BBC Devon & Cornwall Live: 19 March 2019

A Devon zoo has released an image of two frogs ahead of World Frog Day on Wednesday.

It shows a young Thao whipping frog on top of an adult of the same species - which has just bred at Paignton Zoo for the very first time.

Thao whipping frogs can also be known as Fea’s tree frog, Fea's flying frog or its official title of Rhacophorus feae.

The whipping part of the name comes from the way the females use their back legs to whip up foam to make a nest for their eggs, while Thao comes from the Thao river, which flows through China and Vietnam, zookeepers said.

Eleanor Stobbart/Paignton ZooCopyright: Eleanor Stobbart/Paignton Zoo

Tuesday night will be largely cloudy with patchy drizzle.

Fog is likely to affect the hills and is likely to develop at low levels at times too. Mild.

Minimum temperature: 6 to 9C (43 to 48F).

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Wednesday is expected to be fairly cloudy with patchy mist and drizzle.

However, some bright or sunny spells may develop at times. Very mild.

Maximum temperature: 11 to 14C (52 to 57F).

A benefits cheat caught lying about her disabilities when she was filmed running at a dog show has been given a 12-month community order.

Linda Avery, 57, from Efford, Plymouth, had claimed she could not cut her own food because of her health issues and she needed constant care, Plymouth Crown Court heard.

The Department for Work and Pensions began an investigation after she posted of a picture of herself online at the Crufts dog show.

She was then filmed by investigators in August 2016 while running and lifting her dog at a dog show in Paignton, the court heard.

Avery admitted claiming £12,000 fraudulently over two years at an earlier hearing.

Department for Work and PensionsCopyright: Department for Work and Pensions

Devon & Cornwall Police have halted a plan to transfer forensic jobs to Dorset.

The force said the move, announced in October last year, would not be going ahead following discussions involving trades unions, Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer and Police Commissioner Alison Hernandez.

The decision was welcomed in Plymouth, where city councillors had raised concerns about cutbacks in the service and possible job losses.

Police forces in the South West joined a regional forensics organisation in 2014 to improve efficiency and make savings.

A proposed merger between the Dorset and Devon & Cornwall forces was called off last year - after £380,000 was spent on the proposals - after it was opposed by Ms Hernandez.

The final contract for a new £30m hotel next to Sandy Park, the home of the Exeter Chiefs rugby team, is set to be signed after council planners allowed work to begin before a traffic order is up and running.

Chiefs chairman Tony Rowe's plans for a new 250-bedroom, four-star venue - right next to the M5 - were approved in September.

But a condition on the planning permission was that a traffic regulation order for an eastbound restriction was required that would prohibit vehicles travelling westbound between the hotel and railway bridge at Old Rydon Close.

Kensington TaylorCopyright: Kensington Taylor

The traffic order has been applied and paid for by the Exeter Rugby Group and has been granted.

However, the implementation of the order rests with Devon County Council, and there is currently no fixed date for the work to be carried out.

Mr Rowe said it would be "commercial suicide" to start construction on the hotel unless they knew that they could build and open it.

He previously said the hotel would take about 18 months to build.

Police are appealing for witnesses after an attempted robbery in Exmouth.

It happened at about 19:15 on Saturday 16 March at the Rivermead store on Rivermead Avenue.

The suspect approached staff and demanded tobacco and cash whilst brandishing a knife in each hand, officers said.

They added staff were able to secure themselves in a security room - locking the doors - and the offender left empty-handed.

The suspect is described as a male, wearing a black jacket with a fur trimmed hood, wearing grey tracksuit bottoms with a distinctive white mark on the left leg and black trainers.

He was also wearing a red glove on his left hand and a black glove on his right hand.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Devon and Cornwall Police via 101.

Devon and Cornwall PoliceCopyright: Devon and Cornwall Police

A herd of elephants is due to take over Plymouth this summer.

The brightly painted pachyderms will form part of an art trail and be auctioned off afterwards to raise money for St Luke's Hospice.

Elmer's Big Parade takes its inspiration from the children's books written by Tavistock author David McKee.

They were first published 30 years ago, but now Elmer is helping a new generation to talk about the difficult subject of hospice care and bereavement.

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Quote Message: I lost my wife nearly two years ago now to cancer - she was only 48. She was Chinese. St Luke's were just absolutely brilliant, their crisis team. This is why I really wanted to do something with the Elmer Project which embraces cross-culture philosophies as well. from Colin Pethick Artist

I lost my wife nearly two years ago now to cancer - she was only 48. She was Chinese. St Luke's were just absolutely brilliant, their crisis team. This is why I really wanted to do something with the Elmer Project which embraces cross-culture philosophies as well.

The former Staples stationery chain, Office Outlet, is in administration, putting 1,200 jobs at risk.

Two partners at business services firm Deloitte were appointed joint administrators on Monday.

Office Outlet, which is owned by Hilco, the former HMV owner, has 90 stores around the UK, which will continue to trade while a buyer is sought.

It has branches in Exeter and Torquay in Devon, and Truro in Cornwall (pictured).

The administrators said the chain had suffered as demand for stationery supplies had continued to fall and its suppliers cut the credit terms on which it trades.

The retailer is not connected to the online-only business which trades under the Staples name.

GoogleCopyright: Google

Police are warning people to take precautions after six vehicles were broken into in Newquay.

Most of the offences occurred between 8 March and 14 March in the Quintrell Downs area, officers said.

Some of the vehicles were entered by force. Others were entered while insecure and parked outside home addresses.

Various items were stolen, including sat-navs, luggage, radios and money, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

A footpath by Northernhay Gardens in Exeter has been closed after a hole appeared.

Exeter City Council said it has opened up behind the bandstand.

It added if people want to cut through from New North Road to Queen Street, they will now have to take a "sharp left" up into the park instead of using the footpaths overlooking the railway line.

Exeter City CouncilCopyright: Exeter City Council

A man who died in a crash near St Austell on Saturday has been named by police as Ryan Taylor.

Mr Taylor, 26, was fatally injured when his silver Jaguar XF was involved in the crash with a green Mazda MX5 on the A390 at St Mewan Dip at about 17:30.

The driver of the Mazda, a 32-year-old man from Truro, sustained serious injuries and was taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro where he remains in a critical condition.

Any witnesses or anyone with relevant dash cam footage is asked to contact police by calling 101 or emailing 101@dc.police.uk.