BBC Sport

Cornish Pirates director Colin Groves has estimated that work on the Stadium for Cornwall will start "in the middle of 2017".

A judicial review into the project's funding has been dismissed, allowing the Championship side to press ahead.

"It's like an early Christmas present," Groves told BBC Radio Cornwall. "The good news means that we can now crack on at the beginning of next year with getting the refinancing [of the club] organised."

The Pirates have been attempting to make progress with their proposed 6,000-capacity ground for several years, but it has been complicated by Cornish football side Truro City also wanting to build a new stadium.

BBC Radio Devon

An Exeter councillor says a proposed homeless shelter is much needed in the area after the city council voted unanimously last night to approve converting an old shop into such a facility.

Some businesses in the West Quarter of the city said they were worried the Market Street shelter could bring trouble at a busy time of year and put off customers. 

City councillor Paul Bull said: "If there are instances or fears from local businesses, residents or communities, [homeless outreach group] Julian House have offered a hotline so those fears and concerns can be addressed and resolved."

BBC Two

The University of Exeter's a cappella group, Semi-Toned, is in the final of Gareth Malone's TV search for the nation's most talented and entertaining amateur choir.

The all-male group is one of just three choirs to make it through to the final of The Choir: Gareth's Best in Britain. The group was selected in a tense semi-final which saw the four regional heat winners work with industry experts. 

You can see how they get on from 21:00 on BBC Two.

James Law
BBC Sport Online

Striker Jamie Chamberlain has left Torquay United to join Weston-super-Mare.

He joined the Gulls on non-contract terms in August, following a successful trial at Plainmoor, but made only five substitute appearances in the National League.

Image source, Getty Images

"Unfortunately because they are in the National League South, he isn’t able to register for them and us, which has worked for both parties before," said Torquay player-boss Kevin Nicholson. "He will still train with us whenever he can and of course we will monitor his progress."  

Sophie Pierce
BBC Radio Devon

About 40% of bank branches in Devon and Cornwall have closed in recent years.

Devon has seen 79 bank branches lost over the last decade. Ashburton, Colyton and Hatherleigh now have no bank; and South Brent, Modbury and Salcombe are due to lose their last ones next year.

In Cornwall, 39 banks have either closed or been earmarked for closure in the last decade. As well as losing its bank, Lostwithiel (pictured) is also facing losing its Post Office - which can deal with some bank transactions - as well.

The British Banking Association said a "consumer-led digital revolution" had changed "the way we do our day-to-day banking, and this is affecting the viability of some bank branches". It added that the decision to close a branch "is never taken lightly". 

BBC Travel

• In Devon, there are reports of an incident on The Parade in Chudleigh, around Lawn Drive, near the police station
• In Plymouth, there are reports of an collision on the A38 Parkway Exeter-bound at St Budeaux. There are reports of a car on its side
• In Exeter, Park Road is partially blocked by an incident near Jubilee Road, close to the vets

Jenny Walrond
Health Correspondent, BBC Spotlight

A woman has called for a "little bit of compassion" from a Devon hospital which says it cannot take in her seriously injured husband temporarily after a planned move from Surrey.

Malcolm Steward has been in hospital in Guildford since July 2015. He and his wife, Philippa (pictured), were in the process of moving to Torquay when he was in a car accident. He has a nursing home place prepared in the district but Torbay Hospital said it would not have room to accommodate him in intensive care to recover from the journey.

Mrs Steward said she feared he might die before she's reunited with him. She said: "I just wish they could find a little bit of compassion in their hearts for somebody that needs to be moved. It's just not right, and I don't know why they're doing it."

Torbay Hospital said it could not accommodate Mr Steward until a bigger unit was built next year.

Andrew Segal
Local Live

• A football coach from Devon is jailed for 18 months after abducting and sexually assaulting a teenager
• Eleven men from the South West and Wales are being sentenced for a series of offences concerning hunting with dogs in Devon
• Education for the most vulnerable children in Devon is facing a £4.5m shortfall, the BBC has learned
• A woman living in Devon says she fears her husband will die before she's reunited with him due to problems moving him to Torquay from Surrey
• Campaigners against cuts in Cornwall's NHS services protest outside a meeting of health bosses
• A red fez hat worn by legendary comedian and Exeter-raised magician Tommy Cooper - is to go on display following an appeal by a London museum

Cornwall Live

Vandals have smashed street lights in Bodmin, external days after a "Grinch" cut the Christmas tree lights last week.

Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

A man who admitted killing a deer at night and taking another animal without the consent of the owner has been sentenced.

