Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online

Police say they have completed a modern slavery investigation into a flower picking farm in Cornwall and will be taking no further criminal action.

Officers raided Bosahan Farm near Manaccan, Helston, on 8 February on the suspicion that modern slavery offences were taking place against migrant workers. Three people were arrested.

After the initial raid, many of the workers gathered outside Camborne Police Station to support the farm owners.

They later requested an apology from police with 189 of them signing a letter.

In a statement, Devon and Cornwall police said: "Following a full investigation and discussions with the Crown Prosecution Service, there will be no criminal matters pursued by police in relation to this investigation".

The statement added: "Devon and Cornwall Police appreciate the disruption this policing operation has caused to the wider farming, agricultural and migrant worker community.

"However, it is important to recognise that police had to ensure that the response to serious allegations of modern slavery were followed up and responded to with the gravity this under-reported crime deserved".

BBC Radio Devon

There's a call for tolerance and mutual respect from religious leaders in Exeter and police.

It follows a suspected arson attempt at a synagogue in the city on Saturday evening.

A joint statement from the Bishop of Exeter, the president of the Synagogue, Exeter Mosque, the city council and Devon and Cornwall Police has called for "renewed efforts to ensure greater community cohesion, external".

Image source, Google

Synagogue President Richard Halsey said members would "like to sincerely thank local police for their brilliant initial response and the ongoing proactive and thorough investigation and support.

He said: "We live in a wonderful city that has demonstrated tolerance and support for each other at times of need."

A 51-year-old man from Exeter was later arrested and charged with arson with intent of endangering life.

Hamish Marshall
BBC Spotlight

A historic bridge over the Exeter Canal is being removed in a sophisticated operation.

The Kings Arms Bridge, owned by the city council, crosses the water where the River Exe and the canal merge.

It has deteriorated over time and is being lifted out of position by a large crane. The area is being closed off while the work takes place.

A temporary bridge is in place with a new permanent structure due to be erected in the new year.

Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live

RNLI lifeguards pitched in a bit in helping a baby badger recover after it was rescued from the sea.

The cub is thought to have plummeted 90ft (27m) into the sea, before climbing on to a cliff ledge where it was spotted by kayakers.

It then fell into the water again before being snapped up by kayaker Tom Wildblood, who pulled it on to his boat in what he called a "surreal" rescue mission.

Lifeguards greeted the kayaking group when they got back to shore about an half and hour later.

As you can see here, they helped give the creature a towelling down before it was taken to a vet for a health check.

The cub was later given the all-clear.

Harriet Bradshaw
Reporter

The cost of holiday childcare for parents in the South West has risen, according to new research.

The Department of Education says it is investing record amounts to make sure as many children as possible have access to high-quality care.

But figures released by the Family and Childcare Trusts suggest a 6% rise this year in the South West to more than £130 a week.

Author and single mum, Faith Bleasdale, says the costs can be quite daunting...

Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live

Royal Navy submarine HMS Agincourt is to be be twinned with Torbay "as a sign of the enduring link between our area and the Royal Navy's submarine service", the area's MP says.

The navy's seventh Astute-class hunter-killer nuclear-powered submarine (HMS Astute itself is pictured here) is undergoing construction in Barrow-in-Furness and expected to be commissioned into service in 2024.

The boat was officially named in May, external, and is the sixth vessel in the navy to be named after the Battle of Agincourt of 1415.

The bay's link to the submarine service had previously been provided by Trafalgar-class submarine HMS Torbay, which was decommissioned last year.

Torbay's MP, Conservative Kevin Foster, said: "It is great to hear our historic links with the Royal Navy's submarine service will be taken forward by a link with HMS Agincourt."

Image source, PA

The stricken animal was pulled aboard by a kayaker during a "surreal" rescue mission.

BBC Radio Devon

Devon County Council is proposing to spend an extra £1m on foster carers' fees.

It said current fees "did not compare well to neighbouring authorities for entry-level foster carers", which meant it was struggling to recruit new people.

There are 270 carers in the Devon service, with bosses planning to increase that to 300 to look "after about half of the 700 children in care".

Carers are self-employed, and they receive allowances and fees to cover their costs of looking after fostered children.

Fees for a single child start at nearly £12,000 per annum, but learning and development would very quickly raise entry level foster carers to fees of about £18,000. The proposed fees rise to a little over £26,000 per child.

The authority's fostering team budget is currently about £3.5m a year, external.

A formal consultation has started into its proposals and a decision is planned to be made in the autumn.

National League South side Torquay United announce a £40m development proposal for a new stadium, academy and event arena.

Millicent Cooke
BBC News Online

Organisers have cancelled a dog show because of the warm weather.

The Blue Cross Torbay Rehoming Centre decided to scrap the show after a discussion about the "current hot weather".

BBC Radio Cornwall

Police are searching for the driver of a car which ended up on its roof in St Ives.

Image source, Christina Martin

The Audi A3 was reported flipped over at about 04:00, but when police arrived the driver had left the scene.

Police said they were investigating and "efforts to locate the driver" were continuing.

Image source, Christina Martin

BBC Radio Cornwall

Some business owners in Cornwall are finding the hot weather isn't bringing in as much trade as expected.

