Updates from Tuesday 8 May until Friday 11 May 2018
Thanks to PopandRosies Pa for sharing this picture of Holywell Bay near Newquay this morning.
It will become increasingly cloudy as rain to the west moves in across Cornwall and Devon today.
If you have any pictures to share, please email us.
A trustee of a controversial parent-led school in Devon says there wasn't the right government support to deal with the challenges of setting up a new school.
Route 39 Academy in Higher Clovelly near Bideford was placed in special measures by Ofsted in July last year after it emerged the school had decided not to enter any Year 11 pupils for GCSEs.
Last month, the school's governors resigned after Launceston College Multi Academy was brought in to run it.
Quote MessageThe very particular challenges that a parent-led freeschool was going to face didn't seem to have been thought out. We felt that we were finding our own solutions rather than having help from the government or government experts."
Anna Ward, Former governor
The government said it will not hesitate to take action when any school is not meeting standards, and work is under way to set up an interim governing body for Route 39.
Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online
The A361 near Tiverton remains closed in both directions between the Bolham roundabout and Stoodleigh due to a serious accident.
Southbound traffic is being diverted on to the B3227 at Bish Mill while northbound traffic is being diverted on to the A396 via the Black Cat junction.
Police are urging drivers to plan their route before travelling and say the road may be closed until lunchtime.
Image source, GoogleThe crash happened near Tiverton at about 03:00
Cornwall's only museum dedicated to the history of the china clay industry is celebrating getting funding for a project worth £1.35m.
The Clay Works Project will be getting more than £858,000 of that money from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Wheal Martyn, just outside St Austell, claims to be the world's only china clay mining museum.
The Heritage Lottery Fund will be providing the bulk of the money needed to realise its ambitious plans to enhance the museum and its surroundings and bring in more visitors.
Wheal Martyn includes a scheduled ancient monument as well as the remains of two former Victorian clay works.
The project, which is also being funded by Arts Council England, Historic England and Cornwall Council among others, will improve access to the site, provide new interpretation and start a four-year programme of events and activities.
Alex Osborne
BBC Weather
If you're planning a trip to the coast or seaside, here are the next high water times around Devon and Cornwall.
We'll have the latest forecast on BBC Spotlight at 13:30.
Alex Osborne
BBC Weather
Today will be rather cloudy and breezy with spells of rain pushing in from the west.
The rain could be heavy at times this afternoon, but will clear later.
Maximum temperature: 10 to 13°C (50 to 55°F).
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Some bus services from Royal Parade, Plymouth, will not be running this morning, according to Plymouth Citybus.
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John Ayres
BBC Spotlight
A young family from Plympton are trying to find an extra £20,000 to put right their property after a loft extension was carried out by a builder with a string of court convictions.
Brian and Louise Crocker re-mortgaged their property to pay for the work, but have been left with an unfinished extension which breaches planning regulations.
Lee Butterworth, whose company is called Heritage Trades has been given suspended prison sentences over the last three years and ordered to pay more than £100,000 for offences relating to gas safety work and fraud.
He has defended his work in this case saying he has many good reviews, but Brian Crocker says they are now in a difficult position because their roof is too high.
Quote MessageWe've spoken to architects, we've spoken to a few other people and we realise planning is not going to be granted. We've actually approached him again to come back and put the build back as per our contract with him. His response was, 'I'll see you in court.'"
Brian Crocker
Image source, GoogleLifeboats, a coastguard rescue team and a helicopter were called out last night after a woman was spotted in the water in Falmouth.
It happened off the Gas Works Car Park off Church Street at about midnight.
The woman managed to get out of the water, but whilst breathing and conscious, was unresponsive to questioning, coastguards said.
She was taken to hospital by ambulance and the helicopter was stood down.
Jenna Hawkey
BBC News Online
A motor vehicle was deliberately set on fire in Plymouth last night, firefighters have said., external
A crew from Greenbank was called to reports of the blaze on Pier Street just before 01:00.
The vehicle was completely destroyed and a second vehicle was also damaged.
Image source, GooglePier Street, Plymouth
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The A361 at Stoodleigh, Tiverton is closed in both directions following a collision between a lorry and a car overnight., external
The crash happened just after 03:00.
The road is expected to remain closed for some time and drivers are being advised to divert their journeys to avoid the area until further notice.
Police are asking for anyone who witnessed the crash to contact them, external.
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Dean Lowe beat his girlfriend Kirby Noden to death, chopped her up then "put her down the toilet".
Read MoreFollowing a sunny evening it will be dry and chilly through tonight with long clear spells, although more in the way of cloud is expected later.
It will be an increasingly breezy night.
Minimum Temperature: 2 to 5C (36 to 41F).
Following a chilly and mainly fine start it will soon become mostly cloudy on Friday with spells of rain pushing in from the west through the afternoon.
A breezy day.
Maximum Temperature: 10 to 14C (50 to 57F).
Harriet Bradshaw
Reporter
South West Water is urging customers to only flush 3 Ps - pee, paper and poo - after two blocked sewers in two days on Fore Street, Exeter.
One shop has been shut for three days due to water damage.
A spokeswoman for the firm said the blockages were due to wet-wipes and urged customers to bag and bin wet-wipes.
She said they deal with 8,500 blocked sewers each year, which costs about £4.5m and adds to bills.
Advisors are due to properties in the area this week with leaflets and further advice for householders.
Miles Davis
BBC News Online
A stolen voice machine has been returned to its teenage owner in Plymouth.
The theft of the machine from Miya Thirlby in January prompted celebrities including Paul Gascoigne, Alan Shearer and Dawn French to share social media posts trying to get the equipment back.
The machine, valued at £5,000, has now been returned to Miya, 16, who has cerebral palsy.
Det Insp Paul Weymouth from Charles Cross police station said: "The family are delighted that this item has been recovered and can once again be used by their daughter.
“Thanks must go out to the staff of Cash Convertors in New George street Plymouth, whose vigilance resulted in the recovery of this item.”
Police said two men from Plymouth have been arrested and released "pending further enquiries".
Image source, Paul JohnsonHarriet Bradshaw
Reporter
An Exeter clothes shop has been shut for three days due to floods caused by a 10m (30ft) blockage in a sewage pipe.
Kalkidan Legesse, the owner of Sancho's, said the leaks came from a steel pipe under the fitting room floor and flooded part of the property.
Image source, Sancho'sShe said South West Water has cleared the underground pipe along the side of the building, which was full of wet wipes.
Ms Legesse urged people not to use and throw wet wipes down the loo as they're bad for the environment.
She estimated the cost to the business was £1,000 a day.
The BBC has approached South West Water for comment.
