BBC Radio Devon

In Plymouth, Notte Street near Princess Street Ope is partially blocked due to an accident.

Cornwall Live

A puppy raised as part of the Devon and Cornwall Police dog programme is looking for a new home, external, because his hips "aren't quite up to the rigours of police work".

Lynne French
BBC News Online

A Plymouth-based Royal Marine has died while serving abroad.

James Holloway, a member of 42 Commando, died aboard RFA Fort Rosalie on 29 October while the ship was moored in Dubai.

Image source, Royal Navy

A statement from the Ministry of Defence said: "The cause of death is still under investigation however we can confirm it was not as a result of operational activity.

"Our thoughts and sympathies are with his family and friends at this sad time."

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Exeter prop Tomas Francis is set to win his 24th Wales cap after being named in the side to face Australia on Saturday.

Image source, Getty Images

Francis has twice faced the Wallabies before - in the 2015 World Cup and 12 months ago in Cardiff - but this will be the first time he has started against Australia.

He has made four starts and five replacement appearances for Exeter in the Premiership and Champions Cup this season.

Lynne French
BBC News Online

A man who broke a police officer's leg when she was trying to arrest him last month, has admitted racially abusing and attacking her.

Daniel Forsythe, 32, of no fixed address, admitted racially aggravated assault causing grievous bodily harm when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court via video link from Exeter jail.

After the attack PC Safia Finlow, an officer with Devon and Cornwall Police posted images of her broken leg on Twitter with the hashtag #ProtectTheProtectors.

Forsythe, who also admitted breaking a restraining order and assaulting PC Stuart Douglas on the same day, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced next week.

BBC Radio Devon

In Exmouth, Bradham Lane is blocked in both directions due to an accident between St John's Road and Moorfield Road. Traffic is very slow moving in the area.

Detectives investigating the murder of Devon school girl Kate Bushell are working on 10 new lines of inquiry, police have confirmed.

On Monday the force launched a major public appeal for information on the 20th anniversary of the 14-year-old's murder.

So far, there officers have taken about 140 calls and messages from the public.

Senior Investigating Officer Paul Burgan said: “The response to this appeal has been tremendous so far and each day we continue to receive more information into the incident room. As a result we have 10 new leads which have been passed to the Major Crime Team to progress."

Lynne French
BBC News Online

A surfer from Braunton in Devon, who's recovering in hospital after breaking his back in Portugal, says the sea showed him "who's the boss".

Andrew Cotton, 36, was surfing at Nazare when he suffered a "total wipeout" on Wednesday morning.

The former plumber said he'd been surfing for about three hours and had a number of big waves "under his belt" when the accident happened.

Image source, Humberto Santos

"I didn't read the wave ideally and got showed who's the boss," he said.

"I'm not too bad actually - obviously my back's hurting a little bit, but it's all on the mend and I'm looking forward to getting back out there."

• The moment surfer Andrew Cotton breaks back in big wave wipeout

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Plymouth Argyle manager Derek Adams says he wants someone to step into the role vacated by Graham Carey when the Pilgrims face Bradford City on Saturday.

The 28-year-old Irishman misses the trip to Valley Parade as he serves a one-match ban having picked up his fifth booking of the season.

Image source, Empics

Carey has been involved in each of Argyle's last five goals and has been nominated for October's League One Player of the Month award.

"It's up to the other ones to take it on and be the main man other than him," Adams told BBC Radio Devon.

"Graham is one that can change a game in a matter of a seconds, but he's had a lot of good performances around about him and the team ethic has been very good, we've got a stable team at this moment in time, but he's got that ability to change a game very quickly."

BBC Radio Devon

A Devon resident claims he feels "abused" by South West Water after suffering 10 sewage floods over the last seven years with the company not "doing anything to help."

Laurence Townsend from Kingsbridge said, "I feel abused. I've had these people in my house talking to me about what they intend to do and yet it's all pie in the sky."

The firm says it is developing a model for urban drainage with other partners.

South West Water has also been criticised by people in Par near St Austell, where local residents say manhole covers on combined drains lift up during heavy rainfall, spewing sewage onto the road and into nearby houses.

The company says it's working to minimise the problem.

It adds it dealt with 165 incidences of internal sewer flooding in 2016/17 and its 2020 target is to reduce this number to 135.

