Summary

  • Updates from Monday 21 May until Friday 25 May 2018

Live Reporting

  1. Yellow warning for heavy rain

    Lynne French
    BBC News Online

    The Met Office has issued a yellow "be prepared" warning for heavy rain and thunderstorms over the weekend.

    The warning is valid from 06:00 tomorrow until 23:59 on Sunday.

    Yellow weather warningMet Office

    It says there's a small chance homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds.

    The weather could also cause some travel disruption and loss of power.

  2. Residents 'unhappy' after sewage station is shut down

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    The sewage pumping station in Mousehole has been shut down while repairs are made to a damaged pipe that is on a difficult cliff top site.

    It means South West Water is using tankers to take waste from Mousehole to another pumping station in Penzance.

    The company has apologised for the disruption.

    Hole Deli and CafeGoogle

    My building was full of exhaust fumes because the [lorry's] exhaust was facing into the shop door. I had to shut all the windows and doors and turned the extraction off because it was sucking all the fumes in and the smell as well. It's been going on such a long time. They're down here quite often doing works where they've shut off the car park, there'll be trucks parked in front of the harbour and for customers it's not nice."

    Caleb Munday, Hole Foods Deli & Cafe

  4. Man arrested on suspicion of assault and kidnap

    Del Crookes
    BBC News Online

    A man has been arrested on suspicion of assault, kidnap and possession of a controlled drug, police say.

    The 21-year-old from Helston has been released under investigation pending further inquiries.

    Officers say they were contacted after reports of a suspected assault and kidnap in Falmouth on Sunday at about 16:40.

    A member of the public contacted police with reports they had witnesses a man being chased by a woman on to Smithick Hill in Falmouth. A black Citroen C4 Cactus car was then seen driving at speed towards the man who was forced to stop."

    DS Scott Ellwood, Devon and Cornwall Police

    The woman assaulted the man several times causing him to fall to the floor where he was assaulted further before being put into the car by the woman and an unknown male driver. We are concerned for the welfare of the victim and his whereabouts. We have had no further reports and have yet to hear from any victim reporting this incident."

    DS Scott Ellwood, Devon and Cornwall Police

  6. Mayor wants St Austell to be rebranded as garden town

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    The mayor of St Austell, Gary King, admits that the town is missing a trick by not capitalising on its beautiful surrounding countryside.

    Many shops stand empty and the central pedestrian area is often deserted.

    The issues were highlighted at a meeting called, "Meet Your Politician - Shape St Austell", on Thursday night.

    St AustellGoogle

    We're hoping, that in conjunction with St Austell Bay Economic Forum, with the large gardens that are around the town - the Lost Gardens of Heligan, the Eden Project - along with the college and other partners, we're looking at perhaps in the future being able to rebrand our town as a garden town."

    Gary King, Mayor of St Austell

  7. Council employee flown to Mauritius for inspection

    Richard Whitehouse
    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Voile Bleue Hotel in MauritiusLDRS

    A council officer was sent to Mauritius to inspect a fishing boat, but at no cost to the taxpayer.

    The trip was revealed after Cornwall Council published details of a £570.71 payment made to the Voile Bleue resort in the Indian Ocean.

    It is understood a credit card charge from British Airways in November for £2,951.50 was also linked to the visit.

    MauritiusLDRS

    But the authority says all costs for the port health officer's visit to Mauritius were paid for by the owners of the British-flagged fishing vessel he inspected.

    Cornwall Council says it regularly carries out inspections of fish processing operations undertaken on board fish factory vessels "for compliance under the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006".

    The cost of this inspection is based on 100% full cost recovery. The owners of the vessel pay for all of the costs including the flight, hotel accommodation, subsistence, a daily rate for officer time and for the production of the report. There are no costs to Cornwall Port Health Authority."

    Cornwall Council statement

  8. Plans for Exmouth watersports centre set to be approved

    Daniel Clark
    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Watersports centre plansLDRS

    Plans for Exmouth's new multimillion-pound watersports centre are set to be given the go-ahead.

    Grenadier has proposed a new two-storey water sports centre, cafe, restaurant and retail units plus car parking, open space and a ramped access to the beach.

    The project is an integral part of East Devon District Council's plans to regenerate the town's seafront area.

    The application has the support of Exmouth Town Council (EDDC) and planning officers are recommending the application be approved when it goes before EDDC's Development Management Committee on Tuesday 5 June.

  9. Rare train carriage centenary celebrated

    The luxury observation car offered passengers panoramic views when it was built after World War Two.

    Read More

  10. Newquay could be getting a new trampoline park

    Richard Whitehouse
    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Planning permission for a new trampoline park in Newquay has been recommended for approval.

    The attraction could be built on land next to Waterworld on the town's former pitch and putt site, which is owned by Cornwall Council.

