Woman 'starved pet dog to death'
Dartmoor tungsten mine firm Wolf Minerals ceases trading
Woman, 87, waited six hours for ambulance after fall
Man who fractured dog's back jailed
Proposals to change fees for foster carers approved
One injured in A38 Kennford crash
Staff cuts 'created culture of violence' at HMP Exeter
Updates on Wednesday 10 October 2018
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Read MoreBringing you the news, sport, travel and weather for Devon and Cornwall
Read MoreRelatives of one of the men who died after running the Cardiff Half Marathon lay flowers at the finish.
Read MoreUp to 200 jobs are at risk after Wolf Minerals goes into administration.
Read More
Daniel Clark
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Image source, LDRSCouncillors have unanimously approved a £759,000 scheme to protect Sidmouth homes from "the very real threat of flooding".
Devon County Council's cabinet backed the Sidmouth Surface Water Improvement Scheme which will reduce the risk of surface water flooding to more than 100 homes and businesses in the town, the meeting earlier heard.
The scheme involves the construction of a new and larger drainage system in the town centre that will divert surface water directly into the River Sid and the construction of an earth dam which will act as a surface water storage area at The Knowle.
Subject to funding and planning permission work could begin in January.
Quote MessageThis scheme will reduce the risk of flooding to around 100 of the most vulnerable properties. We know from experience that parts of Sidmouth are particularly vulnerable flooding and the impact flooding can have on homes and businesses, and I have delivered sandbags in person to some of these properties that are at risk of flooding."
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Sidmouth ward councillor
A Dartmoor mine is closing after three years with the possible loss of up to 200 jobs.
Australian firm Wolf Minerals (UK) has gone into voluntary administration after talks with international backers seeking further finance failed.
It had hoped to produce about 3,000 tonnes of tungsten and tin a year after reopening the mine at Hemerdon, near Plymouth, in Devon, in 2015.
The firm had spent £130m in start-up expenses alone.
People living nearby have mixed views....
Quote MessageThe only bad thing is that people could lose their jobs, obviously they have families to look after, but apart from that the closure is a good thing."
Quote MessageIt can be quite annoying when your doors and windows are shaking [because of the blasts from the mine]."
Quote MessageThat's a shame about the closure, I'm sorry about that. It was creating local employment and it now creates uncertainty about what will happen next."
However, mining analyst John Meyer, of SP Angel, said: "We expect the mine to reopen following renegotiation with the principal creditors."
Andrew Segal
BBC South West
A tungsten mine on Dartmoor whose operator is in administration is expected to reopen after renegotiations with creditors, an industry analyst says.
Australian firm Wolf Minerals (UK) went into voluntary administration after talks with international backers failed to get further finance for Drakelands mine at Hemerdon, near Plymouth, in Devon.
The mine had only reopened in 2015 with ambitions to produce about 3,000 tonnes of tungsten and tin a year. Its closure could see the possible loss of up to 200 jobs.
However, mining analyst John Meyer, of SP Angel, said: "We expect the mine to reopen following renegotiation with the principal creditors."
Quote MessageWe expect the mine to restart once the administrator has agreed settlement with creditors and found a suitable buyer for the business. We hope the administrator will have the foresight to keep the mills turning to preserve value in the business and enable a quick restart of the mining operation, preserving jobs and maintaining skills within the local community."
John Meyer, Mining analyst, SP Angel
A man died after being hit by a car which then crashed into a house.
Read MoreAndrew Segal
BBC South West
Blasting has been stopped at a tungsten mine on Dartmoor just as its operator, now in administration, was "on the verge" of finding more profitable ore, industry analysts say.
Australian firm Wolf Minerals (UK) went into voluntary administration after talks with international backers failed to get further finance for Drakelands mine at Hemerdon, near Plymouth, in Devon.
The move could see the possible loss of up to 200 jobs.
The mine had only reopened in 2015 with ambitions to produce about 3,000 tonnes of tungsten and tin a year.
Mining analyst John Meyer, of SP Angel, said: "Wolf appeared to have mined through most if not all of the difficult tungsten ore... and was on the verge of entering into a more profitable part of the mine in our view."
He added that the the pit "is seen by a number of tungsten mining experts as viable" at current tungsten prices.
