Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

People in the Channel Islands will be able to fly direct to Cornwall this summer as a new service is launched.

Blue Islands announced today it will operate three times a week starting on 3 June.

Flights will start in Guernsey with a short stop in Jersey before continuing to Newquay Airport, it said.

Rob Veron, CEO of Blue Islands said the route network provides the "most convenient access to this stunning part of the UK direct from the Channel Islands".

Independent Devon county councillor Claire Wright, external asks if traditional party politics are falling apart after the news this morning that three Tory MPs, including Totnes MP Sarah Wollaston, have defected to an independent group.

BBC Radio Devon

A Torbay care home has been put into special measures after being rated as inadequate following an inspection from the Care Quality Commission.

Ocean View Care Home, on Ash Hill Road in Torquay, was given the lowest rating from inspectors during a visit in April last year.

The CQC said it found that, at times, people at high risk of falls were not supported, and inspectors also found risks to people's health and medicines incorrectly managed.

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

People living in Totnes say they will still vote for Sarah Wollaston after it was announced she has quit the Conservatives to join the Independent Group.

Along with Anna Soubry and Heidi Allen, they wrote a joint letter to Theresa May to confirm their departure.

The pro-Remain trio will join the new Independent Group - made up of eight Labour MPs who resigned from their party over its handling of Brexit and anti-Semitism - saying it represented "the centre ground of British politics".

People living in Totnes have been giving their reaction to the news...

Andrew Segal
BBC South West

A pedestrian has been struck by a vehicle near Truro Cathedral.

Police said they were called to reports of a crash on King Street, in Truro city centre, at about 11:55.

Officers said it was believed a BMW 4x4 hit a bollard and struck "at least one pedestrian".

A bench was destroyed and the nearby High Cross monument has been knocked down.

Parked vehicles nearby also suffered "minor impact damage".

One person has been taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital with minor injuries, police said. The driver of the BMW was believed to have sustained "minor chest injuries", officers added.

The areas has been closed to traffic.

The Independent Group now has 11 MPs in the House of Commons with the addition of Tory defectors Heidi Allen, Sarah Wollaston and Anna Soubry (pictured).

The move means the group has the same number as the Liberal Democrats, and one more than the DUP's 10.

The resignations mean the Conservatives now have 314 MPs, three down on the total won at the 2017 general election.

Image source, PA

Labour is down 14 on the general election - the eight MPs who have joined the Independent Group, plus six other MPs who were elected as Labour in 2017 but who sit as independents.

The government still has a working majority in the House of Commons, thanks to the support of the DUP who has agreed to vote with the Conservatives on key issues including confidence motions and budgets.

The combined total for the Conservatives and the DUP is 324, while the combined total for all other MPs is 318.

The figures do not include seven Sinn Fein MPs elected at the 2017 general election, but who do not take their seats in the House of Commons. Speaker John Bercow is also not included.

Heidi Davey
BBC Spotlight

The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, has arrived in Devon to meet members of the armed forces.

The prince (pictured left), who is Captain General of the Royal Marines is visiting 42 Commando Royal Marines at their base in Bickleigh, near Plymouth.

He took over the role from his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, in 2017, external.

Sophie Pierce
BBC Radio Devon

Conservative Party members in Totnes have said it is "disappointing" that local MP Sarah Wollaston has left the party to join the new Independent Group set up by former Labour MPs.

Dr Wollaston, who made the move along with fellow Conservatives Anna Soubry and Heidi Allen, said Brexit had "redefined the Conservative Party - undoing all the efforts to modernise it" and there had been a "shift to the right".

Richard Hosking, who leads the Totnes Conservative Association's Political Forum, told BBC Devon: "I respect her work as she has had an incredible influence, due to her work on parliamentary committees."

However, he added: "But I disagree with her over Brexit: we are on opposite sides of the Brexit equation and this has caused a certain amount of friction."

Image source, Totnes and South Devon Conservatives

The term "cross the floor" is defined as changing sides and "to leave one political party and join another", according to the Parliament website, external.

Twitter

The former GP has resigned from the party along with MPs Anna Soubry and Heidi Allen.

