Harriet Bradshaw
Reporter

Ben Chapple
BBC News Online

Police are urging the public, external to avoid the Alphington Road and Exe Bridges area, as the emergency services continue to deal with the fire at Riverside Leisure Centre.

Officers said about 40-50 people were evacuated from the centre, including about 20 from the swimming pool as it "became engulfed in smoke".

A police update said two people reported injuries - one with minor smoke inhalation and one with a minor burn - and both were treated at the scene.

Andrew Segal
Local Live

A fire at Exeter's Riverside Leisure Centre has been declared a major incident by emergency services. 

Here's what we know so far:

• Fire crews were called to the building at 16:17
• Appliances and crews have been called from as far afield as Exeter, Bovey Tracey, Crediton, Cullompton, Exmouth, Ottery St Mary, Teignmouth and Torquay
• Firefighters reported "a lot of smoke" coming from the building 
• Twenty people were evacuated from the swimming pool alone
• The fire was initally reported in a first floor sauna
• The blaze was located in the health suite of the fitness centre, and efforts were under way to bring it under control and stop any further spread, fire crews said 
• There were concerns it could spread to the roof
• Police have been looking after children and other swimmers who had to leave the building in their swimming costumes
• A cafe at a neighburing Marks & Spencer store has been used as an evacuation centre
• Traffic has been badly affected in the area

Andrew Segal
Local Live

Police at the scene of a fire in a leisure centre have been helping young evacuees - who were swimming when they had to leave the building - reunite with their parents.

One officers told members of the media at the scene: "One of the things we've been doing is ensuring that as many of these folks in Speedos can get home as soon as possible.

"We've been doing a few ferry runs, making sure kids have got their parents, etc."

Devon and Somerset Fire Service said, external 20 people were removed from the centre's swimming pool when the building was evacuated. 

The problems have been reported in the same area of Exeter which has seen a fire break out in a leisure centre.

The Riverside Centre fire has been declared a major incident by emergency services.

BBC Spotlight

One man who was evacuated from the Riverside Leisure Centre in Exeter after a fire broke out said he "just remembered what I was told at school - I just left everything and got out".

He said: "I grabbed a coat, but everything else is left in there. You're just thinking of safety, so you just get out, as we were told to do."

About 20 people had to be evacuated from the swimming pool in the building.

Police have declared the blaze a major incident.

Simon Hall, Home Affairs Correspondent
BBC Spotlight

Devon and Cornwall Police have declared the fire in Exeter as a major incident.

The fire at the Riverside Leisure Centre is still burning and there is concern it may spread to the roof.

Andrew Segal
Local Live

A care home near Launcestion for people with disabilities at the centre of allegations about made the care it provides says the "health, safety and wellbeing of the individuals we care for are always our top priorities".

Bowden Derra Park at Polyphant offers residential and nursing care for adults with learning disabilities. Cornwall Council, has suspended it 44 placements at the home, and said it was is carrying out investigations with NHS Kernow.

Bowden Derra Park said: "We are continuing to work closely with Cornwall Council, with whom we had a positive meeting today, and who have confirmed that no-one is at risk. We are very proud of the high quality support we provide, and are confident the current investigations will conclude swiftly."

It added: "Our focus remains continuing to provide the same excellent care that we have done for more than 38 years."

BBC News Health

Hospital services in nearly two-thirds of England could be cut or scaled back, BBC analysis of local plans shows.

The proposals have been made by NHS bosses as part of a national programme to transform the health service and save money across 44 different areas.

How are Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly faring?

The challenge: The area will have a funding gap of £264m by 2020-21 if nothing is done.

What is being done?

The area will look at its use of buildings and get rid of properties no longer required. There are currently 13 community hospitals, with a total capacity of 314 beds and a cost of £32m per year, which the plan says are not used effectively, not fit for purpose and are not sustainable. People clinically fit to be discharged are using 35% of community hospital bed days. 

The plan proposes the reconfiguration of the current 13 community hospital sites by developing a new model of "integrated community hubs".

Out-of-hours support

The area will also set up an improved NHS 111 phone line and out-of-hours phone support, to direct people to help without going in to hospital. Sharing back-office functions and "collaborating to make more efficient and effective use" of the workforce could make savings, but not much more detail than that is provided.

Andrew Segal
Local Live

Firefighters say 10 pumping appliances have been called to a fire at a leisure centre in Exeter.

Devon and Somerset Fire Service said, external crews were called to the Riverside Leisure Centre at about 16:15 and 20 people were removed from the centre's swimming pool when the building was evacuated.

"There is a lot of smoke from the building," it added.

Tamsin Melville
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Cornwall

Plans to save a further £33m and raise council tax have been passed by Cornwall Councillors at County Hall.

The cuts for the 2017/18 budget - which were to total £34m, but £33m was agreed on - and a council tax rise of 4%, including a 2% for social care, were approved by 64 votes for to 29 against and two abstentions.

The average council tax payer will be forking out £1 a week more from April, with half of this going to help fund social care.

Further job cuts at the authority are also on the cards, because it said it had been left with no choice as the government's spending squeeze continued. 

The vote was a comfortable victory for the administration.

Andrew Segal
Local Live

• One person is treated for smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in a leisure centre in Exeter
• Allegations against a care home for people with disabilities have not raised concerns "anyone is at immediate risk of harm", Cornwall Council says
• Plans to save a further £33m and raise council tax by 4% are passed by Cornwall Council members
• Health bosses in Devon deny claims about a ward closing in Torbay Hospital and services being moved elsewhere
• An official site built to house travellers who lived on an illegal encampment at a Devon beauty spot could be extended by three pitches
• An investigation is begins into the cause of a fire in north east Cornwall after six crews from Cornwall and Devon are called to the scene

BBC Sport

Truro City take on Gosport Borough this evening, in what's turned out to be a crucial match at Treyew Road.

Truro are three points from the relegation places in the National League South, while Gosport are a place below them.

Andrew Segal
Local Live

Allegations made against a care home near Launcestion for people with disabilities "have not raised concerns that anyone is at immediate risk of harm", Cornwall Council says.

Bowden Derra Park at Polyphant offers residential and nursing care for adults with learning disabilities.

The council, which funds 44 placements at the home, said it had suspended its placements, and it and NHS Kernow were carrying out investigations.