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Live Reporting

Andrew Segal

All times stated are UK

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  1. Our live coverage across the day

    Live updates for Devon and Cornwall have finished for the day, but we'll be back at 08:00 on Wednesday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.

    Don't forget Spotlight on BBC One later. There will also be news through the night on your BBC Local Radio station.

  2. Tuna feeding off Cornwall 'like Blue Planet show'

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    Tuna. Pic: Rupert Kirkwood

    A Cornish kayaker has described witnessing a feeding frenzy by giant bluefin tuna in the sea off Fowey as like watching a scene from television programme Blue Planet II.

    Rupert Kirkwood managed to catch some amazing pictures of the fish, which is one of the largest species of tuna in the world. It was seen when he and others were paddling at sea just two miles off Fowey recently.

    They identified what the creature was after "large splashes" nearby after initially thinking it was a dolphin.

    He added that its presence off Cornwall could mean another predator in local waters.

    He said: "Funnily enough, tuna are top of the orca's [killer whale's] meal list, so you never know."

    Tuna. Pic: Rupert Kirkwood
  3. Labour leader Corbyn speaks at Candy Atherton's funeral

    Tamsin Melville

    Political Reporter, BBC Radio Cornwall

    Candy Atherton funeral order of service

    Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was among the speakers at the funeral of former Labour MP and Cornwall Councillor Candy Atherton.

    As well as speaking, he laid a wreath in tribute which thanked her for her "service and dedication to the Labour Party".

    It added: "The Labour Family is ... better and stronger because of you and we will miss you."

    Ms Atherton died suddenly on 30 October, aged 62.

    She won the marginal seat of Falmouth and Camborne in 1997 for Labour, holding it for eight years, before losing it in 2005 to the Liberal Democrats. She was elected to Cornwall Council in 2013.

    Jeremy Corbyn Candy Atherton's funeral
    Candy Atherton's funeral
    Wreath at Candy Atherton's funeral
  4. Cornwall considers free life jackets for fishing crews

    Hannah Stacey

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    A scheme to hand out life jackets to fishing crews in Plymouth could be replicated in Cornwall.

    Two-hundred-and-fifty of the potentially life-saving devices with built-in locator beacons are being issued in the Devon city.

    The first Plymouth crews have just received the life jackets after the city council secured £77,000 from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the Maritime Management Organisation.

    It follows a number of campaigns to get fishermen to wear life jackets, and the RNLI is on board with this latest move to directly equip boats.

    Cornwall councillors are discussing whether they could make a similar application for funding to help ensure local fisherman who would struggle financially to buy a potentially lifesaving piece of equipment could have it provided by the council at no cost.

  5. Weather: Dry overnight, and dry and windy on Wednesday

    BBC Weather

    Most places will stay dry, but also rather cloudy overnight.

    However, one or two outbreaks of drizzle will remain possible across the Moors. It will also be rather breezy and mild.

    Minimum temperature: 12C (54F).

    Weather

    Wednesday will see a dry, but generally cloudy start, with winds strengthening through the morning.

    Outbreaks of rain will then spread in from the west, and are likely to turn heavy at times during the afternoon. Despite this, it will be an exceptionally mild day, especially in the drier spells.

    Maximum temperature: 15C (59F).

  6. Plymouth warships' removal reports 'speculation'

    BBC Politics

    The government says no decisions have been made amidst concerns there might be plans to take two South West-based specialist landing ships out of service.

    A special debate has been held in Parliament as MPs from Devon and Cornwall insisted that threats to the UK's amphibious capability - the ability to operate on land and water - mean the Royal Navy could lose its ability to attack enemy-held beaches.

    Two Plymouth-based specialist landing ships, HMS Albion (pictured) and HMS Bulwark, have been reported as facing being taken out of service under such proposals.

    Defence Minister Harriet Baldwin described discussions so far as "pure speculation".

    HMS Albion
  7. BreakingPolice commissioner no confidence motion defeated

    Tamsin Melville

    Political Reporter, BBC Radio Cornwall

    A motion of no confidence in Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez has been defeated by Cornwall Council at a full meeting of the authority.

    The motion was tabled by Labour's Tim Dwelly with some other Labour and Liberal Democrat support.

    It was "intended to encourage her to consider her position", highlighted concerns over cuts to the number of PCSOs, and said her actions had "brought the role [of commissioner] into disrepute (such as calling for residents with guns to be prepared to fight terrorists)".

    Before the vote, Conservative Ms Hernandez said it was "political mischief making", and that she had made £24m available to increase police officer numbers.

    Alison Hernandez
  8. Rare life-saving medal on display in Dartmouth

    John Ayres

    BBC Spotlight

    Albert Medal

    An extremely rare medal, which was last awarded almost 50 years ago, is going on display in Dartmouth.

    The Albert Medal was originally awarded for saving lives.

    The one going on display at the Britannia Royal Naval College Museum was awarded to Lieutenant David Wainwright. He rescued two crew members from a flooded hold when their minesweeper hit a mine after World War One.

    The award has since been succeeded by the George Cross, which now makes the Albert Medal extremely rare and worth thousand of pounds.

  9. More mysterious road markings, this time in Mousehole

    View more on twitter

    The lines in Mousehole come after tiny markings were painted on a section of road in Hayle, baffling residents.

    The lines were painted after a section of the Hayle road was removed and then re-laid by a utilities company as part of gas service work.

  10. South West Water 'uses dowsing rods to find mains'

    View more on twitter

    Dowsing - the art of trying to find sources of water and other materials below the ground using nothing but a twig or rods as an apparatus - is something that has been attempted for centuries.

    Divining rods and dowsing tools are associated by many with ancient skills and witchcraft, but some companies still use the technique.

