A woman accused of murdering her partner believed he was cheating on her, a court hears.

Miles Davis
BBC News Online

Carers who travel to look after people will be able to park for free on single or double yellow lines under a new trial scheme being launched by Cornwall Council.

The council said around 130 Care Quality Commission accredited care organisations can apply for the Health Care Permit on behalf of the 4,000 carers they employ.

Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for transport Geoff Brown said: “Carers have told us that being able to find a parking space close to the home of those they care for is sometimes a real issue for them.

"As they search for somewhere to legally park on the road, the time they have to spend with the person they are visiting is being eaten into.

"This new trial means that they can apply for a permit which will let them park on street for a limited time, even where there are single or double yellow lines.”

Clare is walking to a land-based lighthouse on today’s Ramblings. Smeaton’s Tower was originally on the Eddystone Reef, twelve miles out to sea on Plymouth Sound but when it was replaced by a new structure in 1882, the Tower was moved onshore and now stands on Plymouth Hoe. Tom Nancollas is Clare’s guide. He has written a book - Seashaken Houses - which tells of his passion for lighthouses and their many extraordinary stories. Also joining them on the walk is Tom’s friend Michael O’Mahony. He joined Tom on two of his research trips to lighthouses, which, as he recalls, ended in an undignified fashion!

On their walk, Tom discusses his fascination for lighthouses and a strange family coincidence that emerged unexpectedly during his research: he discovered an ancestor had visited Smeaton’s Tower before him – as part of the team who dismantled the tower and moved it to the mainland.

They start their walk by the Devonport Column, take in interesting parts of Plymouth and its coastline and end at the distinctive red and white 'winning post' of Smeaton's Tower itself.

If you're reading this on the Radio 4 webpage, you can scroll down to the 'related links' section to find out more, including about Tom's book.

Producer: Karen Gregor

Ed Oldfield
Local Democracy Reporting Service

A village hotel has been refused permission to stage outdoor music and films after noise complaints from neighbours.

Churston Manor Hotel at Churston Ferrers, between Paignton and Brixham, was back before councillors after its licence was reviewed in October following problems last summer.

Torbay Council's licensing sub-committee considered an application on Thursday to vary the hotel's premises licence.

Image source, Google

After a hearing lasting seven hours, councillors decided to refuse permission for outdoor live or recorded music and film shows between 10:00 and 23:00.

The committee did allow a request for the hotel to open and sell alcohol two hours earlier at 10:00 on Sundays.

The hotel has 21 days to appeal against the decision before it comes into force.

Brittany Ferries is running an extra 20 weekly Channel crossings as part of the contract.

BBC Radio Devon

• In Plymouth, Forder Valley Road is partially blocked between Novorossiysk Road and the A38 due to an accident
• In Totnes, the A385 is partially blocked near Babbage Road due to an accident

Emma Thomasson
BBC Spotlight

One of the photographers who captured a humpack whale off the Cornish coast at Land's End has described it as a "magical moment".

Have a look for yourself...

Miles Davis
BBC News Online

The Independent Group set up by MPs who defected from Labour and the Conservatives has applied to register as a political party in order to be able to fight European elections if they take place this year.

Totnes MP Sarah Wollaston was one of those who left the Conservatives to join the independent Group.

The group will stand under the party label Change UK - The Independent Group if polls are held on May 23.

Former Conservative Heidi Allen has been selected as interim leader of the new party.

The UK will have to stage elections to the European Parliament as a condition of any further delay to Brexit.

Defeat for Prime Minister Theresa May in a vote on her Withdrawal Agreement in the House of Commons would greatly increase the likelihood of an application on April 12 for a long extension to the Brexit process.

In order to stand candidates in the European polls, conducted on a regional proportional representation system, any group must be registered as a political party with the European Commission.

The 23-year-old from Exeter was killed when a train crashed into a car on a level crossing.

BBC Spotlight

A wheelchair athlete from Devon is gearing up for a battle with the organisers of the London Marathon.

