BBC Local Live: Devon & Cornwall

Summary

Devon and Cornwall Police 'need to improve' in some areas
'Lives could be at risk' over unreleased coastguard report
Police officer found not guilty of rape
Funeral for Looe girl killed in car 'ice-slide'
Cornwall swimmer Jonathan Fox out of Commonwealth Games
Royal Cornwall Hospital no longer on black alert
Horse has hair shaved in 'suspicious activity'
Updates from Monday 19 March until Friday 23 March 2018

Live Reporting

Torbay cancels outpatient appointments and most surgerypublished at 10:37 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2018
Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online
All outpatient, non-urgent planned surgery and day case surgery appointments at Torbay Hospital have been cancelled today.
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Volunteer 4x4 drivers including England rugby star Don Armand have been helping ferry staff in and out of work and staff have been battling through the snow to get in.
In North Devon, patients are being contacted about possible cancellations to their outpatient appointments.
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Bristol Rovers name Starnes as new CEOpublished at 10:28 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2018
Martyn Starnes will leave Plymouth Argyle on 9 July to join Bristol Rovers as the club's new new chief executive.
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Sandy Park becomes Snowy Parkpublished at 10:21 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2018
Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online
Where's the pitch? The Exeter Chiefs' ground is covered in a carpet of snow after the Mini Beast from the East struck over the weekend.
Image source, Jack Woolford
Image source, Jack Woolford
Yesterday's Anglo-Welsh Cup Final between the Exeter Chiefs and Bath was postponed due to snow.
The pitch at Gloucester was probably playable but the decision was made for the safety of travelling spectators.
No new date has yet been confirmed but with both sides out of Europe it could be played as early as the Easter weekend.
Volunteer snow sweeper army defies Mini Beast from the Eastpublished at 10:04 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2018
Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online
Villagers of Abbotskerswell have defied the Mini Beast from the East and taken up their shovels to keep roads and pavements clear.
Image source, Abbotskerswell Parish Council
Image source, Abbotskerswell Parish Council
Image source, Abbotskerswell Parish Council
Image source, Abbotskerswell Parish Council
"Check out the brave folks clearing the roads and forecourt of the Model Stores this morning," said the parish council on Facebook.
"The shop has bread, milk and ...... wait for it....... papers!!"
Clearing up after the 'Mini Beast' in Exeterpublished at 10:01 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2018
Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online
The clear-up continues after the chaos left by the "Mini Beast from the East". Here's what it looks like for commuters arriving at Exeter Central railway station....
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Pictures: 'Wonderful' people in A30 snow rescuespublished at 09:44 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2018
Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online
Tributes have been pouring in for Devon County Council, rescue workers and volunteers who have been helping people stuck in snow on the A30 last night - and here are some of them...
There were more than 80 people who sought refuge at Okehampton College last night including newlywed couple John and Sara Lund and a headteacher.
Centre manager Richard White said: "They woke up to a very cold morning, it's stopped snowing now, but it was -3C overnight."
Snowman smiles through the Mini Beast from the Eastpublished at 09:18 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2018
Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online
Some have made the most of the snow - here's Archie the snowman just chilling in his favourite weather. Thanks to Roger Berry from Broadhempston in Devon.
Image source, Roger Berry
'Don't travel unless you have to' warning in Devonpublished at 09:16 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2018
Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online
Sub-zero road temperatures are creating a "high risk" of ice on roads warns the county council.
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Message of hope for drivers amid thawpublished at 09:11 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2018
Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online
Conditions on the roads in Devon are improving after snowfalls left many routes including the A30 impassable last night.
But the message from the police and highways chiefs is to only travel this morning if absolutely necessary.
Hugh Griffith from Highways Control in Exeter said: "As temperatures rise things will clear but off the main network conditions are very challenging."
Torquay bus services abandoned in snowpublished at 09:00 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2018
Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online
Stagecoach South West says most buses in Torbay are suspended at the moment due to the bad weather and many services in Exeter aren't running until further notice.
The 12 is running a 20 minutes service between Paignton and Torquay only.
Some are making it through on main roads, but many aren't able to access housing estates and hilly areas.
Check for updates here., external
Stranded couple thank 'lovely' Devon County Councilpublished at 08:54 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2018
Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online
