BBC Devon and Cornwall Live: 23-27 April

Summary

Updates from Monday 23 April until Friday 27 April 2018
Maisie Duncan death: Police seek three witnesses after Looe road crash
Cornwall Council's £46k Cannes trip scrutinised
Ten Devon and Cornwall Police officers assaulted in single night
Parents campaigning to save 'inadequate' Plymouth free school due to close
Parade to call for more affordable housing on Rame Peninsula
Home-schooling stats reveal Cornwall in fourth place in UK

Live Reporting

RAF veteran's humanitarian mission recognised 73 years onpublished at 08:34 British Summer Time 26 April 2018
Kevin Hay
BBC Spotlight
A Devon RAF veteran's role in a World War Two humanitarian mission has been recognised 73 years after the event.
Ninety-two-year-old Ivor Foster, from Plymouth, was part of a Lancaster bomber crew that dropped food to starving Dutch civilians in 1945.
He was surprised to receive a Liberators Thank You medal through the post after a friend contacted the Royal Netherlands Embassy and told them about his war record.
Home-schooling in the UK increases 40% over three yearspublished at 08:26 British Summer Time 26 April 2018
Mariam Issimdar
BBC News
The number of children being home-schooled has risen by about 40% over three years, the BBC has found.
Across the UK, 48,000 children were being home-educated in 2016-17, up from about 34,000 in 2014-15.
Mental health issues and avoiding exclusion are two reasons parents gave for removing children from classrooms.
Image source, Getty Images
The government will publish new guidance on the "rights and responsibilities on home education" but councils want more monitoring powers.
They are concerned about the quality of the education home-schooled children receive as well as "safeguarding" issues, such as the ability to properly protect children from abuse or maltreatment.
Many authorities could not provide reasons why more parents appeared to be choosing home-schooling.
However, in Devon, some of those that did said reasons included "dissatisfaction with the school environment".
Fire damages house in Crantockpublished at 07:51 British Summer Time 26 April 2018
Jenna Hawkey
BBC News Online
Fire has damaged a house near Newquay overnight.
Firefighters were called top a property on Treago Road, Crantock, just after midnight.
It was initially thought that some people were missing but they were accounted for later.
Police and ambulance service were also at the scene, and the fire was out by 02:00.
Plans for new town in Cornwallpublished at 07:45 British Summer Time 26 April 2018
Richard Whitehouse
Local Democracy Reporting Service
A brand new town could be built on the outskirts of Truro.
Cornwall Council has revealed more details of the proposed development at Langarth, near Threemilestone, which could see 2,700 new homes built.
Documents which will go before the council's ruling cabinet next week call the development a "small town" and say it could include a "town centre" with all the facilities needed for an estimated 8,000 residents.
Quote Message
This means that over the next 15 to 20 years we will see a place the size of Liskeard, Launceston or St Ives being built."
Cornwall Council Cabinet report
Image source, Google
Man rescued from River Camel at Bodminpublished at 07:37 British Summer Time 26 April 2018
Jenna Hawkey
BBC News Online
A man has been rescued from the River Camel just outside Bodmin.
Police received a call at 21:05 last night and two fire engines were also called to the scene near the Borough Arms.
The man was thrown a rope and he managed to get himself out of the water.
He was taken to the pub and left with paramedics.
Cornwall travel: Collision on Penmere Hill, Falmouthpublished at 07:26 British Summer Time 26 April 2018
BBC Radio Cornwall
In Falmouth, there are reports of a collision involving a motorbike and a car on Penmere Hill between Boslowick Road and Tregenver Road.
Travel: Two Torpoint ferries running from 08:30published at 07:22 British Summer Time 26 April 2018
BBC Radio Cornwall
Due to some "tide sensitive maintenance", there will be a reduced, two-ferry service between Plymouth and Torpoint from about 08:30.
Police investigation after body found in Bidefordpublished at 07:16 British Summer Time 26 April 2018
Jenna Hawkey
BBC News Online
The body of a 29-year-old man has been found in Bideford, external.
Police were called to an address in Pynes Lane last night to reports of a sudden death.
They said investigations were under way and have appealed for anyone with any information to come forward.
The cause of death is unknown.
Image source, Google
Image caption,
Pynes Lane, Bideford
Thousands more children are homeschooledpublished at 00:11 British Summer Time 26 April 2018
Mental health and avoiding exclusion are among reasons given for removing children from classrooms.
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The mums who boogie with their babiespublished at 00:10 British Summer Time 26 April 2018
The monthly 'Sling Disco' is run by dance teacher Miranda Howard in a Newquay bar.
