Summary

  • Devon County Council no confidence motion in police commissioner is defeated

  • Phone and websites of three Devon councils fail in major IT fault

  • Cornish bathing waters open despite mass strandings of Portuguese man-of-war

  • Ex-Bath City boss Gary Owers new Torquay United head coach

  • Campaigners call for reinstatement of a popular Torbay bus route

  • Updates on Wednesday 13 September 2017

  1. Our live coverage for the daypublished at 18:00

    That's all from BBC Local Live in Devon and Cornwall today, but we'll be back at 08:00 to bring you all Thursday's news, sport, travel and weather updates.

    Don't miss Spotlight at 18:30 this evening with Victoria Graham and Andy Breare, and the late bulletin at 22:30 with Clare Woodling.

  2. Your Portuguese man-of-war questionspublished at 17:57

    BBC News England

    Portugese man of war

    More Portuguese man-of-war have washed up on beaches along the coast of Cornwall and Wales in what experts say is the biggest stranding since 2012.

    Perranporth beach was closed after a large number of the creatures appeared.

    Their long purple tentacles can give a painful sting which in extremely rare cases can be fatal, said the Marine Conservation Society (MCS).

    But where does the name come from? How do they reproduce? What do they eat? Do they live on their own or in groups?

    Dr Peter Richardson from the society has answered your questions about Portuguese man-of-war.

  3. Archaeologists fear over 'fairy stack' crazepublished at 17:53 British Summer Time 13 September 2017

    Lynne French
    BBC News Online

    Archaeologists, concerned about the growing craze for so-called "fairy stack" or "fairy castles" on an early Neolithic site in Cornwall, are calling for warning signs to be erected.

    The stone stacks have been appearing in increasing frequency at the site at Stowe's Pound on Bodmin Moor.

    Fairy stack on Bodmin MoorImage source, Stuart Dow

    Members of the Time Seekers amateur archaeology group said, while they didn't believe the stacks were deliberately destructive, they were "historic vandalism" which could do untold damage the site which is about 6,000 years old.

    Stowe's Pound is protected by law as an Ancient Scheduled Monument and Historic England said any damage could be investigated and perpetrators prosecuted for removing stones.

    Fairy stacks at Stowe's PoundImage source, Stuart Dow

    Stuart Dow and Roy Goutte, from Time Seekers, said erecting a warning sign would help prevent more damage.

    The Duchy of Cornwall, which owns the land, said it would meet with Historic England to discuss the issue.

  4. Latest weather: Showers continuing overnightpublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 13 September 2017

    BBC Weather

    There will be a few showers continuing during the evening and overnight. The winds will have eased compared to last night, but it will still feel chilly by the morning.

    Minimum temperature: 9C (48F).

    Weather

    Thursday will be a drier day on the whole, although the odd heavy shower couldn't be ruled out from time to time. It will be feeling cool in the breeze.

    Maximum temperature: 16C (61F).

  5. 'No such thing' as a 'typical drink-driver', police saypublished at 17:36 British Summer Time 13 September 2017

    Lynne French
    BBC News Online

    Devon and Cornwall Police says its annual summer drink-drive campaign has highlighted that there is "no such thing" as a typical drunk driver.

    The force said that, since 2013, the average percentage of drivers who had been stopped in Devon and Cornwall that were positive, failed or refused a breath test was 20%.

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  6. 'Unprecedented' number of Portuguese man-of-war wash up on Cornwall's beachespublished at 17:26 British Summer Time 13 September 2017

    Jonathan Morris
    BBC News Online

    Portuguese man-of-war

    More than 140 potentially lethal Portuguese man-of-war have washed up on Cornwall's beaches - the highest number for five years, say experts.

    Cornwall Wildlife Trust said it had recorded 144 of the creatures, compared with 40, the previous record in 2009.

    The trust called it an "an unprecedented event" and urged people to be cautious.

    Beach sign

    Perranporth beach's bathing waters were temporarily closed by lifeguards on Tuesday because of the high number of the creatures.

