Western Morning News

A man could only watch on in horror as he came home to find that his garden shed had dropped off a seaside cliff., external

BBC Travel

• In Plymouth on Forder Valley Road there's heavy traffic in both directions due to temporary traffic lights in place for tree cutting. Surrounding roads are also busy
• In Plymouth there's queueing traffic on Laira Bridge Road heading outbound between Gdynia Way and the Morrisons Roundabout due to roadworks
• In Bugle we have reports of an accident on the A391 Fore Street around Rosevear Road and Bugle Crossroads
• On the A394 between Edgcumbe and Rame Cross there are queues of slow moving traffic through the roadworks by the Halfway House
• On the A394 Marazion Bypass there are temporary traffic lights for bridge maintenance work - expect delays
• In Blackwater on the A30 westbound between Chiverton Cross and the A3047 at Scorrier - one lane is closed for roadworks (until 18:00)

BBC Radio Devon

People are being warned to stay away from a beach in East Devon after a "significant" cliff fall. 

East Devon District Council issued the warning after rocks fell from cliffs at East Beach in Sidmouth. 

It says the fall which is on private land could have been caused by heavy rainfall and lowered beach levels. 

It says there is evidence that erosion has accelerated in recent years and urging people not to go on the beach at this time.

Image source, Apex

Two police forces have announced all front-line officers will be issued with hoods to prevent arrested people spitting or biting. Thames Valley Police plans to introduce spit hoods for the first time, while Hampshire Constabulary currently only uses them in custody suites.

What do you think? Drop us an email.

• Martyn said: "I fully support the use of these hoods. The police are acting on our behalf to keep us safe. 
• Ellen said: "I daresay being a policeman and being spat at and bitten is even more degrading, and spit hoods are essential equipment for all of the police.

In the South West, a senior police officer has warned the public that they face a possible jail sentence if they spit at his officers. Supt Ian Drummond-Smith from Devon and Cornwall Police says a man who spat at a constable in St Austell in December, has now been sentenced to two months behind bars.

Image source, HAMPSHIRE CONSTABULARY

BBC Radio Cornwall

How would you feel if your business rates went up by 135%? That's what Holly Wright says she's facing as she runs five-star cottages near Looe.

She says she won't be able to compete with small competitors who don't have to pay so much.

Tourism leaders in Cornwall are calling for an urgent review of planned business rate changes, amid claims larger holiday cottage complexes are being unfairly penalised. 

The government says there's a cap on increases for the first few years and the changes overall make the system fairer.

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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.

Image source, Apex

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.

Image source, Apex

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 means he has another 40 years left before his house collapses.

"A neighbour told me the cliff was going and I was about to go into the summerhouse but thought better of it," he said.

"When I came back later [on Tuesday] the shed was no more."

As for his house, he expects it will "probably" see out his lifetime "and hopefully I shall have something to hand over to my children but I'm not counting on it".

Image source, Apex

BBC Radio Devon

Health campaigners in Devon say they're shocked by the news that 32 acute beds are being closed at Torbay Hospital. 

NHS managers haven't said which wards will be closed but say patient safety is paramount. 

Lucy Cromwell is a patient at the hospital and is worried that the specialist ward she regularly goes to will be closed. 

She said: "People who go on that ward quite regularly know that they are going to be cared for by people that know them, who recognise their face, who have got time to talk to them and I don't think you are going to get that on a general ward."

The hospital says the bed closures are part of a plan to care for more patients at home and in the community.  

However, government plans to treat more patients in the community are not easing pressure on NHS hospitals or saving money, the National Audit Office has said.

Exeter Express & Echo

An eagle-eyed mum has helped police by making a citizen's arrest following reports of a man acting suspiciously near a primary school in Newton Abbot., external

BBC Radio Cornwall

"Being spat at or bitten is more degrading and cruel," says Raymond Tucker ahead of a debate on the issue of police using spit hoods to deter attacks.

"If that is the way you think is the right way to behave then don't be surprised if you are stopped from doing it by the use of a hood," he said. "Nobody should be allowed to do that."

Laurence Reed is debating the issue on his lunchtime phone-in show.

North Devon Journal

A motorbike 'ride-out' will be staged in Barnstaple next month to protest against the sentence of a drug-driver who crashed into and killed Barnstaple biker Aiden Platt., external

BBC Spotlight

Three in 10 people aged over 60 are affected by muscle weakness according to academics at Plymouth's University of St Mark and St John.

As a result they're more likely to have a fall or develop conditions such as osteoporosis.

The university is now leading a European research project aiming to find out more about the impact of muscle loss and ways in which it can be avoided.

BBC Spotlight

"I was delighted to contribute a song to this wonderful CD."

That's world-renowned counter tenor Iestyn Davies, on his part in a special CD in aid of Children's Hospice South West (CHSW).

"Purcell's 'If music be the food of love' perfectly encapsulates the sentiment felt throughout the CD which shows that music can move us and unite us in joy and love even more than words," he said.

"I've always believed that music has the power to bring order to unrest and it's immensely touching to listen to the contributions on this recording and know that behind every track there are stories to be told with each piece of music contributing such moving tributes to the 25th anniversary celebrations of CHSW."

Adrian Campbell, Environment Correspondent
BBC Spotlight

A farmer says he has been involved in a wrangle with South West Water for almost eight years over a water bill.

"The first bill in August 2009 was for £1,000 for three months water which was a lot of money, said Ray Hull from Bickleigh.

"The next one came in at nearly £10,500. I hit the ceiling and that's when the battle with our water suppliers started."

South West Water says it's still investigating what's happened and is trying to sort out a resolution but Mr Hull says he's been told he still owes thousands of pounds. 

BBC Radio Cornwall

A 45-year-old man and a 25-year-old man have been arrested on suspicion of wounding after a man was stabbed in Truro.

The pair were bailed until 3 March pending further investigations, police said.

Officers were called to Baynards Close on 1 February after an 18-year-old man was stabbed in the leg. 

He is expected to make a full recovery.

Two men have been arrested following a stabbing in Truro.

Police were called to Baynards Close on 1 February after an 18-year-old man was stabbed with a knife. The man was taken to hospital and will make a full recovery, police added.

More to follow.

Independent
Independent

Islamist hackers linked to Isis carried out an attack on a series of South West NHS websites in a cyber-attack exposing serious flaws in security systems meant to protect sensitive information, external, The Independent has learnt.  

People are being warned to stay away from a beach in East Devon after a "significant" cliff fall.

East Devon District Council issued the warning after rocks fell from cliffs at East Beach in Sidmouth.

The authority said the cliffs "are very unpredictable" and urged people not to go on the beach.

BBC Travel

BBC Travel

• On the A394 Marazion Bypass there are temporary traffic lights for bridge maintenance work. Heavy traffic in the area
• On the A394 between Edgcumbe and Rame Cross there are several sets of roadworks. Very Slow traffic in the area

Image source, Falmouth Police/Twitter