Summary

  • Gang found guilty of trafficking 'slaves' to Plymouth

  • Human remains found in walking boot in woods

  • Tube alert: Police 'to support the Met after Newton Abbot evacuation'

  • Child migrants arrive at 'respite centre'

  • Girl, 2, suffers broken ankle in supermarket car park 'hit-and-run'

  • Compulsory call for helmets by injured charity cycle ride woman

  • Shop burglary sees £100k of jewellery stock taken

  • Man cuts off own gangrenous toes after operation cancelled

  • Lorry sheds load after hitting bridge

  • More news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Tuesday

  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 Tuesday 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. Flamingo enclosure work 'good for birds' feet'published at 17:57 British Summer Time 24 October 2016

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

    Flamingos at Paignton Zoo have had work carried out on an island in their enclosure which staff hope will be better for the birds' feet and and will encourage the flock to breed.

    Flamingos. Pics: Paignton ZooImage source, Paignton Zoo

    More than 50 birds were temporarily moved over the weekend so their island could be dug out and river sand added, staff said. Wading birds were prone to pressure-related sores on the feet, the zoo said, but the vets reported that the birds’ feet were in very good condition.

    The river sand on the island could also allow the birds to make heaps to lay their eggs on. The zoo's last flamingo chick was hatched in 2011. 

  3. Latest weather: Showery rain continuingpublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 24 October 2016

    David Braine
    Weather Forecaster

    It'll be cloudy with outbreaks of showery rain, heavy and possibly thundery during this evening and overnight. Becoming rather misty with low cloud and hill fog forming in places. Minimum temperature: 8C (46F).

    Rain warning

    A Yellow Warning of Rain for South West England remains in place until 21:00.

    Weather

    It'll be a cloudy start on Tuesday, with some showery outbreaks of rain, particularly around the coasts, although these will gradually fade. Becoming mostly dry with some brighter spells developing. Maximum temperature: 14C (57F).

  4. Poldark sex scene: Ofcom investigates complaintspublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 24 October 2016

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    Broadcasting regulator Ofcom says it's received seven complaints about Sunday night's episode of Poldark on BBC1. 

    Campaigners said a scene in which Ross Poldark forced himself on his former fiancee Elizabeth amounted to rape. The makers deny that's what happened. 

    Ofcom said it would assess the complaints before deciding whether to investigate.

  5. Plymouth people traffickers: 'Victims had rights taken away'published at 17:38 British Summer Time 24 October 2016

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

    People trafficking victims of a gang based in Plymouth were kept in "shocking" conditions, police say.

    Members of the gang of five Czech nationals, who have been found guilty of offences at Plymouth Crown Court, forced the victims to work 12 hours a day, six days a week, and also told them to shoplift and commit benefit fraud to make more money. 

    Trafficking victim. Pic: Devon and Cornwall PoliceImage source, Devon and Cornwall Police

    Det Ch Insp Stuart Cavin, of Devon and Cornwall Police, who led investigations in the South West and the Czech Republic said it was was a case of "control over other human beings" which saw victims have "their access to fundamental rights and money, food and contact" taken away.

    He said: "They had been effectively been targeted in the cities and on the streets in the Czech Republic and promised the start of a new life in the United Kingdom." 

    Police said they estimated dozens of men were trafficked over several years, making the gang hundreds of thousands of pounds.

  6. PC Andy Hocking: Plaque unveiled on building named after Falmouth policemanpublished at 17:26 British Summer Time 24 October 2016

    BBC Radio Devon

    A plaque has been unveiled on a new building at Devon and Cornwall Police's headquarters in Exeter, commemorating a popular Falmouth policeman.

    Andy Hocking House. Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime CommissionerImage source, Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner

    Andy Hocking House commemorates Constable Hocking, who died unexpectedly while off duty in March last year, aged 52.

    Andy Hocking House. Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime CommissionerImage source, Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner

    The building houses the police commissioner's office and the force canteen. Commissioner Alison Hernandez tweeted, external it was "an emotional but uplifting opening ceremony" which involved family, friends and police cadets.  

  7. Poldark sex scene: No 'shock rape' storyline in novels - author's sonpublished at 17:16 British Summer Time 24 October 2016

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

    A controversial sex scene in the eighth episode of the second series of hit Cornwall-based show Poldark was a "consensual" encounter, the son of the novels' author say.

