The Donkey Sanctuary has closed five centres as a result of the outbreak of equine flu.

Volunteers will now be running Lostwithiel library, Cornwall Council said.

The library, at Taprell House, has reopened and is being run by a group of volunteers under the management of Lostwithiel Town Council.

Lostwithiel Town Council said it had worked with Cornwall Council to come up with an "innovative and unparalleled solution" to keeping the library open.

Following the transfer Lostwithiel Library will remain part of the countywide service meaning customers will keep their existing library cards and will still be able to visit, borrow and order books online from other libraries in Cornwall.

Lynne French
BBC News Online

An Exeter man found guilty of manslaughter, following the death of another man in Exeter city centre last summer, has been jailed for more than eight years.

Anthony Moor, 41, died in hospital after sustaining serious head injuries in a fight over a bottle of alcohol on 30 June with 32-year-old Guy Pottle, of Beacon Heath, Exeter.

Image source, Devon & Cornwall Police

Pottle, who had spent the day socialising with the victim, was convicted in December after a four-day trial at Exeter Crown Court.

He was sentenced to six years for manslaughter, 32 months for a drugs order breach and four years on licence and will serve the sentences consecutively.

Plymouth Live

A man has appeared in court charged with running a brothel, external in the Stonehouse district of Plymouth.

Devon Live

Two more pet owners have revealed horrific details of how their cats were also victims of the Roundham cat torturer , externaland have since died.

Cheylee Howson says Ben Witts, who died in strong winds in Devon, was "everything I've ever dreamed of".

Lynne French
BBC News Online

A balaclava-clad suspect who attacked a woman in Liskeard is being hunted by police.

The victim a woman in her 20s, told police she was punched in the face during the assault, which happened about 21:00 GMT on Saturday by the cattle market car park in Liskeard.

The man, who was about 6ft (1.8m) tall and of medium build man wearing a balaclava, a black hoody, and a black tracksuit.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is asked to contact police.

Lynne French
BBC News Online

Devon Air Ambulance says 2018 was its busiest year since it began operations 27 years ago.

The charity dealt with 1,109 patients - 12% more than the previous year.

Operations Director Nigel Hare said trauma-related incidents, including road traffic collisions and accidental injuries equated to 49% of incidents, with the remaining 51% being medical emergencies such as heart attacks.

Image source, Devon Air Ambulance Trust

"We are here for all ages and 121 of our missions were to under 18s," he said.

"We also attended two patients who were over 100."

The charity, which cost £7.5m to run last year, said Friday was its busiest day of the week, while the busiest time of the day was between midday and 13:00. ·

BBC Radio Cornwall

One woman dialled 999 for an ambulance 129 in just three months - an average of more than once a day, according to figures released by the South Western Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust.

It said "frequent callers" took up more than 200 hours a day of paramedics' time, putting an enormous strain on the service.

A frequent caller is someone who dials 999 more than five times a month or 12 times in three months.

Last year, across the greater South West, 15 frequent callers had court convictions, with penalties including fines and custodial sentences.

The ambulance service said that, while some people did have a genuine need to call regularly, those who did not were potentially putting lives at risk.

The trust covers Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and the former Avon area.

Martha Dixon
BBC Radio Cornwall

A toilet, cooker and part of a boat are among the bizarre items dumped on the A30 in Cornwall.

The local authority said its waste collection service collects about 10 tonnes of litter from roadsides and verges along the high speed route each year - enough to fill two double-decker buses.

Fast-food packaging, takeaway cups and plastic drinks bottles are the most commonly discarded items, but there have also been mobile phones, electrical appliances and furniture.

Image source, Cornwall Council

"Not only is it an eyesore and damaging to wildlife, it means our waste collection team are having to collect litter alongside a road where drivers are travelling at speeds of 70 miles an hour," cabinet portfolio holder Sue James said.

"Please just take your rubbish home and keep our countryside looking beautiful."

Dropping litter is a criminal offence under Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and, wherever possible, the council investigates reported offences.

Artist Pascale Sellick wants to show it does not matter if you are alone on Valentine's Day.

Pascale Sellick has 'married' her duvet at a ceremony people went to in their pyjamas.

Lynne French
BBC News Online

Devon and Cornwall Police are investigating an allegation of stalking and harassment in Whipton, near Exeter.

A woman was approached by the driver of white Skoda Fabia on Vaughan Road on Wednesday 6 February about about 14:30, who stopped his car in the middle of the road and began to verbally harass her.

When a passing motorist stopped to intervene during the incident, the suspect returned to his car and left the area.

Police said the woman was left shaken by the experience but physically unharmed, and officers would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident, especially the passerby who intervened.

Don't miss out on your chance to play at St George's Park and be presented with a trophy at Wembley.

That's in store for the finalists and winners of the 2019 FA People's Cup.

There are 15 different categories including the new women's walking football one...

To find out more about it and how to sign up hear here.

Virtual reality isn't just for gaming - engineers are being taught to use equipment yet to be built.

Cornish Pirates joint head coach Gavin Cattle believes Kyle Moyle is the best full-back in the Championship.

BBC Radio Cornwall

A zoology student has captured footage of a black-browed albatross off the coast of Cornwall.

Toby Phelps spotted the rare visitor, which has a wingspan of up to 11ft (3.5m), off the Lizard on Friday.

"We were totally in shock and shaking from the whole experience," he said.

"To get one in February off the coast of Cornwall is incredibly special."

The endangered birds (some of which you can see more clearly in the BBC picture below) are normally only found in the southern hemisphere and have an average lifespan of up to 30 years.

They feed mainly on shrimp, fish and squid, but also on carrion and fishery discards.

Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online

A woman who has just qualified as a Lynmouth and Lynton Cliff Railway driver has become part of the first father and daughter driving team in the company's 129-year history.

Tasha Clarke, 25, is the daughter of the funicular railway's chief engineer and general manager, Ashley Clarke.

Image source, Tasha Clarke

Coastguard volunteer Tasha is only the second ever woman to be in charge of the unique Victorian controls.

On Saturday, she was part of the first 2019 season car to ascend the 500ft climb.

Her dad assessed her before she qualified as one of their nine drivers.

"I believe he was extra critical of my driving," she said.

Devon Live

A mum whose six-month old baby was killed by her ex-partner has spoken of her fears, external that he will be free in less than a year and could be back on the streets of Plymouth.

BBC Spotlight

Work to make the cliffs in East Devon safer is due to start on Monday.

Erosion around Sidmouth, Beer and Seaton is a constant threat to the coastline, with some houses now very close to the cliff edge.

Last year a garden shed fell onto the beach.

Additional fencing and netting is being put in place to try to stop falling debris from hitting people below.