholson for Torquay from 2007-2010.

"Why wouldn't I pick his brains," Nicholson said. "It's a chance for me to have a chat with him and see what he's learned over the past year in management."

BBC Radio Devon

There are plans to turn an old quarry in north Devon into a top end holiday development, with a 40-bed hotel and lodges around lakes.

The company behind the plans at Venn Quarry near Barnstaple - the Habitat First Group - says part of the 150 acre site will also become a nature reserve and the development should create up to 100 jobs.

Sophie Pierce
BBC Radio Devon

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

Walkers following the popular Two Moors Way across Dartmoor can now enjoy an easier crossing of the River Teign at Frenchbeer, Chagford thanks to a generous donation from a local walking group.

Image source, Dartmoor National Park Authority

Moorland Ramblers provided a £300 donation to Dartmoor National Park Authority to help fund the cost of the replacement bridge following winter storms.  

The bridge replacement forms part of a wider programme of planned repairs, external and improvements for the Two Moors Way, a 100-mile route from Ivybridge to Lynmouth, during its 40th anniversary year.

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

Two young girls who called an ambulance for their unconscious mum have been recognised for their bravery by Devon and Cornwall Police.  

Eight-year-old Daisy Wellington and her six-year-old sister Esmae found their mum Sarah collapsed and unconscious on the landing of their home after a fall getting into the loft.  

Image source, Devon and Cornwall Police

They called 999 and, although upset and scared, were able to give all the details that enabled an ambulance to attend. 

Chief Supt Andy Boulting presented Commander’s Certificates to them at a ceremony at Crownhill Police Station where they were commended for their maturity and responsibility in dealing with the incident.

Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

The NHS in the South West has been hit with soaring bills for negligence claims by patients.

Bills for most trusts have more than doubled since 2008 analysis by the BBC has revealed. 

Here's a breakdown for Devon and Cornwall with figures for 2008 and 2015.

• Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust: £5m/£10.9m
• South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: £2.6m/£5.7m
• Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust: £3.3m/£7.5m
• Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust: £930,000/£3.8m
• Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust: £1.9m/£7.5m
• Devon Partnership NHS Trust: £97,000/£642,000 
• Source: NHS Litigation Authority

Sophie Pierce
BBC Radio Devon

The Zoological Society of London has confirmed the whale that has washed up on Red Rock Beach near Dawlish is a fin whale.

Rob Deaville said you can tell by the colour of markings on its jaw.

He works on the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme , external(CSIP), collecting data on strandings from around the UK.

Warning: Video contains disturbing images

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Cornish Pirates coach Gavin Cattle says his side are not getting carried away with their good league position.

Image source, Brian Tempest

The unbeaten Penzance-based club are third in the Championship thanks to three wins from their first four games.

"We're very grounded in the sense that we haven't played teams like London Irish, Doncaster or Yorkshire yet - there's some huge challenges up and coming," he told BBC Radio Cornwall. "But we're very pleased with the way the boys have gone."

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

Experts are trying to identify the species of whale which has washed up on a beach in Devon.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue , externalsays that the animal is likely to be a fin whale based on its size. The creature was originally thought to be a sperm whale - but it doesn't have teeth.

But the Marine Conservation Society, external tweeted to say it might be a minke whale.

Pictures of the whale are being further analysed by experts.