Dentists are backing a campaign to promote the importance of cutting down snacks and sugary drinks, after research showed children in the South West were eating nearly three times the recommended amount of sugar.

This can lead to health problems, such as weight gain and dental decay.

Advice from dentists includes:

• Reduce sugar – for example: swap sugary drinks for sugar-free, diet or no added sugar drinks (water or low fat milk the best) and avoid sugary food and drink before bedtime
• ‘Twice is Nice’ – brush once before bed and once again whenever suits your family routine
• Spit don’t rinse – water washes fluoride away
• Get regular dental checks from when the first tooth starts to comes through

Devon Live

A safety review is being carried out on a notorious stretch of the A38 following a string of fatal and serious collisions., external

BBC Radio Cornwall

Police say a 14-year-old boy has been released "under investigation pending further enquiries" after an incident in Cornwall on Tuesday.

Officers were called just after 18:00 after reports of a disturbance at a property in the town.

A teenager was taken to hospital with suspected knife wounds.

Devon and Cornwall Police say they returned to the area yesterday to carry out follow up searches.

Devon Live

The A39 is closed , externalin both directions due to a multi-vehicle accident at Acre Road near the Coach and Horses Inn at Horns Cross.

One-in-five children in the South West have decayed, missing or filled teeth by the time they are five years old, new research has revealed, external.

Dentists are signing up to the Change4Life public health campaign to help families choose healthier snacks.

It follows research that showed children were eating nearly three times the recommended amount of sugar; with half coming from snacks and sugary drinks. This can lead to health problems, such as weight gain and dental decay.

Jackie Stockman, executive lead for health and wellbeing, said: “Being sugar smart – swapping sugar for healthier food and drink choices – is a vital step in the fight against cavities.

"Another is to visit the dentist regularly and we recommend parents bring their children in from the moment their teeth start coming through – so at around six months.”

BBC Radio Devon

Police say a 40-year-old man from Tiverton has been charged with attempted robbery.

Officers were called to Kentisbeare Post Office, near Cullompton, at 08:00 on Wednesday.

Police later arrested a man in Uffculme in connection with the incident and he is due to appear before Exeter Magistrates Court later.

He is also charged with 10 counts of burglary and two driving offences.

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Plymouth Argyle manager Derek Adams says he expects to sign a midfielder for a Premier League club on loan within the next 48 hours.

The Pilgrims have been looking to strengthen in that area of the field since Toumani Diagouraga left to join Fleetwood Town earlier this month.

Image source, Getty Images

"We just have to finalise the paper work," Adams told BBC Radio Devon.

"He's got good experience, he's played in the Championship, League One and League Two out on loan.

"There is also a possibility that we do try and take another central defender in just to give us that extra competition."

Del Crookes
BBC News Online

Carolyn Cadman has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust.

It follows the retirement of Trevor Edwards after 37 years in the post, external.

The organisation, which is part of the UK-wide Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, was set up in 1962 and deals with the conservation and preservation of animals and their habitats in Cornwall.

Image source, Suzanne Johnson Photography

The veterinary nurse stepped in when the labrador was due to be put down.

Amy Gladwell
BBC News Online

A puppy will be a "happy, normal dog" once she has recovered from lifesaving surgery paid for by a fundraising campaign.

Nelly, who is 16 weeks old, was about to be put down because her owners couldn't afford surgery to treat a liver condition.

But veterinary nurse Faye Alsworth, from St Clement Vets Practice in Truro, stepped in and managed to raise the £3,000 needed to operate on little Nelly.

Image source, Nelly's Progress

Fay Alsworth said: "The difference with Nelly's condition to a lot of other conditions is once it's fixed it's fixed - there shouldn't be any long-term damage or anything lasting from it.

"If we can fix it she won't suffer after this - she'll just be a happy, normal dog."

Image source, Nelly's Progress

BBC Three

A woman from Plympton, in Devon, is getting a British Citizen Award for her work helping families deal with the death of a baby.

LeighAnne Wright - a funeral director - set up bereavement charity Little Things & Co five years ago.

The charity aims to make sure parents are supported.

BBC Radio Devon

Image source, Google

Exeter bus station will stay fully open until May, it's been confirmed.

Redevelopment work on the site was due to get under way last autumn but was put back after developers of part of the site pulled out.

