BBC Radio Devon

In Plymouth, there are reports of an accident on Albert Road, near Park Avenue and Garden Street.

BBC Radio Devon

A man who took cash to take customers' rubbish to the tip but instead dumped it in the Devon countryside has been banned from working in the waste collection industry for two years, the Environment Agency says, external.

John McDonagh, from Victoria Road, Plymouth, was handed the ban after the agency brought the case against him.

The scam was uncovered when dumped rubbish he took away from a home in the city in November 2016 was traced back to the householder who explained he'd been duped.

McDonagh has also been ordered by city magistrates to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £500 costs after he admitted offences of fraud and illegally disposing of controlled waste.

Image source, Environment Agency

BBC Politics

Tributes have been paid in the House of Commons to the former Labour MP for Falmouth and Camborne Candy Atherton who's died at the age of 62.

She was first elected in Labour's landslide in 1997, and doubled her majority at the following election, before losing the seat in 2005.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said she would be "sadly missed".

Prime Minister Theresa May said she was a champion for women's rights right up to her death.

BBC Radio Devon

A Devon council which voted against merging with a neighbouring authority will continue to focus on dealing with a projected black hole in its finances, its leader says.

South Hams and West Devon councils already share some services but proposed a full merger, saying it would mean £500,000 in savings annually.

Last night, members of South Hams authority voted in favour of the proposals. But, in a surprising twist, West Devon councillors voted 18 to 13 against the move, even though it's the poorer authority.

It leaves it needing to find another way to plug a £1m projected black hole in its finances.

Philip Sanders, the leader of the Conservative-run authority, said the council would look to close the budget gap in "the next two to three years".

He said the authority has to spend "a lot of time and effort" coming up with a plan.

Cornwall Live

The South Crofty tin mine has taken another giant leap towards finally reopening after it was granted the final permit required, external to render the project ready for action.

Sophie Pierce
BBC Radio Devon

A community-run home care agency on Dartmoor is launching an appeal for volunteer 4x4 drivers for when cold weather hits.

North East Dartmoor Community Care was set up by local people in response to a chronic shortage of home carers after the community hospital in Moretonhampstead was closed.

It is non-profit making and owned and run by the community.

Volunteers said 4x4s would be able to ensure they could get to those who needed help, and prevent people from getting cut off from vital services.

BBC Weather

The rest of this afternoon will stay dry, bright and mild with light winds.

Maximum temperature: 14C (57F).

After a dry evening, it will be a cold and clear night. Patchy mist and fog are likely to form over higher ground in the early hours.

Minimum temperature: 5C (41F).

Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live

A man attacked in a "vicious assault" in Falmouth after he was pulled from his car at the weekend, suffered "serious injuries" which require "ongoing hospital treatment", police say.

Officers said the man, in his 30s, was attacked by two men in Acacia Road, between 19:30 and 20:00 on Saturday, near the Trelissick Road junction.

The offenders then fled the scene after the "unprovoked assault", they added.

Police have appealed for witnesses.

Devon Live

Three more Tory councillors have quit the ruling Conservative group in Torbay, it has been confirmed, external.

Press Association

Tony Blair has paid tribute to his "immensely valued" and "wonderful" former colleague Candy Atherton, who died earlier this week, aged 62.

Ms Atherton was elected as MP for Falmouth and Camborne, Cornwall, as one of the so-called "Blair babes" of Mr Blair's first Labour government in 1997.

She served the constituency for eight years until her defeat by Liberal Democrat Julia Goldsworthy in 2005, and later returned to frontline politics as Cornwall councillor for the Falmouth Smithick division in 2013.

Mr Blair said: "Candy Atherton was an immensely valued MP, a wonderful colleague who was a delight to be around and someone who represented her constituency and Cornwall with extraordinary distinction.

"We will all miss Candy."

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Truro City's chairman says he would ask Torquay United if the clubs can share Plainmoor if the White Tigers are promoted from National League South.

Truro will leave their Treyew Road ground at the end of the season in order for it to be redeveloped.

The club hope to move to the planned Stadium for Cornwall, but work on the arena in Truro has yet to start.

