BBC Local Live: Devon & Cornwall on Tuesday 21 February 2017

Summary

Major blaze at city leisure centre
Care home allegations investigated in Cornwall
Cornwall Council budget: £33m cuts and rise in council tax voted through
Fire crews from Devon and Cornwall tackle house blaze
Pregnant ewe dies after Valentine's Day dog attack
Thieves steal £900 worth of goods in Bodmin shop ram raid
Nurses 'left in tears' over changes to South Devon hospitals
Updates on Tuesday 21 February 2017

Live Reporting

Our live coverage across the daypublished at 21:57 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017
Live updates for Devon and Cornwall have finished for the day, but we'll be back at 08:00 on Wednesday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.
The latest news on the fire at the Riverside Leisure Centre in Exeter will be on Spotlight on BBC One at 22:30. There will also be news through the night on your BBC Local Radio station.
Riverside Leisure Centre blaze: Damage 'quite severe'published at 21:49 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017
Sian Davies
BBC News Online
Police say a leisure centre in Exeter will be closed "for some time" following a large fire.
Speaking in a live online broadcast, Insp Mat Helm, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said the damage inside the Riverside Leisure Centre was "quite severe".
"The fire is still active up on the roof, aggressively punching holes in it," he said.
Image source, Devon and Cornwall Police
History of Exeter's Riverside centre - which firefighters are currently trying to savepublished at 21:42 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017
Exeter Express & Echo
Firefighters are battling to save Exeter's Riverside Leisure Centre, opened by Diana Princess of Wales and built in 1984., external
Fire still burning at leisure centrepublished at 21:36 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017
John Henderson
BBC Spotlight
The fire at Riverside Leisure Centre in Exeter is still burning and firefighters are still on site.
At its peak 120 firefighters were working at the scene, 15 using breathing apparatus to tackle the blaze.
Two gerbils among those evacuated from Exeter firepublished at 21:20 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017
Sian Davies
BBC News Online
Police have revealed that two gerbils, as well as up to 50 people, were evacuated after a fire broke out at a leisure centre in Exeter.
Insp Mat Helm said the two pets were rescued as the evacuations took place near the Riverside Leisure Centre.
M&S cafe 'full of mostly naked people'published at 21:18 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017
Sian Davies
BBC News Online
Police in Exeter have paid tribute to staff at a nearby cafe.
The Marks & Spencer Cafe acted as an evacuation centre after the fire started at the Riverside Leisure Centre just after 16:15 today.
Insp Mat Helm said: "The M&S cafe has been fantastic. It's probably the first time it was full of mostly naked people and they're probably hoping it will be the last."
He said it also served as a base for the South Western Ambulance HART (Hazardous Area Response Team).
Low number of injuries - 'very lucky'published at 21:11 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017
Sian Davies
BBC News Online
Police said it was "very lucky" there was only a low number of injuries at a fire at Riverside Leisure Centre in Exeter.
One customer sustained minor burns and a member of staff suffered smoke inhilation, Insp Mat Helm said.
There are about 100 firefighters on site, with police resources from across Exeter and Mid Devon.
Officers were drafted in from other areas to allow normal policing to continue in Exeter, Insp Helm added.
Leisure centre fire: The latestpublished at 21:04 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017
Sian Davies
BBC News Online
- Fire crews were called to the building at 16:17
- The fire was initally reported in a first floor sauna, but spread to the roof
- A total of 15 fire appliances attended the scene
- About 20 people were evacuated from the swimming pool
- There are two reported injuries – one with minor smoke inhalation and one with a minor burn. Both casualties were treated at the scene
- Residents of neighbouring buildings were asked to leave - some have returned
- In total up to 50 people have been evacuated from the centre
- The fire has now been downgraded from 'major incident' to 'critical'
Fire downgraded from 'major incident' to 'critical'published at 20:43 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017
John Henderson
BBC Spotlight
A fire at the Riverside Leisure Centre in Exeter has been downgraded, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed.
One-hundred firefighters remain at the site.
People from a house evacuated due to the fire have also been allowed to return home, the BBC has been told.
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More than 100 firefighters remain at blaze sitepublished at 20:34 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017
Simon Hall, Home Affairs Correspondent
BBC Spotlight
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Cranes used to survey fit-hit leisure centre roofpublished at 20:30 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017
John Henderson
BBC Spotlight
Two huge cranes are being used to survey the roof of the Riverside Leisure Centre in Exeter after a fire broke out earlier this afternoon.
At its height, more than 120 firefighters attended the blaze.
Two people have suffered minor injuries and up to 50 people have been evacuated from the centre.
Fire crews remain at leisure centre - four hours after being calledpublished at 20:21 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017
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Exeter fire: Two people evacuated 'successfully housed for night'published at 20:19 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017
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120 firefighters attend Exeter leisure centre firepublished at 20:16 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017
John Henderson
BBC Spotlight
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Riverside Leisure Centre fire: What we know so farpublished at 20:09 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017
Sian Davies
BBC News Online
- Fire crews were called to the building at 16:17
- The fire was initally reported in a first floor sauna, but spread to the roof
- A total of 15 fire appliances attended the scene
- About 20 people were evacuated from the swimming pool
- Firefighters reported "a lot of smoke" coming from the building
- There are two reported injuries – one with minor smoke inhalation and one with a minor burn. Both casualties were treated at the scene
- Residents of neighbouring buildings were asked to leave
- In total up to 50 people have been evacuated from the centre
- A nearby Marks & Spencers cafe is acting as a reception centre
- Some neighbourhood police officers have taken people home
- The South Western Ambulance HART (Hazardous Area Response Team) are providing assistance
Video: Riverside Leisure Centre firepublished at 20:07 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017
Sian Davies
BBC News Online
Media caption,
Leisure centre fire in Exeter
Major leisure centre blaze: Residents asked to leave neighbouring propertypublished at 19:56 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017
Press Association
Residents of a property next to a leisure centre in Exeter which is on fire have been asked to leave by police as a precaution.
Emergency services were called to the Riverside Leisure Centre in Exeter, Devon, at about 16:20. Roads have been closed to allow emergency vehicles access to the scene, including around 15 fire appliances.
About 20 people were evacuated from the swimming pool, which had become engulfed in smoke.
Care home placements suspendedpublished at 19:49 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017
Cornwall Council is investigating a Launceston care home amid allegations about the care it provides.
The home provides accommodation and services for up to 46 people with mental health needs, learning or physical disabilities.
Tributes to student who died in fallpublished at 19:38 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017
BBC Wales News
Tributes are paid to a south Wales law student who died after an accident at a university halls of residence in Plymouth.
Image source, Google
Fire service urges residents near blaze to close windowspublished at 19:30 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February 2017
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