As a result, the city council said the proposed pedestrianisation of Paris Street will now not go ahead.

BBC Spotlight

The number of people sleeping rough on the streets of Cornwall has fallen by a third compared to 2016, new figures from Cornwall Council show.

In 2016 the unitary authority recorded the third highest number in the country at 99.

Cornish charity St Petroc's Society says a prevention strategy has been key to tackling the problem.

Alison Draper who spent six weeks in a tent after losing her job, said: "One time I heard the zip on the tent being pulled down and wondered if I was going to get murdered.

"Luckily I didn't come to any harm but it was terrifying."

Amy Gladwell
BBC News Online

A Labrador puppy that was about to be put down because its owners couldn't afford life-saving surgery has been saved by a Cornish veterinary nurse who stepped in at the last minute.

Fay Alsworth managed to raise the £3,000 needed for the operation in just a few days after putting an appeal on social media.

Image source, Nelly's Progress

Vet Chris Gardner said: "Nelly was brought in a week and a half ago as a young Labrador puppy who wasn't thriving - she was dull and depressed and smaller than we expected for her age.

"Because of the presentation we were suspicious she had a liver shunt which is where the blood from the intestines which should go through the liver bypasses the liver and goes straight into circulation.

Image source, Nelly's Progress

"This causes depression, poor growth and when badly affected dogs can end up going blind and head-pressing against walls an hour or two after they've fed when all the food goes straight into circulation, bypassing the liver."

Truro City captain Ben Gerring says uncertainty over the Stadium for Cornwall is not affecting the team.

BBC Radio Devon

A seaside cafe saved from being bulldozed by developers is a "great result" says the local council.

Image source, Mike Wynne-Powell

A planning inspector rejected an appeal by Galion Homes to knock down the Bay View Cafe in Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon.

Galion wanted to build four luxury homes on the site but the inspector upheld a decision by South Hams District Council to reject the plans.

The local authority said the cafe should be kept as it is an important community facility and a tourist asset.

The council said it was "very pleased with the result" and said the decision "will help us in safeguarding facilities, not just in Bigbury but across the South Hams coast".

BBC Radio Cornwall

A Bude campaigner who helped set up one of the first water bottle refill schemes in England has welcomed plans to set up tens of thousands of refill points across the country.

Image source, PA

Shops, cafes and businesses will offer free water refill points in every major city and town in England by 2021.

An app has been developed to help people find the businesses where they can get water.

Deb Rosser, who has set up a similar refill project in Bude, said: "We think it's a cool thing to walk around with a refill bottle rather than a new plastic one which will potentially go straight to landfill."

It's hoped the project will reduce plastic pollution.

Devon

• The Teignmouth to Shaldon Ferry is running until 16:30
• At Horns Cross the A39 is blocked in both directions due to an accident at Acre Road
• On the A39 between Bideford and Barnstaple there's heavy traffic in both directions
• The Dartmouth Higher Ferry back in service this morning after its annual refit
• In Plymouth on Tavistock Road there's heavy traffic approaching the Derriford Roundabout in all directions due to the roadworks. Traffic also very slow on Forder Valley Road
• In Plymouth on the A38 Parkway heading between Forder Valley and Manadon there's slow moving traffic

Cornwall

• On the A30 at Tolvaddon heading westbound we've got reports there's a broken-down car
• Near Penryn on the A39 at the Treluswell Roundabout there's slow traffic
• On the A380 around Ashcombe heading towards Exeter there's slow traffic
• On A30 between Higher Carblake and Temple there are lane closures in both directions for verge maintenance work. Slow traffic in the area

Devon Live

A bakery has turned its hand to making special pasties for Burns Night , external- with haggis, neeps and tatties.

BBC Radio Devon

• Near Exeter on the Sandy Gate Roundabout we've got reports there's a broken-down lorry. Expect delays
• Between the M5 and Tiverton on A361 there are lane restrictions and a contraflow due to roadworks. There's busy traffic in both directions
• On the A30 at Tolvaddon heading westbound we've got reports there's a broken-down car
• Near Penryn on the A39 at the Treluswell Roundabout there's slow traffic
• On the A380 near Ashcombe heading towards Exeter there's slow traffic
• In Launceston on the A388 Tavistock Road near Robin Drive there are temporary traffic lights for gas mains work. Busy traffic in the area