Updates from Tuesday 8 May until Friday 11 May 2018
The Guardian
A minor tax amendment made by an engineer from Pakistan who has trained engineers in Plymouth for eight years has forced him to withdraw his son and wife from life-saving NHS treatment, external because he cannot pay for their care.
A popular North Devon Inn has been bought by the National Trust to try to save it from closure.
In future, every pint and meal bought at Hunter's Inn will help to look after the wildlife in Heddon Valley and help to pay for improved access for visitors.
The trust already cares for 2,000 acres of land in the area and has paid £1.2m to acquire the pub.
Image source, GoogleIn Axminster, the A358 Chard Road is blocked in both directions between stony Lane and Second Avenue due to an accident.
Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live
Work is about to start on a £1.8m extension to the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon (pictured).
The work, set to increase the display space by almost three quarters of its current capacity, is expected to be finished by next summer.
The museum is now closed and a temporary "pop-up" museum will open tomorrow in the Bridge Chambers building.
Image source, GoogleMeanwhile, part of the funding has been agreed for an artificial grass pitch at the Tarka Tennis Centre as part of the new leisure centre project.
North Devon Council’s executive has agreed to release £163,000 of Section 106 funding towards the project, along with £122,000 from the sale of land at Rock Park in Barnstaple.
The council has applied to the Football Foundation for £550,000 towards the project. The result of that is expected to be announced in July.
A person has reportedly been knocked over by a car outside Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.
An eyewitness at the scene reported that a woman had been struck by the vehicle at about noon on Tuesday, external.
Del Crookes
BBC News Online
There are "concerns for the welfare" of a missing man from Exeter, external, police say.
Ryan Fearnley, 30, is described as white, 5ft 9in (175cm) tall, is of small build, has short dark brown hair, a moustache and tattoos on his knuckles and arms.
He normally wears a baseball cap.
Image source, Devon and Cornwall PoliceDel Crookes
BBC News Online
Police say they would like to identify a man after a theft in Falmouth, external.
The incident happened on Saturday, 17 March, between 14:00 and 15:45 at a hotel on Cliff Road.
A woman had her credit cards stolen from her purse, which were then used, and money was also withdrawn.
Image source, Devon and Cornwall Police
Daniel Clark
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Image source, LDRSA planning application to expand celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's HQ at River Cottage has been unanimously approved.
Councillors backed proposals for a 16-room guesthouse, a cookery school, an event space and informal lounge space at River Farm near Axminster.
Image source, Satellite ArchitectsThe site was made famous on Channel 4's Escape to River Cottage.
Council planners were told the scheme would allow it to compete with other major cookery schools and would help secure the "long-term viability" of the business.
It will also create 22 new jobs.
Image source, Satellite ArchitectsQuote MessageIt has been an enormous privilege over the last 12 years to have our River Cottage HQ in east Devon. There was some anxiety when we arrived but any fears that when we were trying to create a television theme park or some kind of Disneyworld have been allayed, and I hope and believe we have been a responsible and sustainable business and I hope we have created something very special."
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, River Cottage owner
Image source, Family photographA Cornwall primary school is turning a summer house donated to it into a reading room in memory of a former pupil who died from a rare lung condition three years ago.
Seven-year-old Esmee Polmear died after she collapsed at Perranporth Primary School in July 2015. She was later found to have been suffering from pulmonary veno-occlusive disease.
Her parents have provided the summer house.
Her mother, Lynette, said she they donated the brightly painted hut, furnished with comfy cushions and hundreds of books, because "we wanted to give something back as they looked after her very well".
Chris Baker
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Image source, GoogleTorbay Council looks set to introduce 20mph speed limits in 11 parts of Brixham, Paignton and Torquay.
Councillors on the transport working party meet on Thursday to talk about the proposal.
Areas being considered include:
A separate programme will see 20mph speed limits brought in outside schools in the three towns.
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The disruption is due to a points failure.
Flights have begun taking off from the Isles of Scilly after hundreds of gig rowers were stranded due to fog following the World Gig Championships.
The Scillonian ferry is also making an extra sailing today to clear the backlog.
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Christine Butler
BBC South West
Steam rally enthusiasts in Cornwall have uncovered a rare water-powered saw that processed timber on an industrial scale.
It's been housed in an old workshop on the Boconnoc Estate, near Lostwithiel, for 99 years.
The saw blade and turbine were powered from water from the grounds, making it totally environmentally friendly and cost-effective to run.
Engineers have been put it back to work and it is running again.
The 49-year-old was rescued after his 20ft vessel got into difficulty off Plymouth near a busy beach.
Read MoreAndrew Segal
BBC Local Live
Anyone who plans to use a disposable barbecue in Cornwall is being warned by firefighters to ensure they are put out correctly after a number of bins caught alight over the bank holiday weekend.
Fire crews dealt with three incidents alone on Monday, including fires in bins on Par Beach and on Cliff Road in Porthleven, and a skip catching alight at New Polzeath (pictured).
All were thought to have been started by carelessly disposed barbecues.
Image source, Wadebridge CFRS/TwitterCornwall Fire and Rescue Service said people should "be mindful when disposing of your barbecues this summer".
It said: "Please make sure barbecues are disposed of safely after use in this fine weather. Make sure disposable barbecues are completely cooled and extinguished before putting in bins or skips."
More information about disposing of such items can be found on the fire service's website, external.
Hannah Stacey
BBC Radio Cornwall
The Scillonian ferry has landed in the Isles of Scilly, and its crew is readying it for a quick turn-around.
Thousands of people are trying to make their way home from Scilly after the World Pilot Gig Rowing Championships over the weekend.
However, Skybus passengers have had flights cancelled over the weekend because of poor visibility at Scilly's airport.
There will be a double sailing of the Scillionian today as transport bosses try to get everyone to their destinations.
Passengers with cancelled flights this morning are being offered a place on an 18:30 sailing back to Cornwall.
Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live
A fishing vessel that capsized off Plymouth, resulting in the death of a man, has been named as the Laura Jane by accident investigators.
Lifeboats, police, coastguards and an air ambulance were called to the Mountbatten breakwater after the 20ft (6m) vessel got into difficulty at about 12:55 on Monday.
A 52-year-old man was airlifted to hospital after being rescued.
He was the only person on board the vessel, which was left on its side. Police earlier confirmed he died.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch, which is taking the lead in determining what happened, said: "We have started an investigation and our inspectors are in the early stages of gathering evidence."
Clare Woodling
BBC Spotlight
Carving four new stone beasts at Exeter Cathedral was a "very grounding" experience, according to one stonemason who has worked on the project.
Anna Steinmetzer said she loved how she knew the beasts were "going to outlive me".
The original ones were installed in the 1860s but weather damage and time had left the creatures faceless.
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The children are among hundreds more dancing in the streets, and through the town's shops and houses to drive out the winter and celebrate the arrival of spring.
