Summary

  • New figures suggest Cornwall was not as poor as EU thought

  • Debate on Plymouth military closures rejected

  • £60m A30 dual carriageway to open on 14 July

  • Firefighters in London relay for Grenfell Tower colleagues

  • Wolves in reintroduction study out of quarantine

  • Plymouth professor's 'digi hat' could rock music streaming

  • Endangered seahorse discovered off Devon

  • Updates on Thursday 6 July 2017

Live Reporting

Johnny O'Shea

  1. New figures suggest Cornwall was not as poor as EU thought

    Neil Gallacher, Business & Industry Correspondent
    BBC Spotlight

    New figures suggest Cornwall was not poor enough to justify getting £1bn of European funding over the last 15 years.

    Cornwall got the money based on the relatively low level of the local economy - but the past decade and a half of figures have now been officially recalculated.

    It's always been understood Cornwall was below 75% of the European average on the crucial measure - gross domestic product or GDP.

    EU Flag

    But lately statisticians ​across Europe have altered how they measure GDP, and revisited the figures going back to 2000.

    The surprise is that it turns out there wasn't a single year when Cornwall was below 75% - the level used to decide which places got the biggest grant streams such as Objective One.

    Cornwall's level ranged from 75 to as high as 94. There's no suggestion the money must be paid back, and no denying that Cornwall does have serious economic problems.

  2. Health experts raising awareness of lung cancer

    An x-ray image of lung cancerScience Photo Library

    Did you know breathlessness or a persistent cough can be signs of lung disease or lung cancer?

    Public Health England wants to see earlier diagnosis of such conditions and is raising awareness of the symptoms in a new campaign called 'Be Clear on Cancer'.

    Recent figures show that in 2015 almost 3,700 people in the South West region were diagnosed with lung cancer.

    Recognising the symptoms of these diseases and going to the doctor promptly can lead to an earlier diagnosis where these conditions are more treatable. Coughing for three weeks or more or becoming breathless doing things you used to be able to do, could be a sign of something serious, so it is important to get them checked out.

    Debbie Stark, Deputy Centre Director for PHE South West

  3. Flights on hold due to fog

    BBC News Travel

    • Skybus flights to and from the Isles of Scilly are currently on hold due to fog at St Mary's.

  4. 'Digi hat' could rock music streaming says Plymouth professor

    Jonathan Morris
    BBC News Online

    A hat that measures brain signals could be the future of music on the go.

    The digital headwear, being developed by Professor Eduardo Miranda at the University of Plymouth, could in the future be linked to portable devices like smart phones.

    Brain hat

    It means that by changing your thought patterns, you can change your playlists.

    The technology is in its early stages.

  5. 'Deliberate' fire destroys motorbike

    A motorbike has been destroyed in a fire in Plymouth.

    Firefighters from Crownhill were called to Milford Lane at about 05:20.

    Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the fire was started deliberately.

  6. Wolves in reintroduction study to be moved out of quarantine

    BBC Spotlight

    A scientific study into a pack of wolves in East Devon is about to take a major step forward.

    Swedish academics are analysing six animals at Wildwood at Escot to help find out if the species can ever be released into the wild.

    Wolves

    The pack's been in quarantine for four months and is said to have settled in well.

    Today the animals will move to a larger enclosure where they can see visitors and be further assessed.

  7. Recalculation questions Cornwall's EU funding

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    Cornwall might not have been poor enough to receive £1bn worth of European funding over the last 15 years, new figures seen by the BBC suggest.

    The county got the money based on the low level of the local economy - but the past decade and a half of figures have now been officially recalculated.

    Eden ProjectEden Project

    EU money has been used to develop projects including the Eden Project

    They show Cornwall was never actually below the threshold used to award grants such as Objective One.

    There's no suggestion the money must be paid back.

  8. BBC Local Live in Devon and Cornwall

    Johnny O'Shea
    BBC News Online

    Good morning.

    We'll be bringing you the latest news, sport, travel and weather for Devon and Cornwall throughout the day.

    If you want to get in touch, please email us