Summary

  • Dagmara Przybysz inquest: Staff kicked down toilet door to get to schoolgirl found hanged

  • Tiverton stabbing 'being treated as attempted murder'

  • M5 re-opens southbound after lorry overturns near Tiverton

  • --- The lorry crashed into the central reservation and overturned under a bridge

  • --- Police said the vehicle recovery was 'complicated' and the road re-opened shortly before 18:00

  • --- A 23-year-old driver is in hospital with head and arm injuries

  • Two 100-year-old skulls 'found in bags around Totnes'

  • 'Rise' in the number of suicides in Cornwall - from 49 in 2010 to 71 in 2015

  • Children being left home alone 'doubles in a year' - NSPCC

  • More news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Wednesday

  1. Stormy weather: Lightning over Plymouth Soundpublished at 15:07 British Summer Time 18 July 2017

    BBC Spotlight

    Thunderstorms have been making their way across the South West.

    Here you can see some of the lightning over Plymouth Sound on Tuesday afternoon.

    Do you have any pictures of the lightning? You can email them to us.

    Plymouth lightning
    Plymouth lightning
    Plymouth lightning
  2. There was 'no chance' of saving schoolgirlpublished at 14:58 British Summer Time 18 July 2017

    Sian Davies
    BBC News Online

    Dagmara PrzybyszImage source, Facebook

    A school worker has told an inquest there was "no chance" of resuscitating a schoolgirl who was found hanged in a school toilet.

    Rodney Peasley, pastoral support worker, got emotional as he spoke about finding Dagmara Przybysz, 16, at Pool Academy in Redruth.

    The army veteran said he carried her to the main toilet floor and closed her eyes.

    A message came that paramedics wanted staff to do CPR while they were on their way, but Mr Peasley, a trained first-aider, said: "I knew there was no point."

    "If I thought there was any hope of this working I would have tried," he said.

    He referred to previous experience of working with an elderly casualty who collapsed and died, and his time in the army, as how he knew Dagmara couldn't be saved.

  3. Barnstaple redevelopment is under waypublished at 14:46 British Summer Time 18 July 2017

    BBC Spotlight

    Barnstaple redevelopment

    Work is now well under way on the biggest redevelopment to happen in North Devon for a generation.

    It's transforming the riverside site of the old Shapland door factory, opposite Barnstaple town centre, at Anchorwood Bank.

    The first of 172 homes is expected to be ready next year, along with new shops and restaurants. Eventually, there'll also be a new footbridge across to the town centre, developers said.

  4. Tiverton stabbing 'being treated as attempted murder'published at 14:34 British Summer Time 18 July 2017

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

    The stabbing of a man in Tiverton is being treated as attempted murder, police say.

    Officers said the man, in his 30s, was wounded in his side in Bridge Street before 23:00 on Monday.

    He managed to enter the White Ball pub after the incident, where staff raised the alarm.

    The man was airlifted to hospital in Plymouth with what were initially thought to be life-threatening injuries, but which tuned out to be not "as bad as initially feared".

    Police have appealed for witnesses.

    Bridge Street, Tiverton. Pic: GoogleImage source, Google
  5. Travel: Fallen tree partially blocking A39published at 14:28 British Summer Time 18 July 2017

    BBC News Travel

    In Cornwall, on the A39 between Winnards Perch and Trekenning roundabouts, a fallen tree is partially blocking the road. Approach with care.

  6. Satellite picture: Look at the lightningpublished at 14:19 British Summer Time 18 July 2017

    Holly Green
    BBC Weather

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  7. M5 lorry crash: Barrier repairs and resurfacing 'well under way'published at 14:11 British Summer Time 18 July 2017

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

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    Barrier repairs and resurfacing of the M5 after a lorry overturned are now well under way, highways bosses say, but a closure of the road "is expected to remain in place into this evening".

    A 23-year-old driver was injured after his tipper vehicle overturned under a bridge at Junction 27 of the M5 southbound near Tiverton, at about 01:50. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

    Diversions are in place.

    "Road users may wish to consider alternative routes and are advised to allow extra time for their journey," Highways England said.

  8. Dartmouth school damaged when 'hammer thrown at window'published at 14:02 British Summer Time 18 July 2017

    BBC Radio Devon

    Police are appealing for witnesses and information after a school was damaged in Dartmouth.

    Officers said, external that St John the Baptist RC Primary School suffered criminal damage over the weekend when a "hammer was thrown at the window, causing it to smash".

  9. Number of Cornwall suicides 'of significant concern'published at 13:51 British Summer Time 18 July 2017

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    The number of suicides in Cornwall is of significant concern, according to health commissioners.

    The most recent figures, for 2015, show 71 people in the county took their lives. In 2010, the figure was 49.

    Health service commissioning body NHS Kernow said that there had been a rising trend in both males and females taking their lives.

    It added that it was hoping to reduce suicides by working closely with local government and other partners, and by training staff in suicide intervention skills.

  10. Clouds before the storm in Bodmin?published at 13:44 British Summer Time 18 July 2017

    John Danks, BBC Spotlight

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    Earlier today BBC Spotlight reporter John Danks took this photo.

    Cloud is increasing from the south, bringing an increasing risk of scattered thundery showers.

