Summary

  • Updates from Tuesday 8 May until Friday 11 May 2018

Live Reporting

  1. Call for more financial help for young cancer patients

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    There are calls for a Cornish MP to take action to ease the financial pressure on young people with cancer.

    National charity CLIC Sargent has set up a petition urging the Truro and Falmouth MP and Government Minister Sarah Newton to make it possible for patients to claim benefits from the moment they are diagnosed.

    At the moment youngsters can't apply for the Personal Independence Payment until three months after their diagnosis.

    If you're a young person who's diagnosed with cancer in Truro you might have to travel to Bristol or further afield to receive specialist treatment. But in those first three months, we know that young people are spending on average £360 per month extra just to deal with the costs of their treatment."

    Priyanka Patel, CLIC Sargent spokesperson

    CLIC Sargent charity shop exteriorGoogle

    The petition can be signed at the CLIC Sergent charity shop in Truro

  2. A361 to be closed 'for several hours' after earlier crash

    Twitter

    The A361 at Tiverton is "likely to be closed for several hours yet" after an earlier crash, police have said.

    A car and lorry crashed between the Bolham roundabout and Stoodleigh Cross at about 03:00.

    One man has been take to hospital with "serious injuries".

    Drivers have been urged to avoid the area while investigation work takes place.

    Police added that the scene is a "difficult" one to examine.

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  3. 'Bored' job search man dies aged 91

    Joe Bartley took a job as a waiter aged 89 after putting an ad in a local paper to find work.

    Read More

  6. Devon's ash trees to be monitored for disease

    BBC Radio Devon

    Healthy ash tree

    Tree experts are to spend more time monitoring Devon's ash trees.

    It is because of growing concerns about the spread of Ash Dieback Disease.

    It is estimated that more than 6,000 ash trees grow alongside Devon's roads, and with the disease spreading, the trees could become dangerous.

    Ash tree with disease

    Ash dieback, also known as Chalara, is a disease that was first seen in Eastern Europe in 1992.

    It now affects more than 2 million sq km, from Scandinavia to Italy.

    It was identified in England in 2012 in a consignment of imported infected trees.

  7. Two trapped after crash in Devon

    Jenna Hawkey
    BBC News Online

    Two people have suffered minor injuries in a crash near South Brent this morning, firefighters say.

    Crews from Buckfastleigh and Ashburton were called to Wonton Cross on Plymouth Road just before 08:00 after receiving reports two vehicles had become wedged in the road, trapping the occupants inside.

    One casualty managed to free themselves from the car, while firefighters used tools and a winch to release the second person.

    They were both treated for minor injuries by the South Western Ambulance Service.

    rural roadGoogle

    Plymouth Road, near to where the crash took place

  8. Man helped to find job after barely speaking for six years

    Janine Jansen
    BBC Spotlight

    A man who barely spoke for six years after being bullied at school is now working at Bovey Castle.

    Aaron Darcy, 21, from Torquay, became selectively mute, talking only to his parents and only within the confines of his home.

    He started to speak more freely again after getting help from an adult education provider called Eat That Frog.

    The service helps young people with special needs to get jobs in the local community.

    Bovey Castle has taken on two students so far and says it wants to take on more.

  9. 'Contaminated material' found at Dawlish Countryside Park

    Daniel Clark
    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Contaminated material has been found at Dawlish Countryside Park, meaning that work to repair the car park has been delayed.

    Work was due to begin this week but a small trace of contaminated material was discovered by contractors.

    Work due to start on car park resurfacing at Dawlish Countryside Park has been delayed. This is due to the contractors discovering a small trace of contaminated material which needs to be removed before the first phase of works can begin. Once the test results have been received then we will agree with the contractor a revised commencement date and advise the public of this."

    Councillor Humphrey Clemens, Teignbridge District Council's Executive for Planning and Housing

  10. Cornwall travel: A39 Dracaena Avenue partially blocked

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    In Falmouth, the A39 Dracaena Avenue is partially blocked by a broken-down vehicle at the Ponsharden Roundabout.

  11. 'Bored stiff' Paignton pensioner Joe Bartley dies

    Hayley Westcott
    BBC News Online

    Joe Bartley

    Joe Bartley became well-known around Paignton

    A 91-year-old man from Devon who got a job as a waiter after placing an ad in a local paper has died.

    Joe Bartley received fan mail when he started his job at Cantina Bar and Kitchen in Paignton in 2016.

    He said at the time that he had felt "very lonely" after his wife Cassie died in 2014. "I was bored stiff sat there doing nothing and not seeing anyone," he said.

    original ad

    Joe placed an advert in a local paper in 2016 asking for work

    Joe hung up his apron in March but had made quite the impact on his colleagues.

    In a Facebook post, Cantina staff said they "could never have known what Joe Bartley would mean to us when we answered his ad".

