Victoria Gould
BBC News Online

That's all from BBC Local Live in Devon and Cornwall for today.

We'll be back at 08:00 tomorrow 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.

Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

A Cornwall photographer is capturing beauty while inside raging waves.

Surf photographer Mike Lacey puts himself in the most dangerous part of a wave in search of the perfect shot.

The results are stunning but his job has its risks.

BBC Weather

It will remain dry overnight with some long clear spells developing, along with the chance of a few isolated mist or fog patches.

It will also become quite chilly inland as north to northwesterly winds become mainly light or moderate.

Minimum temperature: 7C (45F).

Friday, after a chilly start, will have some sunny spells. It will become more cloudy at times during the day, but it will also remain dry.

Light north or northwesterly winds will slowly turn to the west or southwest by the end of the day.

Maximum temperature: 15C (59F).

Tamsin Melville
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Cornwall

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust has been placed in special measures after an inspection from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said patients suffered harm as a result of waiting too long for care.

There's been a long period of instability at board level at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, and various critical inspections and warnings over at least three years.

Now the CQC is basically saying enough is enough - and that the people of Cornwall deserve better.

It said during the latest inspection in July, and in previous visits, it found persistent evidence of care that fell below standard - and that it's clear these are not isolated lapses.

Worryingly, it also highlights some patients have been put at risk.

The trust's chief executive has apologised.

BBC News England

Image source, Sussex Police

Three people who ran a prostitution network - described as a "sexual conveyor belt" by a judge - used money from it to help afford private school fees and exclusive golf club membership.

Hong Chin, 45, former partner Li Wei Gao, 44, and lover Ting Li Lu, 47, lured women to the UK from China and Korea, jurors at the Old Bailey heard.

They advertised the women online and set them up in hotels across England and Wales, including in Exeter.

In just over two years, more than £150,000 was paid into bank accounts operated by the gang.

Sussex detectives identified 18 victims, many of whom were believed to be debt-bonded to traffickers in China.

All three were found guilty of charges - including trafficking and prostitution - by a majority verdict at the trial, which they did not give evidence at. They will be sentenced at a later date.

Andrew Segal
Local Live

The move of a major yacht race from Plymouth to France next year is "disappointing", Plymouth City Council says.

The 2018 Golden Globe was due to start and finish in the city but, due to lack of sponsorship, has been moved to Les Sables d'Olonne, the home of the Vendee Globe, organisers said.

The council said it was "an event we would love to have seen in Plymouth".

It added it was asked to be sponsor after a previous sponsor withdrew from the event but "the scale of financial support they were looking for was not something we could commit to at short notice".

Next year marks the 50th anniversary edition of the race, in which Sir Robin Knox-Johnston became the first man to sail solo, non-stop around the world.

It will start on 1 July 2018.

Neil Gallacher, Business & Industry Correspondent
BBC Spotlight

A high-profile row over gender pay gaps at the Met Office in Exeter is on the point of being solved in a breakthrough deal between it and the Prospect union.

The union sees this as a key step forward for equality, but not as a solution to a long-standing complaint about overall pay levels.

"This deal is a good step forward in the direction of pay equality," said Gordon Hutchinson, Prospect rep at the forecaster.

But he added it "doesn’t address the longer-term issue which is market-facing pay" - in other words, paying enough to hang on to employees in the face of competition for their skills from rival forecasters around the world.

The deal will not eradicate gender pay inequalities at the Met Office altogether. That’s partly because of the so-called "glass ceiling"; the effect whereby staff who, for example, go part-time to raise children who tend not to rise to the highest management levels.

But the agreement is described by Mr Hutchinson as "a significant benefit" all the same.

If this deal is accepted by his members, then overall the discrepancy between men’s pay and women’s pay will drop from 10.2% to 5.8%.

Exeter City Council says it's still trying to work out the full extent of the damage caused by February's fire at the Riverside Leisure Centre.

It said structural steelwork on the roof appeared to be in good order, but more work needed to be done to confirm that was the case.

Sections of the roof will need replacing and other areas need further inspection.

Staff are also trying to find out whether or not the entire roof covering and deck will need to be replaced.

The council said it would provide regular updates on the progress of any repairs, and it was still hoping to have the centre fully reopened by September next year.

BBC Radio Devon

Plans for a new watersports centre on Exmouth seafront are going out for consultation, East Devon District Council says.