    The man-of-war have been washed onto shores by seasonal high winds and have been spotted on the north and south Cornish coasts, as well as in south Wales.

  7. Plastic ship in Westminster anchors supporters of bottles deposit schemepublished at 17:19 British Summer Time 13 September 2017

    Martyn Oates
    BBC South West Political Editor

    Bottles ship

    The battle to save our seas from being swamped by plastic bottles washed up in Westminster today in spectacular fashion.

    The group Surfers Against Sewage travelled to parliament, complete with a 30ft boat made entirely from bottles collected from beaches.

    Campaigners are calling for the introduction of a deposit return scheme, so people are rewarded for bringing bottles back rather than throwing them away.

    They said plastic pollution could damage the sea for hundreds of years and, by 2050, it was estimated there'd be more plastic in our seas than fish.

    A deposit scheme, they claim, would prevent an estimated four million plastic bottles from entering the oceans every week in the UK.

  8. Rugby: Baxter backs Simmonds for England callpublished at 17:11

    James Law
    BBC Sport Online

    Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter says he hopes forward Sam Simmonds can earn an England call-up in the next year.

    The 22-year-old back-row scored on his Premiership debut in February and got two tries at Gloucester on 1 September.

    Sam SimmondsImage source, Getty Images

    "We've got him pushing forward as a player as we keep pushing forward as a team," Baxter told BBC Spotlight.

    "That's going to take a little bit of management from us, but it's also going to take a lot of hard work from him."

  9. No confidence motions 'pointless', former police officer claimspublished at 17:02 British Summer Time 13 September 2017

    Tamsin Melville
    Political Reporter, BBC Radio Cornwall

    A former police officer says no-confidence motions against Devon and Cornwall Police Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez are "pointless".

    Chris Batters, who now sits of the Police and Crime Panel - the body that scrutinises the role - has previously rejected one of three votes the commissioner has faced in as many months.

    Alison HernandezImage source, Police and Crime Commission

    Ms Hernandez has survived all three votes brought by Plymouth City Council, the Police and Crime Panel and Devon County Council.

    "It's all very well showing a vote of no confidence, or trying to get a vote of no confidence. But, at the end of the day, her position is the responsibility of the home secretary," Mr Batters told BBC News.

  10. Isles of Scilly's old freight vessel drafted into service for supply runpublished at 16:54

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    The Isles of Scilly's former freight vessel has been drafted back into service to take supplies to the islands after its successor was involved in a collision.

    The Gry Maritha has left Penzance this afternoon to take supplies to St Mary's.

    Shortages of some foodstuffs on Scilly have been reported after the islands' new main supply ship was put out of action at the weekend.

    The Mali Rose was taken out of service following a collision involving a trawler and a small yacht at Penzance harbour on Saturday evening. An investigation into the cause is continuing.

    It comes as news is breaking that the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company's chief executive officer is stepping down. The company said Rob Goldsmith had decided to leave after four years in his post.

    There's no suggestion that the incident with the Mali Rose and Mr Goldmsith's departure are related.

  11. Celebrity chef laughed at for 'numpty' wine commentspublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 13 September 2017

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    A celebrity chef who said only a "numpty" would buy British sparkling wine sells it in his own restaurants, according to the owner of Cornwall's prize-winning vineyard.

    Marco Pierre White, who franchises his name to a number of restaurants, made the comments in a press interview, external in Plymouth in which he said UK vineyards could never match the standards of those across the English Channel.

    Marco Pierre White

    But Camel Valley owner Bob Lindo said he needed to look at his own wine list more closely.

    "The whole industry is laughing at him because he said you'd have to be a numpty to buy English wine and, of course, we're on his wine lists," he said.

  12. Ship ahoy, and it's a big onepublished at 16:35 British Summer Time 13 September 2017

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

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    If you're into a few ship stats, then did you know that Silversea Cruises' flagship weighs 40,700 tonnes, and can hold 596 passengers and 411 crew.

