Summary

  • Updates from Monday 11 June until Friday 15 June 2018

Live Reporting

  1. South West medics pioneer new cancer app

    A new app designed to help cancer patients and their families through diagnosis and treatment has been pioneered by medics in the South West.

    The MySunrise App is free to download and is designed to help people better understand their conditions in their own time.

    It's the brainchild of Consultant Oncologist Dr. John McGrane, who is based at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, and George Brighton, a clinical entrepreneur fellow at the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Trust.

    Louise Blenkinsop has been using the app throughout her recovery from cervical cancer...

  2. Schools go green for Grenfell

    Schools in Devon and Cornwall are going green for Grenfell.

    Yesterday vigils and services - including a 72 second silence for the 72 people who died in the fire - were held across the UK.

    Today school children are being encouraged to wear something green, and it's hoped the event will highlight how communities came together after the tragedy.

    Students and teachers will come in in mufti, but they'll wear something green. They'll all pay £1 that will go to Jeremiah's Journey, which is a local bereavement charity, because Grenfell United is encouraging people to support local charities. It's not just the people that were there - I think everybody was affected by it."

    Robbie Roulston, Teacher at Lipson Community Academy, Plymouth

    Green for Grenfell is also being supported by Cornwall Hugs Grenfell, a local charity that provides holidays for families and firefighters affected by the tragedy.

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  3. Shops and businesses blamed for marine litter

    BBC Radio Devon

    People are more likely to blame shops, businesses and the government for litter around the coast, according to research from the University of Plymouth.

    The study, which surveyed 11,000 people from across Europe, showed people don't have faith that those agencies will address the problem, instead placing greater trust in scientists and environmental groups to develop solutions.

    litter on a beachEuropean Photopress Agency

    Findings also show people are more concerned about the impact of marine litter on wildlife rather than on tourism.

    It is encouraging to see there is growing public awareness of the marine litter problem, but there are clearly challenges to overcome in convincing people that we all need to be part of the solution. There needs to be an holistic approach which includes governments and industry, scientists and the public, and this research is a useful step in finding ways to communicate that more widely."

    Prof Richard Thompson OBE, Head of Plymouth University's International Marine Litter Research Unit

  4. Exeter Airport celebrates 100 years of RAF

    BBC Radio Devon

    Exeter Airport begins three days of events to mark the RAF's 100th birthday and its own long association with the air force.

    The airport acted as an RAF base between 1939 and 1947, playing an important role in the Battle of Britain.

    From today, there are free public air displays, including the arrival of a 1944 Spitfire.

    The RAF does a fantastic job. Any opportunity that the public has to recognise and acknowledge the fantastic service that our airmen and women do for our country is deserving of effort and time."

    Sir Peter Rigby, Chairman of Rigby Group Plc, which owns Exeter Airport

  6. Cornish second home policy is 'pushing up prices'

    Tamsin Melville
    Political Reporter, BBC Radio Cornwall

    There's a call in St Ives for a review of the policy that restricts newly-built homes to people living in them full-time.

    Eighteen months since being introduced, one estate agent says it's "pushing up prices" and no new affordable homes have been built.

    It comes as Mevagissey has become the fifth place in Cornwall to adopt the clause as part of a local housing plan. It held a referendum on Thursday in which 90% of those who voted were in support.

    Steve Cross, from Cross Estate Agents in St Ives, says a "comprehensive review" needs to take place.

    But supporters of the second homes plan like St Ives town councillor, Rita Lait, says it's too early to judge...

  8. Police appeal after theft of £4,000 bike

    Jenna Hawkey
    BBC News Online

    Police are appealing for witnesses after a bike worth more than £4,000 was stolen from a cycling shop in Braunton.

    Two offenders used a scaffolding pole to force entry to South Fork Bike Shop on Exeter Road at about 00:45 on Thursday, making off with a KTM Machina Kapoho 275 electric bike.

    bikeDevon & Cornwall Police

    The suspects are believed to have fled the area in a dark estate type vehicle, heading towards the direction of Saunton.

    Police are appealing for information and would like to hear from anyone who has been offered the e-bike for sale.

    exterior of bike shopGoogle

  9. Baby hedgehogs 'crying for dead mother' after dog attack

    Jonathan Morris
    BBC News Online

    Five baby hedgehogs were found cowering from a dog which had attacked their nest.

    HedgehogNorth Devon Animal Ambulance

    The young animals were found "cold and distressed" in Fremington, north Devon on Wednesday.

    Another baby had been killed by the dog, said Diana Lewis of North Devon Animal Ambulance.

    She got a call from a "distraught" dog owner who saw the pet toying with the nest.

    "I found five tiny little hoglets, crying pitifully for their mother, who sadly had died," said Ms Lewis.

    The hoglets were too small to feed themselves are now being cared for at the RSPCA's West Hatch Wildlife Hospital near Taunton.

    "Hedgehogs are an endangered species, so this is absolutely tragic," said Ms Lewis.

    HedgehogNorth Devon Animal Ambulance

  10. Universal Credit is 'causing financial hardship'

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    A damning report from the National Audit Office (NAO) has said the government's flagship benefit scheme, Universal Credit, is not delivering value for money, has been too slow to come into force and has caused financial hardship.

    Universal Credit is a new benefit that replaces housing benefit, jobseeker's allowance, tax credits and income support, and this week it became available to customers in Helston, Penzance, Redruth and Penryn.

