BBC Devon & Cornwall Live: 21 Decemberpublished at 08:04 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
Bringing you the news, sport, travel and weather for Devon and Cornwall
Read MoreSummary
Cornwall fire service response times 'inadequate'
Police 'watch out' warning to drink drivers
Cornwall Council leader hails 'positive' Brexit meeting
Factory bosses 'don't know what impact no-deal will have'
Over the Moon: Exeter player gets England call-up
Updates on Thursday 20 December 2018
BBC Devon & Cornwall Live: 21 Decemberpublished at 08:04 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
The horses working on Christmas Daypublished at 00:48 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
For those working in the horse racing industry, Christmas morning is just like any other.
Read MoreWeather: Wet night with strong windspublished at 16:57 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2018
It will quickly turn cloudy on Thursday evening, with rain spreading from the South West, leading to a wet night.
Towards dawn, skies will start to clear from the West.
Expect fresh to strong South Westerly winds.
Minimum Temperature: 6C (43F).
Horse racing owners preparing for busy Christmas periodpublished at 16:52 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2018
Hamish Marshall
BBC Spotlight
Image caption, The highlight of December's racing calendar is the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day
Racing stables across the South West are gearing up for one of their busiest times of the year.
Horses being primed for key National Hunt races need the same care and attention on Christmas Day as on any other.
With lots of meetings over the holiday period the work does not stop for the likes of David Pipe, whose yard straddles the Devon - Somerset border in Wellington.
stable assistant Ali Galliers-Pratt says they do not get any time off over Christmas...
Media caption, 'No time off for racing stables' over Christmas
PC found not guilty of framing singerpublished at 16:30 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2018
PC Lucy Clark is cleared of perjury after arresting a reggae singer who she claimed had assaulted her.
Read MoreRoof damaged in Exeter house blazepublished at 16:19 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2018
Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online
The roof of a house in Exeter has been badly damaged in a fire.
Firefighters are continuing to battle the blaze at Fernpark Close.
They were called to the two-storey property at about 14:00.
The cause of the fire is not yet known, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said.
New six-screen cinema planned for Torquaypublished at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2018
Jenna Hawkey
BBC News OnlineA new six-screen cinema is being planned for Torquay town centre.
National cinema operator Merlin has concluded a deal to buy the former BHS building on Union Street.
The company is proposing to move from its current site at the Central Cinema on Abbey Road, which will also be redeveloped.
Quote MessageWe’re really excited by this opportunity. We moved quickly to acquire the building in mid-November and are now pushing forward at a pace to get planning permission, start work on site and open an exciting new multi-screen cinema."
Geoff Greaves, Owner of Merlin Cinemas
Image source, GoogleQuote MessageThe Council’s strategy to transform this part of Torquay town centre, from Market Street to the Town Hall, looks to move away from a retail focus to a much more diverse set of uses including residential, health and leisure. Use of the former BHS building as a cinema fits really well with the Council’s ambitions and will help bring new life to the top end of the high street."
Pat Steward, Town Centre Regeneration Programme Director
Drug dealer killed man with single punchpublished at 15:20 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2018
Guy Pottle had been released from prison two days before he killed Antony Moore, a court hears.
Read MoreFirefighters battle house blaze in Exeterpublished at 15:19 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2018
Jenna Hawkey
BBC News OnlineFirefighters are on the scene of a house fire in Exeter.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service was called to Fern Park Close off Topsham Road at about 14:00.
Six fire engines are battling the blaze on the second floor of the building.
Police were also called to control the traffic as smoke billowed across the road.
Woman dies four days after hit-and-runpublished at 15:06 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2018
A 19-year-old woman dies four days after being hit by a car underneath a railway bridge.
Read More'Dying' man calls radio host for helppublished at 15:01 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2018
Radio host Iain Lee kept the caller on the phone for 30 minutes until an ambulance arrived.
Read MoreHouse fire in Exeterpublished at 14:52 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2018
Hayley Westcott
BBC News OnlineThere are reports of a house fire on Topsham Road in Exeter.
Smoke can be seen billowing from the property and traffic in the area is building.
More to follow.
Image source, David WellbelovedSchoolboy bullied for airline dream gets work experiencepublished at 14:23 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2018
Andrea Ormsby
BBC Spotlight
A 12-year-old boy from Devon has had the surprise of his life after writing to British Airways about how he was bullied for wanting to be an air steward.
Cabin crew staff shocked Matthew Noel by turning up at his school in Tiverton to tell him he has a place on the company's work experience scheme when he is older.
In his letter he said that even though he has been bullied about his dream job, he will not let it stop him.
Matthew says he never expected to hear back from anyone at the airline...
