Andrew Segal
Local Live

Eight men are currently appearing before magistrates in Plymouth, charged with drugs and sexual offences after police raids across the city.

Devon and Cornwall Police said officers from its serious and organised crime investigation team executed a "number of warrants" while raiding "multiple properties across the city" on Tuesday.

The force said that the eight, aged between 25 and 32 and all living in the city, were charged with including suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A and class B drugs, and rape.

BBC Radio Devon

A "rest room" for over-55s in Tavistock is proving popular since its reopening, a charity says.

Image source, Google

Tavistock had had a room, known as the "Old Folks' Rest Room", in Duke Street, which was free and open for more than 50 years. It was closed eight year ago, causing upset.

A recently opened similar facility at the East Stores end of the town's Pannier Market recently saw 45 people use it in a day, the Tavistock Area Support Services charity said. 

Plymouth Herald

A teenager was caught driving a tractor on Plymouth's busiest road - while browsing Snapchat on his mobile phone, external.

Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

Drivers who rediscovered a shipwreck at the same spot a similar wreckage was filmed for the BBC drama Poldark said their breakthrough in finding the ship's remains came after a storm.

Image source, Mark Milburn

The Schiedam, which sank in the 17th Century, was first found off the coast of Cornwall, in Gunwalloe Cove, in 1971 but then buried under shifting sands. Divers David Gibbins and Mark Milburn made the discovery after many attempts to trace it.

Mr Milburn said: "We'd searched the cove many times for the Schiedam, but had only seen sand. Then the breakthrough came one day after a storm. 

"Snorkelling north over the cove, we saw not just one cannon, but three - it was incredibly exciting."

Laurence Reed
BBC Radio Cornwall

People affected by deliberate cuts in water pressure are still getting higher pressure than offered by other water companies elsewhere in the country, and higher than local targets, South West Water (SWW) says.

SWW confirmed it had "slightly reduced water pressure" in the Lelant area "as part of our region-wide pressure management programme which is designed to reduce disruption from burst pipes". 

The company said it was targeting 20 metres of dynamic head (mhd) water pressure, external "which compares favourably with other water companies which are targeting 15mhd". One resident who complained about the cut in Lelant was "getting 29-37mhd", it added.

The measures - aimed at protecting pipes from leaks and bursts - are expected to be implemented in other areas.

Adrian Campbell, Environment Correspondent
BBC Spotlight

Scientists from Plymouth Marine Laboratory are warning that one of the world's most important monitoring sites is in danger from huge volumes of contaminated silt. 

The site off Rame Head is among a handful of locations at sea where there's been continuous monitoring for up to a century. 

The Marine Management Organisation said it was consulting with the public to help find the best possible place for the disposal of dredged material from Devonport Dockyard to take place.

Press Association

A 19-year-old Exeter student described as a "loving personality" was found dead on a beach in Thailand after going swimming alone, an inquest has heard. 

Bryony Freestone, from Little Houghton, Northamptonshire, died off the coast of Koh Chang on 14 August. 

An inquest into her death at Northampton County Hall heard that a member of staff at the KC Grande Hotel had attempted to wake Ms Freestone when she was found on the beach lying on her back at about 09:00.

Attempts were made to resuscitate her and she was taken to a nearby clinic but confirmed deceased with a cause of death given as asphyxiation due to drowning. The coroner recorded Ms Freestone's death as accidental. She studied geography at Exeter University.

Jenny Walrond
Health Correspondent, BBC Spotlight

A Plymouth man has described the process of getting NHS funding for his father's care as "baffling", "bamboozling" and "inhumane". 

Image source, Gilbert Family

Stan Gilbert (pictured above) died in August last year. His son, Steve (below), is still fighting for the funding he believes his father was owed. He said all the stress ruined his last precious months with his father.

His advocate said they thought hundreds of thousands of people nationally were missing out on payments they were entitled to.

NHS England said the system was fair and consistent.

Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

Monks who make Buckfast tonic wine, which has been linked to violent crime in Scotland, raked in a record £8.8m in a year.

What do we know about the caffeine-fuelled drink made at Buckfast Abbey in Devon?

• In the 1920s, Benedictine brothers developed tonic wine sold from the abbey
• The base wine was first imported from Spain, and nowadays from France
• Ingredients include red wine, phosphates, caffeine and vanillin
• In 1927, distribution and sales were passed to J Chandler in Andover, Hampshire
• In 2011, a new winery was completed at the abbey. The site has four vats - each holding 130,000 litres of wine

Hamish Marshall
BBC Spotlight

Devon county councillors have approved a controversial new route for one of the main trunk roads into Devon. 

Nearly 1,000 people had signed a petition opposed to the scheme for the A30 east of Honiton, which will go through the Blackdown Hills. 

Supporters said it was vital for business and tourism. Opponents argued it would ruin an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Plymouth Herald

Eight men are due in Plymouth Magistrates Court, charged with a variety of drug and sex offences, after police raided multiple properties, external across the city.

Kevin Thomas
BBC Weather Forecaster

Cloud will increase from the west during the afternoon. Winds will be light or moderate from the south or southeast. Maximum temperature: 12C (54F).

It will be mainly cloudy tonight, with some scattered outbreaks of rain or drizzle, along with patches of low cloud and some hill fog. Some clearer periods may develop towards dawn. Southeast winds will turn to the southwest. Minimum temperature: 7C (45F).

Press Association

Senior officers missed several warning signs that Sergeant Alexander Blackman's Royal Marine unit was suffering from mental and physical exhaustion during a tour of Afghanistan, a Royal Navy review has found.

The former marine - known as Marine A - was convicted by a military court of murdering an injured Taliban fighter while serving with Plymouth-based 42 Commando in Helmand province in 2011. Blackman said he believed the victim was already dead. Last week he won the right to appeal against his conviction.

Image source, PA

An internal review carried out by the navy into the circumstances has identified a series of factors that contributed to the incident, including insufficient supervision, an "overly aggressive" culture by 42 Commando and "moral disengagement" on the part of Blackman and his colleagues.

A report summary, released by the Ministry of Defence, also revealed Blackman's commanding officer had been injured and a new officer took over at short notice. 

Laurence Reed
BBC Radio Cornwall

South West Water has confirmed water pressure has been deliberately cut in parts of Cornwall to protect pipes from leaks and bursts.

Image source, Getty Images

Some residents in the St Ives area say they are frustrated they've experienced drops in pressure. It's alleged that one customer was told they'd simply have to "put up with it".

The measures are expected to be implemented in other areas.

Andrew Segal
Local Live

Six people have been arrested and hundreds of counterfeit items seized in raids by police and Trading Standards at St Austell, St Columb Minor and Bodmin, Cornwall Council says.

Bosses said items such as electrical goods and children’s clothing "won't have been safety tested and can cause serious injury",

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Torquay United have extended the loan of AFC Wimbledon winger David Fitzpatrick for another month.

Image source, Rex Features

The 21-year-old former QPR youngster has played four times for the Gulls since joining on an initial month-long deal in November.

He will stay at Plainmoor until 7 January , meaning he could play another four games for Torquay.

BBC Radio Cornwall