BBC Radio 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, figures from the Office of National Statistics show.

About a third of these are women. A new women-only project called Sunflower Recovery is launching in Plymouth to offer help and support to vulnerable people.

It will be based at Trevi House and Longreach.

BBC Travel

• In Exeter, Trusham Road is blocked due to an incident near Marsh Green Road
• On the trains in Cornwall delays are possible to some rail services due to slippery rails
• In Plymouth, North Road West is partially blocked due to an incident near Patna Place
• In Cornwall, in Trewoon the A3058 partially blocked due to an accident near Carne Hill
• The Teignmouth to Shaldon Ferry is running until 16:00 this afternoon. It has an early finish due to tides
• On the A38 from Kennford heading towards Exeter there's slow moving traffic
• In Cornwall Between Four Lanes and Burras on the B3297 we've got reports there's ice. Approach with care

BBC Sport

Torquay United manger Kevin Nicholson says he is concerned about the knee injury former captain Luke Young suffered in the loss at Tranmere.

The 23-year-old was forced off after just 17 minutes of the game and will miss Tuesday's trip to Dagenham and Redbridge in the National League.

Image source, Rex Features

"It's worrying because he's been excellent," Nicholson told BBC Devon.

"The way he's been playing and pressing, he's been one of, if not our most, consistent outfield players."

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

Detectives are appealing for witnesses to an armed robbery in Saltash in which a large amount of cash was stolen.

A man had a knife and entered Hatt Service Station and Post Office at about 21:00 on Saturday and demanded money from a staff member.

Image source, Google

The man, who was wearing a motorcycle helmet with a balaclava underneath, assaulted the staff member to force him to open the safe, police said.

Plymouth Herald

Parking charges are going up across the city, external – and disabled drivers will have to pay to stay in all council-run car parks.

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

A teaching assistant says she was made to "feel like a criminal" for sharing her "personal, Biblical beliefs" on gay relationships with a 14-year-old student.

A joint statement from the head teacher of Brannel School in St Austell, Andy Edmonds "recognised Victoria Allen's right to share her Christian beliefs with students and has apologised for any upset that she may have felt during the disciplinary process".

Ms Allen said she believes the rainbow emblem, often used to represent the gay community, should indicate "God's promise not to flood the world again".

Mrs Allen said the student asked her a direct question about her personal religious beliefs.

"If a child asks my personal opinion I feel I should give it," she said.

In the statement, Mrs Allen acknowledged that staff "should share balanced views".

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

The Mayor of Torbay Gordon Oliver said train links between south Devon and the Midlands and the North could be "decimated" if direct services are cut.

Mr Oliver said: "Millions of tourists come here every year. We need to provide a better service for people to come in and out by rail. We need to maintain it and improve it, not totally decimate it, which this will mean for the linkage with the Midlands and the North.

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. 

It's proposed that from later next year, all but one of the long distance services to and from Paignton will start and end at Exeter instead. 

The rail company says the changes will provide more options and faster journey times between the areas.

Plymouth Herald

Plymouth Cathedral will benefit from a £100,000 windfall after its bid for government funding was approved, external earlier than planned.

BBC Radio Devon

A report commissioned by the government will today recommend that shipbuilding for the Royal Navy should be extended beyond the River Clyde in Scotland. 

The study, by the industrialist Sir John Parker, will recommend that the work should be shared between shipyards across the UK - which could impact on Devon. 

He'll also call for a greater focus on designs that can be exported. The government will publish its response in the spring. 

BBC Travel

• On Spur Road, Exeter, off Sandygate roundabout towards Sandy Park, there is a collision causing tailbacks on to the M5 Northbound and delays on the A376
• In Exeter at Pinhoe Station we've got reports the level crossing barriers are stuck down

• In Plymouth on Wolseley Road near St Budeaux bypass one lane is closed due to roadworks, traffic is slow moving on bypass and queues are back on to the A38
• In Plymouth on Outland Road heading inbound at Ham Drive there are lane closures due to roadworks. Traffic is slow moving and queueing

Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

Parents of a terminally ill boy say their son may die before they get funding for a specially adapted car.

Stanley, from Newton Abbot in Devon, suffers from Tay-Sachs disease, external which means he is unable to move and has seizures. 

His mum applied for funding for a specially adapted car to take a wheelchair under the Disability Living Allowance mobility scheme. She was told he must be three to qualify but she says Stanley may not live that long.  

BBC Weather

After a cold and frosty start it will be a largely sunny day. Despite the sunshine it will be cold again, though with lighter winds than on Monday. 

The maximum temperature will be 7C (45F).

BBC Travel

• On the A38 from Trerulefoot heading towards Plymouth there's slow moving traffic
• At Liftondown on the A30 a broken-down vehicle has been removed
• In Plympton on Sandy Road near the A38 at Deep Lane there are temporary traffic lights for roadworks. There are delays on and off the A38
• In Plymouth on Wolseley Road near the St Budeaux bypass, one lane is closed for roadworks, traffic is slow moving on bypass and queues back to A38
• In Plymouth on Outland Road heading inbound at Ham Drive there are lane closures due to roadworks. Traffic is slow moving and queueing
• At the Carkeel Roundabout on the A38 and A388 there is busy traffic
• Traffic's flowing smoothly on the Tamar Bridge and there's a 10 minute wait with three ferries running at Torpoint

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

A school has apologised to a Christian teaching assistant it disciplined for sharing her views on gay relationships with a 14-year-old student.

Victoria Allen, 51, threatened to take Brannel School in St Austell, Cornwall to tribunal over the matter.

The dispute was settled out of court yesterday.

She had told the pupil she did not agree with same sex relationships and she was unhappy that the rainbow emblem was used to represent gay pride.

BBC Spotlight

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.

It's proposed that from later next year, all but one of the long distance services to and from Paignton will start and end at Exeter instead. The rail company says the changes will provide more options and faster journey times. 

But rail users fear it will be damaging to the area.

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

Good morning from BBC Local Live. We'll be bringing you the news, sport, travel and weather for Devon and Cornwall today. 

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