    "Joe quickly became a colleague, a friend and surprisingly, a media sensation.We will all miss his mischief, infectious laugh and incredible zest for life."

    Joe "quickly became a friend" when he started work at Cantina Bar and Kitchen

  12. The League Two academy making millions

    BBC Sport finds out how League Two side Exeter City are making millions by selling their best young players.

    Read More

  13. Six tonne statue of St Piran sets sail for France

    BBC Spotlight

    A six tonne statue of the patron saint of Cornwall will continue its journey to France today.

    The granite sculpture of St Piran will be the 100th statue to feature in the Valley of the Saints in Brittany, and marks the park's 10th anniversary.

    It has taken months to create and is due to travel across the Channel from Salcombe today on a traditional French sailing boat.

    The statue was sculpted at Trenoweth Quarry in Mabe
    statue being loaded onto a boat by crane

    The statue set sail from Falmouth yesterday, before anchoring in Salcombe overnight.

  14. Devon travel update

    BBC Radio Devon

    • The A361 North Devon Link Road near Tiverton remains closed due to an earlier incident.
    • In Exmouth, there's very heavy traffic due to an earlier accident on A379 Bridge Road at the Matford Roundabout.
    • Heading towards Torquay on the A380 South Devon Highway, one lane is closed due to barrier repair work, with queueing traffic back to Kingskerswell
    • In Blue Post near Totnes, there are reports of a collision on Plymouth Road near the Christmas tree farm.

  15. Knitted Poldark characters 'go global'

    The woollen characters have sold across the UK, Canada, Australia and the US.

    Read More

  16. Building damaged by fire in Exmouth

    Jenna Hawkey
    BBC News Online

    Firefighters were called to an oven fire at a commercial building in Exmouth this morning.

    Crews from Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton attended the blaze on Chapel Street.

    The fire was confined to the oven, but the entire ground floor of the building was damaged by smoke.

    urban streetGoogle

  17. Devon primary school wins special sustainability award

    John Danks
    BBC Spotlight

    A primary school in Devon has won an award for its work enabling children to grow, harvest, and understand about vegetables and fruit.

    Wynstream Primary School, in Wonford, Exeter will receive this year’s Prince of Wales Award, which is given annually by the Devon County Agricultural Association for community projects that boost local sustainability.

    Children holding a banner, which reads "thank you"Devon County Show

    We have a school shop, where they can buy the organic fruit and vegetable plants that we grow, and the ‘pester-power’ of the children is very important in getting their parents, and sometimes even their grand-parents involved in growing their own.”

    Mrs Angela Redmond, Outdoor learning teacher, Wynstream Primary School

    The £1,000 prize money will be spent on a large pollinator area to give the children practical experience and understanding of how bees and other insects are involved in fruit and vegetable production.

    It's the first time the award, which will be presented at the Devon County Show, has been won by a school.

  18. Man 'seriously injured' in A361 crash near Tiverton
    Breaking

    Hayley Westcott
    BBC News Online

    A man has been "seriously injured" in a crash between a car and a lorry on the A361 near Tiverton, police have said.

    It happened at about 03:00 between the Bolham roundabout and Stoodleigh Cross.

    Emergency services remain at the scene where the road has been closed for investigation work.

    Drivers are urged to avoid the area and choose an alternative route. Diversions have been put in place.

    Anyone with information about the crash is being asked to contact police.

  19. New business chief appointed in Cornwall

    Johnny O'Shea
    BBC News Online

    A new boss of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been appointed.

    Glenn Caplin has been given the twin jobs of Chief Executive Officer of the LEP and Service Director (Economic Development and Enterprise) for Cornwall Council.

    Mr Caplin replaces Sandra Rothwell and will take up his new role in July. He has previously held senior roles at Falmouth University, Cornwall Council and the Cornwall Development Company.

    Glenn CaplinCIOS LEP

    We already have some amazing businesses in sectors ranging from digital to creative to renewable energy and aerospace. These form the basis of the LEPs 10 opportunities and my ambition will be to develop and support these even further. I am also looking forward to working with sectors such as tourism and agri-food which also play a big part in the regional economy."

    Glenn Caplin

    The LEP is a partnership between the private and public sectors and that aims to drive the economic strategy for Cornwall. There are 38 LEPs in England.

  20. Exeter City prepare for Wembley trip in promotion bid

    BBC Spotlight

    Exeter City's bid to make the League Two play-off final at Wembley gets under way tomorrow.

    The Grecians travel to Lincoln for the first leg of their semi-final, with the Imps returning to St James Park next Thursday.

    Exeter City are hoping they can draw on the experience of last season's play-offs to help them go one step further and gain promotion to League One.

    Midfielder, Jake Taylor says Exeter is feeling confident...