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

Britain's London 2012 Paralympic champion Jonathan Fox retires from swimming to "focus on his health".

BBC Radio Cornwall

The chairman of the Falmouth District Hotels Association says Airbnb's should comply with the same safety rules and regulations as traditional hotels and B&B's.

It follows the release of new figures from Visit Cornwall, which show a big rise in the amount of Airbnb accommodation in the county, and concerns that many landlords do not know their legal responsibilities.

Image source, Airbnb

Bruce Hobbs says he is concerned for people's safety and thinks so-called "AirBnb'ers" should be made to follow what is expected across the rest of the industry.

"There will come a day when there will be blue lights going somewhere in Cornwall if we're not careful [and] if we don't get on top of the regulation to make sure everybody is complying," he said.

"It needs everybody to come together and to start talking to each other because at the moment we're running two separate economies in Cornwall.

"One is regulated, the other isn't."

They might be designed for short, urban journeys but this 'Boris bike' is in the middle of a 1,000-mile cross-country trip.

BBC Radio Cornwall

Devon and Cornwall Police are telling badger cull protesters that they may use drones to try to keep order in the South West following heightened tensions between activists and officers.

In an email to protesters seen by the Guardian newspaper, external, an officer said the force would consider using drones "where intelligence dictates".

Up to 42,000 animals are due to be shot in England in an attempt to curb tuberculosis in cattle - the cull zone in Cornwall covers 54% of the county.

The force said it was considering drones because of a spike in crimes in some areas within cull zones but protesters insisted the move would not stop them from trying to prevent badgers being killed.

Action group Stop the Cull said it thought drones could be damaged by activists who may not want their actions observed.

In a statement, Devon and Cornwall Police said all drone use "would be overt" and as part of operational policing, with the aircraft not covertly used to "spy" and monitor protesters.

BBC Radio Cornwall

There are fears that people in Bodmin with learning disabilities could become more isolated because a day centre could reduce its opening hours.

Cornwall Council said there had been a decline in the number of people using the Lyndhurst Day Centre and closing it on a Thursday and Friday was being considered as an option.

Heather Davison, whose brother goes to the centre, said the council was suggesting people such as him got personal assistants, but added that that wouldn't help...

Cornwall Council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the way people used care services was "changing" and many chose "a wider range of activities that the council provides, rather than attend a day centre".

It added that it would meet with people affected "so that we can tailor their care to meet their needs".

Sophie Pierce
BBC Radio Devon

A councillor in Torbay who left the Conservatives to join the Liberal Democrats now says he is an independent and will not stand at the next elections.

Cockington with Chelston councillor Mark King has left the Lib Dems after joining in May.

He is currently the subject of a standards hearing by the unitary authority and said he did not want any negative publicity to affect the party.

Daniel Clark
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Plans for the former public toilets in a Bovey Tracey car park to be turned into a small, child-friendly cafe have been approved.

The old loos in Mary Street were among four in the district that closed in 2014 due to running costs and a fall in demand.

Toilets at Dawlish Warren's outer car park have since become home to the Exe Valley Cycle Hire and Veloshack Cafe - while along the coast in Dawlish, Salty Dog Kiosks has been set up on Smugglers Lane in Holcombe.

The change of use plans at Bovey Tracey, and plans for painted wall adverts and a wall mounted board sign, were approved by Teignbridge District Council planners on Tuesday morning.

The cafe will be open from 08:00 to 17:30, Tuesday to Sunday.

Ed Oldfield
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Plymouth's education boss has pledged to tackle under-achievement in the city's schools.

Jon Taylor has outlined a series of steps needed to support improvements. These include action on under-funding which is costing the city's schools an estimated £11m this year.

Cllr Taylor was speaking out after a report highlighted the city's education system was at most stages performing below the national average.

Improving standards is one of the key pledges in the Labour group's 100-point plan they promised to deliver after taking control of the city council in May.

Cllr Taylor said political support from MPs was needed for the campaign to improve funding with city down by £300 per pupil each year.

The city council is working with the government's education department and schools.

