BBC Radio Devon

A man and a woman in their 40s have sustained "possible life-threatening or changing injuries" following a crash in north Devon, police say, external.

They were taken to Derriford Hospital by air ambulance after being cut from their vehicle, which crashed into a ditch on the A361 North Devon Link Road near Knowstone this morning.

A child, rescued from the car by a passer by, sustained minor injuries.

The road remains closed in both directions.

Ross Ellis
BBC Radio Cornwall

Cornwall's top cricketers WILL be allowed to watch England's FIFA World Cup quarter final against Sweden on Saturday, after all.

Cornwall Cricket originally told players , externalin the Premier League and County Division One that they would not be allowed to reschedule or change the timings of matches.

Image source, Google

But after pressure from players and clubs, it's been decided that Division One teams will be allowed to rearrange their fixtures, while Premier League sides have been told they can start play early and take an extended break to watch the big game.

Sides from Divisions 2-7 will also be allowed to reschedule their games.

BBC Radio Devon

A new bus service starts in Exeter later., external

The connection will be part of the 'H' bus route, external, and will serve the quay on Friday evenings and weekends.

Image source, Google

The six-month trial is being funded by Exeter City Council, the Environment Agency, Devon County Council and the Exeter Quay and Canal Trust.

Stagecoach says it hopes the service will improve links to the city centre and encourage more people to visit the historic quay.

BBC Radio Devon

Near Knowstone, there are long delays as drivers avoid the A361, which remains closed after an earlier crash.

Traffic is queuing on Silcombe Hill, Ash Mill Hill and Poadmarsh Hill.

Cornwall Live

A dog has been saved just in time from a hot car by workers from Newquay Town Council, it has been revealed., external

Twitter

Two casualties have been flown to hospital by air ambulance following a single-vehicle crash on the North Devon Link Road, external.

A car left the road and crashed into a ditch on the A361 near Knowstone at about 06:45.

A member of the public managed to rescue a child from the vehicle before firefighters arrived and cut two adults free.

Emergency services are still at the scene and the road remains closed in both directions.

Clinton Rogers
BBC Points West reporter

It's the 40th anniversary of one of the worst disasters in West Country rail history.

The Taunton sleeper train fire claimed the lives of 12 people and led to big changes in the design of railway carriages.

The train was on its way from Penzance to Paddington when it stopped at Taunton, with smoke pouring from the windows.

Firefighters from the time remember their efforts being hampered by locked carriage doors.

Colin Shepherd is a former Somerset firefighter...

BBC Radio Devon

Devon County Council is "in discussions" with Devon and Cornwall Police over allegations that a senior councillor sexually harassed female members of staff, officers say.

However the claims have not been formally reported to police.

Liberal Democrat Brian Greenslade was found guilty of serious breaches of Devon County Council's code of conduct by its standards committee.

He has been "formally censured", which the council says is the "strongest possible" punishment available against an elected member.

Mr Greenslade, who led the council from 1993 to 2009, is yet to comment.

BBC Radio Devon

The annual Way With Words literary festival , externalgets under way at Dartington Hall later.

Among those speaking over the next few days are former Devonport MP David Owen, BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner, scientist and broadcaster Alice Roberts and Beirut hostage and humanitarian Terry Waite.

The 10-day event is in its 27th year.

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.

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

Alex Osborne
BBC Weather

There will be some long spells of sunshine this morning and it will soon become warm.

This afternoon, the dry and warm weather is expected to persist with further sunny spells and some patchy cloud.

Maximum temperature: 24C (75F).

BBC Radio Devon

One person remains trapped following a serious crash on the North Devon Link Road., external

Police - along with fire crews and two air ambulances - were called to the A361 near Knowstone just before 06:45 to reports that a car had crashed into a ditch.

Two people were reported to have been trapped in the vehicle.

One person has been released and is being treated by paramedics, while firefighters are working to rescue a second.

A third occupant is reported to have sustained minor injuries.

The A361 near South Molton is currently closed in both directions and police are urging drivers to avoid the area and use alternate routes.

BBC Radio Devon

Two Brixham trawler skippers accused of endangering coral reefs by illegally fishing for scallops have been cleared of almost all the charges against them.

David Bickerstaff, 32, and Derek Meredith, 50, had denied all 20 charges of illegally dredging for scallops in January 2016 in the seas off Plymouth, Brixham and Dartmouth.

Image source, Google

At the end of a 14-day trial, jurors at Gloucester Crown Court returned not guilty verdicts on all but three of the charges facing the fishermen and their two trawling companies.

The jury couldn't agree on the remaining charges and the court will consider later whether there is to be a retrial on them.

BBC Radio Devon

Around Knowstone, the A361 North Devon Link Road is closed in both directions due to a crash at Harpson Lane.

It's affecting traffic travelling between Tiverton and Barnstaple.

BBC Spotlight

The South Western Ambulance Service is to get dozens of new ambulances.

The government has announced £6.7m of funding which it says will improve winter resilience.

The money will pay for more than 60 vehicles across Devon, Cornwall, the Isle of Scilly, Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and the former Avon area.

Tamsin Melville
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Cornwall

Some dairy farmers in the South West which supply the Davidstow creamery say they hope investment at the plant will mean more stable pricing for them.

Dairy Crest is investing £75m to increase production at the plant.

The firm says it will be able to process an additional 200 million litres of milk a year at the site and that it is good news for more than 300 farmers who supply them.

Gemma Smale-Rowland is a dairy farmer near Launceston...

BBC Radio Devon

North Devon Liberal Democrats say they're seeking to suspend the membership of former Devon County Council leader Brian Greenslade.

He's been sanctioned after allegedly sexually harassing female members of council staff.

Image source, Google

The Lib Dems say harassment and bullying have no place in any aspect of public life.

They've noted that Councillor Greenslade is currently overseas and so is not in a position to defend himself in person.

Mr Greenslade has made no public comment so far.

Adrian Campbell, Environment Correspondent
BBC Spotlight

South West farmers say they're suffering because of the prolonged dry spell which is damaging crops.

Some dairy farmers are already providing extra food for their cows because the grass is almost exhausted.

The National Farmers' Union of England and Wales says the extreme weather conditions of the winter followed by weeks of little or no rain have already damaged crop yields.

Mark Weekes, NFU Devon president, says some farmers are also having to use next winter's lamb feed...