Devon & Cornwall Live: As it happened

Devon explorer Pen Hadow - the first person to walk solo across pack ice from Canada to the North Pole nearly 15 years ago - is embarking on a new mission to the region.

He wants to become the first to sail there by yacht, saying he wants to show how far the ice has melted because of climate change.

Mr Hadow said he has a reasonable chance of completing the challenge because the Arctic sea ice was continuing to recede.

He said: "This year it's quite possible that it may be nearer 50% by the end of the summer. Essentially the sea ice is thinner and thinner, and it is weaker and weaker, and there are more and more cracks within the main body of the remaining sea ice cover."

The suspension of overnight maternity services in two Devon towns is not because of a countywide acute services review, health bosses say.

The Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust confirmed it had suspended the services in Honiton and Okehampton for at least three months from last Thursday because of staff vacancies and unforeseen sickness.

It said: "This decision is one taken for purely operational reasons and has no connection with proposals outlined in the Devon-wide Acute Services Review."

Overnight services in Exeter and Tiverton were "still open", it added.

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Multimillion-pound plans for the biggest improvement in the train service through Cornwall for years are finally getting under way, railway line manager Network Rail says.

Under them, a train will run every half hour between Plymouth and Penzance from January 2019 after lines from PLY to PZ are radically altered by a huge new investment in signals.

Cornwall's current signals mean that 10 miles of track are kept clear for each train. Interspersing these with extra signals will mean that only five miles will need to be kept clear, doubling capacity both ways.

At £25m, this scheme will cost about half as much as the recently-finished dualling work on three miles of the A30 on Bodmin Moor, but won't be anything like as disruptive.

The money comes from sources including Europe and the government.

However, not all these extra services will be operated by the sleek new Italian-built GWR express trains (pictured). Some will use the existing intercity fleet.

A murder investigation has been launched after a suspicious death of a man in Plymouth.

Police were called about 05:15 yesterday due to concerns for welfare of a man at a property on Ermington Terrace, Mutley.

A man in his 20s was pronounced deceased at the scene and a 25-year-old woman from Plymouth was arrested on suspicion of murder and has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Det Insp Julie Scoles said: "The man's next of kin have been informed, although formal identification has yet to take place.

"This is believed to be an isolated incident and we are appealing for anyone who may have information to contact us."

Anyone who may have information about the incident is asked to contact police via 101@dc.police.uk or by telephoning 101, quoting CR/061064/17 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

A man who was taken into custody and to hospital after police incapacitated him with a baton round will face no further action.

Tonight will be dry with clear spells for most, although there may be some patchy cloud over higher ground leading to some hill fog over Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor. Minimum Temperature: 12C (54F).

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Tuesday will see another fine day with sunny spells and light winds. In the sunshine it will feel warm. Maximum Temperature: 22C (72F).

The family of a teenager who is believed to have suffered an adverse reaction to a substance said that "paid the ultimate price" despite being "well aware of the risks" of drugs.

Leah Kerry died in hospital on 15 July after being found unconscious at Bakers Park in Newton Abbot, Devon.

Family HandoutCopyright: Family Handout

After paying tribute to the "courageous and confident" 15-year-old, her family said: "Sadly, despite being well aware of the risks, she thought she was invincible and she rolled the dice and has paid the ultimate price."

The family said that if even one young person decided to reduce risk-taking behaviour as a result of what had happened "and not take these dangerous NPS [new psychoactive substance] tablets, then Leah’s death has not been in vain".

The family has also asked the government "to place the dangers of psychoactive substances at the top of their agenda for discussion".

A 20-year-old local man charged with drugs offences after her death is due to appear in court next month.

A man who let a drugs gang use his sex dungeon to hold a man captive and torture him has had his jail term cut on appeal.

Britain's Tom Daley claimed his first individual World Championship gold for eight years with a stunning victory in the 10m platform final in Budapest.

The Plymouth-born diver believes he can still achieve his dream of becoming an Olympic champion after this victory, even if many felt his best chance had gone after his shock semi-final elimination at Rio 2016 and subsequent injuries. So, can he?

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Leon Taylor - Olympic silver medallist, BBC diving commentator and Daley's former mentor - says: "Tom Daley's achievement is just absolutely incredible because that is the highest-class diving final I have ever witnessed.

"Tom didn't become a bad diver in Rio. He just had an awful day and it was a surprise because he is always so consistent but that never meant it was the end of him as a top competitor.

