BBC Radio Devon

Details have been released about a proposed upgrade to one of the main road routes from Devon to London.

The plans to improve the A303 between Sparkford and Ilchester in Somerset, would cost £179m.

A public consultation will begin later.

The proposal involves bypassing the existing Hazlegrove Roundabout.

Highways England says 22,000 vehicles use the stretch everyday and the aim of the scheme is to cut congestion and improve safety.

BBC Spotlight

An unprecedented 24-hour pumping operation costing hundreds of thousands of pounds is taking place on Cornwall's south coast, to ensure dozens of properties don't end up underwater.

Huge pipes and generators have been transported to the beach at Loe Bar near Porthleven to pump out water from the freshwater lake.

The water has been rising after a drainage tunnel collapsed in the recent storms. Before the pumps were installed, more than 120 houses in Helston were at risk of flooding.

BBC Weather

Heavy showers will continue at first, however these will gradually fade away through the night with some clear spells developing by dawn.

It will turn cold towards dawn, perhaps with some patchy frost in rural spots.

Minimum Temperature: 4C (39F).

A cold start across Devon on Friday, but fine with plenty of sunny spells throughout the day.

Cloud may thicken in the west later, turning the sunshine hazy.

Maximum Temperature: 10C (50F).

Del Crookes
BBC News Online

Police have revealed a man in his 80s, from Bideford, died in a crash on the A39 this morning.

Emergency services were called to the incident at about 08:00 outside Hoops Inn.

The crash involved a Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Vivaro and Nissan Qashqai.

The man in his 80s was driving a Ford Fiesta and died at the scene, while the other two drivers were treated for minor injuries.

The A39 was closed between Acre Road and the Hoops Inn junction for five and a half hours and reopened at 15:00.

BBC Radio Devon

Police say they found a woman's body at her home in the Stonehouse area of Plymouth last night.

Officers were called to the property at 23:20 after concerns were raised for her welfare.

When emergency services arrived, they found a woman in her 40s dead inside.

Police inquiries are under way but the death is not being treated as suspicious.

BBC Spotlight

The UK defence secretary says he would like to see more money spent on the armed forces, but any extra investment would have to come from savings.

Gavin Williamson has announced details of a new review, which he says will ensure the armed forces can deal with increasingly complex threats.

Image source, Ministry of Defence

The Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, Luke Pollard, says rumours of cuts to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines are a big concern.

Speaking in the House of Commons, he said: "The longer uncertainty goes on, the harder morale is hit.

"So can the secretary of state reassure serving Plymouth personnel and their families that Devonport-based HMS Albion, HMS Bulwark and the Royal Marines will not be cut in the further efficiencies the defence secretary has just announced?"

Gavin Williamson replied: "We're very conscious of the concerns that many people will have, who serve in the armed forces and that's why we're committed to making sure that we report back before the summer recess."

Secondary school tables just published show one in eight in England is below government standards.

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

Firefighters have rescued a horse from a boggy field at Shebbear after it got stuck.

Crews from Hatherleigh, Holsworthy and the special rescue team from Camels Head attended. A vet was also with the horse to assist fire crews.

Crews managed to drag the 35-year-old horse from the boggy part of the field, and using special rescue equipment and the local farmer's tractor, hoisted the horse up to its feet.

BBC Weather

Tonight showers will gradually fade and winds ease overnight to leave it mostly dry with some clear spells developing in the small hours.

It will become cold under any clear skies. Minimum temperature: 3C (37F).

On Friday, it will be a chilly start but more settled with lighter winds and some sunshine. It will turn cloudier with rain arriving in the far south west later.

BBC Spotlight

The mother of a man badly injured in a hit and run and left with a 50/50 chance of survival says it's a "miracle".

Jason Bunce, 25, has recovered from the incident, which happened near his home in Kingsteignton last April, after treatment including being put in an induced coma to deal with a brain hemorrhage.

Karen Faiers said: "It is a miracle. Where we were nine months ago, I wouldn't have envisaged Jason coming this far, not at all.

"He's an inspiration and I am proud of him."

Harriet Bradshaw
Reporter

The number of people sleeping rough on the streets of Devon increased from 112 in 2016 to 124 in 2017.

However, in Cornwall the figures decreased from 99 in 2016 to 68 in 2017, according to figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Numbers in Plymouth went up from 20 to 26, in Torbay rose from 20 to 24 and in Exeter went down from 41 to 35.

BBC Radio Devon

A special church service is being held this evening to mark 50 years since the Tavistock section of the Dartmoor Search and Rescue team started.