Media caption, Boy bullied after wanting to become cabin crew gets work experience
Masked man robs shop armed with claw hammerpublished at 14:17 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2018
Hayley Westcott
BBC News OnlineA man wearing a white mask and carrying a claw hammer has robbed a shop in Plymouth, police have said.
It happened at Keswick Stores in Estover at about 20:10 on Wednesday.
Officers said he made threats to staff and demanded money from the till - which he then ran off with.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Devon and Cornwall Police via 101.
Image source, GoogleExeter Chiefs spread Christmas cheerpublished at 12:58 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2018
Jenna Hawkey
BBC News Online
Image source, Royal Devon & Exeter HospitalExeter Chiefs' players have paid a special visit to patients and staff at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
Armed with gifts for the children and young people on Bramble Ward, the team - which included Don Armand, Henry Slade, Matt Kvesic, Ben Moon, Sam Skinner and Ollie Devoto - handed out goodies before sitting and chatting with the children and their families.
Quote MessageFor children who are spending the festive period in hospital, visits such as this make all the difference and we are very grateful they find the time to make this happen.”
Rhea Toney, Matron, Bramble Ward
Image source, Royal Devon & Exeter HospitalThe team also visited new parents and babies in the postnatal unit, before heading to meet with patients and staff on Cherrybrook, a day-case unit providing cancer treatments.
Quote MessageFor us as players and also as parents ourselves, it’s about giving something back to people who are suffering around Christmas time. We aim to cheer the kids up, give them a few presents and try and bring a smile to their day. It’s something that’s very important for all of us at the Chiefs.”
Don Armand, Exeter Chiefs player
Newlyn tidal observatory gains listed statuspublished at 12:56 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2018
BBC News EnglandA small concrete structure on the end of a pier in Cornwall has been awarded listed status.
The tidal observatory in Newlyn was completed in 1914 after its pier was extended to give better protection to the harbour.
The observatory was one of three constructed at the request of Ordnance Survey to establish Mean Sea Level and it measures the height of every hill and mountain.
Image source, Historic EnglandA bus shelter, a cattle trough and a Rolls-Royce test hangar are among the more unusual heritage places gaining listed status this year.
Historic England said 2018 saw 924 new listed buildings and structures.
'Westminster broken' says Plymouth Labour MP Pollardpublished at 12:27 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2018
Labour MP Luke Pollard said he was "disgusted" the death of a rough-sleeper outside the Houses of Parliament has been overshadowed by the "stupid woman" row inside.
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End of twitter postThe shadow environment secretary attacked the debate over Jeremy Corbyn allegedly calling Theresa May a "stupid woman" at Prime Minister's Questions.
"Westminster is broken and the political priorities of the country are not being reflected in the House of Commons," he said.
Mr Corbyn said he actually spoke the words: "Stupid people".
He was asked to make a statement to MPs after facing Tory calls to apologise for the alleged insult. Mr Corbyn said he was "opposed to the use of sexist and misogynist language in any form".
"A homeless man died outside Parliament yesterday yet every front page bangs on about what @jeremycorbyn said or didn't say at #PMQs," Plymouth MP Mr Pollard tweeted, external.
He said: "There was a lot of debate in the Commons yesterday about what Jeremy Corbyn did or didn't say and it really disgusts me because there are people dying on our streets, people dying right outside Parliament, and yet the debate is all about 'he said, she said'.
"Let's get our focus back on the issues that really matter to people and tackling the national disgrace that is people sleeping rough."
He told the Victoria Derbyshire programme on BBC2: "People are dying on our streets every day and the government is failing them."
'Noisy' sirens and dead dog in 999 callspublished at 12:24 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2018
The service said its staff were expecting to deal with more than 3,100 incidents a day over the Christmas break.
Read MoreThree vehicle crash on A38 near Landrakepublished at 11:49 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2018
Millicent Cooke
BBC News OnlineThree vehicles crashed on the A38 in Cornwall in difficult conditions.
Devon and Cornwall Police warned drivers to be careful as the rain and sunshine combined.
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End of twitter postLinda Taylor announced as Tory leaderpublished at 11:40 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2018
Millicent Cooke
BBC News Online
Image source, Linda TaylorLinda Taylor has been announced as the leader of the Conservatives on Cornwall Council.
Cllr Taylor, who had been acting leader, will replace Cllr Phil Seeva, who stood down earlier this month.
She was elected to Cornwall Council for Lelant and Carbis Bay in 2017 and has previously been deputy leader of the group.
Commenting, Cllr Taylor said: "I am delighted to confirm my new position as leader of the Conservative group on Cornwall Council."
"I pay tribute to my predecessor Phil Seeva, who led the group through a period of transition following the elections last year."
She added: "2019 will be an exciting year for Cornwall and I look forward to leading Group into new waters for the new year and beyond."
