Updates from Monday 30 April until Friday 4 May 2018
Alex Osborne
BBC Weather
If you're planning a trip to the coast or seaside, here are the high water times around Devon and Cornwall.
We'll have the latest forecast on BBC Spotlight at 13:30.
Alex Osborne
BBC Weather
This morning will be dry and bright with some spells of sunshine, but cloud will gradually increase.
Light or moderate northwesterly winds will turn to the southwest later.
Maximum temperature: 10 to 13C (50 to 55F).
Two pence from every litre of petrol bought in Cornwall could be used to repair and maintain the county's roads, Cornwall Council has said.
The authority says it needs £270m to meet the maintenance backlog on its road network, and is currently battling a plague of potholes.
The idea to spend money from petrol sales on the highways is part of a bid for more devolved powers for Cornwall., external
Quote MessageWe've done it with business rates. They felt that was right that we should collect the business rates and keep 100% of those business rates in Cornwall, so I think it's just taking that argument one step further into other areas where we feel we can raise the money locally and use it locally."
Adam Paynter, Leader of Cornwall Council
The council's had extra government cash specifically for potholes, but says one-off funding isn't enough. The Treasury says it's frozen fuel duty for the last eight years - and it doesn't speculate on tax outside of fiscal events like the Budget.
Flybe flight BE494 from Exeter to Belfast, which was scheduled to depart at 11:30, is now estimated to depart at 12:25.
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
An incident that took place in Exmouth on Wednesday morning is no longer being treated as an attempted child abduction, according to Devon and Cornwall Police.
Police officers spent the day "thoroughly investigating" an incident that happened at 09:00 on Exeter Road.
"The matter has been fully investigated and we are confident there was no risk to the child as originally reported and the police are not seeking anyone in relation to this matter. We have supported the young person throughout the day and are satisfied that at no time were they at risk of abduction."
Two lifeboats, the police and a Coastguard rescue team, were called out last night to search for a missing person.
Image source, GoogleThe boats searched for 90 minutes off Longrock, Penzance, while another search took place on land.
No-one was found and the lifeboats returned to base just after 23:00.
Image source, Penlee Lifeboat
Image source, PAVoters will head to the polls today for council elections in Devon.
There are 19 seats up for election in Plymouth and 13 in Exeter.
Polling booths are open until 22:00 and the results will be declared overnight.
We'll bring you the results here tomorrow.
Richard Whitehouse
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Cornwall Council looks set to intervene in major development plans that will allow a new town to be built on the outskirts of Truro.
The council cabinet has agreed to take a "strategic leadership and delivery role" in developments which are planned on land close to Threemilestone.
A series of planning permissions is already in place to build about 2,700 properties on a number of different sites in the area. However, the developments have all stalled for a variety of reasons.
As a result, Cornwall Council is now looking to intervene to not only get the developments started again, but also to improve the quality of what will be built.
The council said that, under the existing proposals, the developments would create a number of "incoherent" housing estates.
Instead, it wants to bring them together to create a new town housing up to 8,000 people which would be a similar size of Liskeard, Launceston or St Ives.
Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live
Police say they have increased local patrols in Exmouth to reassure people after the suspected attempted kidnapping of a girl.
Officers said, external the girl was reported to have been pulled towards a car by an unknown man as she walked ahead of her mother to school at about 09:00 on Exeter Road. She was unhurt "but was left shaken and upset by the incident".
Det Insp Simon Davey, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "These types of incidents are extremely rare but will have caused a great deal of distress to the young girl involved and, understandably, concern in the community.
"We would like to reassure the public that enquiries are in hand to trace the vehicle and we are absolutely determined to do all we can to identify the individual involved."
Officers have appealed for witnesses and CCTV footage.
Tributes have been paid to an experienced runner from Plymouth who died after suffering a suspected heart attack during an Iron Man Triathlon in Spain.
Friends said it had been 39-year-old Sharon Lang's dream to combine her love of running, cycling and swimming to compete in the event in Marbella.
A run in her honour is due take place in Plymouth on Sunday.
Image source, Via Kirsty Prowse
Johnny Rutherford
BBC Spotlight
Building work has begun on a long-awaited new child and adolescent mental health unit in Cornwall for the South West.
The new 14-bed facility in Bodmin, to accommodate boys and girls up to the age of 18, is due to open next year.
Previously, families have seen relatives having to be treated hundreds of miles away because no such local beds were available.
Health bosses and supporters of the project said the start of the work was a "significant milestone".
It will remain dry with some fairly lengthy clear spells but also turning rather chilly though as early evening approaches and under starry skies.
Minimum temperature: 2 to 5C (36 to 41F).
It should stay dry through Thursday.
There will be some sunshine at times but with rather a lot of cloud expected too.
Maximum temperature: 10 to 13C (50 to 55F).
BBC Sport
Truro City tonight face their first of three matches that could see them promoted to the National League.
The White Tigers travel to Hampton & Richmond Borough in a repeat fixture of the final game of the regular season on Saturday. That finished with 1-1 draw.
Boss Lee Hodges said it was a massive achievement to reach the play-offs against expectations.
Kick-off is at 19:45.
Exeter hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie hopes to impress England's selectors by helping his club reach a third successive Premiership final.
Read MoreAndrew Segal
BBC Local Live
Police in Exmouth are investigating a suspected kidnap attempt after a man tried to pull a girl towards a car as she walked to school.
Officers said, external the girl was approached by the unknown man at about 09:00 while she walked a short distance ahead of her mother on Exeter Road.
Her mother confronted the man who tried to say "was trying to take the child back to her mother" before he left the scene in a dark blue car.
The girl was unhurt "but was left shaken and upset by the incident", officers said.
The man was described as white, tanned, possibly in his 30s, about 5ft 10in (1.78m) tall, with a heavy black beard, black unkempt hair and square-rimmed reading glasses.
He was wearing a bright yellow padded jacket with blue jeans.
Thanks to BBC Weather Watcher Jules for sharing this photo of Porth, near Newquay.
If you have pictures to share, please email us.
Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live
Union members at a train firm planning five days of strikes in a dispute over the role of guards say they will not be walking out "as a gesture of good will".
Action by workers who were members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) on South Western Railway (SWR) was set to take place on 9, 11, 14, 16 and 18 May.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said the strikes had been suspended because SWR had agreed to talks with conciliation service ACAS.
However, he added that if the talks did not commence by 18 May, the union "may consider further industrial action".
Image source, PAThe union claimed proposals to change the role of guards and extend driver-only services would compromise staff and passenger safety. The Department for Transport said guards had been "guaranteed" jobs and the independent rail regulator ruled that driver-controlled trains "are safe".
SWR has services from London to Exeter, via Honiton and Salisbury.
Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online
An 89-year-old woman who went missing from her home near Wadebridge has been found, police have said., external
Margaret Leadbetter has now been taken to hospital for medical attention.
Police have thanked people for their help.
Twitter
The M5 southbound near Tiverton has reopened after an earlier incident, Highways England has said.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online
A man has been charged with murder after the death of a six-month-old boy from Plymouth, police have said.
The baby was taken to Derriford Hospital from an address in Stoke on 28 May 2017, and was later transferred to Bristol Children’s Hospital where he died on 31 May 2017, officers said.
The 26-year-old from Plymouth appeared in the city's magistrates' court earlier.
He has been remanded to appear at Truro Crown Court tomorrow.
