BBC Local Live: Devon & Cornwall

Landlords who say 'no DSS' breaking equality lawspublished at 09:07 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018

Hannah Richardson
BBC News education and social affairs reporter

The thousands of lettings agents and landlords across the country who reject housing benefit claimants could be flouting equality laws due to a recent legal case.

The widespread practice has led to "no-go zones" for those on lower incomes - especially in desirable residential areas.

One woman recently successfully argued in court that blanket bans on benefit claimants indirectly discriminated against women, especially single women.

This is because they are proportionately more likely to be claiming housing benefit than single men, according to official figures.

Figures showing single women more likely to be claiming housing benefit

'I was stalked by a polar bear'published at 08:54 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018

The modern explorers who slept next to mortar shells, were held up at gunpoint and survived the jungle.

Film them on the beaches: Devon stars as Guernseypublished at 08:50 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018

The Times

Residents of Guernsey were thrilled to hear that stars including Lily James were to feature in a film about the Nazi occupation of their island. However producers made the film more than 100 miles away in north Devon., external

Plymouth to debate 4.5% council tax risepublished at 08:49 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018

BBC Spotlight

A 4.5% council tax rise could be on the cards for residents in Plymouth, the BBC understands.

The exact figure will be revealed at a Plymouth City Council budget meeting later.

The council needs to save £10m from its spending as it deals with a reduction in its government grant.

The authority said it was "facing big challenges" in setting a balanced budget "as our funding continues to reduce each year while demand for services is rising".

High tide times for the regionpublished at 08:47 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018

Dan Downs
Weather Forecaster

Here are the next high water times around Devon and Cornwall.

We'll have the latest forecast on BBC Spotlight at 13:30.

Should Brits eat more British seafood?published at 08:38 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018

Could trading terms after Brexit see more Brits eating cuttlefish, spider crabs and gurnards?

Weather: Cold and breezy, and possible snow on coastspublished at 08:35 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018

BBC Weather

Cold and breezy today, with some sunny spells, but also a good deal of cloud with the risk of a few snow showers especially along the coasts.

Maximum temperature: 1C to 4C (34 to 39F).

'Keep warm' and 'take inhaler' warnings in cold weatherpublished at 08:32 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018

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Cold temperatures and deep snow are forecast across the UK this week as weather blows in from Russia.

Yellow warnings for snow on Wednesday and Thursday include Cornwall.

Penzance primary school closed after heating breakspublished at 08:32 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018

BBC Radio Cornwall

A Penzance school is closed today because of problems with its heating, staff say.

St Mary's Catholic Primary School said: "We are advising you that the school will be closed all day due to no heating.

"As of yet we do not know when it will be fixed."

Rival helicopter link to Isles of Scilly 'cannot land'published at 08:20 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018

Rob England
BBC News Online

A helicopter link between Land's End and Isles of Scilly will not be able to land on Tresco, the island's owner has said.

The Isles of Scilly Steamship Company's new link is set to begin in May this year, and was announced last week.

But Tresco Estate, which runs the island, said its heliport would not be ready until "early 2019".

The new route prompted a row with the estate, which is preparing its own helicopter services to Penzance.

Tourism bosses said trade suffered when the 48-year-old helicopter link to the islands off Cornwall stopped in 2012.

Councils try to charge postmen for beach clean rubbishpublished at 08:12 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018

Devon Live

A pair of postman have been left with 20 bags of waste plastic after a clean-up of local beaches after councils refused to dispose of it for them unless they were paid, external.

Devon town's French connection 'not at risk'published at 08:01 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018

Rob England
BBC News Online

A Devon town which thought it had been secretly spurned by its French twin in favour of an Essex "rival" has been reassured its entente is intact.

Bovey Tracey was twinned with Le Molay-Littry in Normandy in 1979.

Bovey Tracey Town Council was alarmed when it was told unofficially the relationship was over, but this was never confirmed by French officials.

Le Molay-Littry's Mayor, Guillaume Bertier, told the BBC the "rumour" the twinning was over is "false".

However, the French town is now looking to twin with Theydon Bois, Essex, and wants links with both English suitors.

Appeal to trace 'convoy' cars after A30 crashpublished at 08:00 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018

Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live

Police have appealed for witnesses who saw four cars "travelling in convoy" near the scene of a fatal road crash in Cornwall.

A car hit a tractor on Saturday night, killing a 20-year-old man.

The BMW, driven by the man from the Truro area, crossed the central reservation on the A30 at Roche before hitting the tractor at about 23:40. Police said it was not known why it did this.

A 17-year-old female passenger in the car, from Camborne, is in a critical condition in hospital.

Officers said: "Police are interested in anyone who witnessed a VW Polo, VW Golf, VW Bora and a BMW travelling in convoy between Plymouth and the site of the collision on the A30.

"They left Plymouth and travelled across the Tamar Bridge at about 22:50. They continued on the A38, joined the A30 at Bodmin and then the BMW collided with the tractor at 23:38."

The A30 was closed for more than 12 hours for an investigation.

Farmers 'forced to cull ponies' due to paperwork delays'published at 07:56 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018

The Daily Telegraph

Exmoor ponies are being culled by farmers because of delays in obtaining "passports" , externalthat prove their pedigree.

Making art from the trauma of warpublished at 07:53 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018

A former Royal Marine deals with mental health problem and the death of a soldier.

'Watch vulnerable neighbours' appeal as cold weather hitspublished at 07:36 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018

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Bitterly cold temperatures and deep snow are forecast across the UK this week as weather blows in from Russia.

Yellow warnings for snow on Wednesday and Thursday include Cornwall.

Calls to avoid A&E as Siberian blast hits UKpublished at 07:35 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018

Hannah Stacey
BBC Radio Cornwall

Hospital managers in Cornwall are again asking patients to use alternatives to emergency departments to ease the pressures on front line services as the cold weather hits.

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) said the start of the cold snap brought a very busy weekend for its hospitals and emergency teams, and staff were focusing their efforts on those in urgent need of specialist care.

With temperatures expected to continue to fall this week, demand for care is expected to rise.

The RCHT has asked people to use minor injury units and out-of-hours GP services, including the 111 phone service, for less urgent illness or injury.

Bitterly cold temperatures and deep snow are forecast across the UK this week as weather blows in from Russia.

Yellow warnings for snow on Wednesday and Thursday include Cornwall.

Bid aims to protect pasty post-Brexitpublished at 07:34 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018

BBC Radio Cornwall

A campaign to make sure Cornish pasty sales aren't damaged by Brexit gets under way in London later.

The Cornish Pasty Association said it had organised the first ever pasty week because there were fears the Cornish pasty's European protected status could be at risk once Britain leaves the EU.

The term "Cornish pasty" was given protected status by the European Commission in 2011.

It means that only pasties made in the county from a traditional recipe can be called "Cornish pasties". Pasties baked elsewhere in the country cannot be described as such.

The status gives the pasty the same standing as Roquefort cheese, French Champagne and Jersey royal potatoes.

Other items from Cornwall also on the protected list include Cornish clotted cream and the Cornish sardine.