BBC Radio Devon

A girl from Plymouth hid in a hedge for 10 minutes to evade a so-called "killer clown" in an incident, her mother has told the BBC.

Michelle, from Plymouth, called the police after her 10-year-old daughter and her cousin were scared by a clown near a primary school in the Southway area. 

Image source, PA

She told us: "He had a large sledgehammer. They started running and, luckily they managed to run through a gap in a lane and hid in a hedge for 10 minutes. They were too scared to come out."

Childline says it's received 120 calls in the past week from children frightened by people dressing up as "creepy clowns". The callers came from all across the country , and a quarter were under 11.

Plymouth Herald

More than 750 people have signed a petition, external urging the council to protect Plymouth's much-loved ReelCinema.

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Cornish Pirates coach Gavin Cattle says the club's British and Irish Cup tie at Connacht is another chance for his side to continue to improve.

Image source, Brian Tempest

The Pirates have impressed in the Championship, winning three and drawing one of their opening six games.

"It's not just the trophy, it's putting on that shirt and that performance," joint-head coach Cattle said. "It's progression and another opportunity for us to build," Cattle added to BBC Radio Cornwall.

BBC News England

Conservationists say an "urgent inquiry" is needed after a male gorilla - which used to be in a Devon Zoo - escaped from its enclosure at London Zoo.

Image source, PA

Kumbuka, a western lowland silverback, escaped into a secure keepers' area on Thursday. The 29-stone gorilla was eventually tranquilised and taken back into captivity.

London Zoo said the gorilla, which arrived from Paignton Zoo in Devon in early 2013, had not escaped into a public area.

The western lowland silverback's escape did not endanger the public but it "could have ended very differently", the Born Free Foundation warned. The organisation said it was a "startling reminder" of the risks of keeping wild animals in captivity. 

Harriet Bradshaw
Reporter

BBC Radio Cornwall

West Briton

Hate crime was on the decline in Cornwall before the referendum, external, bucking the trend of almost everywhere else in England and Wales.

Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

Railway line bosses are examining where to take action to protect lines "not just for the next few years, but over the next 100 years".

Network Rail wants to build a 400m (1,300ft) causeway near Teignmouth. The project to replace the flood-hit Dawlish line, which connects the South West to the rest of the country, would see it built about 30 yards out to sea.

Julian Burnell, from Network Rail, said: "What we've done over the last year or so is compiled an in depth study of the whole coast from Exeter down to Newton Abbot, to work out which areas are the most at risk, and which areas we need to take the most action to protect - not just for the next few years, but over the next 100 years."

Plymouth Herald

A 10-year-old boy was threatened by a hammer-wielding "Killer Clown" in Plymouth, it has emerged, external.

Holly Green
BBC Weather

If you're planning a trip to the coast or seaside, here are the next high water times around Devon and Cornwall. 

We'll have the latest forecast on BBC Spotlight at 13:30.

BBC Travel

• Rail delays are expected on Penzance-London services, external until 10:00 because of signalling problems
• In Cornwall, on the A39 at Winnards Perch, there are reports temporary traffic lights are faulty. Approach with care
• On the A3074 in Lelant, in Fore Street, near Station Hill, there are temporary traffic lights due to roadworks. Traffic is slow
• On the A388 between the Carkeel roundabout and Dirty Lane, there are temporary traffic lights due to roadworks. Traffic is slow-moving and queueing 
• On the A38, there's slow traffic from the Trerulefoot roundabout, heading towards Plymouth 
• In Devon, also on the A38, there's slow moving traffic on the A38 Parkway in Plymouth, around St Budeaux, heading towards the Tamar Bridge
• The Teignmouth-Shaldon ferry is running until 15:30 early finish due to the tides

Andrew Segal
Local Live

The body of a man recovered from the water near the Citadel in Plymouth was that of a 39-year-old local man, police say, external.

Emergency services were called to the scene at about 15:50 on Thursday. The body was recovered and taken to Derriford Hospital.

Devon and Cornwall Police have appealed for witnesses. Officers said: "His next of kin have been informed and police are currently looking into the circumstance surrounding this man’s death, but are not currently treating this death as suspicious."

Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online

A coastal railway line repeatedly battered by storms could be rebuilt in Devon at a reported cost of £500m.

The project to replace the flood-hit Dawlish line, which connects the South West to the rest of the country, would see it built about 30 yards out to sea.

The proposal is one of two options being considered by the rail operator. The other would involve stabilising the cliffs.

Holly Green
BBC Weather

It will stay largely dry through the day with some spells of sunshine. There will be a few isolated showers around, but many will miss these.

It will turn cloudy into the afternoon, with some rain arriving later and it will feel cool. Maximum temperature: 15C (59F).

BBC Spotlight

The main South West rail line could be moved out towards the sea off the coast of south Devon to avoid the increasing number of cliff falls. 

Network Rail has confirmed it's looking at two options to try to deal with the problem of landslides blocking the line at Teignmouth. 

One option is to stabilise the cliffs, but the other option is to reclaim the beach - effectively building a quarter-mile-long wall, about 30m out to sea.

Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online

A male gorilla which arrived from a Devon zoo three years ago escaped from his new home yesterday.

Nine year-old Kumbuka - a western lowland silverback - escaped from his enclosure, and got into the secure keepers area before being recaptured with the help of a tranquilizer dart.

The gorilla, which arrived in London from Paignton Zoo in early 2013, didn't have access to any public areas. "There was no danger" says London Zoo's Malcolm Fitzpatrick. Conservationists said an "urgent inquiry" was needed.

Image source, Thinkstock

Andrew Segal
Local Live

Good morning from BBC Local Live in Devon and Cornwall. We'll have all the latest news, sport, travel and weather for you today.

If you want to get in touch, you can always email us.