Sarah Gosling
BBC News Online

Image source, Joe Hassell

Two grade II listed cottages have been "extensively" damaged in a fire which was tackled by more than 80 firefighters.

Emergency services were called to Sowton, near Exeter, at 18:30 on Thursday after reports the thatch on the 17th Century cottages was alight.

A statement from the East Devon District Council confirmed that following the fire the village of Sowton remains blocked, while officers decide "how dangerous the building is and what works might be needed to make it safe so that the village road can be safely reopened".

"In this case the damage to the building is extensive and urgent works may be needed to shore up the walls of the building to prevent further damage.

"While the loss of part of the historic fabric of the building is very unfortunate the immediate concern is to ensure the safety of the building for residents of the village and passing pedestrians and vehicles so that access to the village can be reopened".

No-one was injured in the fire.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Planners are recommending a fifth out-of-town superstore is built on the outskirts of a Devon seaside resort.

Councillors in Torbay are being advised to approve an application by Lidl, which would join out-of-town stores already operated by Aldi, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury's, all within little more than a mile of each other on the edge of Paignton.

Torbay Council wants Lidl to agree to keep its existing Paignton town centre store open for a minimum of five years after the proposed new supermarket opens.

Lidl estimates its new store would divert £400,000 a year from Paignton town centre. The council, meanwhile, thinks the figure would be slightly above £1m.

The proposed store would have 121 parking spaces.

BBC Radio Devon

A tiny research company on Dartmoor wants to change the way electric cars are powered.

Metalectrique Battery Systems in Tavistock say they've designed a battery that could power an electric car for 1,500 miles (2,414km) by using power released from ordinary aluminium.

Rather than recharging the battery, the idea would be to exchange batteries at a swap station, with the spent ones then being recycled.

Trevor Jackson, an engineer with the firm said: "I don't like the idea that people are struggling in polluted cities.

"You've got kids and old people really struggling with diseases that have come from petrol and diesel emissions - we've got to stop that.

"We've got the tech, we can roll it out really quickly and we can make a real difference within five years in the most polluted cities."

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

A 16-year-old boy has gone missing from Newton Abbot, police have said.

Cameron French is described as white, 5ft 9in tall with short black hair which is bleached on top.

He was last seen wearing a black baseball cap, black puffer jacket, black tracksuit trousers and black trainers. He also wears black glasses.

Devon and Cornwall Police are concerned for Cameron's welfare.

Anyone with information is being asked to contact police via 101.

BBC Radio Devon

In Tiverton on Belmont Road at Longmeadow, there are reports of an accident just off the mini roundabout.

Torquay United full-back Ryan Higgins is forced to retire aged 23 after being diagnosed with a heart condition.

Sarah Gosling
BBC News Online

Image source, Josh Quick

A group of roots spotted on a Cornish beach by a professional forager have been confirmed as toxic, and sometimes fatal, by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust.

Hemlock water dropwort roots - also known as dead man's fingers - have been exposed by coastal erosion following Storm Emma.

The plant was found on Porthkidney Beach in Lelant near St Ives.

Nic Harrison-White, from the trust, examined photos of the plant, and confirmed it was indeed the poisonous strain of the plant.

Image source, Josh Quick

He also said: "Eating these roots may be sufficient to kill a cow, and human fatalities are also known.

"We would reinforce that potential wild food foragers, collecting on their own land, should ensure that they are certain of their botany or have gone on a training or skill sharing course."

Mr Harrison-White said the plant is an indigenous species to Cornwall, and is abundant in damp environments.

BBC Radio Devon

The A38 Exeter bound is blocked by a multi-vehicle collision at the B3352 Ashburton Rockpark Cross Junction.

There's queuing traffic back to the B3352 Peartree Junction.

The hemlock water dropwort - also known as dead man's fingers - has been spotted on a Cornish beach.

Cornwall Live

Family retailer Mothercare has announced it is the company opening a new store in Truro., external

BBC Weather

It will be a breezy, overcast and dull afternoon with occasionally heavy rain and drizzle, low cloud and hill fog.

