A cat named Merri died in surgery and comes after two other felines were attacked.

Exeter boss Rob Baxter says injured back row Sam Simmonds still has a great chance to make the England squad for the 2019 World Cup.

Andrew Segal
BBC South West

Shouts of "shame" and boos rung out inside a Devon council chamber as plans to revise fees and allowances for foster carers were approved, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) says.

They came while Devon County Council's cabinet unanimously voted on Wednesday to introduce a "fairer and equitable" system for allowances.

The authority said the changes would centre the fees on the needs of the child, rather than the current system where it depended on the tier of the carer.

The changes would mean 50% of carers (135 carers) would receive an increase in fees, for 10% they would stay the same, but for 40% (108 carers), they would lose out, the LDRS said.

Those carers were to continue to receive current fees for two years or until the child left the placement, but scores of carers protested outside County Hall before the meeting (pictured) and booed the cabinet as its members made their final decision.

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" and it was investing an additional £2.6m into the foster carer service over the next three years.

Image source, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Daniel Clark
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Speed limits in Buckfastleigh should be slashed to make it safer for pedestrians in the town, campaigners say.

A petition calling for a 20mph speed limit to be introduced on all roads leading into and passing through Buckfastleigh, as well as a 30mph speed limit on Strode Road (pictured), has been handed in to Devon County Council.

About 1,000 residents of the town have signed the petition, which was organised by the town council.

Speaking at a Devon County Council meeting last Thursday, Councillor Janet Jones, of Buckfastleigh Town Council, said: "Residents feel that the roads in the town are narrow and congested with parked cars and it would be safer if the speed limit was reduced to 20mph.

"Not all the roads have pavements and those that do are very narrow and difficult for prams and mobility scooters."

Devon County Council leader Councillor John Hart will now consider the petition's contents.

Image source, Google

Andrew Segal
BBC South West

Image source, Perranporth Fire Station

A light aircraft made an emergency landing in a field and flipped over after a bang was heard on board, an investigation says.

The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) said, external an 80-year-old pilot took off in the single-engine Cessna F172, which was manufactured in 1968, from Perranporth Airfield on 19 April.

But he had to declare a mayday and initiate a forced landing about three miles southwest of the airfield after he reported a "sudden bang and heavy vibration".

The AAIB said that while at 50ft (15m) "the pilot realised that his selected field was unsuitable so he veered left and landed in a harrowed field".

Image source, Perranporth Fire Station

It said the aircraft's wheels dug in and the aircraft flipped over, with the nose-wheel being ripped off.

Although there were some concerns in the report about the engine "running over-rich" in how its fuel was used, and the meteorological conditions being "conducive to carburettor icing", the "cause of the engine problem could not be determined", the AAIB said.

The pilot was able to get out via the passenger door and was reported to have only suffered minor injuries the crash.

BBC Radio Cornwall

The A38 at Trethawle is partially blocked eastbound heading towards Liskeard by a two-vehicle collision near the Chequered Flag café. There's slow traffic.

Andrew Segal
BBC South West

Three men have been injured, two seriously, in a single-vehicle crash in Torquay overnight, police say.

Officers said, external the crash occurred on Rathmore Road in the town at about 03:30.

Two men sustained "serious and possibly life-threatening injuries", and the third sustained minor injuries.

Local road closures were in place, with Rathmore Road "expected to remain closed this morning", police said.

BBC Radio Devon

The A3072 between Brandis Corner and Highampton is blocked in both directions by an overturned vehicle. It is affecting traffic between Holsworthy and Hatherleigh.

Cornish Stuff

A builder from Callington has been sentenced, external after one of his teenage employees sustained serious, life-changing hand injuries whilst operating a handheld circular saw.

BBC Radio Devon

Two charities which help the homeless and vulnerable in south Devon are facing losing their premises in the next few weeks.

Staff at Homeless in Teignbridge Support (HITS) and PATH Torbay said that, if they did not find new homes, their services could suffer or even be forced to close.

PATH Torbay provides space for homeless people in an old council building in Torquay, Roebuck House; and HITS is a food bank in Newton Abbot. Both charities are facing eviction because their buildings are being developed.

Kath Friedrich, from PATH Torbay, said only a bit of help was needed from local authorities...

Torbay Council said it was looking into the situation.

Emma Thomasson
BBC Spotlight

BBC Entertainment and Arts

The European headquarters of Bloomberg has won the Riba Stirling prize for architecture, beating shortlisted rivals including one of Cornwall's most famous galleries.

The Royal Institute of British Architects gives out the award each year to the UK's best new building.

The building, which is in Bank, is the world's most sustainable office and largest stone building in the City of London.

It beat the likes of Bushey Cemetery and the New Tate St Ives (pictured) to the prize.

BBC Radio Devon

People living in flats in Plymouth which were found to be covered in unsafe cladding following the Grenfell Tower fire are being reassured that suitable safety measures are in place after a small blaze.

Eleven fire crews were sent to Tavy House in Devonport just after 22:00 on Wednesday after a fire in a first-floor flat involving a chip pan. It was out when they arrived.

The building - one of the three Mount Wise Towers - is classed as a special-risk high-rise as cladding on the towers failed government fire safety tests following the Grenfell fire.

Group Commander Dale Durrant, of Devon and Somerset Fire Service, said he was satisfied current safety procedures in place were sufficient...

Plans for a new non-combustible external wall covering for the Mount Wise Towers were approved by Plymouth City Council last month.

BBC Weather

It'll be a cloudy morning with low cloud covering high ground at times.

Outbreaks of showery rain will spread eastwards and will be locally heavy at times before clearing from the west early this afternoon.

It'll then become brighter with sunny spells developing along with the odd shower.

Fresh to strong southeasterly winds will reach up to gale force in exposed areas and gusts before turning to the west or southwest and easing as the rain clears.

Devon

Cornwall

Andrew Segal
BBC South West

A Saltash school is closed on Wednesday because of a burst water main in the area, staff say.

Saltash.net Community School said it would be shut "for health and safety reasons" and its website, external would be updated "as soon as we have further information".

South West Water confirmed it had isolated a burst main in the town by 23:45 on Wednesday.

Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online

A high rise building in Plymouth was evacuated after a fire on Wednesday night.

Eleven fire crews were sent to Tavy House in Devonport when the fire alarm went off just after 22:00.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the building - one of the three Mount Wise Towers - is classed as a special risk high rise.

The cladding on the towers failed government fire safety tests following the Grenfell Tower fire.

Crews at the scene said there was a fire in a first-floor flat involving a chip pan but it was out when they arrived.

Last month plans for a new non-combustible external wall covering for the Mount Wise Towers were approved by Plymouth City Council.