  11. BreakingMan, 89, smothered dementia patient wife

    Janine Jansen

    BBC Spotlight

    An 89-year-old former policeman has been found guilty of killing his wife, who had dementia.

    Douglas Addison was married to his 88-year-old wife, Mary, for decades and nursed her at their bungalow in St Merryn, Cornwall, where he killed her, Exeter Crown Court was told.

    He turned down attempts by his GP and social workers to help him look after her before she was hit around the head with a blunt object, possibly a walking stick, and smothered in February.

    Addison now has severe dementia himself and was unable to attend the trial.

    He was ruled unfit to enter a plea because of his medical condition, so the jury was asked to just determine the facts of the case.

    A high court judge presiding over the case has detained Addison in a mental hospital.

  12. Tonia Couch retirement: Coach's leaving 'a factor'

    BBC Sport

    Tonia Couch and Andy Banks. Pic: Getty Images

    Olympic diver Tonia Couch has admitted the departure of her long-term coach was a reason - but not the only factor - behind her decision to step away from competition.

    The Plymouth-based three-time diver has announced her retirement from diving and is taking up a coaching role in the city.

    The 28-year-old is one of Britain’s most decorated female divers having won silver in Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth and three European medals during a 12-year senior career.

    Long-term Plymouth Diving head coach and mentor Andy Banks (pictured with Couch), who also trained Tom Daley, left in May and is coaching the Australian national team.

    She said Banks' move was "tough" for her to accept, but added: "I haven't enjoyed training as much as I thought I would after the [2016] Olympics and it was hard to motivate myself when I'm 10 years or more older than everyone else.

    "British Diving is in such a great place now though and I'm looking forward to helping develop some of the young talent by teaching them about my experiences at the top.

    "It's so special to have that chance here in Plymouth."

  13. Kalashnikov and replica Tommy gun handed in to police

    Andrew Segal

    BBC Local Live

    Guns. Pic: Devon and Cornwall Police

    A Kalashnikov assault rifle, a selection of "Wild West style six-shooter" revolvers and a "very realistic replica" of a Thompson sub-machine gun - or Tommy gun - are among weapons and ammunition handed in to police in Cornwall during a two-week national firearms amnesty, police say.

    Officers said the Kalashnikov and the revolvers came in from Camborne, while the Tommy gun replica came from the St Austell area.

    Talking about the Tommy gun, police said: "Replica or not, it is not something that anyone would want to look down the barrel of."

    The amnesty runs until the end of the week.

  14. College hits back after claim children are bullied

    Devon Live

    Brixham College today pledged a "zero tolerance" approach after a weekend Facebook furore over claims of bullying.

  15. Seaside towns 'still old-fashioned and closed in winter'

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    A report into Britain's seaside towns says there are still perceptions of them as old-fashioned, closed in the winter and difficult to get to.

    The conclusions come from the all-party Parliamentary Group for the Visitor Economy, chaired by St Austell and Newquay Conservative MP, Steve Double.

    The group has been looking at how the seaside economy could continue to thrive if and when European funding is withdrawn once the UK has left the EU.

    They've come up with a list or recommendations which include reducing VAT on tourist accommodation and attractions to 5%, introducing more frequent bus services, and reducing the aggressive behaviour of seagulls in some resorts which have been putting visitors off.

    Mr Double said the British coastline was a national asset with great potential and which, with the right investment, could drive regeneration, economic growth and job creation.

    Seaside
  16. Police investigations 'not hit by forensics manipulation'

    Andrew Segal

    BBC Local Live

    Devon and Cornwall Police say no cases related to the force have been affected by an investigation into alleged data manipulation at a forensics laboratory used by police across the country.

    Two people have been arrested in connection with the inquiry into Randox Testing Services in Manchester. The problem has already led to about 50 prosecutions nationwide being ended.

    More than 10,000 cases involving drugs - including violent and sexual crimes - may have been affected, according to the National Police Chiefs' Council. The irregularities involve test results between 2013 and this year.

    Re-tests will have been carried out on 1,500 cases by the end of the year.

    Devon and Cornwall Police said: "The police operation to retest manipulated forensic tests from Randox Testing Services has confirmed there are no cases relating to Devon, Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly."

  17. Paignton meeting to debate NHS's future in south Devon

    BBC Radio Devon

    Campaigners who fought to save Paignton Community Hospital (pictured) from closure but failed are holding a meeting in the town to discuss the future of the NHS in south Devon.

    The last few patients were discharged from Paignton's hospital in April, with the local clinical commissioning group saying the move would cut hospital admissions and allow more people to be treated in their own homes.

    Organisers of the meeting said the gathering was open to anyone who wanted to have a say about healthcare provision in the area.

    It starts at 19:00 at Winner Street Baptist Church.

    Paignton Hospital. Pic: Google
  18. Training to help sex workers 'should be supported'

    Harriet Bradshaw

    BBC South West

    View more on twitter

    A mistrust of the police and support services means sex workers in Devon and Cornwall are failing to report abusive and violent predators who pose a risk to the wider public, it's claimed.

    A national charity said reports of abuse were a fraction of the actual crimes committed because of a breakdown in trust between victims and the authorities. Now front line services such as the police are being trained to support sex workers better.

    Sex worker Charlotte Rose said it was a positive step forward.

    She said: "If they are prepared in trying to create a relationship with sex workers so they do have that trust, so they would be able to go to them in the first instance, then that would be absolutely fantastic and that is something that we should all support."

    Devon and Cornwall Police said officers were committed to supporting people who had been abused, regardless of their profession, and they urged victims to come forward.

  19. Cornwall travel: Bridge 'struck' in Tideford

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    On the A38 in Tideford, there are reports of slow traffic due to a bridge being struck by a vehicle between the B3249 and the A374 near the Trerulefoot roundabout.