    The scene, involving lead character Ross Poldark with his former fiancee, Elizabeth, has been criticised by some as being "a rape". But Winston Graham's son, Andrew, said there was "no 'shock rape' storyline in the novels. To say so is to misconstrue my father's text".

    Poldark

    He said the relevant scene was "indeed consistent with the potential for rape. But what then actually happens is not described but is left entirely to one's imagination. The only way to judge what my father intended is to read the novels as a whole."

    He added: "Doing so it becomes clear, from earlier scenes as well as from Elizabeth's immediate reactions and later mixed emotions that what finally happened was consensual sex born of long-term love and longing. It was, as [Ross Poldark actor] Aidan Turner has put it, 'unfinished business emotionally'."

  8. Devon County Council contacted last week about temporary respite centrepublished at 17:08 British Summer Time 24 October 2016

    Sian Davies
    BBC News Online

    Councillor James McInnes said Devon County Council was contacted last week by the Home Office about the site in north Devon they hoped to establish as a temporary respite centre.

    An all-male group of 23 child migrants arrived at 03:00 BST.

    Respite Centre

    Cllr McInnes said: "I understand that a couple were rejected because they were considered to be too old," he said. 

    "It goes up and down - it was 23 at one point this morning and now it's 20."

  9. Latest headlines in Devon and Cornwallpublished at 17:03 British Summer Time 24 October 2016

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

    • A gang of five Czech nationals who brought eastern European "slaves" to the UK are found guilty of trafficking charges
    • A number of child migrants being sent to a temporary "respite centre" in Devon are rejected because they are "too old", the BBC understands
    • A controversial sex scene in the eighth episode of the second series of hit Cornwall-based show Poldark was "consensual", not a rape, the son of the novels' author say
    • Shoppers are evacuated from a branch of Morrisons in Penzance after a fire breaks out in a refrigerator
    • A head teacher writes a letter to the tooth fairy on behalf of a five-year-old boy who was upset at losing a tooth at school
  10. Flooding closes A39 into Falmouthpublished at 16:58 British Summer Time 24 October 2016

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  11. Hospital visit warning after norovirus outbreakpublished at 16:53 British Summer Time 24 October 2016

    BBC Radio Cornwall

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    Health bosses said people could help stop the spread of the bug by "washing your hands often with hot soapy water".

    Anyone with the virus should "take paracetamol for any fever or aches and pains and get plenty of rest", and "drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration and replace fluids lost from sickness and diarrhoea", they added

  12. Plymouth people traffickers: Victims lived in cupboards and charged to go to toiletpublished at 16:48 British Summer Time 24 October 2016

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

    Police began a seven-month surveillance operation - dubbed Operation Triage - into a human trafficking gang in Plymouth after two victims of the Czech nationals contacted the authorities to try to escape.

    Matress in cupboardImage source, Devon and Cornwall Police

    The police investigation - the first major case in Devon and Cornwall of human trafficking and modern slavery - led to a series of raids on homes in the city in September 2014 which resulted in the arrest of five people who have now been guilty of trafficking offences.

    Plymouth Crown Court heard how some of the victims were so malnourished they were seen foraging in bins for food, while the traffickers wore designer clothes. 

    The victims also had to live in garages, on floors, and even in cupboards (pictured), and were charged £1 to use the toilet.

  13. Plymouth people traffickers: The defendantspublished at 16:40 British Summer Time 24 October 2016

    BBC Spotlight

    Five Czech nationals have been found guilty at Plymouth Crown Court of people trafficking offences after bringing victims to the city from the Czech Republic.

    The court heard that their victims had to forage in bins for food, had to live in cupboards and were often humiliated. 

    Police also said they could not be sure how many men were trafficked, but that they suspected it was dozens.

    People traffickers. Left to right: Ruzena Tancosova, Petr Tancos, Nela Dzurkova, Martin Tancos and Katerina Kurejova

    The gang included (from left to right): 

    • Ruzena Tancosova, 36, of South View Terrace
    • Petr Tancos, 37, of South View Terrace
    • Nela Dzurkova, 28, of South View Terrace
    • Martin Tancos, 37, of Wolsdon Street
    • Katerina Kurejova, 37, of Wolsdon Street

    The gang made their victims work in factories, car washes and as domestic slaves across Devon and Cornwall.