"He is the hardest-working, most professional diver out there, who is doing so much even away from the pool - like yoga - to ensure he has the best chance of staying at the top for as long as possible.

"Technically and mentally though, Tom still has it all, but you have to remember that the Chinese divers are still the dominant force in the sport.

"Although this result could put a seed of doubt into their minds, it could also motivate them even more, so it will be fascinating to see all the top divers battle it out over the next few years."

Police are appealing for witnesses after a boy was allegedly punched three times.

Devon and Cornwall Police said: "It is believed that an 11-year-old boy was punched three times to the head between 18:45 and 19:15 on Sunday, in the garden of The Kings Arms Pub in Tamerton Foliot.

"It is believed that a large group of young people were playing football together at the time when the incident took place.

"The suspect is described as a white male, 5’6”-5’8” tall, slim build, wearing a white baseball hat, white trainers and grey jacket. It is thought is about 15-18 years old."

Advocacy and support services for people with HIV in Torbay are being axed, Torbay Council says.

The unitary authority announced it was no longer funding programmes from the end of September, and said people would have to get support from national helplines or local social services if they qualified for assistance.

The council said Torbay was "not an area of high HIV prevalence" and the money could be reinvested in wider preventative sexual health services.

A world-famous British tourist attraction has launched an international company to create similar projects across the globe.

The Eden Project is to open in China, Australia and New Zealand and has plans for the Middle East and North America.

The co-founder of the popular Cornwall attraction has launched the Eden Project International company to turn the proposals into reality. It plans to establish collaborative Eden Projects with partners across the world, focusing on soil, water, food and biodiversity.

Quote Message: Eden's mission is to explore our dependence on the natural world, to use that understanding to excite people into delivering transformation where they live and to ask really serious questions about what a great future might look like for all of us. We want the new Edens to act as a heartbeat for those who feel the same way as we do and to develop in all of them the ability to tell the stories that inspire the people who are their constituency." from Sir Tim Smit Executive chairman

Eden's mission is to explore our dependence on the natural world, to use that understanding to excite people into delivering transformation where they live and to ask really serious questions about what a great future might look like for all of us. We want the new Edens to act as a heartbeat for those who feel the same way as we do and to develop in all of them the ability to tell the stories that inspire the people who are their constituency."

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The service covers Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and the former Avon area.

A pensioner confronted by a barrister for repeatedly sneaking into first class and taking wine and pretzels stuffed a £10 note into the solicitor's mouth.

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Quote Message: If there are any young people who have known Leah, or who have heard about her story, I would urge them on Leah's behalf to not make the same mistake and to make better and safer choices when out in the community.

If there are any young people who have known Leah, or who have heard about her story, I would urge them on Leah's behalf to not make the same mistake and to make better and safer choices when out in the community.

The parents of a Wiltshire teenager, who died after apparently taking a psychoactive substance, have issued a warning to other teenagers.

Leah Kerry, who was 15, died in Torbay Hospital on July 15 after suffering an adverse reaction to the substance.

In a statement issued through Devon and Cornwall Police, Leah's family, who relocated to Salisbury from Torquay in 2015, described her death as "the most painful experience that we have all ever had to endure".

Quote Message: Leah was well aware of the nature of different illicit substances and the risks attached. Sadly, despite being well aware of the risks, she thought she was invincible and she rolled the dice and has paid the ultimate price. from Statement from Leah Kerry's family

Leah was well aware of the nature of different illicit substances and the risks attached. Sadly, despite being well aware of the risks, she thought she was invincible and she rolled the dice and has paid the ultimate price.

It will be dry this afternoon with sunny spells across the board. It will feel warm for most with a gentle northerly breeze. Maximum temperature: 23C (73F).

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Tonight will be dry with clear spells for most, although there may be some patchy cloud over higher ground leading to some hill fog over Dartmoor. Minimum temperature: 12C (54F).

Cornwall CouncilCopyright: Cornwall Council

The main road in a flash flood-hit village has been repaired and reopened less than a week after being badly damaged.

Dozens of homes and businesses were damaged in the coastal village on the Lizard after a heavy rain and hail storm.

Cornwall Council said it, the local community and partners had been working "flat out" to repair the B3294 to "ensure that the village is open for business in time for the peak summer season".

A team of 30 people from contractor Cormac laid 330 tonnes of base and 200 tonnes of surfacing over the weekend during the works.