Some tree farms are offering rented trees in a bid to make Christmas more sustainable.

Image source, Devon and Cornwall Police

School pupils taking part in a new mini police scheme have graduated with flying colours following a six-week intensive programme.

The new scheme, run by Devon and Cornwall Police, involves children aged eight to 10 from local primary schools getting a feel for what it’s like to be a police officer.

The programme aims to increase trust, confidence and provide safety messages and preventative education that will stay with them for life.

The graduates each got a certificate and a police cap.

Richard Whitehouse
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Image source, AFP

Rapid result Covid-19 tests are set to be rolled out into schools and colleges across Cornwall in the new year.

Cornwall Council announced the plans for the new tests which will mean students will be able to continue attending classes even if someone shows symptoms.

Sally Hawken, council cabinet member for children, wellbeing and public health, said: “This week we have received notifications that all schools and colleges will be able to access rapid result testing.”

Councillor Hawken said that from January the testing would be available in secondary schools and colleges, initially for students in Years 11 to 13.

It will mean that if a student shows symptoms the whole class will no longer have to self-isolate but can continue attending school or college while also getting tested daily for seven days.

Councillor Hawken said: “Under the current guidelines their school bubbles have to self-isolate. These tests now mean that more staff and children stay in classes without the need to self-isolate.”

She said that it was hoped that the testing, which uses saliva, would be rolled out into primary schools in the spring term.

Daniel Clark
Local Democracy Reporting Service

The leader of Devon County Council is demanding more help for businesses as it was announced Devon will remain in tier two.

The government has decided this based upon case numbers, pressures on NHS services and the demographic of the county.

While cases in Devon dropped during the second lockdown, numbers have been rising in recent days. The infection rate in Devon is now at 86 per 100,000 people.

However, this varies across the county with areas such as East Devon, Exeter and North Devon over the 100 per 100,000 rate, while the South Hams is at 30.

Councillor John Hart said it was the right decision to remain in tier two, but businesses needed more help urgently.

"If we are to accept these restrictions continuing into the new year, the government must act swiftly with more support for local businesses."

He said he was hearing from businesses each day who were "severely affected" by the restrictions and many hospitality businesses "are on their knees".

He said the "government must do more to help them survive" otherwise he feared many would not be here in the new year.

Steve Brown, director of Public Health Devon, said he did not believe the county was ready for relaxed restrictions and advised people to think "really hard" about meeting up over Christmas.

• Toughest Covid rules extended in south of England
• The government's plan for managing COVID-19 through the winter, external

GWR says some trains will not run because more than 50 staff are either sick or self-isolating.

Experts think the seal pup was seeking shelter from stormy weather.

People in Torbay are sending parcels to staff on the cruise ships anchored off their coast.

Don Gardner says donations have flooded in since he was called a "hero" on a BBC documentary.

BBC Radio Cornwall

The dates for the 2021 Royal Cornwall Show have been announced with the show moving from its usual June dates to 9 to 11 September.

Show secretary Chris Riddle said tickets would not be on sale for several months but people with bookings held over from the cancelled event this year should not worry.

He said: "We felt that June was too early with everything as it currently is ... and then the pure holiday months for Cornwall we feel are just too busy ... so therefore it takes you to September.

"Those that have got tickets still sitting online will all transfer unless they wish to make a refund."

Daniel Clark
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Devon’s public health director has urged caution for families who are planning to meet up over the Christmas holiday period.

The government has said the tier restrictions will be relaxed during that period to allow Christmas bubbles – up to three families – to meet indoors in private homes between 23 and 27 December.

Steve Brown, from Public Health Devon, asked people to consider whether their journeys to visit others this Christmas were necessary.

He said: “With more of the country now assigned to the highest level, Tier 3 restrictions, there is even more of a case now for people to think hard about their plans for Christmas.

“I urge people to consider whether their journeys to visit others this Christmas are necessary, or for this year at least, they stay at home in order to minimise risk.

“Undoubtedly, groups of people getting together, especially indoors, increases the risk of the virus spreading, and if we are not all very careful, there will be a very high price to pay in January, if case numbers rise again."

The region is hit with heavy rain and strong winds, resulting in flooding and travel issues.

The vessel was not allowed to leave Birkenhead after six crew members tested positive for Covid-19.

BBC Radio Cornwall

Hundreds of nurses visiting patients in their homes in Cornwall are having their lives made a little easier.

They are now being given special permits to allow them to park on single or double yellow lines meaning they can spend more time with their clients instead of driving around searching for a place to park.

Geoff Brown, the Cornwall councillor with responsibility for transport said the scheme was secure and not open to abuse.

"The wardens will know for two reasons, one is they will be displaying a permit, which are being issued at the moment," he said.

"Secondly they have all got access to the new computer systems [which have] the details of the vehicles that have permits so they can double check on there as well."

Tourism businesses call for more clarity over what restrictions mean for them and their customers.

An offender rehabilitation charity which started in a shed is praised by a Devon MP.

A 50kg load of medical supplies was delivered from Land's End to St Mary's NHS.

Daniel Clark
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Image source, Daniel Clark

Some of the first patients across Devon to be given the Covid-19 Pfizer vaccine have urged people to get vaccinated when it is their turn.

The first phase of GP-led vaccination centres in Devon on Tuesday saw the opening of eight sites serving 49 of the county’s practices.

Those in the over-80 age group have begun to get vaccinated, although in Exmouth, the over-90s age group were exclusively invited for the first tranche of the rollout.

They included 100-year-old Fred Woodall, from Exmouth, who was one of the first to receive the jab at the Exmouth Tennis Centre.

“I’m feeling alright at the moment,” he said. “I’ve had no effects from it and when invited, I thought I better take it.”

Gerald Roberts, 90, also from Exmouth, added: “It’s the best thing to do and you have to take every day as it comes.

"I had no second thoughts and it is no different to the flu jab that you get done.

"I am not worried about it and the best thing to do is to get the vaccine.”

The eight locations in Devon’s first wave of local vaccination centres will see nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and other NHS staff working alongside doctors to vaccinate people aged over 80 and care home workers, who have been identified as priority groups for a life-saving vaccination.

Each site has been given 975 initial doses of the vaccine which will be given to patients in the next three or four days.

Louis Bednall's family said he was "everyone's protector" and "a brother to so many".

Fred Woodall, 100, is one of the first people in the region to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech jab.