Summary

  • Updates from Monday 18 June until Friday 22 June 2018

Live Reporting

  1. Former soldier in court for assault 'suffers from PTSD'

    Ben Woolvin
    BBC South West Home Affairs correspondent

    A former soldier accused of causing “really serious bodily harm” to two Devon and Cornwall police officers is suffering from combat related post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD, a court has heard.

    David Bull, 37, from Luton in Bedfordshire, has admitted one count of grievous bodily harm, but denies three more charges against two officers which allegedly took place when he was pulled over while drink driving in Tavistock in April 2017.

    Dr Ian Anderson, clinical psychologist, told Plymouth Crown Court it was possible that his PTSD had been triggered and that Mr Bull - who served in the Army for 14 years - was “not relating” to his “immediate environment”.

    David Bull

  2. Dog saved by student gets crowdfunded op

    Nelly the labrador was due to be put down until trainee nurse Fay Alsworth raised £3,000 to save her.

    Read More

  3. 'Vicious assault' on dog walker

    Miles Davis
    BBC News Online

    A woman was pushed to the ground in a "targeted attack" while out walking her dogs.

    Police said the 53-year-old woman was walking near Sharkham Point car park in Brixham at about 8:10pm on Tuesday when a "vicious assault" took place.

    A spokesman said: "A man and a woman approached her from behind pushing her to the floor and throwing liquid at her."

    The woman was treated at the scene by ambulance staff but is not thought to have suffered any serious injuries.

    Police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward, particularly the driver of a Ford Transit-type van.

    Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101.

    Sharkham PointGoogle

  4. Midfielder Hall joins Torquay United

    Brent Pilnick
    BBC Sport

    Torquay United have signed midfielder Asa Hall.

    The 31-year-old has previously played for York City, Luton Town, Oxford United, Shrewsbury Town, and Cheltenham Town.

    Asa HallGetty Images

    He played in the 2017 FA Trophy final with York and helped Cheltenham get promoted to the Football League in 2016.

    His last club was Barrow. He helped the club avoid relegation from the National League - at Torquay's expense - last season.

    He is the fourth new player to join the club since they were relegated to the second tier of non-league football last season.

  6. Civic Centre owners want residential development

    Neil Gallacher, Business & Industry Correspondent
    BBC Spotlight

    The idea of turning Plymouth's Civic Centre into hotel space has been dismissed by the building's owners, Urban Splash.

    Announcing their vision for a redevelopment of the 1960s office tower, the regeneration company are focusing on residential apartments.

    In the plans ground floor areas would be used for restaurants and commercial space.

    Student housing doesn't feature in the outline vision that's being exhibited in the council house.

    The 15-storey building opened in 1962 and has been home to Plymouth City Council. The building had been due to be flattened by the authority in an effort to save money. But, the plan was quashed after English Heritage gave the building Grade II listed status in 2007.

    Plymouth Civic CentreGoogle

    It was sold in 2015 for an undisclosed figure.

  7. Exeter could re-sign Archibald-Henville

    Exeter City manager Matt Taylor could offer a new deal to released defender Troy Archibald-Henville.

    Read More

  8. Cornwall Council spending £20m on digital project

    Richard Whitehouse
    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Cornwall Council is spending £20m on a three-year upgrade of its computer equipment and systems.

    Mark Read, service director for customer access and digital, gave councillors a briefing about Digital Cornwall earlier.

    He explained the investment would generate savings of £2.3m and was necessary because of "horror stories". These included councillors regularly waiting 20 minutes to login to old computers.

    The aims include making as many council services as possible available online and simplification of the website.

    Mr Read said in future there would be one login for all services. The council is aiming to ensure no member of staff is using equipment which is more than five years old.

    Cornwall CouncilGoogle

    £20m is a lot of money but a lot of that is spent on getting us up to where we need to be. We do need to show how we are going to make the best use of that investment."

    Mark Read, Cornwall Council service director for customer access and digital

  9. Pet owner: Beach dog legislation 'incredibly ridiculous'

    Laurence Reed
    BBC Radio Cornwall

    A dog owner from Portreath wants Cornwall Council to relax legislation regarding dogs on beaches in summer months.

    Andy Jenrick has started a petition for what he calls "incredibly ridiculous" rules enforced upon local dog owners.

    Mr Jenrick says he accepts a ban at the height of the busy summer months but thinks it goes on too long...

    Kevin Brader - senior environmental health officer at Cornwall Council - said the authority will be reviewing the current restrictions after the summer of 2019.

    "Cornwall Council's role is to provide a balance for beach users and visitors - both tourists and residents in Cornwall. That's what we're tying to achieve," he said.

  10. Sailors rescued off Scilly

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    St Mary's lifeboat was called out earlier to rescue two people whose dinghy had suffered damaged sails.

