The government has approved the reopening of children's play areas but many in England remain shut.

Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online

An MP has called Cornwall Council "simply pathetic" for comments it has made claiming a shortfall in government funding for businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.

Steve Double, Conservative MP for St Austell and Newquay said it was up to the council to decide which applicants to support with the discretionary business support grants.

He said: "What Cornwall Council has done is hide behind the guidance set out by the government both in terms of the businesses eligible for a grant but also crucially the amount of grant awarded.

“This has led to many, many businesses across Cornwall in the tourism, leisure and hospitality sector completely missing out.”

Earlier today the Council said it has paid out the £13.5m allocated to more than 1350 firms (£10,000 average), but this left 3,500 companies without support.

Mr Double suggested the money could have been broken down into smaller amounts and used to support to more businesses.

He said: “ I know several businesses that contacted me said a grant of £5,000 would have been a huge help at this time. But the Council refused to listen and instead have decided to play politics and blame the government.”

Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online

Plymouth's famous Tinside lido will not open for several weeks, despite the government giving permission for outdoor pools to do so from Saturday.

Everyone Active, which operates the lido said they were not given advance notice, prior to the announcement on Thursday evening.

Contract manager David Greenwood said: “The lido entails a significant amount of preparation work to get it ready for the season, which usually takes around two months.

"We will work as quickly as we can to reopen the Lido as soon as possible but will need a number of weeks to do so."

Plymouth City Council said the outdoor pools at Mount Wise will also not be opening straight away.

Image source, Nilfanion

Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online

Cornwall Council says that not enough money has been made available by the government to cover all the businesses which have applied for support grants during the coronavirus pandemic.

The discretionary business support grants were designed to help businesses that could not get other government assistance.

The council expects to have paid out the £13.5m allocated to Cornwall to more than 1,350 businesses by the end of this week, but says this leaves more than 3,500 firms without support.

Tim Dwelly, cabinet portfolio holder for economy, culture and planning, said: “The number of applications for the discretionary fund and expressions of interest we’ve received is overwhelming evidence of the level of need across Cornwall.

"These are otherwise healthy and thriving small and micro businesses which make a valuable contribution to the Cornish economy and they should not face the prospect of bankruptcy or closure just because they fall through the gaps of funding criteria."

The council says it has made the case for more funding for "Cornwall’s small and micro businesses who have already suffered greatly during this crisis".

It suggests that £37m not claimed from the original emergency grant scheme could be used.

Mr Dwelly added: “At present we can only use that money for grants to businesses which meet the original criteria as set out by the government, but if the government will allow us to use that remaining money to fund the discretionary business support grants, we could offer financial aid to all those who so badly need it."

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With a fine weather forecast and lockdown restrictions being increasingly relaxed, authorities are expecting plenty of visitors to the south west this weekend.

People are being reminded of the correct process if somebody does become unwell or injured.

The competition authority says some package holiday firms misled customers after virus-related cancellations.

Cornish sea shanty band Fisherman's Friends will be performing at two special events being held on a cliff top near Newquay this summer.

The band will be singing live on stage for one hour before the film showing their story is screened at a farm overlooking Watergate Bay, the site where the Boardmasters Festival is usually held.

The shows on 2, 9 and 16 August will be their only live performances of the summer, having cancelled their traditional Friday night shows in Port Isaac due to coronavirus.

Trebelsue farm will be converted into a drive-in cinema with space for up to 200 cars.

Other films being screened this summer include Point Break, Blue Juice, Grease and Pulp Fiction.

Police say a driver was stopped on the M5 travelling at more than 120mph with a partner and baby in the car.

Johanna Carr
BBC News Online

Image source, Sandy Acres

An estate including a campsite, houses, a cafe and ownership of part of one of Cornwall's best beaches has gone on sale for in excess of £8m.

Sandy Acres, near Hayle, overlooks St Ives Bay and has been in family ownership for 50 years.

The 124-acre estate includes ownership of part of the three-mile long Gwithian Beach.