Plymouth Herald

A derelict building in the city's most historic quarter could be saved by a brave developer., external

BBC News England

A Devon surfer has broken his back after falling off while riding a huge wave.

Andrew Cotton, from Braunton, suffered the wipeout in Nazare, Portugal and was rescued by a team including local lifeguards.

He posted on social media from his hospital bed: "Thanks to everyone who helped this morning. Everyone was really calm, you guys really saved my back, which unfortunately is broken but definitely could be worse, so thank you."

BBC Weather

Cloud and rain will clear this afternoon to leave a dry and bright day with sunny spells.

A few afternoon showers can be expected in some parts of the region, feeling mild. Maximum Temperature: 14C (57F).

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

Eyewitnesses have been expressing their surprise after a ram-raid happened in the centre of Torquay during the early hours of Thursday morning.

Emergency services were called to the Boots store on Union Street at about 02:50.

It's believed a silver car was used to gain access and five men entered the store, police said.

Boots remains closed off with staff outside explaining the situation to shoppers.

David Williams, who lives in the town, said he "couldn't believe it" and the "crime doesn't seem to be worth the effort".

Police are continuing to investigate.

Sarah Gosling
BBC News Online

Devon and Cornwall Police has been rated as "good" for crime reduction and resource management by the police watchdog, as the force moves to the next phase of alliance with Dorset Police, external.

Deputy Chief Constable James Vaughan said it demonstrated "a clear improvement on last year's findings".

However, the report, published by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary did highlight some improvements.

“I recognise that the report has highlighted clear areas for improvement, such as the force’s call-handling procedures, and I would like to highlight that significant work has already taken place to improve the performance since the inspection took place in the spring.

"During the time the inspection took place, the force and other police services nationally were dealing with particularly high demand in our call centres, especially 999 calls, added Deputy Chief Constable James Vaughan.

BBC Radio Cornwall

At Carnon Downs, Blissoe Road is partially blocked by an accident at Staggy Lane. There's very heavy traffic in the area.

Sophie Pierce
BBC Radio Devon

Children from Paignton are taking to the streets today dressed as evacuees.

The three and four year olds from Preston Community Pre-school have been learning all about World War Two in class.

They're walking from their school to Paignton train station where they'll catch a steam train to Kingswear to experience what life as an evacuee might have been like.

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Cornish Pirates captain Chris Morgan is set to return from injury before the end of the year.

The 36-year-old has not played since April and had neck surgery last month.

It was the latest injury blow for the back row, who missed a year with a shoulder injury sustained against Jersey in September 2015.

Image source, Brian tempest

"He's back holding a bag, so he's back on the training park. He's been doing a lot of rehab in the last few weeks," said Pirates coach Gavin Cattle.

Prop Paul Andrew, another Pirates stalwart, could be back sooner, while Tom Duncan and Alex Cheesman are fully fit again.

"We've got a few familiar faces in and around the ground now doing a few bits and bobs," Cattle told BBC Radio Cornwall.

"What people don't see is their efforts in terms of their contribution in preparing the team. They've been working hard, just not been seen really."

Lynne French
BBC News Online

A surfer who broke his back when he was wiped out by a massive wave off the coast of Portugal, has described it as a "minor setback".

Andrew Cotton, a 36-year-old former plumber from Braunton in Devon, fractured one of his lumber vertebrae in the accident at Nazare on Wednesday morning.

Image source, Getty Images

"Any surfer will tell you you're going to take a few tumbles and wipeouts," he said.

"It's just another challenge - it's a minor setback, but it's not the end of the world... could've been worse."

Image source, Andrew Cotton

The surfer, who was thrown into the air by the 60ft (18m) wave, said he didn't read the wave properly and was shown "who's the boss".

He says he plans to be back out on the water "chasing the big waves" soon.

"I'm fortunate to have some really good personal trainers and physios, so I'm sure I'll be back out there in no time," he said.

Sarah Gosling
BBC News Online

Devon and Cornwall Police has welcomed a report published by the police watchdog which has rated the force as 'good'.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary rated the force as 'good' for keeping people safe, reducing crime, resource management and effective planning for the future.

However it added the call-handling service needed improvement.

Deputy Chief Constable James Vaughan said: "Having been faced with significant reductions in funding, this grading is a testament to the hard work that has taken place at all levels across the force."