They've found the high temperatures are causing people to make the most of being outside, rather than shopping in their stores.

Kevin Davey, from the Shipwreck Centre in Charlestown, says rainy days are better for business...

Daniel Clark
Local Democracy Reporting Service

No decisions have yet been made as to how West Devon Borough Council will make £50,000 of savings from its public conveniences budget.

The council needs to make savings of at least that much and up to £180,000 a year on the "discretionary" service due to the financial black hole it faces in the next five years.

Image source, Google

The savings in the budget will need to be achieved through a combination of pay on entry toilets, and community ownership, with closure of facilities as a last resort, a council spokesman said.

The West Devon Hub Committee were presented with four options as to how to plug the hole in the budget - but instead of making a decision, they agreed to look to make efficiencies savings of at least £50,000 from the 2019/20 public convenience service budget.

Councillor Philip Sanders, leader of West Devon Borough Council, said: "Our aim is to work with communities to continue to offer toilets which the public have access to where they are needed."

Image source, Google

The four options were:

1. Close, or devolve to parish councils, six toilets at Brentor, Bedford Bridge at Horrabridge, Chagford, Hatherleigh, Lydford and Yelverton, to make savings of £63,053.

2. Close one public toilet in Market Street, Okehampton and Bedford car park in Tavistock, where other options are available, to make a saving of £75,324.

3. Close, or devolve to parish councils, six loos at Brentor, Bedford Bridge at Horrabridge, Chagford, Hatherleigh, Lydford and Yelverton, to make savings of £63,053, and pay on entry at car parks in Fairplace, Okehampton, Bedford car park, Guildhall Square and the bus station in Tavistock, and in Chagford and Yelverton to generate income of £22,000.

4. Close all public toilets as it is a discretionary service provided by the council to save much more than the target of £50,000. The council currently spends £181,000, excluding salary costs, on its 12 public toilets.

BBC Radio Cornwall

• In St Ives, The Terrace is partially blocked at the the Malakoff Gardens due to an overturned car
• On the A390 near Tresillian, near the B3275, there are reports there's a broken-down car. Approach with care
• On the A38 at the Carkeel roundabout, there's busy traffic in both directions. A388 towards Carkeel also very slow

BBC Radio Devon

• In Barnstaple the A39 is partially blocked at the Portmore Roundabout due to an accident. Traffic is very busy

• There are several incidents in Plymouth, including: - Bampton Road is blocked at Millwood Drive due to an accident- There's slow traffic on Tavistock Road outbound between Crownhill and Derriford- There are also delays coming off the A38 Parkway in both directions at Manadon

• The Yealmpton Show is taking place on Wedneday. Traffic is very busy on the A379 near the showground. There are also slow moving vintage vehicles making their way to the show adding to delays
• In Totnes, on the A385, there's heavy traffic in both directions
• Near Awliscombe, Honiton, Awliscombe Road is closed between the A373 and Wolverstone Cross after an accident on Tuesday

Twitter

A TOR is a traffic offence report.

A PG9 is a roadside-issued prohibition stating a vehilce is not roadworthy.

Lauren Haly
BBC News Online

A large area of grassland on the site of Plymouth City Airport has been set on fire in a suspected arson attack.

Fire crews were called to the site at 19:00 on Tuesday following multiple calls.

The 6,000 sq m of grassland and one small derelict building were believed to have been set alight deliberately, said Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

Firefighters said they were concerned about it "spreading into undergrowth and towards nearby properties, external" before they were able to bring it under control.

Andrew Segal
BBC Local Live

A baby badger has been rescued from the sea off the north Cornwall coast.

The black and white creature was spotted by kayaker Tom Wildblood, who was leading a group off the north Cornwall coast. He pulled it aboard and brought it ashore.

The cub has been checked out by a local vet and been given a clean bill of health.

Video: Koru Kayaking

Tom said he originally found the animal on a ledge under cliffs.

He said he thought it had fallen from the above cliff and managed to scramble on to the ledge before he saw it fall into the water.

He rescued it by "picking it up by the scuff of the neck" and put it in the kayak in front of him.

Richard Whitehouse
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Cornwall Council's leading member for transport says he is confident the government will continue to subsidise the air route between Newquay and London.

The service, which is currently operated to Gatwick by FlyBe, is subject to a Public Service Obligation (PSO) which protects it and provides a government subsidy to keep it going.

That agreement was secured in 2014 when the route was at risk and Cornwall Council asked for support to keep it going but it runs out in October.

Image source, LDRS

The Department for Transport (DfT) has already indicated it will honour the PSO but it is subject to it approving the council's preferred bidder to operate the service.

A report that went to cabinet on Tuesday stated that if the route was lost then it could cost Cornwall's economy £50m through the loss of employment alone.

Councillor Geoff Brown, cabinet member for transport, told the meeting he was "confident" the DfT would approve the agreement.

The London route currently accounts for 40% of all passengers using Cornwall Airport Newquay.

Adrian Campbell, Environment Correspondent
BBC Spotlight

The dry weather has been adding to the threat of imported diseases facing our native trees.

Some shallow rooted trees have already started dropping leaves and shedding seeds, which is much earlier than normal.

David Colman, who advises East Devon District Council about its trees, says the appearance of an early autumn is a worrying sign...