West Country (W) Devon

A 10 year old boy from Devon has died after a road traffic collision. The school boy collided with a van at Threshers Crediton yesterday lunchtime. Police say he died from his injuries.

A 24 year old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Tributes have been left at the scene including one from a school friend saying "We will miss you at school".

A special service has been remembering the crew of HMS Exeter which sank in the Far East during the Second World War. Around fifty men were killed as the ship went down. But many more died at the hands of the Japanese in prisoner of war camps.

Under a window dedicated to HMS Exeter, the families of the ship's crew gathered to remember their sacrifice and suffering in Japanese prisoner of war camps during world war two.

At Exeter Cathedral today, the widows, children and grandhildren Exeter's crew. Hundreds survived the sinking only to be plunged in to the horror of three and a half years held captive by the Japanese. The families of other Far East Prisoners of War are here too.

This weekend marks the anniversary of the sinking. For six decades there's been a reunion of HMS Exeter's crew and family.

Under the ensign from HMS Exeter a chance to chat and to reminisce. To share the memories with some cake and some tea.

An angry father claims a bus driver threatened to kick his deaf son off - for being too noisy.

Kyle Johnson was on his way back from a hospital appointment with two-year-old Ethan when the toddler got excited and started talking loudly.

Mr Johnson says the driver called him over and said other passengers had complained and he had to quieten Ethan down or get off.

The supermarket cleaner, from Plymouth, said: "I explained to the driver that Ethan was deaf, but his response was 'I really can't do a lot, I've had complaints'."

Ethan wears two over-the-ear hearing aids and suffers moderate hearing loss in one ear and severe loss in the other.

He eventually fell asleep in his pushchair but his dad said: "It's just discrimination against a disabled child at the end of the day."

A spokesman for bus company First Bus Group apologised for the "difficult journey" and said all drivers get customer service and disability awareness training.

He added: "As you would expect, we cannot anticipate every situation and we don't have a specific instruction for drivers for the set of circumstances as described by Mr Johnson.

"Therefore, in such rare and unpredictable situations, it is left to driver discretion.

"With Mr Johnson's assistance we would be happy to investigate in detail the incident of 25 February and interpret whether or not our driver acted appropriately.

"We absolutely recognise how important it is that bus services are accessible for all customers, and are currently involved in a number of initiatives to explore specifically how our services can become more accessible for the deaf community."

An endurance swimmer from Plymouth is carrying out one of the most dangerous swims ever undertaken in the world.

44 year old Lewis Pugh is swimming in temperatures of around minus 2 degrees and in waters with a high number of killer whales. He is carrying out the swim in an effort to have the Ross Sea made a protested area in Antarctic waters.

You can follow his progress here

Fire crews in Yealmpton are dampening down after a fire at a thatched property. Firefighters in Devon have spent hours containing the fire after it started in the chimney and spread to the thatched roof of two properties.

Multiple vehicles attended the scene of a fire in the thatched roof of two properties in Yampton.

A specialist crew was also brought in from Somerset. They've pulled the thatch down and used an aerial platform and high volume water pumps to tackle the flames.

Crews even managed to rescue many of the belongings from both homes.

Group Commander Robbie Woods has praised all who helped bring the fire under control:

A chimney fire at a house in Devon has spread to the thatched roof of two properties.

On arrival at the address in Yealmpton crews confirmed that 25 per cent of the thatched roof was alight. Just after 5pm crews called for further assistance, and firefighters are still tackling the fire.

10 appliances have been called to help deal with the blaze, including an Aerial platform from Crownhill, a Water Bowser from Plympton, High Volume pumps from Clyst St George and a Command Support Unit from Wiveliscombe.