Sarah Piercy, from Exeter, can no longer race competitively but she wants to enter next year's marathon in a vintage wheelchair that she has been restoring.

The 1940's hand bike is chain driven and that's banned under the rules, but she's hoping to find a way around that...

Thomas Curd will serve a minimum of 20 years for beating and poisoning 22-month-old Eve Leatherland.

Image source, Duncan Scobie/Carla Regler

A humpback whale has been spotted off the coast of Cornwall at Land's End.

Photographers Duncan Scobie and Carla Regler spotted the whale on Thursday.

Mr Scobie said: "It's one of the magical moments in your life - it was awesome."

Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online

A man who beat and poisoned his ex-partner's 22-month-old daughter has been sentenced to life in prison.

Eve Leatherland had multiple fractures and a fatal dose of codeine in her system when she was found in her bed in October 2017.

Thomas Curd, 31, was found guilty of her murder at Truro Crown Court on Thursday.

Her mother Abigail Leatherland, 26, was found guilty of causing or allowing her death.

She has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison while Curd will serve a minimum of 20 years.

Image source, Facebook

Hamish Marshall
BBC Spotlight

A bunch of flowers has been laid at the scene where a 23-year-old man died in a level crossing crash.

It happened at Stoke Canon between Exeter St Davids and Tiverton Parkway at about 06:00 GMT on Thursday.

British Transport Police (BTP) said the man's death is not currently being treated as suspicious, but it is investigating how it may be linked to three further incidents on the line.

Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online

Image source, Facebook

A man who murdered his ex-partner's 22-month-old daughter by repeatedly beating and poisoning her will be sentenced later.

Eve Leatherland suffered multiple fractures and had a fatal dose of codeine in her system when she died in Liskeard in October 2017.

Image source, Devon and Cornwall Police

Thomas Curd was found guilty by a jury at Truro Crown Court on Thursday.

Eve's mother Abigail Leatherland was convicted of causing or allowing her death, but acquitted of manslaughter and will also be sentenced later.

Eve Leatherland's father has been fighting for the right to bury the toddler, who was murdered in 2017.

Jenna Hawkey
BBC News Online

Police are increasingly concerned for the welfare of a 33-year-old man, external reported missing from Teignmouth.

Andrew Bent was last seen in the Exeter area on Wednesday.

Mr Bent is described as a white man, around 6ft 5ins tall, clean shaven with collar-length, straight, blond hair.

Image source, Devon and Cornwall Police

He was last seen wearing a dark coloured leather jacket with a khaki hoody, light blue jeans, and black trainers, and was carrying a large black camping rucksack with red detailing.

Police are asking for anyone with information about Mr Bent's whereabouts to contact them.

Bee Tucker
BBC Weather

It'll be another chilly start to the day with areas of mist, fog and low cloud affecting many areas at first.

Some fog patches will be quite dense initially, but should clear by mid-morning to give another bright and dry day with long spells of sunshine and some patchy cloud.

Light variable winds will be mainly southeasterly.

Maximum temperatures: 11 to 13C (52 to 55F)

BBC Radio Cornwall

Cornish food processing company St Merryn Meats is under threat of closure, external, with the potential loss of 173 jobs.

Managers of the factory in Roche have entered a 45-day consultation period with the Usdaw union, but no definite decision about the plant's future has been made.

Image source, Google

St Merryn Meats is owned by Kepak and makes chilled meat products such as burgers for a variety of different brands.

An Usdaw spokesman said the closure would be devastating for the area and the union's priority would be to save jobs.

The news follows the confirmation that Kensey Foods in Launceston will close in July with the loss of more than 600 jobs.

Twitter

Image source, Newquay Community Fire Station

"About a dozen" chickens have been rescued from a large shed fire in Newquay.

Firefighters from Newquay and Perranporth were called to the blaze at an allotment in the town on Thursday evening.

Crews were able to prevent the fire spreading to any other buildings.

The allotment was situated next to a plot belonging to two of the firefighters, so the chickens were able to be re-homed in a pen there, external.