Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

There is currently a power cut in the EX4 area of Exeter, Western Power Distribution has said.

Engineers hope supplies will be restored by 12:00.

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

An elderly woman was heard "shouting for help" while the smoke alarm was sounding in her home, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service has said, external.

Crews received reports of smoke "issuing from the building" in Hayle at about 15:50 on Sunday.

The woman was out of the property when firefighters arrived and was treated for smoke inhalation, the fire service said.

A dog was also rescued.

Nicky Rigall believes she has more fat on her than most people, even though her weight is low.

Bringing you the news, sport, travel and weather for Devon and Cornwall for Monday 5 March to Friday 9 March

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

There are currently flood alerts in place for almost all rivers and streams across North, East and Mid Devon, the Environment Agency has said., external

Image source, Environment Agency

Singer Joss Stone asks woman from Bristol to collect musical instruments for refugees in Djibouti.

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies has said "better ways of fighting cheats" needs to be found because "sport is being spoilt".

Her comments come after a report by MPs said Sir Bradley Wiggins and Team Sky "crossed an ethical line" by using drugs allowed under anti-doping rules to enhance performance instead of just for medical need.

The Plymouth-born swimmer finished second in the 400m individual medley at the 1980 Moscow Olympics behind East German Petra Schneider.

Schneider has since said she unknowingly took drugs.

Posting a photograph of her holding her silver medal on social media, Ms Davies said: "Here’s a medal won without drugs but behind someone who was drug-aided.

"We have to find some better ways of fighting cheats. Sport is being spoilt because we don’t know what’s clean & what's not anymore!!"

Sir Bradley Wiggins and Team Sky said they "strongly refuted" the claims.

The Silent Child, a short film made by two former Hollyoaks actors about a deaf girl, wins an Oscar.

BBC Spotlight

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

Cornish Pirates coach Gavin Cattle praises the attitude of his side after their last-ditch 22-19 win over Doncaster.

BBC Radio Cornwall

Members of the Bays Group said water came into the properties near Mevagissey on Friday, but that, as a clear-up began in the area, "the sun shone and so did our volunteers".

Meanwhile, Mevagissey Cornwall Councillor and James Mustoe said the area was in "chaos" as Storm Emma struck.

He had great praise for the community clean-up response over the weekend, which saw a "lorry-load of rubbish removed".

Riyah Collins
BBC News

In 1999, the Labour government set out a pledge that half of all young people should go on to higher education - an aim that has almost been achieved.

But what about those youngsters who do not want to go down the academic route?

I talked to one young man who became an apprentice in one of Britain's oldest trades - wheelwright George Richards.

Image source, Greg Rowland

"I'd like to think I'll be a wheelwright for the rest of my life," says the 20-year-old.

Five years ago, he asked for work experience with Mike Rowland & Son Wheelwrights and Coachbuilders in Colyton, Devon.

He was not very academic at school but didn't have much help to consider options other than college.

"They weren't really interested if you weren't going on to do that," he said. "But for some people, [apprenticeships are] the only thing that suits them."

Image source, Greg Rowland

Mike Rowland and his son, Greg, are two of about 20 master wheelwrights in the country.

Their company has a history of making wooden wheels for carriages and cannon dating back to 1331, and counts the Queen as one of its customers.

Greg thinks George is probably the youngest qualified wheelwright in the world.

When asked what inspired him to choose such a niche trade, the apprentice is frank.

"It was nothing to do with wheelwrighting [as such]," he says. "It wasn't something I'd thought I really wanted to do.

"It was just working with my hands, working with wood - I knew I loved that."

BBC Radio Cornwall

Celebrations to mark St Piran's Day are taking place across Cornwall.

Truro, Falmouth and Bodmin are holding parades and many schools will be commemorating the patron saint of tinners.

Some supporters of the Cornish identity claim there has never been a better time to show it off.

Image source, Getty Images

Plymouth Herald

One of the hottest indie pop bands in the world, Bastille, will headline day one of Ocean City Sounds in Plymouth in July., external

Amy Gladwell
BBC News Online

Four further school closures have been announced in the region due to water supply problems.

Boyton Primary School, near Launceston, said it was forced to close due to a collapsed ceiling and no water supply.

Image source, Google

Porthleven School in west Cornwall is also closed today due to a burst water main, and so is the Duchy School Bradninch, Devon.

St Dennis Primary Academy in mid Cornwall is closed due to burst water pipes in offices and damage to the main server and telephone network.

However, staff at Silverton Church of England Primary School said it had reopened after its water supply was restored. But pupils have been asked to bring a packed lunch.

Twitter

BBC Radio Cornwall

The clear-up is continuing at Maenporth, near Falmouth, after the beach was battered by wind and waves.

Local people said repairs to the damaged sea defences would cost thousands of pounds at the privately-owned beach and they had started to fundraise to help cover the cost.

Image source, Julie Cornwell

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

The father of a six-year-old deaf girl from the South West - who stars in a film that has won an Oscar - says she is a "role model".

Maisie Sly, from Plymouth, stars in the film The Silent Child, which was named best live action short film.

She left the city five years ago to go to a specialist school in Swindon and has been in Los Angeles for the Academy Awards.

Maisie's Dad, Gilson, said she takes everything "in her stride".

He said: "You're just so proud. Words cannot say how proud we are. I just can't wait for the time when she's old enough, to be able to sit down with her and say 'Remember that time you went to the Oscars?'.

"She's a role model for deaf children, deaf people and the deaf community."

The Silent Child tells the story of a profoundly deaf four-year-old called Libby who lives a silent life until a social worker teaches her how to communicate through sign language.

Image source, Reuters

BBC Radio Devon

• In Dawlish, East Cliff Road is partially blocked at the junction with the A379 Exeter Road due to a collapsed manhole
• Between Torcross and Strete Gate, the A379 Slapton Line is closed due to extensive damage caused by Storm Emma
• In Kingsteignton, there is slow-moving traffic on the A380 Besigheim Way southbound, approaching the Penn Inn Roundabout, due to ongoing roadworks
• There is a 10-minute wait at the Torpoint ferries, with all three ferries running again between Torpoint and Devonport

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

A car was left hanging over a ledge after going backwards into a hedge, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has said.

A crew from Crediton attended the incident at the car park at St Saviours Way, Crediton, at about 23:00 on Sunday.

On arrival crews requested a second appliance with a winch, which also came from Crediton.

The vehicle was made safe.