Andrew Segal
BBC South West
Devon and Cornwall's police and crime commissioner is pushing for what she says is fairer funding for the counties' force.
Alison Hernandez has been giving evidence to the Public Accounts Committee about the sustainability of police finances.
She said she had been explaining to MPs the unique position the force is in when delivering services around both counties...
Police funding 'needs to look at geography'
The government is yet to comment.
Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport
Truro City have made three signings as they aim to bolster their struggling National League South campaign.
Forward River Allen has returned to the club on a permanent deal from Tiverton Town.
Meanwhile Plymouth Argyle 19-year-olds Dan Rooney and Jordan Bentley have joined on month-long youth loans.
Defender Bentley has played twice for Argyle's first team, whole Rooney has yet to make the senior side.
All three players could feature in Truro's league fixture against Hemel Hempstead Town on Saturday.
Plymouth Argyle majority shareholder Simon Hallett is to become the League One club's chairman.
Read MoreLinda Cooper claimed she did not have enough money to take her Staffordshire bull terrier to the vets.
Read More
Neil Gallacher, Business & Industry Correspondent
BBC Spotlight
The company behind the tungsten mine on the Plymouth edge of Dartmoor has announced it has ceased trading with immediate effect.
Australian firm Wolf Minerals, which employs about 200 people at Hemerdon mine, had been in talks for months trying to persuade its international backers to refinance the mine.
Those talks have failed and the mine has gone into voluntary administration.
Andrew Segal
BBC South West
Proposals to change fees for foster carers in Devon have been approved by the county council's cabinet.
Some of Devon's most experienced foster carers have claimed the potential changes in the system could leave some losing between £5,000 and £15,000 a year, which could stop them caring for the county's most vulnerable children.
Some of those involved held a protest outside County Hall in Exeter while the council cabinet meting was under way.
Devon County Council said the proposed changes were "a simpler and fairer system" which concentrated "on the needs of each child".
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Neil Gallacher, Business & Industry Correspondent
BBC Spotlight
Trading of shares in the company behind the tungsten mine on the Plymouth edge of Dartrmoor has been suspended because of uncertainty over its finances.
Wolf Minerals warned on Tuesday it was within two days of running out of money if talks with its international backers did not result in a successful injection of finance.
Those talks have been under way for months and the company has said they are close to a conclusion.
Its share price has fallen by a third since the end of last week.
Hemerdon mine has a history of successfully refinancing itself, and the latest move comes against a background of a rising tungsten price and recent operating improvements at the mine.
David Owen lashed out at his dog Archie, causing severe injuries to the two-year-old lurcher.
Read MoreProtests are being held outside Devon's County Hall as a county council cabinet meeting discusses proposals to shake-up fees for foster carers.
Some of Devon's most experienced foster carers have claimed the potential changes in the system could leave some losing between £5,000 and £15,000 a year, which could stop them caring for the county's most vulnerable children.
Devon County Council said the proposed changes were "a simpler and fairer system" which concentrated "on the needs of each child".
Quote MessageWe're protecting the allowances of those who would lose out for as long as their placement lasts - not just two years as originally proposed. This is not about making cuts - we're putting in an extra £1m. We want our foster carers to be paid an appropriate fee based on the needs of the child they look after."
Devon County Council
Neil Gallacher, Business & Industry Correspondent
BBC Spotlight
The company behind the tungsten mine on the Plymouth edge of Dartmoor is nearing a major crunch point in its struggle to get into profit.
Australian firm Wolf Minerals said talks with its international backers, which have been under way for months, should conclude this week. But it also warned that it was within two days of running out of money should the talks not succeed.
Wolf's share price has fallen by a third since the end of last week.
The mine has a history of successfully refinancing itself, and the latest move comes against a background of a rising tungsten price and recent operating improvements at the mine.
The Hemerdon mine could exploit what is said to be the world's fourth-largest deposit of the metal.
Wolf Minerals previously said it hoped to produce about 3,000 tonnes of tungsten and tin per year.
Bells on Sunday comes from St Maunanus & St Stephen, Mawnan in Cornwall. Situated with views out to sea, the Church contains a light peal of eight bells cast in 2003 by the now closed Whitechapel Bell Foundry. The tenor tuned to the key of E weighs just over three and a half hundredweight. We hear them ringing Stedman Doubles.