Ryan Robinson, 20, of Foundry Court, Chudleigh, was given a 12 month community order, ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work and to pay £85 costs.

Eleven men from the South West of England and Wales are being sentenced at Plymouth Magistrates' Court for a series of offences concerning hunting with dogs in Devon. The sentencing continues.

Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

While sentencing Coombes for animal welfare offences, District Judge Diana Baker said she would be surprised if anyone in the courtroom had felt "comfortable" with hearing the "squeals of the badger and the screaming of the fox and seeing deer with their throats cut open. 

"You are the ringleader of organised animal hunting and killing and you had no regard for the welfare of these animals" referring to photos of a dog with its mouth and neck ripped open by a badger. 

"You went to the pub and bragged about it,"she said.

"The wailing of the fox was pitiful. You were videoing it and you were clearly excited by what was happening and encouraging the dogs to kill."

Coombes was also ordered to pay £3,000 costs. The sentencing of 10 other men continues.

Image source, RSPCA

Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

Graham Coombes has been jailed for 20 weeks and disqualified for life from owning dogs.

He is one of 11 men from the South West of England and Wales being sentenced at Plymouth Magistrates' Court for a series of offences concerning hunting with dogs in Devon.

Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

The RSPCA found 20 animal skulls on a heap of animal remains at the home of a man described as a gang leader, Plymouth Magistrates Court has heard.

Jeremy Cave, prosecuting, said a number of dogs - terriers and lurchers - were "bred and trained for aggression" by Graham Coombes, 41, at his Devon home.

On a video played to the court Coombes is heard saying "good lad" as a lurcher attacks a deer.

Coombes and 10 other men have admitted or been found guilty of a total of 27 offences including 22 of unlawful killing of wildlife, mainly deer.

Mr Cave said: "The aim was to kill as much wildlife as possible to celebrate the prowess of the dogs."

The case continues.

Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online

A football coach has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after abducting a woman and sexually assaulting her.

Felix Reilly, 30, of Maunders Place, Otterton, Devon, was caught on CCTV following a woman, 19, in his car before grabbing her off the street.

Image source, Exeter Crown Court

The woman managed to free herself from the vehicle on her third attempt, but was groped during the abduction.

Police praised the courage of the victim in speaking about the ordeal, which lasted for several minutes.

Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

A cage fight in which a dog is let loose on a fox and mauls it to death has been shown to stunned courtroom.

The mobile phone footage shown to a hushed Plymouth Magistrates Court showed a terrier mauling and killing the terrified wild animal in 2014.

The court heard the vixen had been trapped in the cage by Graham Coombes, 41, at his Devon home.

He led a gang of 11 who have admitted or been found guilty of a series of animal cruelty charges said Jeremy Cave, prosecuting, for the RSPCA.

Several of the gang appeared unable to look at the video and covered their faces with their hands as it was shown.

The case continues.

Kevin Thomas
BBC Weather Forecaster

It'll be rather dull and cloudy, with low cloud affecting many areas and giving patches of hill fog.

Although areas towards the north coast may brighten up at times, elsewhere it will remain rather murky, but apart from a few spots of drizzle in places, it'll be mostly dry.

Winds will be mainly light or moderate from the south or southeast. Maximum temperature: 12C (54F).

It'll be mostly dry, although low cloud will continue to affect hills and parts of the coast.

However, some clearer spells are likely to develop towards the north coast. Southerly winds will be mainly light or moderate. Minimum temperature: 10C (50F).

David George
BBC Spotlight

Eleven men from the South West of England and Wales are being sentenced at Plymouth Magistrates' Court for a series of offences concerning hunting with dogs in Devon.

Two of the men were found guilty at a trial brought by the RSPCA, the other nine have pleaded guilty. The charges relate to the hunting of wild animals and the welfare of dogs, some of which were killed during hunting.

District Judge Diana Baker has warned the men she had the powers to forfeit their dogs, guns and vehicles. The hearing continues.

Simon Hall, Home Affairs Correspondent
BBC Spotlight

Education for the most vulnerable children in Devon is facing a £4.5m shortfall, the BBC has learned from a letter to county councillors.

High needs education provides schooling for children who have learning difficulties and serious physical disabilities. It takes up about £57m of an overall £507m education budget this year, according to county council figures., external

There's been concern from both teachers and parents at an overspend in the high needs budget which has caused the shortfall, and at a threat to mainstream schools of having budgets cut to make up the overspend.

Devon County Council has long complained it doesn't get fair funding in education from the government. The letter says: "Our schools are funded at £270 per pupil less than the national average. This underfunding has a continuing impact on every area of education in Devon."