BBC Radio Devon

A rise in oil prices and a poor exchange rate is being blamed for the largest monthly increase in fuel prices in Devon and Cornwall for 18 years.

The average cost of unleaded across the county rose from £1.23 to £1.29 in May.

Diesel went up from £1.26 to £1.32 - the second largest rise since the start of 2000.

Bill Hockin is managing director of a haulage company based in Barnstaple and has a "massive cost" of about £1.5m for fuel each year.

He says his bill has gone up by £75,000 in the last 12 months...

Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live

As you can see, fans of Ross and Demelza are already getting comfortable at the head of the queue for an exclusive preview screening of the new series of Poldark in Redruth later.

Some have brought their own chairs.

The screening, hosted by the BBC, will show the first episode of series four, which will not be on television until Sunday at 21:00 on BBC One.

We'll be there live through the evening at the Regal, as fans and cast members get ready for the show at 19:00.

Image source, BBC/Mammoth Screen

People can listen to records in the converted phone box by putting in money and lifting the receiver.

Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live

Image source, Aleson Jackson

An articulated lorry involved in a fatal three-vehicle crash on the A38 in Cornwall is operated by contractors for Tesco, the supermarket has confirmed.

The lorry was in a crash near Tideford also involving a BMW and a Vauxhall vehicle at about 16:50 on Monday.

The driver of the BMW, a man in his 30s, died as a result of the collision. His next of kin have been contacted, police said.

The drivers of the other vehicles were taken to hospital in Plymouth to be treated for minor injuries.

The road was closed for seven hours for an investigation, causing traffic congestion back to Trerulefoot roundabout.

A Tesco spokesman said: "A goods vehicle operated by one of our contractors was involved in a collision on the A38 yesterday, and we are assisting police with their inquiries."

Police have appealed for witnesses.

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Rail services between Liskeard and Plymouth have been cancelled because of the attempted theft of signalling cables, train operator GWR earlier confirmed.

All lines between the two stations are blocked, and all services across the South West between Penzance and London Paddington are potentially affected.

BBC Radio Devon

In Torquay, a fallen tree has caused Penny's Hill to be blocked between Parkfield Road and Teignmouth Road. Approach with care.

John Henderson
BBC Spotlight

Fancy a boogie the next time you're in Kingsbridge? Well, you're in luck!

The tiny space of an old fashioned phone box in the town has been fitted with a music system to become the "world's smallest nightclub".

Our reporter John Henderson has already been inside and spoken to local councillor, Chris Povey about why Kingsbridge Town Council has transformed the red booth...

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

A limited edition guitar signed by rock band Muse - and made in Devon - has sold for £3,000 at auction.

The instrument was donated by Exeter-based Manson Guitar Works, which has built lead singer Matt Bellamy's guitars for the last four years.

The winning bid - from a local woman who wishes to remain anonymous - will be split between Ottery St Mary Primary School and children's mental health charity Place2Be.

Image source, TIM STARK

Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live

Rail services between Liskeard and Plymouth have been cancelled because of the attempted theft of signalling cables, train operator GWR says, external.

The move, which has blocked all lines between the two stations, potentially affects all services across the South West between Penzance and London Paddington.

Managers said disruption was expected until at least 17:00, with services facing being cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised.

GWR said buses were replacing all routes and the company has asked people to check before they travel.

Richard Whitehouse
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Image source, Cornwall Council

Plans to demolish a bungalow and replace it with three houses in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty have been rejected.

Cornwall Council's west sub-area planning committee refused planning permission for the new homes on land at Trewelloe Road, Praa Sands.

Under the plans the existing three-bedroom bungalow would have been pulled down and three, three-bedroom, two-storey homes would have been built in its place.

Image source, R A Design Ltd

Planning officers had recommended the plans for approval claiming that the new homes would reflect other recent development in the area and provide additional housing in a sustainable location.

The planning committee voted in favour of refusing planning permission by 13 votes to one.

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Del Crookes
BBC News Online

Image source, RNLI Penlee Lifeboat

A charity boat crew who had travelled more than 3,000 miles (4,828km) from Croatia have been rescued after breaking down seven miles (11km) south of Newlyn.

The Kikila left St Mary's on the Isles of Scilly on Monday morning on the last leg of her journey after 68 days at sea.

But engine problems, and a lack of wind, meant the 50ft (15m) Turn to Starboard yacht could not travel any further and had to be towed back to port by the RNLI.

Penlee Lifeboat said her crew then joined the sailors at the boathouse in Newlyn "for a catch-up and a welcome cuppa".

Image source, Turn To Starboard

Kikila's crew - Cox Patch Harvey, Mech Tony Rendle, Marcel Le Bretton, Jack Shannon, Elliot Andrews, Will Treneer and Sam Kent - spent about nine hours trying to restart their engine.

They were raising money for Turn To Starboard, which helps serving and retired soldiers, sailors and air crew, and their families, after they leave the Armed Forces.

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The delays are understood to be because of the re-occurrence of a signalling problem.

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The Independent

Police who believed a suspect in the former North Devon MP and Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe scandal was dead have announced they have found him alive, but will not reopen an investigation, external.

Chris Baker
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Councillors and their own officers cannot agree on what should happen to an historic house, which Torbay Council used as offices until 2013.

A working party established to draw-up a blueprint for the future of Paignton's Oldway Mansion is pressing for a £15m rescue package.

But officers at Torbay Council, supported by the elected mayor, have refused to back the plan.

They are warning that the authority cannot afford the project and disposal of the council-owned Grade-2* mansion and gardens should not be ruled out.

At a meeting on Monday, the council's cabinet was unable to bridge the divide.

The two conflicting resolutions are likely to go before councillors later in June, where a decision on which route to take is expected to be made.

Both sides agree urgent repairs expected to cost £2m must start immediately, mainly to deal with a serious outbreak of dry rot.

Chris Baker
Local Democracy Reporting Service

A Devon council wants to pay more of its councillors an allowance for having special responsibilities, by introducing the new role of assistant cabinet member.

Plymouth City Council's new Labour administration hopes the new posts will shadow cabinet members, in a similar way to junior ministers in the government.

Ten councillors sit on the council's ruling cabinet, including council leader Tudor Evans.

Image source, Google

Each is paid a special responsibility allowance, which in 2017/18 ranged from £31,728 for the leader to £21,147 for more junior cabinet members.

The total amount paid to city councillors last year, which also included a basic allowance paid to all elected members, was £990,727.

An independent remuneration panel is to report to the council later this month on whether or not to increase the allowances, and will also decide whether or not the new role should attract a payment for special responsibility.

Amy Gladwell
BBC News Online

An exclusive preview of the new Poldark series is being screened at a Cornish cinema on Tuesday evening.

The event, hosted by the BBC, will show the first episode of series four which will be screened on BBC One on Sunday at 21:00.

Image source, BBC / Mammoth Screen

Join me from 18:00 on BBC Local Live for updates from Redruth cinema, as fans and cast members get ready for the show at 19:00.

Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live

We've already had a few of your pictures on BBC Local Live for Devon and Cornwall this week, including from our weather watchers.

But here's one that may be showing that summer is just around the corner.

This bee was 'buzzy' doing some pollinating when I saw it on the National Trust's Penrose Estate, near Porthleven in west Cornwall.

But what a cheek sticking its tongue out at the foxglove - 'un-bee-lievable' behaviour...

Image source, Andrew Segal

Have you any pictures you want to share with us? If so, please email them in.