Summary

  • 'Significant' cliff fall which destroys summerhouse sparks warning to coastal users in East Devon

  • Royal Marine who shot injured Taliban fighter must wait for appeal result

  • Two men have been arrested following a stabbing in Truro

  • Resident has 'eight-year dispute' over South West Water bill

  • "Astronomical" and "unbearable" that's how one tourism leader's branding planned business rates hikes affecting some of Cornwall's self catering complexes

  • Children with life-limiting illnesses release their own CD to mark the 25th anniversary of Children's Hospice South West

  • Updates on Wednesday 8 February 2017

  1. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    That's all from BBC Local Live in Devon and Cornwall for today, but we'll be back at 08:00 to bring you all Thursday's news, sport travel and weather.

    Don't miss Spotlight with Justin, Victoria and David tonight at 18:30 on BBC One and the late bulletin at 22:30.

  2. People urged to stay away from East Devon cliffspublished at 17:55 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    BBC Spotlight

    SummerhouseImage source, Apex

    People are being told to stay away from the cliffs in East Devon after a "significant" cliff fall near Sidmouth. 

    Tonnes of rock and soil collapsed on to East Beach, leaving homes on Cliff Road even closer to the edge.

    A summerhouse was also brought down in the cliff fall. 

    People living there have long campaigned for action to protect the cliffs and protect their properties. East Devon District Council says it wants work to start as soon as possible, but the money for any scheme still needs to be finalised.

    RubbleImage source, Apex
  3. Royal Marine who shot injured Taliban fighter must wait for appeal resultpublished at 17:52 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Press Association

    A Royal Marine who shot an injured Taliban fighter in Afghanistan must wait to hear the result of an appeal against his murder conviction. 

    The Court Martial Appeal Court in London said it would "take time" to consider its decision in the case of Sergeant Alexander Blackman. One of the grounds of appeal is that fresh psychiatric evidence would have provided him with a diminished responsibility defence. 

    Five judges, headed by Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas, have been urged to overturn the conviction on the basis of "uncontradicted" evidence from three distinguished psychiatrists that he was suffering from a mental illness - an adjustment disorder - at the time of the killing. 

    Blackman, 42, from Taunton in Somerset, watched from prison by video link as Jonathan Goldberg QC argued that the conviction was "inevitably not safe". 

    Richard Whittam QC, for the Crown, said there was no evidence to the contrary about Blackman having an adjustment disorder but the issue was "did it cause what happened". "One has to assess the breadth of the disorder and the effect it was having." 

    Blackman - who was serving with Plymouth-based 42 Commando - was convicted in November 2013 by a court martial in Bulford, Wiltshire, and sentenced to life with a minimum term of 10 years. 

  4. Operations cancelled at Royal Cornwall Hospitalpublished at 17:49 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    A number of operations have been cancelled at the Royal Cornwall Hospital today.

    One 91-year-old man with complex health problems, who had been booked in for a cataract operation, was told it had been cancelled after waiting several hours.

    He was one of a number of patients who were sent home. 

    RCHT

    The hospital said it regretted cancelling operations, and it was sorry for the upset caused to patients and their families. 

    The trust which runs the hospital is currently at its highest level of alert and said it had to give priority to patients in need of emergency care.  

  5. Man rescued from blaze after 'plastic bags left on cooker'published at 17:44 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Fire crews have rescued a man from a flat fire which was caused by plastic bags left on a cooker, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has said.

    Five engines were sent to the blaze in a ground floor flat on St Lukes Road North in Torquay this afternoon.

    It's not believed the man was seriously injured.

  6. People urged to not feed seagulls by expertpublished at 17:37 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    A leading environmental scientist in Cornwall is warning the public not to feed seagulls, after claims that urban colonies have doubled in less than 20 years. 

    The Director of Science and the Environment at Falmouth Marine School, Mark Nason, also said we need to clean up our environment to reduce cases of bird attacks.

    Dr Nason's team have been tagging dozens of gulls to establish their breeding habits.

    Gull
  7. Future of Cornwall after Brexit debated on Thursdaypublished at 17:24 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    The future of Cornwall after Brexit will be centre stage at a meeting in Truro tomorrow.

    The House of Commons cross-party committee on Exiting the EU will hear evidence from economic, political and agricultural leaders from across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

    They say they want to get beyond Westminster to gather a range of views from remainers and leavers in the debate.

  8. Warm in the westpublished at 17:15 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    BBC Weather

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  9. Police appeal for missing woman, 33published at 17:12 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Police are concerned for the welfare of Sarah Kelly, a 33-year-old woman from Paignton.

