Sian Davies
BBC News Online

The author of a new report has recommended that shipbuilding contracts should be shared among different companies - which could lead to a boost for Devon's dockyards.

Sir John Parker's recommendations could lead to new Type-31 frigates being built piece-by-piece around the country. 

Sir John says many parts of the UK, including Devonport and Appledore, could stand to benefit from his plan. 

"We did discover a real renaissance taking place in a number of shipyards around the country, from Appledore in Devon, Merseyside's Cammel Laird, Fergusons on the Clyde, A&P on the north east coast and Harland and Wolff in Belfast, so there is a whole raft of companies we can use to build blocks in series for these ships," he said. 

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

A motorbike was severely damaged by fire after a deliberate blaze last night, the fire service has said.

A fire engine from Middlemoor was called at 20:39 to Fitzroy Road, Exeter to a report of a small fire in the open. 

Image source, Google

A second 999 call to Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service control room indicated that this was possibly a motorbike on fire on open ground.

On arrival the incident commander confirmed a fire involving a motorbike off of the roadway, which was severely damaged.

BBC Radio Cornwall

Highermead care home in Camelford, Cornwall has apologised after it was rated inadequate in four out of five key areas by the Care Quality Commission.

Abby Butts is the "registered individual" at Highermead and has worked there for 16 years - she says they've had to rely on using staff from agencies and it's not always clear what they're previous experience is.  

Image source, PA

She said: "You don't get a background check. You don't know if they have other experiences in care. 

"It might be someone that used to work in Tesco. They register with the agency for two weeks and as far as they are concerned the staff have ticked all the boxes and they will send them to you as a carer."

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

A new project in Plymouth aims to help some of the most vulnerable drug addicts - The Sunflower recovery project will be based at Trevi House and Longreach in Plymouth.

Hannah Shead from Trevi House says the evidence shows women only centres work well:

"When they go through treatment they feel they need to be in services that are women only where they can really look at some of the issues underlying their addiction, which for women are often multiple and complex, involving early childhood trauma and sexual abuse."

Plymouth Herald

The revelation that the new 'plastic' £5 note, external contains animal fat has not gone down well , externalwith vegetarians and vegans.

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

An 89-year-old who has placed an advert in the Torquay Herald Express, external asking for a job says he is living a "hermit's life".

Former soldier Joe Bartley told the BBC: "You go out to work and you meet people and in a way you're seeing life. 

"When I walk into this flat after I've done shopping there's nobody to talk to and nobody to relate to. I'm living a hermit's life.

Mr Bartley retired at 65 as a self-employed sign writer, but got a job at a local college when he was 70, where he worked for 12 years.

He is still waiting for his first job offer - if you have work you could offer Mr Bartley please email us.

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

A company which makes children's cups has promised to make a special batch after dad Marc Carter said the cups keep his autistic son alive.

Image source, Marc Carter

Mr Carter, 42, from Devon, appealed on Twitter for people to search for a specific Tommee Tippee cup for 13-year-old son Ben.

Now the company has promised to make Ben his own batch.

Image source, Twitter

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

An 89-year-old widower has put and advert in a local paper asking for a job to end the 'solitary confinement' of being stuck at home.

Joe Bartley, 89, placed an advert in the Torquay Herald Express asking to work 20 hours a week or more in the Paignton area.

His wife died two years ago and since then he has moved into a flat, which he calls "solitary confinement". 

He said: "I want to go to work for 20 or 30 hours a week to enable me to pay the rent out of my own money earned. If I'm able to do a little job, why not?"

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

A dad's desperate search to replace his autistic son's beloved "little blue cup" has ended - after the manufacturer stepped in to make a lifetime's supply. 

Marc Carter's plea to find a replacement sippy cup for son Ben was retweeted more than 12,000 times.

Image source, Marc Carter

The 13-year-old has only drunk from the double-handled vessels, which are no longer produced, since the age of two. 

Tommee Tippee said it will produce 500 cups after it searched factories worldwide and found the original mould.

Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online

An experienced pilot died when his plane crashed into the ground from 150ft after a failed landing, an inquest has heard. 

Tony Richards, 68, died when his two engine Piper aircraft crashed at Cornwall Newquay Airport in August 2015. 

It was his first solo flight in the plane that he had purchased in the Czech Republic a few days earlier, the inquest at Truro City Hall heard.

