BBC Local Live: Devon and Cornwall on Wednesday 10 January 2018

Summary

Four men in balaclavas in armed robbery at jeweller's in Truro
----- Noxious substance used in attack at Michael Spiers Jewellers
----- Handgun found on ground after robbery
----- Eyewitness reports 'quite scary' raid
Person 'threatened' in Truro burglary which saw 'thousands of pounds stolen'
Company behind five Devon and Cornwall hotels in administration
Rail strikes on South Western services
Cornwall social housing changes prioritising 'local connections'
Patients 'being let down' when released from hospital in Devon
Updates on Wednesday 10 January 2018

Live Reporting

Trains between Liskeard and Looe 'running normally'published at 14:22 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018
Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online
After earlier disruption due to a broken-down train, services are now able to run normally between Liskeard and Looe, National Rail has said.
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Weather: Dry with sunny spellspublished at 14:04 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018
BBC Weather
It will be dry with sunny spells across the region this afternoon.
It will also feel a little milder than of late in light winds as well as brighter.
Maximum temperature: 10C (50F).
Power cut closes Plymouth schoolpublished at 13:52 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018
A school in Plymouth has sent all its pupils home after a power cut.
Plymstock School will remain closed for the rest of the day.
Western Power Distribution says it hopes all supplies will be restored by this afternoon.
Image source, Google
Masked armed gang raids jewellerspublished at 13:43 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018
Police are looking for four men who were wearing balaclavas in the Wednesday morning raid
Read More
Devon travel: Accident in Exeterpublished at 13:34 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018
BBC Radio Devon
In Exeter on Heavitree Road near Gladstone Road there are reports of an accident.
Cornwall travel: A388 partially blocked due to accidentpublished at 13:25 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018
BBC Radio Cornwall
In Callington, the A388 Saltash Road is partially blocked due to an accident near Southern Road.
Paignton Zoo in bid to produce baby giant tortoisespublished at 13:18 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018
Sophie Pierce
BBC Radio Devon
Paignton Zoo is hoping to become the first wildlife park in the country to produce baby giant tortoises.
The six Aldabra giant tortoises there have had their home refurbished with the latest hi-tech heating and an indoor soaking pool to try to recreate the conditions they're used to in the wild.
They arrived at Paignton Zoo as youngsters after arriving in the UK in an illegal consignment seized by customs officials.
Luke Harding is Curator of Lower Vertebrates and Invertebrates and is hoping to make Paignton Zoo "the European leader in the management of this species".
"With this new system, heat penetrates their shells to give them a thorough warming. There are improved thermal gradients, basking spots and better ambient temperatures. We can mimic daylight and our ability to control temperatures means we can simulate the natural seasonality these animals would experience in the wild.
"Half the building is now a dedicated breeding area for our females - it gives them the chance to move away from the males and provides deep sand and soil where they could lay eggs in peace. There's also a back room where we can weigh the animals and do x-rays if necessary."
'Huge rats' spotted roaming around Plymouth McDonald'spublished at 13:10 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018
Plymouth Herald
Plymothians have reacted with disgust to news of rats running wild in a McDonald's car park., external
Flood defences worth £4m installed in Devonpublished at 12:52 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018
Sarah Gosling
BBC News Online
Floodgates and raised car parks are among the flood defences now being installed in Starcross and Cockwood, two Devon areas frequently hit by floods.
The £4m scheme hopes to better protect 600 homes and businesses in the area.
In Starcross, the Environment Agency is installing two new floodgates at Church Road and Generals Lane slipway. They'll also raise the car park levels at the fishing and cruising club.
Image source, Environment Agency
In Cockwood, the harbour wall will be improved with a raised level along Dawlish Road, to protect against predicted sea level rises.
Work is expected to take about six months.
Councillor Lisa Mayne said: "Tidal defences are crucial in areas like ours, as highlighted by the recent storms that caused significant damage around the South West coast."
Truro jeweller raid: 'An extremely rare incident'published at 12:35 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018
Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live
Police investigating an armed robbery in Truro by a gang are reassuring people that such a crime was "an extremely rare incident" to happen in the city.
Men wearing balaclavas carried out the raid at Michael Spiers Jewellers before 10:00.
Police said, external a noxious substance was used in the raid and a handgun was found on the floor.
Insp Rick Milburn, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "We have reports that four to five armed men entered the jewellers. A firearm has been seized at the scene.
"This is an extremely rare incident to happen in Truro and thankfully no one was seriously harmed in the incident."
Searches are under way for the suspects.
Green light for £500k flood defence planpublished at 12:17 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018
Jenny Kumah
Daily and Sunday Politics reporter
Two flood defence schemes for Devon have today been given the green light.
Senior Devon county councillors today voted in favour of funding the projects in Ivybridge and Uplyme, where dozens of properties have been repeatedly flooded.
More than £500,000 will be spent on the two schemes which hope to safeguard the properties from further damage.
