Lynne French
BBC News Online

Urgent action has been demanded by the chief inspector of prisons to tackle violence and safety at HMP Exeter.

Peter Clark has put the Justice Secretary David Gauke publicly on notice that he must explain how conditions at the jail will be improved "as a matter of urgency".

It follows an inspection where disturbingly high levels of violence and self-harm and a serious failure to tackle safety issues were found.

This prompted Mr Clarke to invoke the Urgent Notification (UN) protocol, under which the justice secretary agrees to take personal responsibility for driving improvements at a prison identified as suffering from significant problems, particularly relating to safety.

Cornwall Live

A trampoline park is to be built in Newquay after being given planning permission, external with councillors saying they would 'jump' at the chance to have such a facility in their area.

Police are investigating after the theft of high-value power tools from a property in Penzance earlier this week.

Thieves smashed a window to get inside the house in the Penlee Park area of the town which is currently being renovated.

Their haul included two DeWalt cordless drills, a circular saw with a 4 amp battery, a Hitachi cordless drill, a SDS drill, a Makita radio and two 5 amp batteries - all of which are marked in black with either "JDS", "PJ" of "CW".

Police are appealing to anyone who saw anything suspicious between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, or who may have been offered the tools with the distinctive markings.

Two weather warnings for rain have been issued for parts of Devon and the wider South West.

Amber warning: Between 16:00 today and 06:00 Friday.

The Met Office says: Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce torrential downpours, flooding in some places and frequent lightning.

Yellow warning: Between 11:00 today and 09:00 Friday.

The Met Office says: Thunderstorms will affect southern parts of the UK with some torrential downpours.

Image source, Met Office

What to expect:

• Flooding of homes and businesses is likely and could happen quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds.
• Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, delays and some cancellations to train, bus and air services are likely.
• Spray and sudden flooding probably leading to difficult driving conditions and some road closures and some communities likely to become cut off if roads flood.
• Power cuts likely to occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost.

Lynne French
BBC News Online

A gardener who's worked at Penmount Crematorium in Truro for 41 years, will now have time to tend to his own garden after finally hanging up his spade.

Tim Gill, who started work as a teenager, has made a "huge contribution" to the service offered to bereaved families by caring not just for the grounds, but also for the memorial pieces in the children’s area and the memorial benches.

Image source, Cornwall Council

"They broke the mould when they made Tim... he will be missed," manager Susan Cannan said.

Mr Gill's retirement plans include playing golf, decorating his home... and tending to his own garden.

Cornwall Live

New images posted online of a multimillion-pound beachside development at Carbis Bay, external have prompted angry claims from some local people that it looks like Benidorm..

Truro City goalkeeper Tom McHale hopes he can reach a deal to stay at the National League South club next season.

Three people have been arrested following the discovery of illegal drugs in Tavistock.

Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez is asking people for their views on rural crime.

BBC Radio Cornwall

The Place Ferry is out of service between 13:00 and 14:30 this afternoon because of the tides.

Chris Baker
Local Democracy Reporting Service

A health watchdog has called for Torbay's 17,000 unpaid carers to be given more support to cope with the isolation and stress of caring.

Healthwatch Torbay said the need for breaks and respite from caring needs to be addressed, particularly as carers grow older and their own needs and health change.

The watchdog's consultation report will be used to help Torbay Council finalise its own carers' strategy for the next three years.

Lynne French
BBC News Online

A shire horse adopted by the Mare and Foal Sanctuary in Devon 12 years ago has died.

Kavaner, who was one of the centre's most popular attractions, is thought to have suffered a fatal heart attack on Tuesday at Coombe Park.

Groom Jennifer Abbott said his death would leave a huge hole in the lives of the "heartbroken" staff.

Image source, Jo Walmsley

"He was such a lovely, gentle chap and we're all heartbroken," she said.

"No-one worked harder for the sanctuary than Kav and he seemed to really connect with people... they would come hundreds of miles to spend just a couple of hours with him, even if it was just watching him from the side of a field.

Kavaner's ashes will be scattered at Coombe Park.

Image source, Jo Walmsley

Devon Live

A man in his 70s has been taken to hospital with a head injury after being hit by a car in Paignton, external this morning on the A379 Dartmouth Road.

Police are appealing for witnesses after the theft of birds in Bodmin, Cornwall.

Jenny Walrond
Health Correspondent, BBC Spotlight

A new academy has been set up by the University of Exeter's Medical School, in collaboration with the NHS, in an attempt to tackle the shortage of nurses in Devon and Cornwall.

With more nurses leaving the profession in the South West, rather than joining, the aim of the academy is to support existing nurses with the latest research, as well as a new four-year masters course to train new nurses.

Prof Em Wilkinson-Bryce said: "We accept it's a hard job and a gruelling job, but it's one of the most rewarding and we need to support that and nurture people so they can have a life-long career."

• NHS 'haemorrhaging' nurses as 33,000 leave each year

Plymouth Live

A man with terminal brain cancer has been left trapped in his Plymouth home because high kerbs are preventing him from using his mobility scooter., external

BBC Radio Cornwall

The St Mawes Ferry is currently out service due to the poor visibility.

Cornwall Live

Sir David Attenborough has given his hand-written backing to a "Beach Guardian" campaign started by a marine biology student, external in Cornwall to reduce plastic pollution.

Lynne French
BBC News Online

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of affray after threatening police officers with a knife.

The four officers were responding to an emergency 999 calls in Exeter in the early hours.

Passengers are being advised that flights to the Isles of Scilly are temporarily suspended due to the weather.