"Our friends at Torquay United will possibly host us again, I would have to ask them," chairman Peter Masters told BBC Sport.

Image source, Rex Features

"I'm a good friend of (Torquay chairman) Clark Osborn, and I'm sure if Truro went knocking they would assist, there's not a problem with that."

With no suitable ground in Cornwall the two clubs agreed to share Plainmoor back in December 2015, but after works were delayed on plans for Truro's new ground, City were able to negotiate an extended stay at Treyew Road.

Since scrapping plans to move to their own ground and share the proposed new Stadium for Cornwall with the Cornish Pirates, Truro were given another extension from the Treyew Road developers, who want to build a retail park on the site.

But that understanding ends at the end of the season, and if City are not promoted they will share with a local club.

Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online

Professional surfer Jayce Robinson is also a keen spear fisherman but he had some competition from a friendly seal.

Jayce, 28, from St Ives was off Porthmeor beach when the "extremely friendly" seal sidled up.

"Whenever there's a seal around they scare away all the fish so I came back empty handed," said the former British surfing champion who caught the encounter on camera, external.

"But they always cheer me up and I think it'll do the same for anyone who sees this."

Alina Jenkins
BBC Weather

If you're planning a trip to the coast or seaside, here are the next high water times around Devon and Cornwall.

We'll have the latest forecast on BBC Spotlight at 13:30.

Jenny Kumah
BBC South West

Plans for two Devon district councils to merge have been scrapped.

Last night, members of South Hams voted in favour of the proposals, despite the fact it would have meant higher council tax bills for their residents.

But West Devon councillors voted against, even though it's the poorer authority.

The idea was a closer union would save money to protect services.

John Tucker (pictured), the leader of Conservative-run South Hams Council, said he was "very disappointed" at the result.

He said: "It would have helped West Devon, and I think they just don't realise what's going on and what we've done to help them out."

Plymouth Herald

A campaigner has pleaded with council chiefs, external to force the owners of the Palace Theatre to carry out urgent repairs so it finally stops blighting Union Street.

Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online

A man who fell 50ft (15m) into a disused mine in Cornwall says the hole had "no barriers at all, and no obvious signs to show danger".

Andrew Williams, from near Penarth in Wales, is recovering after a six-hour rescue operation near St Just in September.

The Wheal Hermon mine where he fell (pictured) has an opening located close to a coastal path.

Experts said there were hundreds of historic mines in the county and many are easily accessible.

Mr Williams said urgent action was needed to stop further such accidents.

The 51-year-old said: "I absolutely think more should be done to either stop people getting in, or make them know in no uncertain terms that going in there risks death. And not just there, but anywhere similar."

Cornwall Council said was it was working with landowners the National Trust to secure "potentially dangerous" sites.

BBC News UK

A shortage of spares for Royal Navy warships and submarines has forced the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to strip parts from the rest of the fleet, the National Audit Office (NAO) has found.

An NAO investigation found equipment "cannibalisation" had increased by 49% over the past five years.

Currently, the navy has 19 frigates and destroyers and seven attack submarines - but at times they lack the spare parts they need to go to sea.

Plymouth's Devonport base, external (pictured) is home to amphibious assault ships, Type 23 frigates, survey vessels and Trafalgar-class nuclear-powered attack submarines.

The spending watchdog warned that the practice was costing the MoD millions of pounds and delayed construction.

The MoD said components were only swapped when "absolutely necessary".

Plymouth Herald

A whole series of new road closures and diversions, external will be coming into place this month as the next phases of the Derriford Transport Scheme gets under way.

The massive project has already been causing commuter chaos for months - and will stretch well into next year.

Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live

Member of two Devon district councils who have had merger plans rejected "need some time to regroup", the authorities say.

South Hams and West Devon councils already share some services but had proposed a full merger, saying it would mean £500,000 in savings annually.

However, last night, although South Hams councillors voted in favour of the proposals being sent to the secretary of state, West Devon voted against.

The councils said: "Councillors from both authorities now need some time to regroup and talk to their members before making any further statements about what this outcome means."