    Officers said Sarah was last seen at her home in the town at about 08:00 this morning and has not been seen since. Her disappearance is out of character and a cause for concern, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

    Sarah is thought to be wearing blue jeans and a hooded top with white and blue horizontal stripes.

    Sarah KellyImage source, Devon and Cornwall Police
  10. Spit at police officers and you could end up in jail warns senior officerpublished at 16:48 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    A senior policeman from the Devon and Cornwall force is warning that people who spit at his officers could end up in jail.

    Supt Ian Drummond-Smith

    A man's been sentenced to two months in prison for spitting at a police officer in St Austell on New Year's Eve. 

    Supt Ian Drummond-Smith said there was a similar incident in Saltash yesterday, and the anxiety it can cause for police officers is difficult.   

  11. Mollie, 26, prepares for 'death zone' in record breaking Everest bidpublished at 16:21 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    BBC Radio Devon

    A 26-year-old from Devon is aiming to become the youngest British climber to scale Mount Everest from both the north and south sides. 

    Mollie HughesImage source, Mollie Hughes

    Mollie Hughes made it to the summit back in 2012, climbing from its south side, and is now intending to climb the north side in May this year - aiming to make the top on 19 February.

    She started climbing at school and at the age of 17 summited Mount Kenya and is fully prepared for what lies ahead again.

    "Two months of living and climbing at high altitude especially when you get above 8,000m into the 'death zone' it has this huge, huge effect mentally and physically on your body," she said.

  12. Carpet cleaning company says sorry as business goes under amid death threatspublished at 16:09 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Plymouth Herald

    The couple at the centre of a hate-fuelled cleaning row say they feel like "Plymouth's most wanted, external" after receiving hundreds of abusive messages – including death threats.

  13. Family, friends and former colleagues walk coast path in memory of RSPCA inspector Mike Reidpublished at 15:53 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Cornwall Live

    The anniversary of the tragic loss of RSPCA inspector Mike Reid, external saw family, friends and colleagues gather to remember the man known for his big heart and infectious laughter.

  14. Anger as second homeowners 'avoid business rates rise'published at 15:45 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    BBC Radio Devon

    Tourism leaders in the South West are calling for an urgent review of planned business rates changes, amid claims holiday cottage complexes are being unfairly penalised.

    Some larger self-catering businesses are facing rises of up to 135% in their bills.

    South West Tourism Alliance said the new rules benefit second homeowners with less than 14 bed spaces, who don't have to pay anything.

  15. Beautiful afternoon in Cornwallpublished at 15:33 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

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  16. Sidmouth summerhouse crashes into sea in cliff collapsepublished at 15:15 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Jonathan Morris
    BBC News Online

    It used to have one of the best views in England - now a Devon summerhouse is a pile of splintered wood at the bottom of a cliff. 

    Media caption,

    Summerhouse crashes into sea in cliff collapse

    The summerhouse had been Paul Griew's garden sanctuary where he could observe the beautiful coastline off Sidmouth.

    But over the years the cliff edge has been encroaching on the summerhouse. Mr Griew, 69, said he had lost 20m of garden since he bought the house in 1997. 

    And at the current rate of erosion of about 1m a year, it means he has another 40 years left before his house collapses.

  17. Thousands of pounds worth of 'valuable' paintings stolenpublished at 14:57 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Thousands of pounds worth of "valuable" paintings and other items have been taken from a property in Cornwall.

    Police said someone entered the house in Trebetherick, Cornwall, between 11:00 on Monday 9 January and 11:00 on Tuesday 10 January.

    Stolen items included computer equipment, a microwave and 47 pieces of sentimental and valuable artwork totaling about £7,000. These included original works of art, and prints.

    PaintingImage source, Devon and Cornwall Police
  18. New evidence in Royal Marine murder case means conviction 'inevitably not safe'published at 14:44 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Press Association

    Judges have been urged to overturn a former Royal Marine's "unsafe" murder conviction on the basis of "uncontradicted" evidence from three distinguished psychiatrists. 

    A QC representing Sergeant Alexander Blackman, from Taunton in Somerset, said their "unanimous" evidence was the soldier was suffering from a mental illness when he fatally shot an injured Taliban fighter in Afghanistan. 

    Jonathan Goldberg, addressing the Court Martial Appeal Court on the second day of Blackman's conviction appeal, argued in the light of that evidence the conviction was "inevitably not safe". 

    Blackman, 42, who was serving with Plymouth-based 42 Commando, watched from prison by video link as his wife Claire and dozens of veterans packed the London courtroom.

    BlackmanImage source, PA

    Blackman's case has been referred to the court for review by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), an independent body which investigates possible miscarriages of justice.