BBC Radio Devon

Rescue teams from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service have freed a horse that became stuck in a ditch in east Devon.

They were called to Chineway Road, Ottery St Mary, at about 18:00 on Tuesday, external.

It took about three hours to free the animal, which was rescued unharmed using specialist equipment. It was left under the care of its owner.

It's the second incident of its kind in as many days after a similar operation in Shute, near Colyton, on Monday night, external.

New Zealander Carol Babbage has been in the UK for 50 years and served in the Army.

Torquay United boss Gary Owers says they need up to 34 points from their final 21 games to stay in the National League.

Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live

Image source, Devon and Cornwall Police

Police have praised the bravery, external of the victim of a child sex offender after he was jailed for 12 years.

Andrew Berry, of Rifford Road, Exeter, was sentenced at Exeter Crown Court on Tuesday for the sexual assault of a child under 13 after being found guilty of two charges of the offence.

The court heard, external that Berry tried to silence his victim by telling her police were "bad guys" and could not be trusted.

The 45-year-old was also ordered to serve a year on licence, sign the sex offenders register for life and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Det Con Phil Hodder, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said the girl "managed to speak out about things that happened to her that she found difficult to understand" despite her young age.

He added: "This case clearly shows that abuse can be stopped by individuals reporting their suspicions to the authorities who are there to help.

"We urge people to find the courage to come forward, this case shows that we will investigate and you will be supported."

Exeter City boss Paul Tisdale praises his 10-man side's calmness after beating Forest Green Rovers 2-1 in the FA Cup.

BBC Radio Cornwall

• In Redruth, East End is partially blocked around Drump Road due to an accident
• On the A39 between Wadebridge and Camelford we've got reports there's deep surface water

Plymouth Herald

A motorist in a suit has been caught on camera appearing to swindle a free stay at a Plymouth car park, external.

The sharp-dressed man was seen covering up his license plate with a newspaper – in what appears to be an attempt to avoid paying for a parking ticket.

Andy Birkett
BBC South West

Four women from Devon are swapping hockey sticks for oars as they begin their bid to break the record for rowing across the Atlantic.

The teammates, from the Kingsbridge & Salcombe Hockey Club, are taking on the 3,000-mile (4,828km) challenge to raise money for the Devon Air Ambulance.

The bid, due to start in the Canary Islands and end in Antigua, begins in 12 months' time and, despite their lack of rowing experience, members of the group say they are confident.

BBC Radio Devon

In Kingsteignton, Blindwell Avenue is blocked due to an accident around Tarr's Avenue.

Alex Osborne
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.

Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live

Fire crews have put out a blaze which broke out in a recovery vehicle on the A30.

Crews were called to the west-bound lane of the road between Alphington and Fingle Bridge at about 21:50 on Tuesday and found it "well alight in a layby", Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said, external.

The service "received numerous calls" about the fire.

The vehicle was severely damaged. Police and highways officials were also called to the scene.

BBC Radio Devon

Britain's smallest rodent, the harvest mouse, is suffering from a loss of habitat here in the West Country.

But now a group from Devon is looking at ways to help to protect it.

The Devon Mammal Group, external has launched plans to carry out a detailed survey of the creature across the county and is looking for volunteers.

The elusive animal is hard to spot and spends much of its life running up and down in the grass.

Image source, PA

BBC Radio Cornwall

• On the A30 Highgate Hill, near Indian Queens, heading eastbound, there's a lane closure for verge maintenance. Traffic is slow
• In Bodmin, on the A389 Dunmere Road, there's slow traffic due to the temporary traffic lights and roadworks
• On the A39 near Penryn, expect slow traffic on the approaches to the Treluswell roundabout
• In Redruth, on the A3047, there are roadworks and lane closures at the Mount Ambrose roundabout. Expect delays

Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live

A Conservative MP who has had the party whip restored to her after she was suspended for using a racist expression has been branded "a disgrace" by a Labour shadow minister.

Newton Abbot's Anne Marie Morris was suspended from the party in July after it emerged she used a racist expression during a public discussion about Brexit [Warning: link contains offensive language].

Image source, Conservative Party

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Trickett said: "It's a disgrace that the so-called 'caring' Conservatives have welcomed back Anne Marie Morris, who made an appallingly racist comment.

"It appears the prime minister is so weak and desperate to avoid a Parliamentary Brexit defeat she is prepared to forgive and forget racism.

"Theresa May once branded the Conservatives the 'nasty party' and it is clear nothing has changed."

The MP has apologised for her "inappropriate and offensive" language during the public discussion.

She said she had "learned from the experience" and would seek to uphold the highest possible standards in public life.

BBC Radio Devon

• In Kingsteignton, Blindwell Avenue is partially blocked due to an accident around Tarr's Avenue
• In Plymouth, there are delays on Tavistock Road due to roadworks. Roborough Down, heading inbound towards Woolwell, is also very slow. And on the St Budeaux bypass, there's slow traffic inbound with queues back to the A38 Parkway
• On the A39 between Bideford and Barnstaple, there's heavy traffic in both directions
• On the A376 at Exton, there's very slow moving traffic heading towards Exeter

Tamsin Melville
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Cornwall

A New Zealand woman in Cornwall who has lived in the UK since 1967 has not been asked to leave the UK, the Home Office says.

Carol Babbage, 62, who lives in Liskeard, said she was fearing for her future after being refused work because of her migrant status.

She arrived in the UK aged 12 with her New Zealand mother and British stepfather and has "indefinite leave" to remain in the UK.

She served in the British Army, but says she has now been refused a cleaning job in Plymouth.

Ms Babbage said her whole family have been left "all over the place" by what was happening.

The Home Office said: "We have contacted Miss Babbage and, now we have further details about the case, are considering the options available to her." They also said "Miss Babbage has not been asked to leave the UK."

BBC Sport

Exeter City are through to the third round of the FA Cup and a money-spinning tie against Premier League team West Bromwich Albion.

Jayden Stockley's extra-time header saw Exeter beat League Two rivals Forest Green.

MATCH REPORT: Exeter City 2-1 Forest Green Rovers

BBC Spotlight

Ambulance staff are urging people to only use 999 in an emergency ahead of the busy Christmas holidays.

During 2017 there have been 23 court convictions against frequent callers who've called into the emergency control hubs, the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said.

A frequent caller is defined as an adult who makes five or more emergency calls related to individual episodes of care in a month, or 12 or more emergency calls related to individual episodes of care in three months, from a private dwelling.

It's estimated that 60 hours of clinicians' time are lost to this every day.

Dr Simon Scott-Hayward, Medical Director Primary Care, for SWASFT, said: “The trust takes the issue of frequent callers very seriously. Those who are not in genuine need can use precious resources that should be allocated to those who are in a life-threatening time critical condition."

BBC Weather

It will be windy and cloudy day with heavy, showery rain through much of the morning and early afternoon.

This will eventually move away leaving clearer, colder and less windy conditions before dusk.

More heavy rain is expected a few hours after dark though.

Maximum temperature: 11C (52F)