BBC Radio Cornwall

Image source, Cornwall Council

A £3.7m plan to protect and improve the seafront at Long Rock will go on display next month, external.

The works will involve creating 984ft (300m) of rock armour to protect the railway line and the coast path and to raise the water level in Marazion Marsh.

The plans go on display at Marazion Town Hall on 10 September.

Image source, Getty Images

The project will include:

• Protecting 295 residential properties and 65 commercial properties.
• Creating better conditions for sustained economic growth.
• Protecting the Marazion Marsh by creating an increased area of open water for habitat and wildlife and connecting river catchments to the coast at Mount's Bay.
• Creating widespread flood awareness.
• Reducing the long-term costs of responding to future, large-scale flooding events in the Mount's Bay area.
• Providing eel passages by connecting the catchment to the coast at Mount's Bay.
• Reducing the level of flood risk to the community of Long Rock.
• Providing increased coastal protection to the Great Western Railway main line and the A30.

BBC Radio Devon

In Plymouth, on Gdynia Way, there's slow traffic heading inbound due to roadworks and lane restrictions in the area.

Emma Thomasson
BBC Spotlight

A couple from Launceston have split their lives between the South West and Indonesia to help the orangutan.

The animals are endangered due to the deforestation of their habitat, trafficking and the illegal pet trade.

Nigel Hicks and Sarah Fell Hicks provide medical supplies and veterinary care in rescue centres in the country.

Over the last nine years, they estimate they've helped save more than 600 orangutan.

Nigel says without their work, the risk of the orangutan becoming extinct is "quite possible"...

Nigel and Sarah have also set up a scholarship. They are fundraising to bring vets to the UK to train so they can head back to Indonesia to continue their work to protect the primates.

Tamsin Melville
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Cornwall

Campaigners say increasing numbers of helium balloons from balloon releases are washing up on South West beaches and threatening marine wildlife.

A petition to get the issue debated in parliament has gathered more than 34,000 signatures.

The Marine Conservation Society says the average number of balloons found for every 100m (328ft) surveyed during its Great British Beach Clean has doubled over the last five years.

Ian Jepson is the skipper of a crabbing boat out of Newquay and says this summer, the remains of "three or four" helium balloons have been caught on the back ropes of his pots each week.

Image source, Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust

• Blue Planet 2: How plastic is slowly killing our sea creatures, fish and birds
• Plastic pickers: Taking on the litter louts

Lauren Haly
BBC News Online

A PCSO has been attacked following an altercation in Paignton.

The officer attempted to make an arrest and was assaulted when a person hit him in the face and spat at him, police said.

Officers were called just after 17:00 to Victoria Street after threats with an offensive weapon were made.

A 31-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of assault.

A 29-year-old man from Paignton was also arrested at the scene for a public order offence, and on suspicion of making threats with an offensive weapon in a public place.

Both remain in police custody and await questioning.

The PCSO returned to duty after receiving treatment from the nurse in custody.

Daniel Clark
Local Democracy Reporting Service

A new £3.8m flood prevention scheme in Totnes "performed as expected", according to the Environment Agency.

The organisation commented after water seeped into the Steam Packet pub car park during stormy weather earlier this month.

Image source, Environment Agency

Heavy rain over the weekend of 11 and 12 August meant that the tide on the River Dart was high enough for the flood gate at the pub to be closed for the first time.

But the following day, there was minor flooding of the car park.

The Environment Agency launched an investigation and concluded that the drains had backed up and the flood gates did not leak.

Adrian Campbell, Environment Correspondent
BBC Spotlight

Researchers at the University of Plymouth are developing a way of growing crops in a cupboard which they say is more efficient than planting them outside.

They've come up with a way to give the plants the precise kind of light they need by putting them inside high-tech cupboards with adjustable LED lights.

The research is part of a project called Agritech Cornwall which is bringing £10.3m to the region from the European Regional Development Fund., external

Dr Hail Rihan has come to Plymouth from Syria to help with the research.

He says in harsh climates there's a "huge market" for plants grown in controlled conditions...

Bringing you the news, sport, travel and weather for Devon and Cornwall

BBC Radio Cornwall

Near Bude, in Widemouth Bay, there are reports of accident on Marine Drive near Leverlake Road at the turn-off for Widemouth Church.

Harriet Bradshaw
Reporter

There's been a rise in the number of "zero-waste" shops across the South West, where customers bring their own containers to avoid single-use plastics.

One social network has recorded more than 60 of them in the UK, mostly opening within the past year.

One in Totnes opened in 2017, while a refill store was launched in Truro in May and another opened its doors in Ottery St Mary recently.

The government says its 25-year environment plan sets out plans to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste, but academics believe more still needs to be done.

Prof Steffen Boehm from the University of Exeter says a UK-wide initiative is needed...

BBC Radio Devon

Plymouth's Theatre Royal has become a Grade ll listed building.

It's one of four buildings to be added to the 71-year-old National Heritage List by Historic England.

The art deco Elmdon terminal at Birmingham Airport, the Howitt Building in Nottingham and 200-year-old cottage in Shropshire were also added.

The Theatre Royal is described as a "sophisticated example" of 20th Century design with distinctive geometric forms.

It was commissioned by Plymouth City Council as a venue that could cater for both large and small productions and was completed in 1982.

BBC Radio Cornwall

The coastguard says a man who fell overboard off the Lizard on Tuesday night owes his life to his life-jacket and a handheld VHF radio.

The single-handed skipper was returning to his boat off Coverack at about 22:30 when he fell from his tender.

A mayday was received by the coastguard and the Lizard lifeboat was launched.

By the time it had arrived, the man had managed to scramble on board his yacht and did not need medical attention.

Bee Tucker
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.

Bee Tucker
BBC Weather

A fairly cloudy start to the day in many places with patchy mist and drizzle. Sunny intervals should develop away from the coast.

Tonight will be cloudy with spells of rain and drizzle moving in.

Maximum temperature: 20 to 23C (68 to 73F).