Police officers 'assaulted and stamped on'
Devon and Cornwall Police consider merging with Dorset force
Parents of two brothers swept off rocks say they're "living a nightmare" after one died and another remains missing
--- The search for missing fisherman Robert Allen continues today
--- The brothers were swept into the sea on Monday
'Ridiculous Devonwall' constituency 'likely to be shelved'
Racist graffiti repeatedly put on memorial bench
Newquay school shoe policy detention row
Updates on Wednesday 6 September 2017
Live updates for Devon and Cornwall have finished for the day, but we'll be back at 08:00 on Thursday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.
Don't forget Spotlight on BBC One at 18:30. There will also be news through the night on your BBC Local Radio station.
A Devon woman who left a pet rabbit to starve to death in its cage has been found guilty of animal cruelty.
Rebecca Jefferies has been disqualified from keeping small caged animals for two years.
Jefferies, of Ember Road in Salcombe, was also ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and fined £400, plus a £85 victim surcharge.
The emaciated body of the rabbit, known as Fudge, was seen dead in his hutch by a neighbour who contacted the RSPCA to raise their concerns.
Inspector Claire Ryder, who investigated, said: "It's unacceptably cruel to leave an animal to die a slow and painful death in a cage without the care they need to survive.
"Many people do not realise how complex rabbits can be to care for, and we see many come into our centres after owners have not provided them with what they need to be kept happy and healthy."
Thursday will start bright, but it will turn increasingly cloudy with outbreaks of rain spreading in during the afternoon, from the west. Maximum Temperature: 19C (66F).
A Royal Marines musician who stole instruments worth more than £19,000 from his military band has been jailed and thrown out of the force.
Adrian Higginson, 29, who was based in Portsmouth, pleaded guilty to two charges of theft from store rooms in Plymouth and Portsmouth.
He admitted stealing 13 instruments and an amplifier which he then sold on eBay to pay off personal debts of £15,000.
He has been jailed by a court martial for six months.
Engineering giant Babcock has welcomed the news that Plymouth’s dockyard could play a part in the construction, external of a new fleet of multimillion-pound warships.
BBC News England
A Royal Marines musician who stole instruments worth more than £19,000 from his military band has been jailed and thrown out of the forces.
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Conservative MP Peter Heaton-Jones has welcomed the possible merging of Devon and Cornwall and Dorset police forces.
But Mr Heaton-Jones says he wants to make sure North Devon is fairly represented in discussions about the merger.
"I welcome any moves which mean police resources can be more efficiently deployed and effectively targeted," he said.
"Already these two police forces work closely in many areas and share a large number of 'back office' operations.
"It therefore makes sense to explore the benefits of further collaboration. It is important that everyone has their say, and so I welcome the fact that a wide-ranging consultation process is now being launched."
Image source, Peter Heaton-JonesThis is the moment a Devon BMXer who was dared by pals to ride over the roof of his own BMW , externalsuffered a ‘total fail’ and instead crashed through the windscreen.
Most places will stay dry through the evening, with clear spells.
However, a few showers are possible across Devon and Cornwall towards dawn.
Sophie Malcolm
BBC News Online
Police have named a man who died in a crash at Brayford last week.
Dylan Robson, 22, was killed when the car he was driving and a coach carrying schoolchildren collided at about 08:30 last Wednesday.
Mr Robson, from Barnstaple, was airlifted to Derriford Hospital but later died as a result of his injuries.
Nobody else was injured.
Dylan’s family has paid tribute to him, saying: “Dylan was a much loved son, grandson, brother, boyfriend and, above all, a loving father to his four-year-old son Logan who he adored.
“His colourful approach to life has left us with many memories that will brighten our lives forever.
"He will forever be missed, never forgotten."
Image source, Devon and Cornwall PoliceA chef who nearly died after he was crushed when a crane smashed into a wall has spoken of his battle to walk again, external.
More than half of children leaving local authority care in Torbay are neither working nor studying, a situation OFSTED says must improve.
In particular inspectors say many youngsters are inadequately housed, and more than half, once they leave care, are in neither employment or training.
Torbay Council says it will reflect on these findings and the recommendations will be added to its improvement plan.
A Devon mum of three has revealed how she turned around, external and drove two hours home in the dark after being disgusted by the state of a holiday resort - which she described as "like something from a horror film".
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A container has fallen off the back of a lorry on the A390 heading out of Truro.
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We're getting reaction to the announcement that Dorset and Devon and Cornwall are to enter talks over a potential merger.
Dorset West MP, Oliver Letwin said there were “operational advantages” to a merger.
“It’s a question of keeping the service up while saving money. The way forward on policing is more efficiency and this is an example of getting more efficiency and the tax payer needs to get the best possible police force for the money.”
But fellow Conservative Christchurch MP Christopher Chope said he was "extremely skeptical".
"Why do we need to have one police force from Christchurch to Land's End - how is that going to work, its ridiculous.
"I'm all in favour of police forces co-operating and collaborating and getting best value, but there is no need for the democratic accountability to be reduced, which is the inevitable consequence."
Cars are being diverted off the M5 northbound after a crash involving a motorbike.
The carriageway between Wellington (J26) and Taunton (J25) is closed while police investigate the cause.
Traffic on the southbound carriageway was blocked temporarily for an air ambulance to land at the scene.
A solid black triangle diversion is in place at junction 26, with northbound traffic following the A38 to rejoin the M5 at junction 25.
Controversial plans to create a "Devonwall" parliamentary constituency are likely to be shelved according to a leading campaigner against the proposal.
Changes being considered could see parts of the counties - on opposite sides of the River Tamar - made into one constituency.
Former North Cornwall MP, Lord Tyler says he believes reports in today's papers, which say there won't be a cut in the number of parliamentary seats across the country.
"I've fought now for five years to try and make sure that we don't have a totally ridiculous changing of all the constituency boundaries."
But the Boundary Commission has told the BBC that it is continuing with its proposals to cut the number of constituencies. It will report back to parliament in 2018.
A nurse from Devon - who died during World War One - is being given a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone, 100 years after her death.
Olive Bennett was only 29 years old when she died on active service as a result of her "constant and strenuous work".
But, her death was never recorded as a casualty of war or her name added to the roll of honour.
Celebrant, Wendy Coulton, will lead the service at Ford Park Cemetery in Plymouth today.
A “very intoxicated” 12-year-old girl had to be taken home by police officers , externalfrom a Falmouth beach.