Armed robbery eyewitness: 'You don't expect it in Truro'published at 11:54 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018
Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online
An armed robbery at a jeweller's in Truro was "quite scary" and something "you just don't expect in Truro", an eyewitness says.
Steve Drewett was working in a shop across the road from Michael Spiers Jewellers in Lemon Street when it happened at about 10:00.
Steve said he saw men "wearing balaclavas and hoodies" running out of the shop.
He said: "Members of the pubilc were chasing them but they managed to get away, unfortunately.
"It all happened so quick - they were wearing balaclavas. It was quite scary."
A handgun was found on the floor and a "noxious substance" was used in the attack leaving some staff with minor injuries, Devon and Cornwall Police said.
A search is under way for the suspects.
Truro jeweller raid: Public try to 'thwart' armed robberpublished at 11:49 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018
Members of the public attempted to "thwart" armed robbers at a jeweller's in Cornwall, police have said.
Four men in balaclavas raided the Michael Spiers Jewellers in Truro this morning.
A "noxious substance" was used in the attack, leaving staff with minor injuries.
A handgun was later found on the floor.
At the scene, Insp Rick Milburn, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said officers were still "trying to ascertain how much stock was taken".
"We are intervewing witnesses, trawling CCTV and looking for forensic opportunities to try and identify the individuals to apprehend them."
No members of the public were reported to have been injured.
Truro jeweller raid: Men in balaclavas in armed robberypublished at 11:34 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018
Miles Davis
BBC News Online
Four men wearing balaclavas have carried out an armed robbery at a jeweller's in Truro.
Police said a noxious substance was used in the attack at Michael Spiers Jewellers, which took place shortly before 10:00, and staff were being treated for minor injuries.
A handgun was found on the floor.
A group of schoolchildren were outside the shop at the time of the robbery.
Police said members of the public raised the alarm and moved the schoolchildren away from the scene.
Suspects search after armed robbery at Truro jewellerpublished at 11:16 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018
Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online
A search is under way after an armed robbery at a jeweller's in Truro city centre.
It happened at about 10:00 at Michael Spiers Jewellers on Lemon Street, police said, external.
Male suspects were being sought and a search for them was under way, officers added.
Police are still at the scene as officers carry out inquiries.
Anyone with information is asked to call police, quoting log number 204.
'Armed robbery' at Truro jewellerpublished at 11:09 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018
Breaking
Miles Davis
BBC News Online
Part of Truro city centre has been sealed off after reports of an armed robbery at Michael Spiers Jewellers in Truro.
More to follow.
Discount store B&M closing down in Truropublished at 10:58 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018
BBC Radio Cornwall
Discount store B&M is closing down in Truro - just over two years after opening.
Some 85 people work at the site on Garras Wharf beside the city centre, and the company said it would try to get them positions in other branches in Cornwall.
The store is expected to shut within in the next few weeks. It opened in late 2015.
Image source, Google
Council to decide on £500k flood defence spendpublished at 10:50 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018
Sarah Gosling
BBC News Online
Two proposed Devon flood defence schemes costing just over £500,000 may be confirmed later.
Devon County Council is expected to agree funding for the projects in Ivybridge and Uplyme, communities where dozens of properties have been repeatedly flooded.
The report from the head of planning, transportation and environment says that the recommendations have been made, external due to "the history of flooding in these two communities and the ongoing high risk of future flood events during periods of heavy rainfall."
Woman 'shaken up' after attempted robbery in Plymouthpublished at 10:24 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018
Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online
An attempted robbery has left a woman "shaken up" in Plymouth, police say.
It happened in Honicknowle Lane on 7 January at about 20:00.
The woman, in her 20s, was walking along the lane with her suitcase when "two to three men" approached her from behind and pulled at her suitcase.
She hit her head on the ground after being pulled to the floor, before managing to flee the scene with her suitcase, police said., external
Det Con Morgan Emery, of Devon and Cornwall Police said that, although no items were stolen, "the victim has been left very shaken up by the incident".
Anyone with information is being asked to contact police.
Company behind five South West hotels in administrationpublished at 10:07 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018
Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online
Image source, Google
The company behind some of the South West's best-known seaside hotels has gone into administration.
The hotel operator, Richardson Hotels Limited and Fowey Hotel Limited - which form part of the Richardson Group of hotels - operate a collection of five hotels, situated along the south Devon and Cornwall coasts.
The five hotels affected are:
- The Grand Hotel, Torquay (pictured above)
- The Royal Beacon Hotel, Exmouth
- The Falmouth Hotel, Falmouth
- The Fowey Hotel, Fowey
- The Metropole Hotel, Padstow (pictured below)
All have either three or four stars and are notable for their prominent seaside locations, period architecture and award-winning dining.
Image source, Google
Administrators said all five hotels "will continue to trade on a business as usual basis".