    Almost one million people receive the benefit - about 10% of the final number expected to be claiming it by 2023.

    Joshua Reddaway, from the NAO, says there's strong evidence some claimants are turning to food banks or getting into debt.

    They're struggling to cope while they wait for their first payment and they're struggling to cope with the fluctuating income that they get on Universal Credit. This isn't made easier by the fact that the department's not paying people on time. In fact, one in five people are not receiving everything that they're due on time and one in 20 are still waiting for their full payment five months after they make their original claim."

    Joshua Reddaway

    Ministers say Universal Credit is good value for money and significant improvements have been made to its delivery.

    job centre shop frontGetty Images

  11. Devon council almost doubles fines for littering

    Sophie Pierce
    BBC Radio Devon

    A Devon council is getting tough on littering, almost doubling fines from £80 to £150 and introducing a new penalty for throwing litter out of vehicles.

    Mid Devon Council's Cabinet has approved the proposal after the government gave local authorities new powers.

    Here's what people in Crediton think about the move...

  12. Mevagissey votes to ban new builds becoming second homes

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    Mevagissey is following St Ives' lead to stop too many properties becoming second homes.

    Residents of the Cornish fishing port voted overwhelmingly in favour of adopting the “primary residence policy” in yesterday's referendum, making it the fifth place in the county to decide that newly-built homes should only be available to people living there permanently.

    A third of eligible voters turned out - 90% voted in favour.

    When you get up to one in four of the properties being a second home, you can't deny the right of people to sell to additional homeowners. All we're trying to do is to discourage the development of more second homes by putting this restriction on new builds."

    Garth Shephard, Mevagissey Parish Councillor

    harbour townGoogle

  14. Elderly man hospitalised after cliff path fall

    Jenna Hawkey
    BBC News Online

    team of medics helping a person on the floor of a coastal pathPadstow Coastguard

    An 81-year-old man was taken to hospital after a fall on a Cornish coast path yesterday evening.

    The Padstow Coastguard was called out just after 19:45 to reports a man had fallen on the path between Harlyn Bay and Trevone Bay.

    They gave the casualty first aid treatment for a suspected broken ankle before stretchering him back to the the Harlyn Bay car park.

    The man was then transferred to an ambulance and taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital for X-rays.

    coastguard vehicle overlooking a bayPadstow Coastguard

  15. Public opinion 'vital' in deciding police merger

    BBC Radio Devon

    Public opinion will be vital in deciding whether a merger between Devon and Cornwall Police and the Dorset force goes ahead, a meeting will be told later.

    This summer, residents of the three counties will be asked whether they support changes which would create one force stretching from Bournemouth to the Isles of Scilly.

    head and shoulders shot of woman weather blue rosette

    Devon and Cornwall's Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez will tell a meeting of the Police and Crime Panel in Plymouth that she will only support the merger if the public are behind it.

    The police precept levied on households is currently £18 lower in Devon and Cornwall than in Dorset.

    There is a shared view from the chief constables that a merger of the two forces offers the best long-term solution for all parties. However, in considering the future it is important that we understand the community impact of any decisions in this area. I will not support a merger unless it is in the best interests of the people of Devon and Cornwall."

    Alison Hernandez, Devon and Cornwall's Police and Crime Commissioner

  16. Doe-eyed Jersey has been voted 'Britain's sexiest cow'

    BBC Three

    A Jersey cow from a farm in Devon has been named "Britain's sexiest cow" in a competition by RAGT, a company that makes animal seed.

    Chrissy Cottrell, from RAGT, says they were drawn to Char because "she has a nice expression on her face".

    CowSWNS

  17. High tide times for the region

    Alex Osborne
    BBC Weather

    If you're planning a trip to the coast or seaside, here are the high water times around Devon and Cornwall.

    high tide map for Devon and Cornwall

    We'll have the latest forecast on BBC Spotlight at 13:30.

  18. Weather: Partly cloudy with sunny spells and showers

    Alex Osborne
    BBC Weather

    Today will be party cloudy with some sunny spells and a few scattered showers.

    The wind will be a gentle to moderate westerly.

    Maximum temperature: 17C (63F).

    weather map for Devon and Cornwall

  19. M5 hard shoulder blaze leaves vehicle damaged

    Rob England
    BBC News Online

    A vehicle was severely damaged after a fire on the hard shoulder of the M5.

    Officers said the 4x4 was "well alight" when crews arrived at about 17:25 on Thursday on the southbound stretch of the motorway between J30 and J31.

    No-one was injured.

  20. 'Warrior of the Surf' sculpture unveiled

    Rob England
    BBC News Online

    A 15ft (4.57m) sculpture depicting a surfer looking to the horizon for big waves has been unveiled at Watergate Bay, Newquay.

    Warrior of the SurfHolly Donnelly

    Artist Richard Austin, from Wadebridge, said he was inspired by watching and sketching surfers at the bay after he had to stop the sport himself following a knee injury.

    They always had a very relaxed stance, shading their eyes from the sun and holding their board. That image stuck with me, until one day I went back to my studio and ‘Warrior of the Surf’ was born The surfing sentinel is made from recycled milk bottle plastic. The material is easy to work with, despite being tough. It can be worked into sympathetic forms and shapes that you just can’t get with a metal material."

    Richard Austin

    Warrior of the SurfHolly Donnelly

    The bay holds the English National Surf Championships each year.