Top priorities include closing an achievement gap for disadvantaged children and dealing with any inequality.

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Devon Live

Royal Family history has been made after the Queen’s cousin married his boyfriend in Devon, external.

Lord Ivar Mountbatten tied the knot with his partner, James Coyle, in Lord Mountbatten's chapel at his home near Uffculme.

Keepers say they have put food down and hope the goat-antelope will walk back into its enclosure.

Tamsin Melville
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Cornwall

There are calls for all "let properties" to be registered with the local authority, as figures reveal a huge rise in the number of Airbnb hosts in Devon and Cornwall.

Visit Cornwall says in January 2016 there were 17, but there were 6,300 last January and about 9,000 in August.

The organisation wants all let properties to be registered to make sure they comply with the same rules and regulations as hotels and B&B's and wants fines for anyone breaking the rules.

An Airbnb spokesperson says it has been working with the National Fire Chiefs' Council and hosts were informed "to check and certify they follow local rules before they list their space".

"If guests alert us to a hazard or safety issue at a listing, we immediately suspend the listing and investigate."

Firefighters are also concerned that many new landlords do not know their legal responsibilities with regard to fire safety.

Newquay firefighter Lee Beresford says people with holiday accommodation can get in touch with them for advice...

Cornwall Live

A diner from Essex at the Heron Inn in Malpas, near Truro, has taken to TripAdvisor to complain about the pub.

The reviewer from Harlow dubbed the inn "disappointing" - despite "outstanding" food" - because they "did not see any herons, external".

The Guardian

Devon and Cornwall Police have warned badger cull protesters that they may use drones to try to keep order, external in the far south-west of England following heightened tensions between activists and officers.

In an email to protesters seen by the Guardian, an officer said the force would consider using drones “where intelligence dictates”.

Andrew Segal
BBC South West

A goat-antelope which escaped from a zoo in Devon can be seen nearby, staff say.

The female mountain-dwelling West Caucasian tur broke free from Paignton Zoo on Monday.

The animal, which is listed as an endangered species, jumped a fence during its escape, and went into dense woodland.

The zoo said keepers "can see her" and she was "close to where she wants to be (back with the herd)".

Image source, Via Devon and Cornwall Police

Police are no longer involved in the operation.

Ed Oldfield
Local Democracy Reporting Service

A plan to install a network of hi-tech public telephone kiosks across Plymouth city centre has been blocked.

Infocus Public Networks Ltd told the city council of nine sites it wanted to put in solar-powered communications hubs with defibrillators.

The kiosks include a public payphone and touch screen with internet access, USB charger and "smart city sensors" to give reports on weather and other local information.

Image source, JCDecaux

Under telecoms law, the kiosks do not need planning permission, but the operator has to notify the local authority.

Plymouth City Council has refused two each in New George Street and Cornwall Street, and at sites in Old Town Street, St Andrews Cross, Armada Way, Mayflower Street and Derrys Cross.

A planning officer said in a report the kiosks would disrupt the walking routes through the city centre and described them as out of place due to "unacceptable visual impact".

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

Richard Whitehouse
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Image source, LDRS

Cornwall Council has admitted that it is considering cutting the opening hours of a day centre for people with learning disabilities.

The council responded after relatives and carers raised concerns that the Lyndhurst Day Centre in Bodmin could be closing on Thursdays and Fridays.

One carer, Heather Davison, said the centre was vital and helped a number of people and their families.

Cornwall Council said there had been a decline in the number of people using the centre, with 17 attending a week, compared with 24 users four years ago.

It added that the way people used care services was "changing" and many chose "a wider range of activities that the council provides, rather than attend a day centre".

It said: "We need to respond to these changes in demand, and look at how we can provide people with the best type of care that suits their needs.

It said "one option" being considered was reducing the number of days Lyndhurst was open from five days a week to three, but that it would meet with people affected "so that we can tailor their care to meet their needs".

BBC Radio Devon

• In Exeter, on Bridge Road, heading inbound towards Countess Wear, there are reports of a broken-down lorry
• Staying in Exeter, on the A377, approaching Cowley, there's very busy traffic