Richard Whitehouse
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Image source, AFP

Cornwall Council says there have been just two applications to hold street parties to celebrate Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding on Saturday.

The authority's events planning team has also received just one event notification form for an event this weekend, which has no road closure requested.

Image source, LDRS

The street parties are in Bude and St Austell and the event notification is for a village hall tea party at Carnon Downs.

The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011 saw 30 applications to hold royal wedding street parties in Cornwall.

Richard Whitehouse
Local Democracy Reporting Service

The Cornwall Countryside Access Forum says it is worried about proposals to dual the section of the A30 between Carland Cross and Chiverton Cross.

The independent group says the plans put forward by Highways England, external have safety implications for cyclists, horse riders and walkers.

Image source, LDRS

It said that the proposed crossing on the new Chiverton Cross rounadbout "will lead to cyclists being unduly exposed to traffic hazards and as such is potentially dangerous".

A consultation by Highways England on the £290m scheme is aiming to get under way in 2019/20 and finish by 2022/23.

BBC Radio Devon

Four charities are joining forces, external to offer extra support for those suffering from domestic abuse and sexual violence in Devon.

The partnership - dubbed Leesar, which stands for Listen, Engage, Empower, Support, Advocate, and Recover - held its launch event last week.

Splitz Support Services, North Devon Against Domestic Abuse, Stop Abuse For Everyone and Devon Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Services were brought together by Devon County Council to provide a range of services across the county.

The new strategy will focus on four key areas:

• Prevention
• Early help and intervention
• Support and protection
• Recovery and resilience

BBC News

Producers of protected food name products, like Cornish pasties, have been lobbying MPs at Westminster.

More than 80 British food and drink products currently benefit from protected European Union status.

But cheese, meat and wine producers are worried that unless the government signs up to an identical scheme after Brexit, they could lose out.

Image source, Getty Images

Matthew O'Callaghan, chairman of the UK Protected Food Name Association, says Devon and Cornwall could be particularly affected.

He said: "You've got the Devon and Cornwall area - things like Cornish pasties, Plymouth gin, clotted cream.

"All of those sorts of products are at risk if this scheme does not continue."

BBC Radio Devon

The government's putting up £2m to help fund a project to restore peatland on Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin Moor.

Many of the South West's rivers rise on the moors and the condition of the peat is crucial in supporting healthy rivers and wildlife.

Image source, Getty Images

The three-year project, due to start this summer, will see various ditch-blocking techniques used.

Organisations including South West Water, the Environment Agency and Dartmoor National Park will work with landowners and farmers.

Chris Baker
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Torbay Council is to ask the EU to help fund the modernisation of Brixham breakwater, which was damaged by Storm Emma in March.

The local authority is to apply to the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund for a grant of up to £2m for the repairs.

Image source, Getty Images

The council will need to find most of the remaining £1.8m for the project from its own resources.

Councillors voted unanimously to apply for the EU money.

The Environment Agency may contribute £100,000 because of the barrier's role in protecting the harbour and town.

BBC Radio Cornwall

It's still not clear whether Meghan Markle's father will attend the royal wedding on Saturday after US reports say, external he's been taken ill after allegedly staging paparazzi photos in the run-up to the ceremony.

Thomas Markle is reported to have said that he did not want to cause his daughter embarrassment by attending the big day.

A Kensington Palace spokesman said: "This is a deeply personal moment for Ms Markle in the days before her wedding.

"She and Prince Harry ask again for understanding and respect to be extended to Mr Markle in this difficult situation."

So what do people in Cornwall think of the royal wedding row?

Del Crookes
BBC News Online

A former Royal Signals corporal from Cornwall has been chosen to captain the UK team for this year's Invictus Games.

Mark - known as Dot - Perkins leads a team of 72 wounded, injured and sick military personnel who will represent the country in Prince Harry's tournament in Australia.

Image source, Help for Heroes

He was in Kenya when he was crushed by a vehicle in 2000 in an accident which killed two other people.

He has had multiple hip operations and had to learn how to walk again.

In Sydney, he will compete in the rowing and cycling.

There is strong representation from the South West with former Master-at-Arms in the Royal Navy, Torpoint's Deborah Godfrey, among seven athletes from Devon and Cornwall taking part in Sydney in October.

The Guardian

As more teens come out as trans, experts are clashing over how schools should help, external.

But Miles Everitt, 18, thinks himself lucky to have been well supported by his school in Wadebridge when he came out as transgender.

Miles Davis
BBC News Online

There are 460 children in need of foster care in Cornwall, according to Cornwall Council.

The local authority is appealing for prospective foster carers to get in touch as part of Foster Care Fortnight, which is taking place until 27 May.

Council cabinet member for children, Sally Hawken, said: "Our foster carers are of all ages and from all walks of life and all have different life experiences.