Chris Anderson, from property agent Carter Jonas, said it was the "most amazing spot".

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The nursery says their "thoughts and prayers" are with the woman "and her loved ones".

BBC Radio Cornwall

Cinemas can start showing films again from next Friday..

They will be expected to put social distancing measures in place.

Some are planning to show films that would have been new releases at the time lockdown started, with others going for more classic screenings.

Image source, Google

BBC Radio Cornwall

The government has said that open-air swimming pools can reopen from tomorrow.

The news came as part of a number of measures announced by the Culture secretary Oliover Dowden on Thursday evening.

Indoor pools will have to wait another fortnight.

Julia Tooley-Brown from Newquay Cormorants Swimming Club said there will be restrictions in place, with a maximum of 30 swimmers at a time, from a usual number of 50 or 60.

File on 4 investigates the impact of coronavirus on the nation’s mental health - and asks if services will be able to cope in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Image source, Getty Images

Life in the UK has been transformed since restrictions were brought in to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The restrictions, which have affected all aspects of society, were relaxed further in most of England from Saturday, with pubs allowed to reopen and people allowed to meet indoors.

But how has life changed over the past three months?

BBC Spotlight

Home Park in Plymouth is usually the venue for Plymouth Argyle to ply their footballing trade, but tonight its car park has a different purpose.

The classic film Grease is being shown on a big screen, with ticket holders watching from their cars.

The event is sold out, but you can get a taste with Natalie 'Sandy' Corner on Spotlight, BBC1 at 18:30

Image source, Google

Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online

A man was left with bruising and a chipped front tooth after being repeatedly kicked and punched while being robbed in Exeter.

It happened in the Exe Street area at about 18:00 on Thursday 2 July.

The victim, in his 20s, had his mobile phone and blue rucksack stolen.

It is believed the assault involved four suspects who ran off in the direction of Exe Street and the Iron Bridge.

Two 16-year-old boys from Exeter have been arrested on suspicion of robbery and have been released under investigation while inquiries continue.

Daniel Clark
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Exeter City Council has agreed to buy three new properties for social and affordable housing.

On Tuesday night the council's executive unanimously agreed to the purchase of the three, three-bedroom properties in Anthony Road in Heavitree at a cost of £900,000.

The three homes had been originally intended to be sold on the open market by Exeter City Living, but had not been sold.

Councillors heard the move served the objective to acquire more social and affordable housing, and that they were adjacent to existing council housing in North Lawn Court.

The three new homes will be an addition to the 170 new council houses that are currently under construction with an aim of 500 new properties within 10 years to be added to the council housing stock.

Image source, LDRS

Anna Varle
BBC News Online

The new look Blue Islands' aircrafts have been unveiled at Exeter Airport.

The airline, based in the Channel Islands, has taken on some of the routes previously operated by Flybe which went out of business earlier this year.

It flies to Jersey, Guernsey and Manchester from Exeter.

Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online

The MP for St Austell and Newquay has welcomed news that Cornwall is receiving £5m of money to upgrade rural roads.

Steve Double said he is "delighted to see this further investment in our rural roads network”.

The funding is part of the prime minister's recently announced plan for infrastructure investment to help the economy recover following the coronavirus lockdown.

Mr Double said the projects earmarked for help in mid-Cornwall are:

• Taylors Lane, Newquay
• Tolcarne Beach Road, Newquay
• Gaverigan - Indian Queens
• Drummers Hill, Scredda
• Trerice - Carsella, St Dennis

Johnny Rutherford
BBC Spotlight

A leading diving club based in Plymouth has launched a fundraising initiative to help its members train in accordance with government guidance during the coronavirus pandemic.

Since 20 March, when swimming pools closed, the Plymouth Diving club has not been able to train in the water.

The money raised will help with equipment needed to comply with social distancing rules which will come into place when they get back in the water.

The club say Sport England have told them it will match the total raised by crowdfunding.

Former members of the club include Olympians Tom Daley, Dan Goodfellow, Sarah Barrow and Tonia Coach.

Image source, Google