A newlywed couple who were forced to spend their honeymoon night in a rescue centre after getting stranded in the snow have thanked "the lovely people of Devon County Council" who "have looked after us very well".
John and Sara Lund, who were married in Bristol, were on their way to a luxury hotel in Watergate Bay near Newquay when they got stuck on the A30.
They were one of more than 80 people who were taken in at Okehampton College in a rescue centre set up by the local authority and volunteers.
"I didn't imagine there would be snow in March and I didn't expect to spend our first night in a college," said John.
Sara said there had been a "few flurries" of snow in Bristol but nothing to prepare them for the white-out on the A30 which was blocked between Exeter and Launceston.
"We thought we'd be OK," she said.
"Bristol was fine and we got on the A30 and it was quite bad.
"Everyone has looked after us wonderfully."
'Multiple vehicles' stuck in snow above Ilfracombepublished at 08:44 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2018
Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online
Police are warning of "multiple vehicles stuck in deep drifts" around Mullacott Cross at Ilfracombe.
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Sgt Dave Thubron tweeted, external: "Although it’s clear in Ilfracombe it’s a very very different story 200ft higher. Please heed our warnings and don’t add to the queue."
On the school run - Dartmoor stylepublished at 08:39 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2018
Image source, Jill Palmer
Image source, Jill Palmer
Image source, Jill Palmer
Couple spend wedding night snowed-inpublished at 08:37 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2018
Sara and John Lund were among 82 people who got stuck on the A30 in Devon on Sunday night.
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England rugby star helps hospital staff in snowpublished at 08:26 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2018
Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online
Exeter Chiefs and England rugby player Don Armand donned his rescue hat to help ferry snow-stranded staff at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in and out of work.
Image source, Lynn Travis
Just a day after playing Ireland at Twickenham, the Chiefs' flanker joined helpers Lynn Travis and her husband in the snow rescue mission.
Lynn posted on Facebook: "So my husband and I volunteered to drive RD&E staff home tonight and who should be there doing the same thing but the big man himself!
"Played for England yesterday and helping the local community today. What a top man. Good job I had my Chiefs hat on."
Drivers warned of 'treacherous' minor roadspublished at 08:13 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2018
Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online
Police are warning of "treacherous" conditions on minor roads.
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It came after the A30 reopened following snow which blocked the carriageways between Exeter and Bodmin.
Sgt Ollie Howe warned drivers: "Don't become complacent, routes off the A38 and A30 are still completely impassable."
Snow-stranded newlyweds thank rescue centre staffpublished at 08:10 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2018
Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online
A newly married couple who spent their honeymoon night in a snow rescue centre have thanked staff who have helped them and nearly 100 other drivers.
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"They've been absolutely amazing," said John Lund.
He and wife Sara had got married in Bristol and were on their way to a hotel at Watergate Bay near Newquay when they got stuck in snow on the A30.
Instead of a honeymoon suite they had a dormitory at Okehampton College.
John said: "It was not the start of a honeymoon we were expecting. But morale here is good and we've been laughing about it. We were lucky because we managed to get off the A30 but others were stuck there."
He said they were hoping to get back on the road later. Just after 08:00 the A30 reopened.
A30 reopens after being blocked by snowpublished at 08:03 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2018
Breaking
The A30 through Devon and Cornwall, which became blocked by snow last night, has reopened but is only "passable with care", say police.
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Reduced service between Exeter and Exmouthpublished at 08:02 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2018
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Snow disruption: Roads, rail and air in Devon and Cornwallpublished at 07:51 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2018
Jonathan Morris
BBC News Online
Heading out? Here's a rundown of what to expect on the roads:
- In Princetown, the B3212 heading towards Princetown is closed due to heavy snowdrifts
- Also on the A386, between Tavistock and Okehampton the road is blocked because of a jack-knifed lorry
- The A386, north of Sourton between Fowley Cross and Folly Gate is blocked because of abandoned vehicles and stuck lorries
- On the A39 at Camelford there's hazardous driving conditions reported
- On the trains there's disruption to services across the South West due to the weather. You are advised to check your journey using the National Rail Enquiries website before you travel
- Flights at Exeter Airport are disrupted check with your carrier for the latest details
- Stagecoach have suspended all Exeter and Torbay bus services due to poor weather conditions
- In Kennford on the A38 Haldon Hill and the A380 Telegraph Hill there's difficult driving conditions
- The A30 between Bodmin and Exeter is closed due to the weather conditions
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