Bringing you the news, sport, travel and weather for Devon and Cornwall

Inspectors say "there has been no meaningful progress" in tackling the causes of drug use in a year.

The former soldier was given a suspended sentence for similar offences in 2016.

Community support groups are a powerful way of tackling mental distress - but they are being lost, a report says.

Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online

Police say they are "increasingly concerned" for the welfare of of man who has gone missing from his home in the Clampits area of Callington.

John Trice, 79, was last seen just before 14:00.

He is described as 5ft 6in tall with white hair. He is wearing a dark jumper, blue jeans and sandals.

Devon and Cornwall Police would like to hear from anyone with information.

Image source, Devon and Cornwall Police

Charley Adams
BBC News Online

Primary schools across Exeter have started a new wildflower seed sowing initiative.

Students will be sowing wildflowers to bring colour and wildlife interest to school grounds in the 'sow and share' project.

The wildflower seeds given to the 20 primary schools include many rare species that are declining in the Devon countryside. These include cornflowers, common poppies and corn chamomile.

Georgia Scott, a teacher from Willowbrook primary school said: “The children have really enjoyed getting stuck into the hard work preparing the grounds for the seeds. It has helped them to become real wildlife champions, we can’t wait to see the flowers grow”.

Any remaining seeds from the project run by Devon Wildlife Trust will be given to the children and their families for sowing in their own gardens.

Image source, Contributed

Daniel Clark
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Plans for a new "retail park" on land next to Exeter’s Vale Tesco Extra superstore have been approved.

The scheme, submitted back in December 2017, has finally been given approval by Exeter City Council planners.

It would see a new 1,230 sq m building with 46 parking spaces built on land inside the existing, huge overflow car park off Russell Way.

No details as to the occupants of the store have been revealed, but the application was for a non-food retail unit.

The application was given planning permission by city council officers under delegated powers last week.

Image source, Via LDRS

Andrew Segal
BBC South West

If you're not too fond of insects, then look away now.

This swarm of bees decided to make a temporary home on a car at a supermarket in Cornwall on Monday.

Amy Whitaker, who took this photograph in Hayle, said it was a "very fascinating" sight.

An insect specialist was called in and managed to disperse the swarm from the car.

Amy said the "bees were very happy to be there" and that "every effort was made to keep the bees safe".

She added: "Everybody was fascinated by them. No harm came to anybody or any bee."

We can't see if it's a Bee-M-W...

Image source, Amy Whitaker

BBC Spotlight

Horticultural exhibitors from the south west are showing off their skills to Her Majesty the Queen at the Chelsea Flower Show.

They have been putting their finishing touches to exhibits for the show ahead of judging.

One of those on display is the Duchess of Cambridge-designed garden titled Back to Nature, which is due to head to NHS Langdon in Dawlish after the event.

You can find more coverage of the show on the BBC website here.

Twitter

Cornwall Live

Hundreds of protesters have gathered to fight for the future of a surgery thousands of patients rely on, external.

Mevagissey Surgery's sole partner announced she is handing her contract back on 31 July.

Mount Batten beach is shut to enable council officials to investigate "the extent of the problem".

The Guardian

Exeter Cathedral has banned a UKIP candidate from taking part in hustings for Thursday’s European election, saying he may be a risk to public order, external.

Cathedral authorities have invited UKIP to send another candidate to the event.

You can see the full list of 2019 European election South West candidates here.

Andrew Segal
BBC South West

A Torpoint ferry vessel which has been undergoing a refit should be back in service this week, managers say.

The Tamar II has undergone work at A&P in Falmouth (pictured) and should be back in action by the bank holiday weekend - a week ahead of schedule - the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee said.

The work has included updating equipment and electrical work, an extensive overhaul of hydraulic systems, installing a new CCTV system, cleaning the hull and repainting the vessel.

Drivers and passengers using the route on the River Tamar between Torpoint and Plymouth - reported to be the world's biggest and busiest chain ferry service - complained of long delays earlier in the year.

The operators have thanked them for their patience.

Image source, Tamar Crossings

BBC Sport

British Swimming says it is "extremely disappointed" after claims from Tom Daley's husband, Dustin Lance Black, that the organisation has created a "toxic environment" for families at the Diving World Series.

Black, 44, later said the organisation was "corrupt" in a series of tweets.

It followed a dispute over child buggies, which are not allowed on the concourse at the London Aquatic Centre.

British Swimming said it offered to put measures in place for the family.

Plymouth-born Daley, 24, won mixed 3m synchro gold alongside Grace Reid on Sunday after clinching the overall individual 10m World Series crown.

He was supported by some members of his family but husband Black and their surrogate son, Robbie Ray, were absent.

Image source, Getty Images

Daniel Clark
Local Democracy Reporting Service

A network of authorised transit sites for gypsies and travellers to stay at across Devon could be created.

Councils across the county have agreed to seek a more coordinated way to deal with influx of travellers who often turn up at "high profile and unsuitable" locations.

Devon County Council, working with district councils, is exploring the creation of a "network" of pieces of land across Devon, with one or two in each district area, in which gypsies and travellers can be directed to if they turn up in those unsuitable locations.

A willingness to explore negotiated stopping has been agreed already. It would means that local authorities would no longer resort immediately to legal means.

Instead they would direct travelling families to stay, for limited periods of time, on land already identified and agreed where it isn’t causing great inconvenience to anyone.

Image source, Daniel Clark

BBC Radio Devon

A £2.7m project led by the University of Plymouth will use artificial intelligence to personalise live radio, to help people living alone with dementia.

Radio Me, external will seamlessly "remix" live digital broadcasts so that listeners receive personalised reminders, information and music.

It's hoped that will improve their quality of life and keep them at home for longer.

The AI software will be created at the university and trialled for 50 months in Cambridgeshire and Sussex.

BBC Radio Devon

One of Plymouth city centre's busiest routes will be closed for the next seven weeks.

The 140m stretch of the Exeter Street viaduct, which links Charles Cross to St Andrew's Cross will be shut inbound to make sure the city centre can cope with extra traffic heading to The Box and a new leisure complex.

Buses, taxis and emergency vehicles will be able to use Bretonside, which is being reopened for them.

Other drivers will have to follow a diversion and the city council is urging people to consider car sharing, public transport, riding a bike or staggering their journeys.

Image source, Plymouth City Council

Charley Adams
BBC News Online

The University of Exeter has declared an environment and climate emergency.

It has established a team to support those calling for urgent action by governments, councils and other organisations to tackle climate change.

Professor Sir Steve Smith, vice-chancellor at the University of Exeter said:"At the University of Exeter, we have some of the best teams anywhere in the world working on climate change and the environment.

"We are working with policy makers locally, nationally and globally and will continue to work in partnership at every level from local councils to the inter-governmental panel on climate change at the United Nations to make a difference.

On 23 May a public event, external will be held on the Streatham campus to look at action beyond the declaration of a climate emergency, hosted by the Global Systems Institute. Also, on 3 June the Environment and Sustainability Institute will host an event with Cornwall Council.

Image source, Exeter University

BBC Spotlight

Extra train services between Plymouth and Cornwall begin from Monday.

The new timetable means roughly two GWR trains per hour will run on the route.

The company said it would mean more choice for travellers and less crowded services.

In addition, all services to and from London Paddington are now to be operated by the new fleet of trains.