Image source, Google

The jury concluded the death was an accident caused by impaired judgement due to tiredness and an unfamiliar aircraft.

On approach to land he complained to air traffic control of having the sun in his eyes, and also spoke of having had "a long day".

BBC Sport

Two-time British coach of the year, Jon Rudd, is to take over as the national performance director of Swim Ireland in February.

He succeeds Peter Banks, who left the role in September.

Image source, BBC Sport

Rudd is the coach of 2012 Olympic gold medallist and world record holder Ruta Meilutyte and 2016 Olympic finalist Ben Proud.

He was also instrumental in building the Plymouth Leander club into one of most successful teams in Europe.

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

A staff member at Hatt Service Station and Post Office sustained minor injuries but was left "very shaken" after an armed robbery at about 21:00 on Saturday night, police have said.

A large amount of cash was stolen in the raid near Saltash and the man was armed with a knife, officers said.

The suspect is described as white, around 5ft 5ins tall and of slim build. He was wearing a black motorcycle helmet and balaclava.

Image source, Google

Detective Constable Matthew Critchley, of Liskeard CID, said: “This was a distressing incident for the staff member who has been left feeling extremely shaken."

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

• The parents of a terminally ill boy from Devon are calling for a change in the law after being told he is too young to get help for him to travel to medical appointments
• South West MPs are meeting with the boss of the rail company CrossCountry today calling on him not to cut the direct train services from the Midlands and the North into south Devon
• There's been a big rise in the number of people dying from drugs in the South West. Last year there were 227 deaths, up a quarter on the previous year, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics
• Appledore and Devonport could be set for a massive boost as part of a proposed national strategy for shipbuilding
• A company which makes children's cups has promised to make a special batch for an autistic teenager after his dad's appeal went viral

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

Appledore and Devonport could be set for a massive boost as part of a proposed national strategy for shipbuilding.

The author of a new report, Sir John Parker, recommends sharing contracts among different companies, leading to new Type-31 frigates being built piece-by-piece around the country. 

The government will publish its formal response to the report in the spring.

Cornwall Live

Should dogs have more or less time or be banned entirely from Cornwall's beautiful beaches? Cornwall Council is overhauling all its laws about dogs on beaches, external and is calling on people to have their say.

BBC Travel

• In Falmouth on the A39 Dracaena Avenue near North Parade there are reports of an accident
• Urgent repairs are being carried out this morning on Union Street in Plymouth
• There is an outbound lane closure on Alma Road, in Plymouth, due to essential repairs being carried out

BBC Radio Cornwall

There's been a big drop in the number of people going swimming in Cornwall. 

Figures from Sport England show there's been a fall of 22.5% in the number of people who go for a swim at least once a week. 

Image source, PA

Jim Mckenna is a professor in physical activity and health at Leeds Beckett University. He thinks our busy lives are a key factor.

"Where people may have gone swimming at lunchtime previously we now go back to work and answer emails, our work day has expanded. The casualty of this is activities like swimming."

BBC Radio Devon

Emma is a recovering drug addict who is now helping to shape the Sunflower Recovery service in Plymouth which helps and supports those affected.

She said: "The stigma is 'oh you're an addict, you've got kids, that just means you're a rubbish mum'. 

"That's what it's like and that's not true. The people I've met in my recovery are from all sorts of walks of life."

Last year there were 227 deaths in the South West - up a quarter on the previous year, figures from the Office of National Statistics have revealed.

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

A dad's desperate search to replace a little blue cup for his autistic son which went viral has now caused the company which makes them to produce his son his own special batch.

Marc Carter, 42, from Devon, appealed on Twitter for people to search for a specific Tommee Tippee cup for Ben.

Image source, Marc Carter

The 13-year-old has severe autism and will only drink out of the two-handle cup which is no longer manufactured.

Tommee Tippee has now said it is going to manufacture a batch of blue cups for Ben.

Image source, Marc Carter

BBC Radio Cornwall

Cornwall Council says a robust action plan is in place after a Camelford care home was rated as inadequate by the Care Quality Commission in four out of five key areas. 

There are currently 16 people living at Highermead in Camelford. 

The CQC report highlights failings in the way they were fed, a lack of activities and not enough staff to help them with basic needs. 

In a statement the owner Ark Care Services has apologised and says it's working with the CQC and Cornwall Council's Quality Assurance team to ensure standards are improved and sustained.