    The 700ft-long luxury liner, completed earlier this year, cost about $125m (£94m).

  13. Football: Barnet 1-2 Exeter Citypublished at 16:27 British Summer Time 13 September 2017

    BBC Sport

    Exeter had to come back from a goal behind to maintain their unbeaten start to the League Two campaign on Tuesday evening.

    The Bees took the lead in the 48th minute when Shaquile Coulthirst was on the end of Jamal Campbell-Ryce's low cross to score from close range.

    The Grecians equalised in the 78th minute through Reuben Reid, who tapped in a rebound after Craig Ross tipped Jake Taylor's shot onto the post.

    The away side pressed for a late winner and it came through Jayden Stockley, who scrambled in a free-kick with virtually the last kick of the game.

  14. Hiding in plain sight? Suspected cannabis plants seized from Cornish gardenpublished at 16:17 British Summer Time 13 September 2017

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  15. Home Park redevelopment would create more than 400 jobs for Plymouthpublished at 16:06 British Summer Time 13 September 2017

    Plymouth Herald

    The redevelopment of the Home Park site, which incorporates a major refurbishment of Plymouth Argyle’s Mayflower Stand, is expected to create over 400 new jobs, external when completed, if it is given the go-ahead.

  16. Man stabbed in back and chest in Falmouthpublished at 15:55 British Summer Time 13 September 2017

    Andrew Segal
    Local Live

    A man is recovering after being stabbed in Falmouth, police said.

    Officers said the man, in his 30s, was stabbed in the back and the chest at a property on Berkley Cottages on Monday between 00:15 and 00:25. His injuries are not believed life-threatening.

    Officers said their enquiries were ongoing.

  17. Water supply disruption in Tedburn St Marypublished at 15:41 British Summer Time 13 September 2017

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  18. Bath City manager quits to lead Torquay Unitedpublished at 15:25 British Summer Time 13 September 2017

    Twerton ParkImage source, Google

    Bath City manager Gary Owers left his post as Team Manager to take a new role at Torquay United, the club has said.

    In a statement the club said it had signed a new two-year contract with Gary in May as part of its ambition for promotion adding it will now will be entitled to a compensatory payment from his new club.

    "The Bath City Board would like to place on record its thanks to Gary for his tenure at the club and appreciation that he is leaving the team in a much better situation than when he arrived.

    "Assistant manager, Jim Rollo, will take charge of Saturday’s home FA Cup Qualifying fixture against Knaphill, and the board will meet this week to discuss the appointment of a new manager."

  19. 'Politics at play' over police chief no confidence motionspublished at 15:07

    Tamsin Melville
    Political Reporter, BBC Radio Cornwall

    Alison Hernandez, Devon and Cornwall's police and crime commissioner, has survived a third vote of no confidence.

    Cabinet members at Devon County Council voted unanimously against a motion by Lib Dem Councillor Alistair Dewhirst, unhappy with cuts to neighbourhood policing.

    Alison Hernandez

    The previous two no confidence motions were brought by Plymouth City Council and the Police and Crime Panel over her comments on a radio phone-in about armed civilians during a possible terror attack.

    Most people accept there are "politics at play". She herself said today's motion was "naked politicking".

    This was a Liberal Democrat's motion, there was Labour councillor supporting it and an independent speaking on it.

    However, Devon's cabinet, which is Conservative-run, was bound to support Conservative Ms Hernandez.

    And being police and crime commissioner is a political role.

  20. More Portuguese man-of-war brought ashore by wind and tidespublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 13 September 2017

    Strong winds and high tides have brought more Portuguese man-of-war ashore in Cornwall.

    The jellyfish-like organisms, which have long purple tentacles, have also been seen deliver a nasty sting which can be serious to those with other health problems.

    Portuguese man-of-war

    Yesterday, people were being discouraged from going into the water on the north coast and bathing at Perranporth beach was closed for a time because of the unusually high number that had washed up.