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A boat builder from Devon is set to restore a vessel that helped evacuate soldiers from Dunkirk.

From 26 May to 4 June 1940, hundreds of vessels sailed through heavy enemy fire to rescue more than 338,000 British and Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk as part of Operation Dynamo.

Boat builder Abbey Molyneux, originally from Exeter, said the Guide of Dunkirk lifeboat, which has spent 40 years in Mevagissey, in Cornwall, would be transported to her boatyard in Norfolk for the restoration.

"She saved thousands of lives on the run to Dunkirk and we're now going to try and restore her," she said.

Ms Molyneux told BBC Radio Devon the Guide of Dunkirk was in "perfect condition".

According to the RNLI, 700 civilian vessels, now known as the Little Ships of Dunkirk, made the crossing along with 19 RNLI lifeboats.

"They used all sorts of different boats and the Guide of Dunkirk was very popular, as were a lot of lifeboats because they've got a very shallow draft," Ms Molyneux said.

"They saved thousands and thousands of lives because they were the boats that could get closest to the shore to rescue the soldiers."

She added: "These little lifeboats were a key part of the whole evacuation."

Ms Molyneux, who has restored up to 30 Dunkirk little ships, said she hoped to restore the vessel back to its original condition and take it back to Dunkirk in the future.

The Guide of Dunkirk will arrive in Norfolk on Friday.

A woman with a life-threatening heart condition has spent seven months in a hospital more than 260 miles away from home as she waits for a transplant.

Nicola Allen, 51, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, was born with two holes in her heart but it was only after she gave birth in 2010 that she was diagnosed with ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

She was admitted to Newcastle's Freeman Hospital, the UK's leading centre for complex congenital heart conditions, when her condition deteriorated in October.

"I have already started to look forward to the clanking of the tea trolley on the ward," she said.

Ms Allen, a family support worker, said the hardest thing about her hospital stay was being so far away from loved ones.

"Living away from home has its own kind of pain, being away from my family and friends – especially my daughter," she said.

"I feel like I am missing a piece of myself every day. I think of her all the time."

The NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) service said 13 people had died waiting for a heart transplant in 2023-24 and there were currently 306 people waiting for a heart-only transplant.

The average waiting time for a heart transplant for those on the non-urgent list is about six years, according to NHSBT.

However, this falls to 47 days for those on the urgent list and just 11 days for those on the super-urgent list.

"There are not enough donated organs which sadly means some people wait years for a transplant or never receive one at all," an NHS spokesperson said.

"Waiting lists are at their highest level in a decade.

"We urge everyone to confirm their decision to be an organ donor on the NHS Organ Donor Register and tell their family they want to save lives."

'Days blur together'

Ms Allen said she realised quickly after admission she would need to establish a routine for the sake of her mental wellbeing.

The routine includes getting dressed every day, going for a walk for fresh air in the hospital courtyard and writing a daily blog.

"This has helped me to motivate myself and have a sense of worth," she said.

She added that going for medical procedures had become "like a day out".

Despite being given her own room with an en-suite and a window, Ms Allen said she often felt claustrophobic.

"The days blur together," she said.

"Sometimes I think about escaping – not far, just far enough to feel like I am somewhere else.

"But for now, I stay where I am, I wait and I hope."

A man has been charged after an attack on an 88-year-old man in Evesham.

The elderly victim was badly injured in an assault at Murcot Turn in Broadway on 11 May and taken to hospital.

Adrian Paskin, 40, of Murcot Turn, Broadway, has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, criminal damage and theft and is expected to appear at Worcester Crown Court on 9 June.

West Mercia Police said a 46-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the attack remains on bail.

Thirty years ago Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry helped win the Eurovision Song Contest for Norway – could an astro-dog themed favour be returned this year?

Enter EMMY, who will be flying the Irish tricolour in Basel, Switzerland, next week.

But how does a 24-year-old Norwegian singer, who had never been to Ireland, end up representing one of Eurovision's most decorated nations?

As it turns out, quite easily – after a chance encounter at a songwriting camp in her native Scandinavia, where she met Irish songwriter Larissa Tormey.

