Ellie Miller, believed to be Europe's only woman commercial surfboard shaper, talks about her job.

Ellie Miller, believed to be Europe's only woman commercial surfboard shaper, talks about her job.

Matthew Hedges' wife Daniela Tejada thanked Jeremy Hunt for meeting her at "this crucial point".

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has talks with his UAE counterpart about jailed Briton Matthew Hedges.

Sebastian Hibberd's father tells an inquest his son's death was a result of NHS failings.

BBC Weather

Although a mostly dry evening ahead, a scattering of showers is possible.

It will be warmer than the last few nights with some cloud expected.

Minimum temperature overnight: 3C (37F).

The government is "shocked and deeply disappointed" by the jailing for life of a British academic in the United Arab Emirates on an allegation of spying, peers have been told.

Baroness Goldie said ministers were raising the case of 31-year-old PhD student Matthew Hedges, from Exeter, with the UAE authorities at the "very highest level".

"We are conveying in the starkest and bluntest terms possible what the reaction has been within the UK to Mr Hedges' situation," she said answering an urgent question at the Lords.

She said consular staff had met with Mr Hedges on six occasions.

"We will continue to do all we can to support him as we consider the next steps," she added.

Lady Goldie said she has no specific information about Mr Hedges' health.

Image source, Daniela Tejada

Cornwall Live

The death of a 14-year-old boy from St Ives is not being treated as suspicious, say police., external

Devon Live

Members of public have been urged to 'back up' police officers struggling to arrest violent offenders., external

Richard Whitehouse
Local Democracy Reporting Service

The leader of Cornwall Council is set to meet the EU's chief Brexit negotiator to highlight crucial issues for the county.

Adam Paynter is set to travel to Brussels on 19 December to meet Michel Barnier and is thought to be the only council leader in the UK to have such an invitation.

The opportunity has come from Cornwall Council's membership of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) and will also see representatives from Wales meeting Mr Barnier.

Councillor Paynter said he wanted to ensure the EU was aware of the issues faced by Cornwall and that Cornwall's voice is heard.

Cornwall Council is set to have two motions to debate around the topic of Brexit when it meets in full next month.

Until now, the council has had no formal position on Brexit and before the referendum in 2016, decided not to take a view and remained neutral on the issue.

By having a vote in the council chamber, Councillor Paynter hopes it will provide clarity about trade deals and how they might affect the likes of agriculture and fishing in Cornwall which export on a large scale to the EU.

Daniela Tejada spoke to the BBC after returning from seeing Matthew Hedges sentenced in the UAE.

Daniel Clark
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Charges will be introduced at six public toilets in the South Hams, while a further 10 could close.

Severe budget challenges for the district council means it is no longer financially viable for it to continue paying to keep all 41 toilets open.

The South Hams executive has approved introducing pay-on-entry at toilets in Dittisham, Hope Cove, Ivybridge and for Coronation Road, Steamer Quay and the Civic Hall in Totnes.

Image source, Google

Toilets in Bigbury, Torcross and Strete Gate will remain free, but car parking charges are set to rise to cover the costs.

The toilets in Fore Street, Kingsbridge, will remain free, but the town council will have to make an annual payment of £4,200 in lieu of pay-on-entry facilities being installed.

It was agreed by the executive that the toilets in Holbeton, Newton Ferrers, Staverton, Bittaford and Ugborough will close in September 2019, unless proposals to transfer them to the town or parish councils are agreed.

Plymouth Argyle manager Derek Adams believes all clubs should have to publish their playing budgets.

BBC Radio Devon

The online retail giant, Amazon, is to build a new distribution centre in Exeter.

South West Business Council said work is set to start in early 2019.

The 100,000 sq ft (9,290 sq m) unit will be built by Stoford Construction in the Exeter Gateway area, next to Lidl's distribution centre.

It's expected to bring at least 200 jobs to the area.

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

The Eden Project has unveiled its vision for Eden Project North - a "major attraction" in Morecambe in Lancashire.

The Cornwall-based environmental charity presented images and details to its northern partners - which successfully completed a feasibility study in September.

It is seeking funding to make the project a reality.

The charity said Eden in Cornwall has contributed £2bn to the local economy and welcomed more than 20 million visitors since it opened in 2001.

Image source, EDEN PROJECT

BBC Radio Cornwall

Police are appealing for help, external to identify a man following reports of a burglary in Fowey.

It happened on 25 June between 00:00 and 05.50 at The Cornish Bakery on Fore Street.

A safe containing cash and a CCTV hard drive were reportedly taken from the premises.

Police would like to speak to the man pictured below in connection with the incident.

Image source, Devon & Cornwall Police

Ed Oldfield
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Torbay councillors have backed a plan to move more than £1m of extra funding away from schools to make up for overspending on children outside mainstream education.

Two Torquay secondary head teachers made a plea at a meeting to let schools keep the cash - allocated by the government under its Fairer Funding Formula to make up for past under-payment.

They warned the loss of the money could lead to job cuts and more borderline pupils being excluded as work to keep them in classes faced being reduced.

Image source, Google

But members of the council's overview and scrutiny board supported the measures put forward by the Schools Forum, external to transfer more than £1.3m.

It is set to reach up to £2.6m by the end of March.

Councillors suggested that part of the pressure on higher needs spending was being caused by the number of excluded pupils.

Twitter

Del Crookes
BBC News Online

Most CrossCountry train services won't be running between Exeter St Davids and Paignton and Exeter St Davids and Plymouth for the rest of the day, National Rail has said.

It's due to the forecast high tides affecting Dawlish.

Earlier, the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for rain across Devon and Cornwall from Friday morning until Saturday evening.

David Ablett tells a court he was acting in self-defence during a fight over drugs and money.