It was formed in 1968, after the deaths of two young soldiers on a military exercise.

Andy Barton, from the team, said: "There are two reasons why we do it - one is we all have a passion for the outdoors and for Dartmoor itself - but also it's the desire to look after people and to help those who get into trouble.

"But you do need to have some outdoor experience - to be able to use a map and a compass would be a great place to start."

Image source, Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team

BBC Spotlight

A young father - left for dead in a hit and run in Devon - was given a 50/50 chance of survival.

Jason Bunce was left for dead after the incident near his home in Kingsteignton last year.

"I'm amazed I'm here to be honest.

"I had surgery on my leg - a broken right leg - and on my brain hemorrhage - they basically took all the blood out - and they put me in an induced coma for two or three weeks."

• BBC story from 2014: 'Arson' attack at disused Wadebridge industrial building

BBC Radio Cornwall

BBC Introducing singer and Cornwall music teacher Maisie Tooley will appear on a new Saturday night show, All Together Now, for the first time this weekend.

The 22-year-old, from St Columb Major, is better known by her stage name KYI.

Maisie says she actually auditioned for the show as a contestant before being picked as one of the 100 judges instead.

"The BBC definitely had their work cut out. We've got drag queens, we've got vocal coaches, we've got performers who have done the circuit and we've got that expertise that they can use," she told BBC Radio Cornwall's Rick Edwards.

"I think a lot of us were either contacted by the BBC knowing our history or we auditioned as contestants.

"And then they went into our backgrounds and saw that we'd probably be more useful as judges, seeing as we'd been in the industry for so long. It's nice to think that they think I know what I'm talking about."

Contestants make it through to the next rounds depending on how many judges get up off their seats and start singing with them.

The winner will get a £50,000 prize.

The first of six shows starts on BBC One this Saturday at 19:15.

BBC Radio Devon

Fifteen public toilets in south Devon are at risk of being closed by 2021 and 12 will charge 20p in cost-cutting moves.

Image source, Google

South Hams District Council, which faces a shortfall of £640,000 is proposing to handover responsibility for a number of loos to parish or town councils, but if the parishes can't afford to take them on they could be closed.

The move would save the council an estimated £90,000 in the financial year 2019 to 2020 and £180,000 in 2020 to 2021, says the authority in its budget proposals., external

The public toilets earmarked for transfer are: Higher Ferry in Dartmouth, Bittaford, Ugborough, Thurlestone, Holbeton, Staverton, Newton Ferrers, Coronation Park in Dartmouth, Lower Ferry in Dartmouth, Stoke Fleming, Malborough, Manor Gardens in Kingsbridge, Mill Bay in Salcombe, South Brent and Shipley Bridge.

The council also wants to start charging 20p to use loos at Bigbury, Whitestrand Creek, North Sands and South Sands in Salcombe, Coronation Road in Totnes, Steamer Quay in Totnes, Civic Hall in Totnes, Fore Street, Slapton Line, Glanville's Mill, Wembury and Dittisham.

The proposals will be considered by the council's executive committee next Thursday.

Sian Davies
BBC News Online

A man has died after a three-vehicle crash on the A39 near Bideford.

Emergency services were called to the crash, involving two cars and a van, at about 08:00 near Horns Cross.

The driver of one of the vehicles died at the scene. The other two drivers are not thought to have any injuries.

The road remains closed between Acre Road and the Hoops Inn junction, and is expected to be shut for some time.

Drivers are advised to avoid the area and police are appealing for witnesses.

The number of people sleeping rough in Devon has gone up.

Local figures released in the last hour by the government shows there are 124 rough sleepers in the county - that's up by 12 on a headcount a year before.

Speaking before the figures were announced John Hamblin from Devon homeless charity Shekinah said: "You could do a count two nights later and get very different figures but we get hung up on once that snapshot has been taken that's the figure we stick with.

"What we've certainly seen at Shekinah is a huge demand in the past 12 months."

BBC Radio Devon

Lifeguard cover is at risk of being axed at four private beaches in south Devon in cost-cutting measures.

Image source, RNLI/Nathan Williams

South Hams District Council is planning to drop its £40,000 a year subsidy for RNLI lifeguard cover at Hope Cove, Slapton Sands, Thurlestone and Sedgewell (Bigbury) beaches.

The council, which faces a £640,000 shortfall next year, will consider the proposals at a budget meeting, external next Thursday.

Lifeguarding services will continue at Challaborough, Blackpool Sands and Bantham as these are funded by the private landowners.

The RNLI was unavailable for immediate comment.