BBC Radio Cornwall

Firefighters are tackling a combine harvester blaze, external that has spread through corn fields in St Merryn.

Crews from Padstow and St Columb Major were initially called after a member of the public spotted the combine harvester on fire just before 12:00.

When firefighters arrived at the scene they found that the fire was spreading, with an area of field measuring about 200m by 50m also alight, so requested further backup.

At about 12:45 it was reported that they were making "good progress", with fire breaks being set up.

Schools and community groups have painted seagull models perched around St Ives

Ryan Stevenson thanks Hampshire for their support during a two-year injury exile with persistent back stress fractures.

Del Crookes
BBC News Online

Two people had to be rescued on Wednesday after getting caught in rip currents at Perranporth beach.

One bodyboarder was picked up at about 14:00 by an inshore rescue boat which had been on a training exercise after the man was separated from the group he was with.

Image source, RNLI

Later in the afternoon, another bodyboarder was rescued by a lifeguard using a rescue board.

If you do find yourself caught in a rip current:

• Don't try to swim against it or you will become exhausted.
• If you can, swim parallel to the shore until free of the rip and then head for shore.
• If you have a bodyboard, use it as a flotation device to hang onto until the lifeguards reach you.
• Always wave one hand in the air and shout for help.

Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online

The way to stop seagulls stealing food is to stop feeding them, according to the St Ives Business Improvement District.

Their new campaign involves 12 plastic seagulls, a metal ice cream cone, and an old toothbrush.

Police say budget cuts are making it more difficult to investigate. Find out how your force is doing.

Somerset all-rounder Lewis Gregory signs a new three-year contract with the Division One county.

BBC Radio Devon

Recorded crime has risen in Devon and Cornwall over the past year, according to new figures., external

The rise in crime rates is a trend that has been seen across the country.

Image source, Google

The force said overall reported crime between April 2017 and March 2018 increased by about 22% in Devon and Cornwall, which compares to a national rise of 13%.

However, the figures by the Office of National Statistics show the two counties have the seventh lowest crime rate in England and Wales, external.

Cornwall Live

Cornwall's largest music festival will be offering festival-goers the chance to test drugs they have smuggled inside in a bid to reduce deaths., external

Despite zero-tolerance policies on the entrances of British festivals, illegal substances inevitably make their way into the events.

In recognition of this, Boardmasters organisers have decided to follow the lead of other major UK festivals and launch on-site drug testing.

Image source, Press Association

Cornish golfer Rhys Enoch has teed off, external at The Open Championship at Carnoustie.

The 30-year-old is playing against some of the world's biggest stars, including Tiger Woods and Rory McIIroy.

It's the second time Rhys, who's from Truro, has played at The Open, but missed the cut at Hoylake in 2014.

BBC Spotlight

A cinema in Plymouth is set to be redeveloped into flats because it can no longer compete with the larger complexes in the city.

Reel Cinema has just celebrated its 80th birthday, and once hosted bands including The Beatles and the Bay City Rollers.

Campaigners are still working to save the cinema and argue it's one of the few buildings of its type to survive the Blitz.

Adrian Campbell, Environment Correspondent
BBC Spotlight

Badgers have snubbed a purpose-built home created by developers.

Construction engineers working on Exeter's £32m flood defences created the artificial sett to replace the one that was built on.

But after 18 months and a lot of effort put into building the sett, the animals have decided to go elsewhere.

The badgers have moved into a new piece of scrub near the site of their previous home.

Persimmon Homes says it "remains committed to resolving the works" at the homes in Newquay.

Naomi Kennedy
BBC Radio Cornwall

The perpetual problem of seagulls stealing food is being tackled in a new way at a Cornish resort.

St Ives is famous for its artists, and now they - along with local schools and community groups - have painted seagull models perched around the town.

Holidaymakers can follow a trail to find all 12 and, while doing so, learn how to prevent these feathered friends from stealing their chips.

The key message is "don't feed the seagulls" but Carl Lamb from the St Ives Business Improvement District also has some good advice about how to shield your food:

BBC Spotlight

Plymouth's Reel Cinema will close its doors for good this autumn, just after celebrating its 80th birthday.

The owners say they can't compete with other cinemas cutting prices or with the new Cineworld multi-screen complex being built at Bretonside.

The art deco building is one of the few in Derry's Cross that survived the Blitz and hosted some of the world's biggest acts, including The Beatles and the Bay City Rollers.

The cinema is now due to be redeveloped into flats.

Plymouth Live

A drug dealer with a stun gun faces jail for smuggling a designer substance into the country., external

BBC Radio Cornwall

"Don't buy, run!" is the message one couple has posted in the window of their house right opposite the show home and marketing suite of a new build estate in Newquay.

Lucy and Guy Sousse hope the signs will force builders, Persimmon Homes, to complete repairs.

Image source, Google

Several other residents are also still waiting on repairs.

Tamsin Lynex bought her house on The Goldings estate just over a year ago.

In a statement, Persimmon homes said: "The company has never questioned the works that need to be undertaken but finding appointments to coincide with our purchaser's availability has frustrated our ability to resolve issues in a timely manner. The company remains committed to resolving the works and will liaise in a further attempt to establish a mutually acceptable timetable. Our policy is that we will not work in a customer's home without them being present. Under these circumstances, the presence of the sign is regrettable and has had an impact on other residents who are happy in their homes."

Del Crookes
BBC News Online

The empty Toys R Us store in Plymouth has been bought by the city council, external.

The authority says it has acquired the building’s long-term lease following the company’s collapse earlier this year.

The council says it is now working up longer term options for the site, but in the short-term will be making 160 parking spaces available.

Image source, Google

Part of the shop - rented by British Heart Foundation - will be unaffected by the sale.

Plymouth City Council has also bought the Two Trees after the pub came on the market earlier this year.

Emily Wood
BBC Weather

If you are 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.

Richard Whitehouse
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Image source, Inox

A business case for the Stadium for Cornwall has not been submitted to the government yet.

Despite Cornwall Council agreeing in March to provide £3m to the stadium, the bid to secure the remaining £3m from the government is no further forward.

The Stadium for Cornwall team approached Cornwall Council at the beginning of the year to ask for £6m of public money to get the stadium started.

However, the council said it would only provide half the amount and said the other half should come from the government with a business plan required from the developers.

Image source, Inox

Under the plans, the Stadium for Cornwall at a site near Threemilestone would provide a permanent home for the Cornish Pirates along with Truro City.

The £14.3m project would also provide facilities for Truro and Penwith College and a fitness centre.