    The showers may be heavy for a time before starting to clear to the north later.

  11. Drive carefully warningpublished at 13:43 British Summer Time 18 July 2017

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  12. Skulls discovery: Other human remains found in England and the Channel Islandspublished at 13:31 British Summer Time 18 July 2017

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

    Two human skulls estimated to be 100 years old have been found in Devon, police have revealed, external.

    The male and female human remains (pictured) were discovered in the Totnes area on Monday, with the female skull showing indication that it "was kept in a crypt-type environment".

    Skulls. Pic: Totnes Police/FacebookImage source, Totnes Police/Facebook

    Further investigations are being carried out but the discoveries are not being treated as a criminal investigation at the moment.

    However, they are not the only such finds around England and the Channel Islands recently.

    A skull, believed to belong to a human, was found on the coast near Bristol in March, near a water bank at Redcliff Bay in Portishead.

    Avon and Somerset Police said at the time it was "not unusual for discoveries of this kind to be made near coastal areas".

    More recently, a "very aged' human skull was unearthed in Alderney in the Channel Islands in June.

    The remains were uncovered while digging up a road. An archaeologist confirmed the remains were "very old" and the contractors carried on soon afterwards.

  13. Lightning in Plymouthpublished at 13:25 British Summer Time 18 July 2017

    Isolated thunderstorms are passing through the region.

    There could be some locally torrential downpours with hail and strong winds this afternoon as well.

    Plymouth
    Plymouth
  14. M5 lorry crash: Road resurfacing work under waypublished at 13:18 British Summer Time 18 July 2017

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

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    Resurfacing work is under way on the M5 after a lorry tipped over, severely damaging the carriageway, highways bosses say.

    A 23-year-old driver was injured after his tipper vehicle overturned under a bridge at Junction 27 of the M5 southbound near Tiverton, at about 01:50. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

    Diversions are in place.

    Police said earlier that the road was "likely to remain closed until 18:00 tonight" but that highways engineers were "working hard" to reopen it earlier.

  15. Police emphasise fraud warning after cold caller targets elderly Boscastle womanpublished at 13:12 British Summer Time 18 July 2017

    Cornwall Live

    Police in Cornwall have sent out a warning, external after an elderly resident was targeted by a recent telephone scam.

  16. School staff chose not to perform CPR on girl found hangedpublished at 13:07 British Summer Time 18 July 2017

    Sian Davies
    BBC News Online

    Pool Academy

    CPR was not performed on a girl found hanged in a toilet cubicle at her school, an inquest has heard.

    Dagmara Przybysz, 16, was found by a staff co-ordinator at Pool Academy, Redruth, on 17 May last year.

    Paula Hosking, who didn't make the 999 call herself said: "Paramedics asked us to carry out CPR while they were on their way.

    "We knew Dagmara had died and decided not to carry out CPR. We knew it was all too late."

  17. New Isles of Scilly freight ship has second sea trialpublished at 13:01 British Summer Time 18 July 2017

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group's new freight ship between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly begins a second sea trial today.

    The Mali Rose is undergoing a number of trials in the Mounts Bay area before going into service.

    If they're successful, the first test sailing from Penzance to Scilly will take place shortly afterwards.

  18. Staff kicked down toilet door to get to schoolgirl found hangedpublished at 12:47 British Summer Time 18 July 2017

    Sian Davies
    BBC News Online

    Dagmara PrzybyszImage source, Facebook

    A girl found dead in a school toilet was found hanged by staff who kicked down the cubicle door, an inquest has heard.

    Paula Hosking, staff co-ordinator, said she was alerted by two pupils that a girl had been in the same position in the toilet at Pool Academy, Redruth, for a long time.

    She said she could see shoes under the toilet door but there was no response when she asked if anyone was in there.

    She called for help and stood on the toilet next door to look over the cubicle before trying to help.

    Dagmara Przybysz died at Pool Academy, Redruth on 17 May last year.

    The inquest continues.

  19. Truro's Arch Hill roundabouts could be replacedpublished at 12:39 British Summer Time 18 July 2017

    BBC Radio Cornwall

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    One of Cornwall's busiest junctions could be completely remodelled.

    Plans have been put forward to replace the double mini-roundabout at Arch Hill, Truro - including Falmouth Road - with a single larger roundabout by the end of 2018.

    You can see Cornwall Council, external's plans above. But there are worries about more traffic delays during the work.

    What are your views? Email us.

  20. Latest weather: Warm and humid, but scattered thundery showers possible laterpublished at 12:25 British Summer Time 18 July 2017

    Kevin Thomas
    BBC Weather Forecaster

    It will be warm or very warm and also humid, but mainly dry at first with some sunshine.

    However, cloud will increase from the south, bringing an increasing risk of scattered thundery showers by this afternoon.

    The showers may be heavy for a time and moderate or fresh east or northeasterly winds will also be stronger at times around the south coast. Maximum temperature: 25C (77F).

    Weather

    Tonight, remaining showers will clear, but it will stay humid with low cloud, mist and some fog patches developing around the south coast and moving inland by morning.

    A little light drizzle is also likely as the low cloud develops. Easterly winds will ease and turn to the southwest by morning. Minimum temperature: 15C (59F).