Maximum temperature: 11C (52F).

Tonight it will be a mild, cloudy and breezy night with further outbreaks of rain.

Minimum temperature: 8C (46F).

For years, Lucie was treated for mental health problems - in fact she had a severe form of premenstrual syndrome.

Sarah Gosling
BBC News Online

A member of the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has shared some shocking pictures of a thatch blaze in Sowton near Exeter last night.

Image source, Joe Hassell

Joe Hassell, head of transformation within the service, shared the photos with the caption: "Crews were great and salvaged lots of possessions but the fire was too developed for us to save it."

Fifteen pumps were involved in the operation, along with 83 firefighters.

Image source, Joe Hassell

Image source, Joe Hassell

No-one was injured.

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Exeter manager Paul Tisdale says he is pleased with the deep squad he can choose from for Saturday's League Two clash with Chesterfield.

Kane Wilson, who is serving a one-game ban, is the only player unavailable for Tisdale as he aims to beat a Chesterfield side that are in the relegation places, but have won their last four games.

Image source, Getty Images

"I don't think we've been stronger in terms of the depth of the squad and players who are all back from injury," Tisdale told BBC Radio Devon.

"But I'm not going to get too pleased because things can change literally in an instant."

Sarah Gosling
BBC News Online

Image source, Josh Quick

A professional forager has warned of a deadly plant exposed by Storm Emma.

Josh Quick said coastal erosion has exposed what he believed was hemlock water dropwort (HWD) roots - also known as dead man's fingers.

The plant has been found on Porthkidney Beach in Lelant near St Ives.

He said HWD was "one of the most poisonous plants in the northern hemisphere".

"They look a lot like parsnips and also smell fairly similar. Make sure nobody eats these and be careful with any dogs in the area.

"It's the first time I've seen the roots exposed like this".

In 2014 in County Down, dog owners were warned of the toxic plant which was thought to have killed a dog.

The NHS mentions the species on its 'plant dangers' page., external

Devon Live

A man has been arrested on suspicion of outraging public decency after two alleged flashing incidents which took place within minutes of each other , externalin Plymouth.

BBC Radio Devon

• In Newton Poppleford we have reports of slow traffic on the A3052 Four Elms Hill due to broken-down lorry around Lower Way near the fruit farm
• At Kennford we have reports of debris in the road on the A38 Haldon Hill Plymouth-bound near the racecourse junction
• In Dawlish there's slow traffic on the A379 Exeter Road in both directions due to an accident around The Drive
• At Folly Gate on the A386 between Hatherleigh Road and Inwardleigh there are temporary traffic lights for road works - expect delays
• On the A3079 at Halwill Junction the road is closed for resurfacing between Morecombe Cross and Lake End Cross - a diversion is in place
• In Exeter there's slow traffic on Heavitree Road due to the traffic lights failing at Gladstone Road

Tom Daley and Dan Goodfellow win bronze in the 10m synchronised pairs at the opening Diving World Series event in Beijing.

Sarah Gosling
BBC News Online

The Plymouth-based warship HMS Sutherland has arrived in Sydney Harbour.

The crew entered the iconic harbour to a ceremonial gun salute from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) before bagpipes sounded around HMAS Kuttabul, the RAN naval base.

The warship and crew have made the trip in the hope of persuading the RAN to "buy British" when they invest in new warships.

Sarah Gosling
BBC News Online

A convicted rogue builder ordered to pay back £90,000 of illegal earnings has been told the money will go to compensating his victims.

Currently serving a 38-month prison sentence, John Carroll, 26, of Cricklade, Wiltshire, conned a string of victims in the South West and Wales along with John Rice, 21, who served 12 weeks in prison for money laundering.

Carroll has three months to pay the £90,000 and will have 12 months added to his sentence if he defaults.

Rice has also been ordered to repay £11,650 to his victims.

The pair traded under a variety of names, offering house maintenance services and targeting elderly and vulnerable people.

Carroll would often give a quote, start work then ask for thousands more because of "extra problems", Exeter Crown Court heard.

If you are concerned you are a victim of a rogue trader, contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06.