BBC Radio Cornwall

A house in Cornwall is on fire after being struck by lightning, a fire service has said, external.

Seven crews are at the scene of a three-storey property in Ponsongath near Coverack.

The alarm was raised at about 11:35 and three crews, from St Keverne, Helston and Mullion were sent.

They were joined by crews from Penzance, Falmouth, Tolvaddon and St Just.

Firefighters reported the roof was well alight and the flames were spreading to the main building.

BBC Radio Devon

On the A30 Exeter-bound between Whiddon Down and the Woodley junction, there are reports of a vehicle on its roof. There are long queues of traffic in the area.

Emma Thomasson
BBC Spotlight

Crowds of family and friends are awaiting the return of the HMS Albion in Plymouth.

The Royal Navy's flagship vessel has spent nearly 10 months away - mainly in the Pacific and the Middle East.

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On the A38 Plymouth-bound between Plympton and the Marsh Mills Roundabout, the road is closed while recovery work takes place after a lorry overturned earlier.

Highways England said delays are starting to build.

Image source, Highways England

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

A man with a lifelong passion for magic is studying in the city that's thought to have inspired the story of the world's most famous wizard.

Samuel Gillis Hogan, 26, from Canada, was awarded a fellowship to study the history of magic at the University of Exeter.

It's the same one Harry Potter author JK Rowling attended but Samuel did not know this until after he accepted the award.

He said it was a "fun, unexpected bonus" after loving the Harry Potter books since he was a child.

"My fascination with magic precedes my love of the books though.

JK Rowling has never been explicit about the inspiration for the Harry Potter books, but her university city is thought to have inspired the author.

Book locations such as Budleigh Babberton and Ottery St Catchpole are similar, in name and description, to Budleigh Salterton and Ottery St Mary - towns close to Exeter.

Rowling has also said studying Classics at the Devon university , externalhelped create the spells in the Harry Potter series, some of which are based on Latin.

Samuel was awarded the Rothermere Fellowship which fully funds a PhD at any university in the UK. While in Devon, Samuel is studying the beliefs and practices people wrote down, external which describe how to perform various types of magic.

He is also looking at late medieval and early-modern manuscripts which contain rituals intended to conjure fairy spirits and hopes to become a professor in the subject one day.

John Ayres
BBC Spotlight

The Royal Navy's flagship vessel HMS Albion is arriving back in Devonport.

It has spent nearly 10 months away, mainly in the Pacific and the Middle East.

Two months ago, it was announced proposals to scrap the vessel, along with sister ship, HMS Bulwark, had been shelved.

Ben Woolvin
BBC South West Home Affairs correspondent

Staff at the University of Exeter will vote later on a motion calling for the suspension of its academic relationships with the UAE over the conviction of Matthew Hedges for spying.

Hedges, who is originally from Exeter and studied at Durham University, was jailed for life but denies spying.

The University of Exeter runs a Dubai-based education doctorate.

The University and College Union (UCU) meeting at 15:30 calls for the vice chancellor to lobby for the release of Hedges and suspend the university's academic relationships with UAE until the situation is resolved.

Image source, EPA/Daniela Tejada

The UAE's ambassador in London defends the conviction of a British student accused of spying - but says he is hopeful an "amicable solution" to the case can be reached.

Cornwall Live

A 16-week-old puppy has been killed in a hit-and-run in Redruth, external, Cornwall Live has reported.

Barney the beagle was hit by a grey estate in the Mount Ambrose area.

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Image source, Getty Images

Shares in Exeter-based airline Flybe are up more than 20% after a Sky News report than Virgin Atlantic is in talks to buy the cash strapped airline, external.

Earlier this month Flybe put itself up for sale, just weeks after issuing a profit warning.

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

BBC Radio Devon

On A38 Plymouth bound between Plympton and the Marsh Mills Roundabout one lane is closed due to an overturned lorry.

Traffic is slow moving with queues back to Lee Mill.

Police and bomb disposal experts raided a flat following reports of possible explosive material.

BBC Spotlight

A collection of severely damaged letters owned by a former prime minister is being conserved at the Devon Heritage Centre.

The nationally important collection consists of 10,000 letters to and from Henry Addington 1st Viscount Sidmouth who had a country home at Upottery.

The collection includes correspondence from Nelson, George III and William Wilberforce - Addington was home secretary and prime minister during one of the most turbulent times in British history.

The conservation work will help academics learn more about the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars and the Peterloo Massacre.

Deborah Phillips, senior archive conservator at the Devon Heritage Centre, says students studying Henry Addington are now being sent to them...

Plymouth Live

Police officers are hunting a masked man after he robbed an ice cream shop with a gun on the Barbican., external

There are signs Foreign Office staff may be close to resolving the case of UK academic Matthew Hedges, convicted of spying in the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE's ambassador in London is due to issue a statement at 10:00 GMT, amid speculation he will talk about progress in the 31-year-old's situation.

On Thursday, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he had "constructive" talks with his opposite number in the UAE.

Hedges, of Durham University and originally from Exeter, was jailed for life but denies spying.

Image source, EPA/DANIELA TEJADA

A man has been charged with making or possessing an explosive substance after police were called to an address in Exeter on Wednesday.

Police said a 29-year-old man from the city will appear at Exeter Magistrates Court later.

Suptt Matt Lawler said: “Following the completion of inquiries and searches yesterday, officers have now left the area and returned it to normal, and a local man has now been interviewed and charged to appear in court”

“If local residents or businesses have any remaining concerns regarding this incident then I would encourage contact with the local neighbourhood team who have been on foot-patrol in the area, and will continue to be available for any questions or concerns."

Janine Jansen
BBC Spotlight

Thirty-six thousand worms grown at the University of Exeter are about to take part in the first UK-led experiment to the International Space Station.

The creatures have arrived at the Kennedy Space Centre in America and are getting ready to blast off in a rocket early in December.

The scientists - behind the £2m project to study muscle wastage are leaving for Florida later - and say nematodes are being used because they have a similar muscle structure to humans.

Astronauts lose about 40% of muscle mass after 180 days while onboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Researchers hope the research could help people with conditions including muscular dystrophy and diabetes.

Worm facts:

• The worms are a nematode species called Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans)
• They will blast off in a rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre, Florida, on 4 December
• They will travel 250 miles (402km) to the International Space Station (ISS)

• The worms will spend a week in an incubator where they will multiply
• When they die, they will be frozen at -80C (-112F) and returned to Earth

Jenna Hawkey
BBC News Online

A 102-year-old man has been seriously injured in a crash, external on Paignton seafront in Devon.

Emergency services were called to a two-vehicle crash at the junction between Marine Drive and the Esplanade just after 16:00 on Thursday.

The local man, who was a front seat passenger, was taken by air ambulance to Derriford Hospital.

Image source, Google

The 68-year-old driver and her 70-year-old husband, who was a back seat passenger, along with the 83-year-old driver of the other vehicle, were all taken to Torbay Hospital with minor injuries.

The road was closed while police and forensic investigators examined the scene.

Police are appealing for witnesses.