    In court, Ruzena Tancosova was described as the "godmother" of the gang, while Petr Tancos was the "enforcer" who used a baseball bat to assault and threaten the victims.

    Nela Dzurkova and Martin Tancos arranged the trafficking of the victims and controlled their finances, assisted by Katerina Kurejova.

  14. Number of migrants rejected from 'respite centre' for being 'too old'published at 16:24 British Summer Time 24 October 2016

    Sian Davies
    BBC News Online

    A number of child migrants who were being sent to a temporary "respite centre" have been rejected because they are "too old", the BBC understands. 

    James McInnes

    Devon County Council said 23 children from the "Jungle" camp in Calais arrived at the temporary centre near Great Torrington at about 03:00 BST.  

    But Councillor James McInnes said the figure now stood at 20 after "a couple" were considered to be over 18. 

  15. Trafficking trial: Court told victims 'were friends of gang'published at 16:14 British Summer Time 24 October 2016

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

    A jury has rejected testimony by traffickers during their trial that their victims were actually "friends" living with them who were being helped.

    Police raid

    Five Czech nationals - two men and three woman - have been found guilty at Plymouth Crown Court of conspiracy to traffic for the purpose of exploitation after bringing their victims to the city from the Czech Republic.

    The court heard how some of the victims had to live in garages, on floors, and even in cupboards. Police carried out a series of raids on homes in Plymouth in September 2014 (pictured).

  16. Czech 'slavers' guilty of trafficking chargespublished at 15:57 British Summer Time 24 October 2016
    Breaking

    Scott Bingham
    BBC Spotlight

    A gang who trafficked eastern European "slaves" to the UK have been found guilty of trafficking charges after a two-month trial.

    Five Czech nationals - two men and three woman - had all denied conspiracy to traffic for the purpose of exploitation. 

    The victims, who were brought to Plymouth from the Czech Republic, were beaten, punched and told they would be killed if they tried to escape, Plymouth Crown Court heard.

  17. Child migrants: UK 'must respond compassionately'published at 15:41 British Summer Time 24 October 2016

    BBC Radio Devon

    The UK "must respond compassionately to the plight of children caught up in the dangerous situation that has been allowed to develop in Calais," a Devon MP has said as more than 20 migrant children arrived in his constituency. 

    Geoffrey Cox

    The migrants, from the so-called Jungle camp, arrived at a residential centre in north Devon and may be in the county for up to six weeks, it is understood. 

    Torridge and West Devon Conservative Geoffrey Cox (pictured) said it was "right that the county council has agreed to help". He added that he had been assured by ministers that the council would "receive all the financial and logistical support necessary".

  18. Hedgehog sightings 'becoming increasingly rare'published at 15:24 British Summer Time 24 October 2016

    BBC Spotlight

    Hedgehog sightings are becoming increasingly rare, according to researchers in the South West.

    Hedgehog

    Members of the Mammal Society, based at Exeter University, said hedgehogs seemed to be in long-term decline and it was not known why. 

    They're carrying out a nationwide survey asking people to report when and where they last saw one.

  19. Child migrants: Exact numbers expected 'not known'published at 15:16 British Summer Time 24 October 2016

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

    Devon County Council says it is "not known" exactly how many child migrants from the Jungle camp in Calais it is expecting to care at a temporary "respite facility" in Devon.

    Twenty-three are currently at a hostel near Great Torrington (pictured).

    Great Torrington

    The council did say emergency accommodation "for up to 70 young people" had been secured "to provide a safe and welcoming place to accommodate the young people before they are reunited with family members or moved to other parts of the country".

    It added: "We as an authority have a statutory responsibility to support those present in Devon. The accommodation, care provision, security and other arrangements are being commissioned directly via the Home Office."

  20. Flamingo move sees some large birds in the handpublished at 15:07 British Summer Time 24 October 2016

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

    Paignton Zoo's flamingo flock had to be moved over the weekend so that work could be carried out on their island.

    Paignton Zoo flamingo move. Pic: Paignton ZooImage source, Paignton Zoo

    Fifteen keepers had to move the 51 birds on Saturday. But what's the trick to catching them?

    Senior Head Keeper of Birds Pete Smallbones said: "We gently herded them into their shed, then two keepers went in and caught the birds up one at a time. You carry them with the head pointing backwards – though this does mean they will pinch your neck and bottom with their beaks!”