The pair collaborated on the song Laika Party – inspired by the stray Soviet dog who was sent on a doomed space mission in 1957.

The dog, described as a female Russian breed, became the first living creature to orbit the Earth when she was launched aboard the space satellite Sputnik II.

She died after 10 hours due to overheating and stress, but EMMY and her co-writers have imagined a different outcome in their bizarre, upbeat ode to Laika.

So far, so Eurovision.

"I've heard her story since I was a little kid, but it came to me again as an adult and I thought about how extremely sad her story really is. I wanted to create a scenario where she gets to be happy and alive instead," EMMY said.

After initially being rejected from the Norwegian Eurovision selection process, Laika Party was given a second chance when it was announced as an entry for Ireland's Eurosong.

"[Larissa] said she thought this song would fit Ireland, because of their love for animals… we decided to submit it and I'm so glad we did," she explained.

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Evidently, they were right – the song succeeded over the likes of Irish pop royalty Samantha Mumba, who was left unimpressed by the selection process, and will make its Eurovision debut at the second semi-final on 15 May.

"Eurosong was actually my first time in Ireland," EMMY said.

"We had about a week to become as Irish as we could!

"I'm so grateful that Ireland actually chose us, you know, it's just an amazing journey and we have done these pre-parties around Europe and it's so amazing to see the audience sing along, that means a lot."

Imagine this – you're out cycling, but you're not alone and, in fact, as scores of people pedal alongside you there's rave music playing on scores of speakers they've taken along for the ride.

It is just what cyclists enjoyed in Birmingham on Sunday afternoon, during a free rave hosted by self-styled "DJ on the bike" Dom Whiting.

Whiting's West Midlands party came after similar pedal-raves he has hosted across the world in the likes of Vienna, Berlin and Barcelona.

From bikes to scooters and skateboards to roller skates, any mode of transport was welcome, with riders hooking their own speakers up to the drum 'n' bass party, which was streamed live on Facebook.

This weekend's route saw music lovers tour round the city, starting and finishing at Centenary Square, passing through Newtown and Hockley.

Mr Whiting headed up the mass-ride, as it took over the city streets with drivers having to queue patiently, as they waited to return to the roads.

Along with all that pedalling, Whiting's DJing skills have also led him to play a guest drum 'n' bass mix on Radio 1.

The only pair of breeding ospreys in southern England have laid four eggs at their nest site for the second year in a row.

Ospreys typically lay three eggs, so for four to be laid two years on the run is highly unusual and it would be "unprecedented" if all four hatch again this year, according to the Birds of Poole Harbour group.

A reintroduction programme began in Poole Harbour, Dorset, in 2017 and in 2022 female CJ7 and male 022 became the first nesting pair of ospreys on the south coast of England in 180 years.

Liv Elwood, Birds of Poole Harbour manager, said: "The team at Birds of Poole Harbour are delighted to see CJ7 lay four eggs for the second time."

Ospreys are classed as Schedule 1 species, which means that they have the highest level of protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

The birds share incubation duties, with males also responsible for hunting to feed the pair during this period.

Hatching is expected to start towards the end of this month.

Ms Elwood said: "This nest is so important for the recolonisation of this special species on the south coast, and every chick that fledges from the nest is a reason to celebrate.

"We can't wait to see what the rest of the season holds."

Interest in the ospreys has been significant, with live-stream webcams allowing viewers to observe the nesting process.

A GP practice will remain closed until the end of the week due to ongoing safety concerns, the owners have said.

Caister Health Centre was first closed on 29 April after 16 people fell ill, and again on Tuesday as a "precautionary measure".

The practice said the fire service had worked with gas engineers from Cadent and with Anglian Water but no concerns had been identified so far.

A spokesperson for the health centre said patient appointments would be rearranged at other surgeries, and that patients would be contacted with further information.

Jonathan Knights, the practice's executive manager, said further tests would be carried out at the site in the coming days.

"We're going to engage experts in air quality to come down and try and advise us whether there's any cause for concern," he said.

"The steps we've taken so far have been precautionary measures, and so far there has been no concern found.

"But we want to make sure, for the safety of our patients and staff, that remains the case."