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Ambulance unit gets nearly 800 hoax callspublished at 18:43 British Summer Time 25 April 2018
South Western Ambulance Service Trust said staff were diverted from 91 emergencies in 2017 due to hoax calls.
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Man must remove shed for breaking planning rulespublished at 17:40 British Summer Time 25 April 2018
Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online
A man has been fined and told to remove a wooden shed, platform and access track built without planning permission at West Porthholland near Portloe on the Roseland.
Allen Jones pleaded guilty to non-compliance of a planning enforcement notice at Truro Magistrates Court on 18 April.
He must also pay Cornwall Council, external's full costs of £1,787 and a £400 fine.
Image source, Cornwall Council
Quote Message
One of Cornwall Council’s key aims is to protect and enhance the environment and the planning laws help us to do this. We want to send out a message to those who don’t comply. Non-compliance is a criminal offence and the planning enforcement team are committed to prosecuting people who do not comply with these notices."
John Drew, Cornwall Council enforcement group leader
Cat injured in 'car battery acid attack'published at 16:43 British Summer Time 25 April 2018
Vets said the cat named Georgie "might not make it" after a suspected car battery acid attack.
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Acid attack cat 'a heartbreaking situation' - policepublished at 16:22 British Summer Time 25 April 2018
Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online
A cat thought to have been attacked with battery acid "suffered serious injuries and if it survives, is likely to lose both ears and possibly its sight", Devon and Cornwall Police have said.
Officers believe the attack "was a deliberate act" carried out against the cat while it was missing from its home in Exeter for 24 hours.
The cat returned to the house in Holne Rise on Tuesday with serious injuries.
A police spokesman said: "The owner took the cat to the vet who confirmed that the injuries are consistent with those caused by battery acid.
"The injuries the cat has suffered are shocking and is a heart-breaking situation for the owner."
Image source, Devon and Cornwall Police
Strike-threatened rail operator offers guard assurancespublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 25 April 2018
Hamish Marshall
BBC Spotlight
A rail firm facing strike action says it has made assurances around the role of guards.
Passengers using the operator's services in Devon, Dorset and Somerset are facing five days of disruption as union members strike over the the role of guards.
South Western Railway (SWR) services to and from London Waterloo will be affected on 9, 11, 14, 16 and 18 May.
There have been a number of strikes in recent months.
The RMT union has said changing the role of guards and extending driver-only services would compromise staff and passenger safety, which the government denies.
SWR, which only took over the franchise from South West Trains last August, said it had "offered assurances around the need for more guards in the future".
Plane turns back after windscreen crackpublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 25 April 2018
The plane landed safely after it turned back when a crack covered the outer layer of its windscreen.
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Whitten facing play-off fitness racepublished at 14:32 British Summer Time 25 April 2018
Exeter back Ian Whitten faces a race against time to be fit for the Premiership play-offs after breaking his hand.
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Water turned off in Trebreak until 17:00 for repairspublished at 14:28 British Summer Time 25 April 2018
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Cornwall travel: Building fire closes Redruth roadpublished at 14:26 British Summer Time 25 April 2018
BBC Radio Cornwall
In Redruth, West End is closed in both directions between Coach Lane and Penryn Street due to a due to building fire.
Missing marine located on Dartmoorpublished at 14:14 British Summer Time 25 April 2018
Del Crookes
BBC News Online
Image source, Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team - Tavistock
A marine who had gone missing on Dartmoor has been found.
Forty members of the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team, from Tavistock and Plymouth, took part in a coordinated search for the man on Tuesday in the Gutter Tor area.
The missing man was last seen heading into the mist at 15:40.
Image source, Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team - Tavistock
The man was located just before 01:30 after he failed to check in on part of a training exercise.
Dogs and a coastguard helicopter using thermal imaging cameras were also used to look for him.
The marine said he was settling down for the night when he heard the horns of a search team.