    Plans for the trampoline park are set to go before the authority's strategic planning committee next week.

    Trampoline parkLDRS

    Applicants Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), which also operates Cornwall Council's leisure centres, including Waterworld, said it had amended its plans after a public consultation.

    It has incorporated a cafe and a viewing area on the first floor of the park as well as including suggestions from local residents such as TV Gladiator style activities, including a foam pit and gymnastics.

  11. Funeral of Spanish triathlon victim

    Lynne French
    BBC News Online

    The funeral has taken place of a 39-year-old Plymouth woman who died after competing in an Ironman triathlon in Spain.

    Sharon Lang suffered a heart attack during the swim section of the Marbella Ironman on 29 April and died in hospital the following day.

    Sharon LangKirsty Prowse

    Mourners at Weston Mill Crematorium were asked by the Lang family to dress informally in Lycra or in the sport enthusiast's favourite colour of pink.

    The family also requested donations in lieu of flowers for the British Heart Foundation.

  12. People trapped in vehicle 'winched to safety'

    Lynne French
    BBC News Online

    A driver and passenger were rescued by fie crews after their car became trapped against railings on the Woods Browning Industrial Estate in Bodmin yesterday evening.

    Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said the vehicle was winched to safety and the two occupants released.

    They were not thought to have been seriously hurt.

  13. How many £1m-plus homes are sold near you?

    Sales of homes in England and Wales for over £1m have hit a new high. How many were sold near you?

    Read More

  14. Dear, oh dear, oh deer!

    Lynne French
    BBC News Online

    A deer has been spotted running through the streets of Plymouth.

    DeerCrystal Martin

    The animals are a common sight on the outskirts of the city near Glenholt and Roborough, but this deer was captured on film this morning by Crystal Martin on Ebrington Street - a stone's throw from the city centre.

    Police warned drivers to be on the lookout after the animal was seen on Lipson Road in the Mutley area.

    Sightings have also been reported in Notte Street, at Whitecross sheltered housing, near Freedom Park and the Seymour pub.

  15. Man guilty of attempted murder after brutal hammer attack

    Devon Live

    An Exeter man has been found guilty of attempted murder after a brutal hammer attack on a 96-year-old war veteran at his home.

  16. Devon travel: A30 blocked at Sourton Cross

    BBC Radio Devon

    • The A30 around Sourton Cross is partially blocked heading towards Okehampton due to a broken-down vehicle.
    • Delays are possible on the Tamar Bridge due to maintenance work.
    • A broken-down vehicle has been reported In Torquay on Lower Polsham Road around Kings Avenue.

  17. Solicitors firm 'leaves clients in limbo'

    John Henderson
    BBC Spotlight

    A customer of a law firm with branches across Devon and Cornwall claims the sale of her business was put at risk when the company "closed without notice".

    Patricia Carnell

    Furse Sanders Ltd, which has seven branches in the South West and one in London, is looking to appoint a liquidator.

    Patricia Carnell claims she was left "in limbo" because of "huge delays" by the company. She says prior to the closure it "denied" financial difficulties.

    Following weeks of little contact Mrs Carnell says she was told her case was being transferred to another law firm in Leicester, who helped her complete the sale.

    But she said long delays from Furse Sanders led the buyer of her ice cream shop in Looe, Cornwall, to become "twitchy" and she was contacted by their solicitors, who were concerned no action had been taken.

    The BBC has received no response from Furse Sanders.

  18. Work to protect Dawlish and Teignmouth rail track

    Lynne French
    BBC News Online

    Network Rail has produced a short video to show rail users how it's working to protect the track between Teignmouth and Dawlish.

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  19. Pullman carriage's centenary celebration

    Johnny O'Shea
    BBC News Online

    A grand old lady of steam is celebrating a century of luxurious service in South Devon.

    Devon BelleDartmouth Steam Railway & River Boat Company

    The Devon Belle Pullman carriage, rescued by the Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company, is one of only two remaining in the world and has been running between Paignton and Kingswear since the 1980s.

  20. 'Thrilled' kayaker snaps ocean sunfish

    Lynne French
    BBC News Online

    A kayaker has photographed an ocean sunfish off the coast of Cornwall.

    The "exotic" creature was captured by Rupert Kirkwood near Longships lighthouse off Land's End on Wednesday.

    SunfishRupert Kirkwood

    According to the Marine Conservation Society, the ocean sunfish is the world's largest bony fish and can grow up to 10ft (3m) and weigh more than two tonnes.

    Normally found in the Atlantic Ocean, it can be seen around the South West during the summer.

    Mr Kirkwood, who also photographed a pod of porpoises, said he normally sees about six sunfish around the South West coast when he's kayaking in the summer.

    "They are always a thrill to see because they are so strange and exotic," he said.

    Porpoises off Land's EndRupert Kirkwood