Cocaine carrying skipper jailed for 16 years
Ex-soldier sentenced to life for murdering on-off girlfriend
Hotel plans approved for Drake's Island
River rescue after man jumps from boat
School absences on the rise in Devon and Cornwall
Test drilling for tin and tungsten starts at Kelly Bray in east Cornwall
Dartmoor's honesty boxes could be replaced with pay and display machines
Could you be related to the founder of a tropical Caribbean nation?
Updates on Thursday 6 April 2017
That's all from BBC Local Live in Devon and Cornwall for today, we'll be back at 08:00 to bring you all the day's news, sport, travel and weather updates.
Don't miss BBC Spotlight at 18:30 and the late bulletin at 22:30 tonight.
Sophie Malcolm
BBC News Online
Holsworthy Hospital says re-staffing the hospital would take at least three to four months, if occupancy issues are able to be resolved.
At the moment, teams affected by the temporary closure of inpatient beds are in temporary redeployments, while the hospital's trust looks at the issue.
The hospital says that in order for the beds to reopen, the trust needs to address both the staffing challenges and the low occupancy of the inpatient beds.
"Because the trust determines its staffing needs based on the care that is provided, the issue of low bed occupancy needs to be addressed first," it said it a statement.
Three men have been jailed for attempting to smuggle "a huge quantity of cocaine" into the UK.
Michael McDermott, 68, from Waterford, Ireland, was jailed for 16 years, David Pleasants, 57, from Grimsby, for 14 years and Gerald Van de Kooij, 27, from Amersfoort, Netherlands, for 12 years at Bristol Crown Court today.
Image source, National Crime AgencyQuote MessageMichael McDermott used his specialist skills as a sailor to attempt to evade border controls. His was a crucial link in a chain that leads from cocaine manufacturers in South America to drug dealers in the UK. In stopping this consignment, we have prevented further criminality by the gangs who bring violence and exploitation to our streets."
Mark Harding , Senior investigating officer, NCA's border investigation team
Amy Gladwell, BBC News Online
Cornwall's NHS antenatal course, external has been replaced after some mums labelled it 'pretty appalling'.
Health professionals said an improved programme has been introduced as a result of feedback received.
Image source, Vicky HancockVicky Hancock who did the previous course said some sessions were "a complete waste of time," covering diet during pregnancy when it was nearly over.
Course leaders say the new course has just started and so far feedback has been positive.
For the first time a woman has been appointed head of maritime operations at the Coastguard Agency.
Julie-Anne Wood says she's proud to be making history by being the first woman to achieve the rank in the history of Her Majesty's Coastguard.
She says it's a huge responsibility and a position she's very honoured to hold.
Image source, HM CoastguardA Devon man who delayed his honeymoon for a year so he could take it during Wrestlemania 33 got more than he bargained fo, external r when he met US TV show host Jimmy Fallon and his childhood hero - The Rock.
Children have been causing problems for drivers along the A38, external .The troublesome youths were stood pointing laser pens into drivers cars from the flyover located near Austin Farm Primary School.
It will be a night of well-broken cloud and light winds. Under the clear skies temperatures will fall to a minimum of 3C (37F).
Tomorrow - more variable cloud, bright and sunny spells with light south-easterly winds with highs of 12C (54F).
The skipper of a drug-filled fishing boat has been jailed for 16 years for attempting to smuggle almost a tonne of cocaine into Britain.
Michael McDermott, 68, from Waterford, Ireland, was found guilty three weeks ago of his role in the plan to get the drugs into port at Falmouth, Cornwall.
Two other men, David Pleasants, 57, from Grimsby, and Gerald Van de Kooij, 27, from Amersfoort, Netherlands, have been jailed for 14 and 12 years respectively at Bristol Crown Court.
Image source, National Crime AgencyA former Royal Marine from Plymouth is taking part in trials to get on the UK squad for the 2018 Invictus Games.
Mark Ormrod suffered severe injuries in Afghanistan and is a triple amputee.
Amy Gladwell, BBC News Online
A new NHS antenatal course has been developed in Cornwall amid claims the old one treated mums-to-be 'like morons' and was 'a joke'.
Course leaders said improvements had been made based on a range of feedback.
Image source, Vicky HancockStephanie Heard, Infant Feeding Co-ordinator, said: "There was a high drop-out rate. We were concerned people weren't attending those later sessions as they weren't getting the information they needed to equip them for when their baby came.
"The people who had to deliver the sessions weren't always as confident with the content as they might have been so we've absolutely recognised that."
BBC World Service
Surfing will feature at the Olympic Games for the first time ever in Tokyo 2020.
It's a sport practiced all over the planet, from Australia's golden beaches to California's wild Pacific shores - but where did it all begin?
To find out, Sportshour's Simon Parker embarked on a particularly tough assignment to the tropical islands of Hawaii , to meet the beach boys of Waikiki.
Image source, Simon ParkerA council contractor roadworker was rushed to hospital, external after being hit by a car last night.
Sophie Malcolm
BBC News Online
Honesty boxes like this one could go at some Dartmoor car parks as authorities trial pay and display parking machines.
It's drawn a mixed response from visitors - some say the honesty box system already works well, while others say the parking fees are reasonable.
One visitor Jean Martin says paying the proposed £1 fee for parking for three hours seems fair.
"On the south coast where we come from you pay £3.50 per hour, so we think it's quite good value," she says.
Two more bank branch closures have been announced for Devon.
Lloyds Bank in Topsham and Halifax on Mutley Plain in Plymouth will close between July and October.
The losses are among 100 bank branches under the Lloyds Banking Group umbrella set to close across the country during that time.
James Law
BBC Sport Online
Cornish Pirates coach Gavin Cattle says he is pleased with how his squad is shaping up for next season, with 19 players already under contract.
Only two are new signings as it stands, with Christian Judge and Toby Freeman adding to Cattle's existing personnel.
Image source, Rex Features"Ultimately our main aim was to retain as many of these boys as we could," Cattle told BBC Radio Cornwall.
"That's what's maybe set us apart from some teams in the league, that we've been able to retain those players."
Sophie Malcolm
BBC News Online
There's figures out today that show a rise in term time absences at school in Devon and Cornwall.
So what if you work in tourism, and the only time you can take a holiday is during term time?
Paul Kelly, chief executive of the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions, said consideration does need to be given to people that work in tourism.
"We don't support taking children out of school during term time but consideration does need to be given to people working in tourism based on factors such as their children's overall attendance and attainment," he said.
Image source, DGLIMAGESTwo Cornish sisters who've been campaigning for better mental health care for young people in Cornwall are being honoured for their work.
Their 18-year-old brother Ben Cowburn took his own life at an adult mental health unit in 2010.
His family set up the Invictus Trust to campaign for a specialist young persons unit in Cornwall.
Last week Amber and Sophia heard that was finally going ahead. They are being presented with Rotary International Young Citizens Awards.
Image source, Family photo
BBC News England
Plans for a multimillion-pound hotel on Drake's Island have been approved by Plymouth City Council planners.
It's been a long journey as these BBC News stories show...
Have you ever dreamed of being a train driver? Well, here's a rare chance to drive the miniature trains, external at Lappa Valley Steam Railway for a living.
