Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live

Last year, senior police officers defended a group of Devon and Cornwall officers at the centre of a controversy over a seaside tea break.

Eight officers from Plymouth were pictured in The Sun, external in April 2017 on the city's seafront during a tea break with the headline "Thin Brew Line".

The paper pointed out the officers had stopped for 45 minutes - which, under police regulations, they are allowed to do during an eight-hour shift.

Officers from across the country took exception to what they described as "anti-police" coverage.

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Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

A team of Royal Marines "battled snowdrifts up to 10ft (3m) deep", external to deliver vital medication to a convalescing holidaymaker cut off in Lynton, North Devon.

The holidaymaker suffered from epilepsy and was visiting the area from Gloucester, but was stranded due to the weather conditions.

After meeting a Highways Agency snow plough en route, the team managed to get to within 1.2 miles from Lynton - using Land Rovers fitted with snow chains.

The medication along with supplies were delivered to the family, enabling them stay in North Devon until road conditions improved.

Lt Col Dave Nicholson said: "Royal Marine Commandos train to operate in some of the most challenging environments in the world, particularly in the extreme cold of the Arctic, and we are always delighted to be able to use this training in support of members of the public in need."

Image source, Royal Navy

Tamsin Melville
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Cornwall

Truro's St Piran's Day parade is in full swing this afternoon - despite the rain.

Celebrations are taking place across the county to mark Cornwall's national day and honouring the patron saint of tinners.

BBC Radio Devon

• In Plymouth, there's a broken-down vehicle on A38 Parkway Westbound around the Manadon roundabout
• In Exmouth, there's slow traffic on the A376 Exeter Road near Hulham Road in the roadworks area

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

Tree surgeons will be closing Holcombe Down Road in Teignmouth for about two hours to remove a dangerous tree, Devon County Council has said.

Miles Davis
BBC News Online

Rob Varley has stepped down from his role as chief executive of the Met Office.

The Met Office said Nick Jobling, currently deputy chief executive, will step in as interim chief executive with immediate effect, with a permanent chief executive to be appointed "in due course".

Mr Varley had been chief executive of the Exeter-based Met Office since 2014.

The Met Office said its services would be "wholly unaffected by this decision".

BBC Radio Cornwall

• In Widemouth Bay on the A39, there's been an accident near Leverlake Road

Bristol Post

Good Samaritans bought 19 rooms at Weston Premier Inn, including one from Dartmoor, then donated them to freezing rough sleepers, only for the hotel to turn the homeless people away, external.

The mother said it "haunts her" that she did not push to get her child seen by medical staff.

Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live

South West Water says it is working to repair water supplies in Porthleven.

The utility said it was aware of interruptions to services and "we're doing everything we can in this situation".

It said it didn't have "a timeframe for full restoration of supplies", but that teams were "working around the clock to maintain essential services to our customers".

Harriet Bradshaw
Reporter

Citizens Advice Exeter is calling for a fundamental overhaul in the system that works out how much financial support seriously ill people and those with disabilities should get.

The charity's new report, Appealing for Common Sense, says vulnerable people are being wrongly denied help they are entitled to - causing them hardship, stress and anxiety.

Between October and December, in 22 out of 27 cases where it supported an applicant the initial decision was overturned.

Steve Barribal is chief executive of Citizens Advice in Exeter and says the current set-up is "flawed".

"It doesn't work for people, particularly the most vulnerable. The government doesn't address those concerns and what we'll continue to see is some of the most vulnerable in our community, people who are sick and disabled, struggle to get the financial support they deserve."

The Department for Work and Pensions says assessments work for the majority of people but it's committed to improving the experience of claimants.

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St Piran's Day will be celebrated across Cornwall today.

Even the beach rocks appear to be Cornish and proud.

Amy Gladwell
BBC News Online

A mother has tearfully denied poisoning her 18-month-old daughter with salt.

The woman from Cornwall, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, did not call 999 when her child seemed very ill as she had been treated like a “silly parent” by paramedics on a previous occasion, Truro Crown Court heard.

The baby survived after being treated in April 2016 after her grandmother called 111. Tests revealed high soduim levels.

The mother, from the St Austell area, told the jury: "In hindsight, I kick myself that I didn’t do anything sooner."

The trial continues.

Bringing you the news, sport, travel and weather for Devon and Cornwall for Monday 26 February to Friday 02 March

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

Bottles of water are being handed out by South West Water (SWW) after an "unprecedented number" of burst water mains.

The Exwick region of Exeter is affected with customers experiencing interruptions to their water supplies.

Image source, South West Water

Image source, South West Water

SWW said it had been working around the clock to restore supplies to thousands of affected customers in Devon.

It added that most problems in Cornwall had been fixed.

Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live

Police have told people not to use the A379 at Torcross after part of the road was washed away during Storm Emma, and to stay away from any suspicious objects after ordnance was uncovered.

The road is closed from Strete Gate to Torcross after it torn apart by waves during the extreme weather.

Kingsbridge Police said "many people" had been down to see the damage but warned that the remaining road was "very unstable and still collapsing".

Officers said on Facebook, external: "There are large chunks of road which could cause serious injury or death if they land on you. An ambulance would have to go the long way round to get to you."

Storm Emma had also uncovered two suspected pieces of World War Two ordnance at Slapton Sands beach, they added, external.

Police said: "If you find a suspicious object at the beach, don't touch it, ensure everyone keeps their distance (at least 100m), call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Exeter boss Rob Baxter and team-mates heap praise on fly-half Joe Simmonds after his full league debut in the win over Saracens.

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

Falcon bus services between Plymouth and Bristol are currently delayed by about 30 minutes due to traffic congestion, Stagecoach South West has said.

BBC Weather

Overcast with rain which may be heavy at times, affecting all areas through the morning and early afternoon.

It will gradually become drier and brighter from the west this afternoon.

Winds will be light southerly at first but freshen and become cyclonic later.

Maximum temperature: 9C (48F).