Sophie Pierce
BBC Radio Devon

Controversial plans have been revealed this lunchtime to close 32 acute hospital beds at Torbay Hospital. 

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust says it's part of a move towards caring for more patients in their own homes.

This news has come as quite a surprise because the trust's plans to close the four community hospitals in Paignton, Dartmouth Ashburton and Bovey Tracey have been well publicised, but now it seems closing 32 acute beds at the hospital was always part of the plan.

It came out on social media, probably because staff at the hospital have started to hear rumours and so the hospital put out a statement on their website. It doesn't say much but does say "we now believe the time is right to close 32 beds". It doesn't say which wards.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man used a kitchen knife in an armed robbery in Plymouth.

A man entered the Central Convenience Stores on Walker Terrace, West Hoe on Sunday morning wearing a balaclava. Police said he walked up to the counter, threatened a shop staff member with a knife and took about £150 from the till.

Officers said they wanted to trace a man caught on CCTV (below) and speak to him in connection with the incident.

Image source, Devon and Cornwall Police

Lynne French
BBC News Online

A jail in Devon branded as "in decline" by Her Majesty's Inspector of Prisons, external, has "significant gaps" in its senior leadership.

Peter Clarke said four years ago, HMP Channings Wood was considered a "reasonably good" prison, but a recent unannounced inspection revealed a "marked decline in standards" in four key areas, which was, in his opinion, partly due to the ready availability of drugs.

"We also saw the response to violence and drugs was not as co-ordinated and clear as it should be," the chief inspector said.

"That's partly due to the fact that there are some significant gaps in the senior leadership of the prison, including the fact that at the time of the inspection there wasn't a deputy governor in post."

The National Offender Management Service says experienced leaders have now been appointed and additional prison officers recruited.

Press Association

When a Royal Marine killed an injured Taliban fighter, he was deployed in Afghanistan's Helmand province, where conditions were "austere" and a "breeding ground" for mental health problems, a court has been told.

Sgt Alexander Blackman, 42, from Taunton, Somerset, was found guilty of murder and given a life sentence after the incident in 2011. He was serving with Plymouth-based 42 Commando. 

Blackman, who is appealing against his sentence was "dismissed with disgrace" from the Royal Marines after serving with distinction for 15 years.

One of the grounds of appeal is that the new psychiatric evidence would have provided him with the "partial defence of diminished responsibility".

Plymouth Herald

Police are investigating claims against a carpet company, external after a couple say they cancelled an appointment due to losing their unborn baby.

Sophie Pierce
BBC Radio Devon

Thirty-two acute hospital beds are to be closed at Torbay Hospital. 

NHS managers have not yet revealed which wards will be closed, and told the BBC no formal decisions will be taken until the end of February.

They say it's part of a wider programme to change their services so more patients are cared for at home and in the community. 

Press Association

A graphic account of the conditions faced by a Royal Marine at the time he shot an injured Afghan fighter has been given at the start of his battle to overturn his murder conviction. 

Sergeant Alexander Blackman, 42, from Taunton in Somerset, watched proceedings via video link from prison as his QC outlined his case to five judges in a packed London courtroom. 

Blackman's wife Claire and dozens of veterans sat in the public gallery to hear Jonathan Goldberg opening the case, explaining that the "impact" of fresh psychiatric evidence lay at the heart of the appeal.

At the time of the 2011 incident Blackman was serving in Helmand province with Plymouth-based 42 Commando. 

Image source, PA

Plymouth Herald

A popular Devon and Cornwall police community support officer, external has been taken into hospital after she was diagnosed with meningitis.

Lynne French
BBC News Online

Seagull-proofing new buildings in coastal towns and cities could be one way of addressing the growing menace of seagulls, a Devon MP says.

Oliver Colvile, external, who is leading a debate on the matter in the House of Commons, says although they are a protected species, more needs to be done to deal with the birds.

The Conservative MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport said trying to discourage the gulls from nesting might help reduce their aggressive behaviour.

Scott Bingham
BBC Spotlight

Plans have been revealed for a new estate of 1,500 homes on the former Plymouth Airport.

Image source, Sutton Harbour

Plym Vale will also include accommodation for University of St Mark and St John students and a veterans’ rehabilitation village.

Jason Schofield, chief executive of site leaseholders Sutton Harbour Holdings, said: “Plym Vale is a tremendous opportunity for the city to get behind a vibrant new sustainable community that will create an enduring legacy and make the best possible use of this long redundant site.”

Cornwall Live

 A person has been rescued by firefighters after driving into deep floodwater, external at Longdowns.

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

Safety at Channings Wood prison has deteriorated and the jail is struggling to cope, according to a report into an unannounced inspection.

It found fewer prisoners felt safe on arrival and violence had increased with action to address it being poorly coordinated. 

Michael Spurr from the National Offender Management Service said he recognised immediate action was needed.  

BBC Weather Watchers

Cornwall Live

Cornwall Council has refused to reveal the value of the extensive world class art collection, external effectively owned by taxpayers saying it would put them at risk of vandalism and theft.

Exeter Express & Echo

A Devon mum who was born with a debilitating foot deformity 31 years ago has had her leg amputated below the knee, external in a bid to live a more normal life.

Emily Wood
BBC Weather

If you're thinking about heading to the seaside today, here are the times of high water around the South West.

We'll have a full weather forecast in Spotlight's lunchtime news at 13:30.

Lynne French
BBC News Online

Channings Wood prison will need "determined and clear-sighted" leadership to regain its status as a good prison, according to Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prison.

Peter Clarke says an unannounced inspection of the Devon jail revealed a prison in decline with increased levels of violence, more drug use and inmates feeling unsafe.

"When decline sets in, it takes really determined and clear-sighted leadership to turn it round," Mr Clarke said.

"And that's what this prison is going to need in order to halt the decline and regain the standards it used to show in the past."

Scott Bingham
BBC Spotlight

A 1,500 house development on the former Plymouth Airport site will create 350 construction jobs every year for the next 10 years says the site's leaseholder.

Sutton Harbour Holdings said the £200m Plym Vale would make a significant contribution to the city’s aim of creating 10,000 additional construction jobs by 2020.

Plymouth City Council would be in line to receive a £50m windfall because it owns the majority of the freehold of the site and is entitled to 75% of development proceeds, said Sutton Harbour.

Plans for the site will be considered by the city council.

Torquay Herald Express

Police are appealing to the public to help them locate former Torquay man Steven Luscombe, external who is missing from Exeter.

Lynne French
BBC News Online

A 23-year-old who failed to appear at Plymouth Magistrates' Court on driving charges is being sought by police.

Christopher Pinder, who has links to Plymouth and Cornwall, is described at about 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall with dark short hair. 

Image source, Devon and Cornwall Police

He was last seen in the Stoke area of Plymouth and anyone who has seen him or has information about his whereabouts is asked to contact Devon and Cornwall Police, external.