    The pair were stranded on the uninhabited Guther's Island in the Eastern Isles off Scilly.

    They were transported by the lifeboat to St Martin's from where they had set off.

    St Mary's lifebaot

  11. MP calls for gig rowing recognition

    Johnny O'Shea
    BBC News Online

    A Cornish MP has secured a meeting with the sports minister to discuss the promotion and funding of gig rowing.

    Steve Double, MP for St Austell and Newquay asked a question in Parliament:

    Cornish pilot gig rowing is one of the fastest growing participation sports in the country but it struggles to get the recognition it needs because it is registered under British rowing which is actually a very different type of sport. Will the sports minister meet with me to discuss how we can get pilot gig rowing better recognition and support this excellent participation sport?"

    In response Tracey Crouch, confirmed her first-hand knowledge of the sport, having joined a gig crew at Mousehole last year, and accepted the invitation.

    MP gig rowingSteve Double

    Steve Double MP (second from left) gig rowing in Newquay

    From Mousehole to Mevagissey, Newlyn to Newquay, pilot gig rowing is a great participation sport which enjoys strong uptake across Cornwall and one which I have always supported, having rowed myself in Newquay in recent years. I recently met with the Cornwall Pilot Gig Club Association to discuss what more we can do to help with the funding and promotion of this quintessentially Cornish sport. I am pleased to have secured this meeting with the minister and look forward to discussing the tremendous potential of pilot gig rowing both in Cornwall and further afield, soon."

    Steve Double, MP for St Austell and Newquay

  12. Photo: Sunset from the Lizard

    Johnny O'Shea
    BBC News Online

    This photo was taken from St Keverne by Anna Edwards, and show last night's sunset over the Manacles.

    SunsetAnna Edwards

  13. Government to protect regional routes to Heathrow

    Neil Gallacher, Business & Industry Correspondent
    BBC Spotlight

    The government says it's ready to act for the first time to guarantee access to Heathrow Airport for flights from airports such as Newquay.

    This raises the stakes over its plans to expand Heathrow, which come up for a Commons vote on Monday.

    The south west used to have a much-prized air link to Heathrow, but lost it after Brymon Airways was taken over by BA.

    Cornwall Airport Newquay

    Aviation Minister Baroness Sugg said: "Heathrow is situated in the South East of England, but the benefits of expansion will be felt throughout the UK.

    "About 15% of the new capacity will be used for flights to destinations within the UK or Crown Dependencies.

    "And now we are going even further by confirming that the UK Government will act to protect domestic flights from Heathrow for the first time."

  14. Bakery had 'evidence of a rat infestation'

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    Cornwall Council inspectors found evidence of a rat infestation at a well-known bakery in west Cornwall.

    Simon Phillips, the owner of St Keverne bakery, pleaded guilty to six food hygiene offences.

    He was ordered to pay more than £6,000 by Truro Magistrates Court on Monday.

    An inspection in March 2017 "revealed evidence of a rat infestation and droppings throughout a rear food room, food which had been out of date for almost two years, trays of decomposing cakes and pasties and a corroded dough prover".

    The bakery was initially closed down but the council says it has since made improvements and now has a four star hygiene rating.

    St Keverne BakeryGoogle

  15. Boat falls off trailer on A38

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  16. Slade keeps England place

    Brent Pilnick
    BBC Sport

    Exeter's Henry Slade has kept his place in the England midfield for their third and final test against South Africa in Cape Town.

    The 25-year-old has started the previous two defeats in this month's tour and will win his 13th cap.

    Henry SladeGetty Images

    Five Exeter forwards make it on to the replacements bench, with second-row Jonny Hill in line to make his debut.

    Flanker Sam Simmonds also gets a first call-up to the squad after is impressive season in the Premiership, as does prop Alex Hepburn, while hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie starts as a replacement for the third time, as does prop Harry Williams.

    The big story to come out of Eddie Jones' selection is Danny Cipriani's call-up at fly-half - he replaces George Ford and is set to make his first England start in 10 years.

  17. Switching off car engine when idle will make 'air cleaner'

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    Motorists in Cornwall are being encouraged to switch off their engines when stuck at lights or in traffic.

    As part of Clean Air Day, Cornwall Council is targeting three towns in the county where there are recognised air quality issues.

    Experts will be talking to motorists in St Austell, Camelford and Launceston about the benefits of not idling when stopped in traffic for more than a minute.

    It's said this could help reduce pollution by 20-30% and make the air cleaner.

    These people in St Austell have been giving their views...

  20. Photo: Midsummer sunrise

    Johnny O'Shea
    BBC News Online

    The latest in our growing gallery of sunrise photos was taken near Ilfracombe in North Devon.

    Thanks to Lindsay for sharing.

    If you have any photos you'd like to share please send them in.

    Ilfracombe sunrise@Lefthanded_Linz