Mr Knights said those that fell ill had symptoms such as headaches and tiredness.

The building's dental practice and pharmacy, which originally opened as usual this morning, decided to close later in the day.

The GP practice urged patients to order their prescriptions over the phone or via the NHS App instead.

Emergency services were called to the practice on 29 April when four of the 16 people who fell ill took themselves to hospital.

The practice reopened the following day.

Four fire engines, two ambulances and a police car where then sent there on Tuesday afternoon after a number of staff felt slightly unwell.

Network gas operator Cadent confirmed it was called back to the site, but the gas had already been turned off after last week's incident.

Mr Knight said the building's landlord had been made aware of the issue.

A planning application for a new recycling facility near a village in Cornwall has received more than 120 objections.

Gwinear-Gwithian Parish Council will meet to discuss the plans for the wood and green waste centre at Roseworthy Hill near Connor Downs later.

"Loss of countryside, smell, contamination of nearby waterways and noise" were among the reasons cited by local residents as to why they felt it should be refused, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

In a planning statement, The Green Waste Company said the new site would "greatly improve the current services".

'Immediate and safe'

The company currently has two recycling sites at Higher Brynn, near Victoria, and Splattenridden Farm, near St Erth.

The firm said: "Currently, Splattenridden receives green waste from five council-run Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) sites.

"For reasons of logistics and capacity, it is proposed that, apart from the St Erth HRWC and Penzance Town Council sources, all other waste would be sent to the proposal site at Roseworthy.

"This would greatly improve the current services provided by the Green Waste Company and, importantly, will greatly reduce miles travelled every year transporting the waste.

"The proposed site is conveniently located on low-grade agricultural land owned by the applicant.

"It has immediate and safe highway access."

'Totally irresponsible'

More than 120 people had raised concerns on Cornwall Council's online planning portal, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

One objection stated the installation of a waste recycling plant was "totally irresponsible and ill-conceived."

It added: "Chemicals which develop through the waste recycling will leach through the soil spreading toxic chemicals, once this occurs the land will be destroyed for decades."

Councillor Lionel Pascoe, who represents Gwinear Gwithian and Hayle East, said the plan was "causing quite a stir in the area" but the matter had to go to a parish council decision.

A woman has died in a crash in a village, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called to Cookgate in Nunthorpe, near Middlesbrough, at about 12:37 BST following reports of a traffic collision.

The road was closed for hours but reopened later in the evening.

Cleveland Police said the woman's family had requested privacy while they grieved the loss of their loved one.

In a statement, the force said: "Our thoughts remain with the woman's family and friends at this extremely difficult time."

Teams from North East Ambulance Service and the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) attended along with police.

Installing metal detecting knife arches in schools and nightclubs would be supported by the government if they were "appropriate", the policing minister has said.

Diana Johnson, however, said those decisions should be "made locally".

She was speaking during a visit to Coventry as part of Knife Crime Awareness Week.

The West Midlands Police area recently saw a drop in the number of knife crime incidents – meaning it no longer has the highest rate of knife crime in the country.

The minister discussed how the government would be working with the force to help meet a national target of halving knife crime over the next decade.

Asked about installing knife arches in nightclubs and schools after several incidents involving young people in the region over recent years, she said: "I'm open to looking at anything that keeps the public safe.

"I think in schools, if schools if head teachers think that's appropriate then I would support them in that.

"But I think it is very much down to what actions are most appropriate for the setting you're talking about."

It was recently announced that the number of weapon surrender bins in the West Midlands is to double.

People are able to dispose of knives and weapons in the metal containers, with 1,705 weapons surrendered in the West Midlands Police area between January and March, which were later destroyed.

That equates to 142 weapons deposited each week, or more than 20 per day.

The recent haul included hundreds of flick knives, zombie knives, kitchen knives, knuckle dusters, machetes and even firearms.

Ch Supt Paul Joyce, who is responsible for policing across the whole of Coventry, told the BBC that part of the success was down to working with schoolchildren and tackling gang-related crime.

He said: "We've got really good processes in place to identify gang members and proactively target them to ensure that they are not a risk to each other and to the wider community."