The RSPCA have expressed concerns after more dead birds have been washed up on beaches in Devon and Cornwall.
There have been reports of birds being washed up at Wembury and Heybrook Bay in Devon as well as Port Wrinkle and Whitsand in Cornwall. On Saturday, the RSPCA said that for all the affected birds found washed up on land, it was likely "more are dying out in the Channel".
Dog walkers have been told to keep their pets away after more than 100 birds were found dead on one section of beach between Downderry and Seaton on Sunday morning.
Motorists have been rescued from their cars after more heavy rain deluged the county.
Traffic control teams also reported several landslips and a road collapse in Devon.
Fire crews rescued people from cars in Teigngrace and Sidmouth and in Colyford one person was rescued after being found on top of their vehicle in 2ft of flood water.
St James' Road in Exeter was this morning closed in both directions between the Oxford Road junction and the Old Tiverton Road junction, because of a landslip.*
Roads in Newton Abbot, Bovey Tracey, Exton and parts of east Devon...
The Police say that they received a report at 5.44am this morning of a fire on the M5 Southbound involving an articulated lorry with a trailer. The Southbound carriageway between Cullopmton and Exeter was closed while the fire service dealt with the fire. Southbound traffic was diverted via the B3181. The northbound carriageway was also closed for a time and then limited to lane 1 due to the smoke but was re-opened at 7am. The southbound carriageway remained closed until 7.30am when lane 3 southbound was re-opened.
Approximately 50 vehicles were stationary southbound.
Fire crews were called to reports of a property fire in Mount Pleasant, Exeter just after 11pm last night, where there were still people within the building.
One fire appliance from Danes Castle and one from Middlemoor attended the incident.
On arrival, crews found there to be a fire on the ground floor. One baby was rescued from the property by police officers before fire service arrived. All other persons were accounted for.
Crews extinguished the fire using two breathing apparatus wearers and one hose reel jet.
The Exmouth RNLI inshore lifeboat George Bearman was tasked at 6.17pm on Wednesday (20 February) by Brixham coastguard to rescue two men in the river Exe.
The casualties had jumped onto a moored yacht as their dinghy sank in difficult sailing conditions.
The charity’s three-man volunteer crew launched as darkness fell and winds were gusting force six, during an ebb tide. The team’s trained navigation skills were tested as the emergency call gave only details of the location, near Cockwood harbour.
The two men had been attempting to reach a speedboat moored on the...
The RSPCA has been called to the rescue of more than 100 sea birds being found covered in an unidentified sticky substance. Earlier reports suggested the white substance was palm oil, but scientists were unable to confirm this, though they believe it is vegetable-based.
Further update: The tug Christos XXII , damaged after the vessel it was towing collided into its side off Torbay yesterday, is now stable with risk of pollution very low.
Attention has now turned to the towed vessel, an ex German Naval training ship the Emssttrom , which had been listing too heavily for salvors to get onboard. This vessel has now sunk, approximately 2.5 nautical miles east by north from Hope’s Nose, Torquay in 23 metres of water. This ship is empty and is not a pollution risk.
Earlier: Salvors are currently onboard tug Christos XXII, with pumping operations...
As the weather gets colder over the weekend, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service reminds you to stay safe as well as warm in your home.
There is nothing like a cosy open fire or the added warmth of an electric blanket, but these and other winter must-haves can bring an increased risk of fire into the home.
Check that all your winter essentials are fire-safe and remember a smoke alarm is the single most important piece of safety equipment in any home. Remember to test your smoke alarm on a regular basis as working smoke alarms save lives.
On the morning of 22nd December, Devon & Somerset fire crews attended the following flooding incidents:
1.41 Bretonside, Plymouth 1.57 two people in vehicle pushed to safety, Heybrook Bay, Plymouth 2.18 Colebrook inn, Colebrook Road, Colebrook, Plympton 2.39 Vicarage Lane, West Alvington, Kingsbridge 2.46 Rosewood Close, Goosewell, Plymstock 2.50 Stray Park, Yealmpton 3.03 Charles Street, Dartmouth 3.08 Coleridge Lane Cottages, Chilington, Kingsbridge 3.11 Newnham, Plympton 3.20 Bickleigh, Plymouth 3.28 Movice Street, Devonport, Plymouth 3.30 two men rescued from a car, Haye...
There are problems on the A38 tonight. There are reports of heavy traffic queuing on the A38 northbound in Buckfastleigh at Lower Dean Junction, because of an accident involving overturned vehicle. Lane now open again. Fire & Rescue crews have confirmed that one vehicle was involved in a traffic collision, with a car in a field. Two occupants have been released from the vehicle by the fire service personnel and taken to hospital via land ambulance.
Meanwhile, there are (unconfirmed) reports of a further overturned vehicle eastbound on the A38 with slow traffic at Heathfield...