The not-for-profit scheme would provide training and changing facilities, alongside an outdoor event area and eateries, those behind it said.

The centre would play host to sports such as paddle boarding, kayaking and kite surfing, they added.

Exeter-based property developer Grenadier is behind the plans.

James Churchfield
BBC Radio Cornwall

Apologies and promises have been made after the NHS health trust that runs Cornwall's acute hospitals has gone into special measures.

I quizzed Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust RCHT Chief Executive Kathy Byrne and Cornwall Councillor Rob Rotchell over what happens next.

BBC News England

Image source, Central News

Three people have been found guilty of running a prostitution network described as a "sexual conveyor belt" by a judge.

Hong Chin, 45, his former partner Li Wei Gao, 44, and Ting Li Lu, 47, lured women to the UK from China and Korea, jurors at the Old Bailey heard.

They advertised the women online and set them up in hotels across England and Wales, including in Exeter.

All three were found guilty by a majority verdict.

None of the defendants gave any evidence during the trial. A sentencing date has yet to be set.

Cornwall Live

A career criminal equipped with crowbars and screwdrivers who burgled a Truro restaurant, external told police the £700 he had on him came from busking and selling the Big Issue.

BBC Radio Cornwall

Image source, Royal Navy

A Merlin helicopter more familiar with hunting submarines had to be turned into a "mobile intensive care unit" when it went to the aid of the pensioner with pneumonia in the Carribean.

The RNAS Culdrose team on board HMS Ocean was scrambled to airlift the frail pensioner to safety when medics on Dominica were unable to treat him due to storm damage.

With no electrical power, medication or even fresh running water in the infirmary, the elderly man was not expected to survive the night.

The helicopter landed close to the hospital, the medics stabilised the patient and the Merlin made the short return flight to HMS Ocean, which had been dispatched to the Caribbean as part of the UK's military response to hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria.

The patient and his wife spent the night aboard the Plymouth-based warship before being flown by the Merlin crew to Barbados - hub of the hurricane relief effort - for onward transport to the UK.

Image source, Royal Navy

Health commissioners in Cornwall have responded to a critical review of the way health and social care is delivered across the county.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission said the "current systems lack a cohesive approach and remain fragmented, lacking in ownership and having lost sight of the needs of people using services."

They said too many patients were stuck in hospital waiting for the support they needed to live at home, or to be placed in residential care.

NHS England has said it was considering transferring the management of the NHS Kernow's Clinical Commissioning Group to the council.

NHS Kernow Chairman Dr Iain Chorlton said: "We are making progress and our approach to work collaboratively to transform the way health and care is delivered has been recognised nationally as the right approach. But we know we still have more to do."

Anna Varle
BBC News Online

The Devon and Cornwall Police Federation says officers are becoming mentally ill because of increased workload and lone working.

The branch said working conditions meant more staff were having to take sick leave.

The comments follow a report which indicated half of all officers would receive a clinical diagnosis for mild depression or anxiety.

Devon and Cornwall Police said it was rolling out a psychological support programme for staff at high risk, and it has trained more than 60 people to support officers with mental health issues.

Devon Live

A former nurse who stabbed her abusive partner has been banned from entering Tiverton, external in an attempt to keep her from going back to him.

Victoria Gould
BBC News Online

Fire crews were called to a three-storey pub in Padstow this morning following reports of a kitchen fire.

Firefighters from Wadebridge were also called to help tackle the flames in the building's boiler room.

It was successfully put out by 10:42 and fans were used to clear smoke from the building.

Neil Gallacher, Business & Industry Correspondent
BBC Spotlight

A high-profile row over the gender pay gap at the Met Office is on the point of being solved in a breakthrough deal.

It took a barrage of employment tribunal cases co-ordinated by trade union Prospect to bring the deal about.

But not all of the staff at the Exeter-based weather forecaster are expected to vote for it. Some longer-serving staff, particularly men, may see their total pay and allowances drop.

That stems from the fact that the deal has had to be worked out against the overall backdrop of public sector wage restraint and austerity savings.

Kay Eldergill, Met Office director of human resources, said: "We are pleased to have reached an agreement in principle with Prospect in relation to gender pay equality matters, and the settlement of the equal pay claim made in the Employment Tribunal."

Officers added they were trying to trace two men who were described as "wearing black clothing".