Image source, PA

The letter confirms that the MPs will sit alongside the newly formed Independent Group of MPs, joining the seven Labour MPs who resigned on Monday, and Labour MP Joan Ryan who defected yesterday.

However, they add:

"There will be times when we will support the government, for example, on measures to strengthen our economy, security and improve our public services. But we now feel honour bound to put our constituents’ and country’s interests first."

• Three MPs quit Tory party to join breakaway group
• Reaction: Three Tory MPs join breakaway group
• In full: Tory MPs' resignation letter

Devon Live

Sarah Wollaston has sensationally quit the Convservatives, external to join the new Independents Group.

The Daily Telegraph

Three Conservative MPs have resigned to join the new Independent Group, saying the party's "failure" to stand up to hardline Brexiteers has pushed them to leave, external.

The Guardian

Anna Soubry, Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen quit Conservatives, citing Brexit and lurch to the right, external.

Image source, PA

Prime Minister Theresa May has released a statement responding to the resignations.

It reads:

"I am saddened by this decision – these are people who have given dedicated service to our party over many years, and I thank them for it.

“Of course, the UK’s membership of the EU has been a source of disagreement both in our party and our country for a long time. Ending that membership after four decades was never going to be easy.

“But by delivering on our manifesto commitment and implementing the decision of the British people we are doing the right thing for our country. And in doing so, we can move forward together towards a brighter future.”

"I am determined that under my leadership the Conservative Party will always offer the decent, moderate and patriotic politics that the people of this country deserve.”

• Three MPs quit Tory party to join breakaway group
• Reaction: Three Tory MPs join breakaway group
• In full: Tory MPs' resignation letter

Three Tory MPs have resigned from party over its "shift to the right".

Anna Soubry, Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen wrote a joint letter to Theresa May to confirm their departure.

Andrew Segal
BBC South West

Totnes MP Sarah Wollaston has resigned from the Conservative Party.

Her move comes after a growing campaign in Totnes to stop her from being selected to stand in the next general election.

BBC South West has seen a letter sent to her association chairman saying that 50 members had signed petitions to trigger a vote of no confidence in the former GP.

Her critics said they were unhappy with Dr Wollaston's support for a second referendum and they believed she was trying to obstruct Brexit.

The former GP joins Tories Anna Soubry and Heidi Allen in the new Independent Group - made up of eight Labour MPs who resigned from their party over its handling of Brexit and anti-Semitism.

The Tories wrote a joint letter to Theresa May to confirm their departure.

Image source, PA

Anna Soubry, Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen wrote a joint letter to Theresa May to confirm their departure.

The pro-Remain trio will join the new Independent Group - made up of eight Labour MPs who resigned from their party over its handling of Brexit and anti-Semitism.

In the letter, they said the party was "in the grip" of the DUP and the European Research Group over Brexit.

• Three Tory MPs join Labour breakaway group

Sophie Pierce
BBC Radio Devon

A Devon town council has passed a unanimous resolution opposing the dumping of dredged spoil off its shore.

Plans to dredge Exmouth Marina and dump the spoil in the sea off Teignmouth have resurfaced again, with people in Teignmouth saying they want the spoil dumped much further away.

Last year, a licence to dump the spoil off Sprey Point was suspended after black silt appeared on Teignmouth's beaches.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is consulting on a revised application for a new licence which would involve 65% less spoil being dumped, and it only happening in the winter months.

However, local businesses said they were still opposing the plans.

Robert Phipps, who runs ice cream kiosks on the seafront in Teignmouth, said he was prepared to fight the renewed application all the way.

The MMO said it was working with Exmouth Marina, which needed to dredge because it needed to maintain access to boats. It added that its current public consultation would run until 4 March.

Andrew Segal
BBC South West

A water main pipe which burst in Plymouth, causing flooding and making a road collapse, "was in good condition", South West Water says.

The burst, in the Melville Road area of the city on Tuesday afternoon, saw streets closed and sections of road surface ripped up.

Police said it resulted in a "significant" amount of water running down on to neighbouring roads.

South West Water said supplies were restored by about 18:30 after the burst "was isolated quickly"

Repairs are continuing "requiring the continued closure" of the road.

The utility said a "number of factors" may have contributed to the burst, "including ground movements and pressure".