"This ranges from single people, young or old, married and same sex couples and caring professionals, to empty nesters and people from different cultures and religious backgrounds."

The council urged people to get in touch on 01872 323638, or to find out more information at www.fosterincornwall.co.uk, external.

Del Crookes
BBC News Online

Image source, PA

Out of a team of 72, Devon and Cornwall will provide seven athletes to go to this year's Invictus Games.

The competitors representing the UK in Sydney, Australia, from 20-27 October gathered at Horse Guards Parade in London.

The athletes, 64% of whom are new to Invictus, were joined by PM Theresa May and former Team UK captains, including Paralympic bronze medallist Dave Henson.

The seven people representing Devon and Cornwall are:

• Karl Allen-Dobson from Paignton

• Deborah Godfrey from Torpoint
• Nick Martin and Mark Ormrod from Plymouth
• Poppy Pawsey and David Watts from Exmouth
• Andrew White from Okehampton

The team will compete in 11 sports: athletics; archery; wheelchair basketball; cycling; powerlifting; indoor rowing; wheelchair rugby; swimming, sitting volleyball, wheelchair tennis and a new sport for 2018, sailing.

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Exeter's Dom Bess has been called up to the England team for the first test with Pakistan.

The 20-year-old Somerset spin bowler is part of England's 12-man squad for the match at Lord’s starting on Thursday May 24.

Image source, Getty Images

Bess, who is a former England "A" and Lions player, has never been part of a senior England squad in any format of the game before.

He has had scores of 92 and 14, as well as taking one wicket, in his two County Championship games for Somerset this season.

His call-up comes after Somerset teammate and fellow spinner Jack Leach fractured his thumb in training.

Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online

The Environment Agency is testing eight new Cornish beaches for water quality this summer.

They have become official bathing waters following suggestions from councils, feedback from public consultations and a decision by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The beaches are:

• South Fistral beach in Newquay
• Booby’s Bay near Trevose Head (pictured)
• Mexico Towan, Upton Towan and Godrevy, all situated on a long stretch of dunes in St Ives Bay
• Northcott Mouth beach to the north of Bude
• Gwynver Beach which forms part Whitesand Bay
• Tregonhawke in Whitesand Bay

Beach-goers can check out the water quality by visiting the Environment Agency’s online map at the Bathing Water Data Explorer website, external.

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

Police are appealing for witnesses after a theft from a boat in Falmouth.

It happened between 12:30 on 12 May and 17:30 on 13 May in the harbour on Arwenack Street, police said., external

Officers added that they believe another boat has "possibly pulled up alongside the boat to remove the items".

Fishing rods, tools, a battery, pump and a cushion were some of the items that were stolen.

Anyone with information is being asked to contact 101 and boat owners are reminded to "lock all property away".

Image source, Google

BBC Radio Cornwall

Flights to and from the Isles of Scilly still on hold due to poor visibility at Lands End.

Exeter and Newquay flights are on schedule.

Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online

People are being asked to give their views on plans for a new retail park in Exeter.

The Middlemoor Retail Park is an eight-acre site off Honiton Road that forms part of Devon and Cornwall Police’s Middlemoor headquarters site.

The planned new scheme replaces previous plans for a supermarket and consists of eight stores, three catering units and 425 parking spaces.

Richard Haynes, from developers Hammerson, said they "have appreciated the level of early engagement from the neighbours around the site and we would encourage the wider community to come along to our exhibition”.

Image source, Middlemoor Retail Park

Subject to the outcome of a planning decision, it will also provide funding to support the new £25m criminal justice hub currently being developed on another part of the Middlemoor site.

A consultation is taking place until 1 June, with an event being held on 21 May between 15:30 and 19:30 at the Toby Carvery on Rydon Lane.

Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live

A deer has been freed after getting its head trapped in a fence at Penryn train station, police say.

Falmouth and Helston Police said on Facebook that, external the animal was found in a distressed state this morning and "had to be held and calmed by officers to avoid further injury".

Police said a vet sedated the deer and fire crews cut the fence.

"The deer was eventually freed and, after a check over by the vet, was released back to the wild," officers said.

Devon Live

Former Mayor of Torbay Eileen Salloway has died at the age of 75 after a short illness, external.

She served as a local councillor for many years and was mayor in 1989 and 1990. Later she was leader of the council’s Conservative group and leader of the council.

Janine Jansen
BBC Spotlight

Are we losing the art of conversation because we spend too much time on our mobile phones?

The issue is being addressed by one organisation in Paignton which helps young people with additional needs to get ready for the workplace.

Once a week, students have to put down their phones and take part in a debate.

Andrew Beasley is a teacher at Stoke Damerel Primary School in Plymouth and says the ability to communicate is a "vital tool" and "an exceptional gift".

A murderer who beat his girlfriend to death then "flushed her body down the toilet" gets 28 years.