10/01/2017 Spotlight

Good evening. for the news where you are.

Child protection experts are calling for more research

into the psychological impact of social media on young people.

It comes as a father from west Cornwall launches a petition calling

for an end to what he calls "torture" from a feature

millions of us of all ages are constantly

checking our social media, getting what experts say

is like a feel-good hit of dopamine to our brains each time

and one dad from Cornwall is taking a stand.

Streaks have become mini relationships in kids' eyes,

with all the ups and downs, and to lose one

He's launched a petition about what he calls a dangerously

addictive feature called "streaks" on a social media app

called Snapchat, which he says is making his teenager withdrawn.

Snapchat sends photos and videos to friends that disappear

Streaks measure daily contact with friends.

It has become very toxic for teenagers particularly,

because it pushes their buttons more so than older people.

We don't have the same need to be accepted.

Teenagers are growing, they're learning, they're

learning how to be accepted socially and this has just managed to get

straight into that social acceptance button and it pushes it every time.

Snapchat did not want to comment on the petition, but it says it has

a Trust Safety Team that responds to reports and concerns.

Experts say there is an increase year-on-year of young people

reporting issues with all social media.

In the most extreme cases, constant exposure online and

young people feeling that pressure to be online constantly can cause

In the most worrying cases, we're hearing from children

who really talk to us about feeling suicidal as a result

of seeing things, and that constant pressure online.

Johnnie is just hoping that his petition helps raise

awareness of what's a much wider issue.

There was a dramatic twist today at the inquest into the death

of 23-year-old Josh Clayton, whose body was found

The jury heard apparently new evidence from one

of the witnesses and were then sent home early, for legal teams

Lucie Fisher was at Plymouth Coroner's Court.

Leroy Thomas, arriving at court this morning to give evidence.

He was working as a painter and decorator on the island

at the time of Josh's disappearance, and along with other locals,

went to the party where Josh was last seen alive.

He'd been involved in an altercation there.

In front of the jury today, he made a number

He said he saw someone he believes to be Josh outside of the party,

having an argument with two or three Polish or Hungarian workers.

He said he heard him ranting and raving that he had had enough

and that he was going to kill himself.

Leroy then said that he left at 2:30am to 3am in the morning,

but on the way back had an intuition that something was not

right, and he went back to check on the young lad

He then said that he could not find him.

Josh's disappearance sparked a ten-day search,

the largest ever seen on the islands.

There were no signs of injury, no signs of drowning.

There were no traces of drugs in his system.

He had consumed alcohol equivalent to two and a half

times the legal driving limit, and a bloodstained shirt

he was wearing had not been analysed as it was not being treated

Residents and businesses on the Lizard will be returning

to court later this month to oppose the re-opening of Dean Quarry.

They say proposals for the quarry have already seen some

holiday-makers cancel plans, and some business

The owners have told us they have nothing to add at this time.

The reopening plans were discussed in Parliament tonight -

St Ives MP Derek Thomas said there were many concerns from local

Like me, they have genuine concern about what the reopening

and expanding of the quarry will do to the area.

They are concerned about the impact on the Manacles

the impact on the environment, including air and noise pollution,

the impact on local food production, the impact on local fishing,

the impact on tourism and future investment, and the impact

One of the main routes into Plymouth was closed this afternoon

after suspected World War Two incendiary devices were

Buildings were evacuated and the main Tavistock Road sealed off

before the devices were safely blown up.

Several hours of disruption for drivers came to an end like a shot.

The Royal Navy's explosive ordnance disposal team had been brought in

The eight white-phosphorous grenades had been dug up in

a deep, muddy trench in the central reservation of

Devon Cornwall Police said they used the internet to research

how the grenades may have been left there in World War II.

What we think, of course, is the fact that during the very

chaotic period they would have been left there and probably

just forgotten about, and then got buried to be hidden

They have gone and buried more material and they've just

been left there until, of course, the local

A 100m cordon was set up and local businesses were evacuated.

It caused congestion, with motorists on the way

towards the hospital, having to reroute.

Unfortunately for us, Derriford continued to function,

Of course, that's the main route for ambulances getting

in and out of the hospital, and for people that need

to get into the hospital, so we were really very concerned

about how we'd keep people safe to have access in Derriford.

The discovery was made by roadworkers digging up the A386

as part of 15 months of ongoing improvement works that

The road was reopened around 6:30pm this evening and traffic

Clare Woodling, BBC Spotlight, Plymouth.

A dinner lady from South Devon is about to go head-to-head with six

others in the hope of being crowned the best School Chef

Catherine Deane cooks each day for children

at Yealmpton Primary School, and has enlisted the help of some

John Ayres has been to see her in action.

A lot has been made in recent years about the importance of school food.

Nutritious and healthy meals help children to concentrate,

and hopefully they will lead healthier lives in the future.

So school chefs like Catherine Deane are putting

She is through to the regional final and is hoping to go all the way.

I'm making a fish Thai green curry, with cauliflower rice, a potato

It's an unusual taste but they think it's rice with a funny taste,

because it does resemble very much like rice.

Normally she cooks for 130 children each day, but the competition means

she has to make a main meal and dessert for 11-year-olds

in 90 minutes, and it must cost less than ?1.30.

That's the typical budget for a school dinner.

But in reality, forget the judges, it's the pupils who really count.

Cooking doesn't get tougher than this.

It had a really mild sort of warmth to it,

and it was nice because it wasn't to spicy.

And then the pudding was really nice because it sort of,

kind of, cooled it down, and it also had this nice

and it went really nicely with the spiced biscuit.

The curry is really nice because it's quite warm.

It's quite spicy, but the flatbread cooled it down a bit,

and the textures went well together and all the tastes

Catherine has put this meal together for the competition,

She really works hard on behalf of all of the children,

cooking healthy meals and giving a variety of choice.

She's always coming up with great ideas how we can celebrate different

The regional final takes place tomorrow, with the winner competing

John Ayres, BBC Spotlight, Yealmpton.

Now let's take a look at the weather.

Could it be turning more wintry, David?

It is. Yes. Good evening. We used the word sleet and snow for the

first time today and there is a good chance of that. Mostly cloud around

for the next few days, but later on Thursday night into Friday there is

the chance for snow showers and we have not seen many this winter so

far. One weather front moving through us this morning tomorrow and

away, a lot of cloud in the second half of tomorrow. A good view of the

moon tonight but then later cloud. The cloud through the morning, and a

strong north-west wind. Through the gate gradually it will feel colder

as colder air seeps in, and in blustery winds, some brief break

spells and scattered showers. Thursday is the day we watch

low-pressure developed through the English Channel, and that has

potential for wet and windy weather. As it moves away, there is a chance

of some of the rain turning to sleet and over high ground turning quickly

into snow. That is the worrying for us for later on Thursday and

overnight Thursday into Friday, the risk of snow and ice, but proved

predominantly of the high ground. By they can we get to Friday, a strong

and cold northerly wind. It will bring the produce down. There is a

risk of snow showers associated with that, some fine weather but not

warm. Temperatures on Friday up to three or four Celsius. With wind

chill it will feel colder than that. On Saturday it is a bit quieter and

there may be brightness but we wake up first thing on Saturday morning

to widespread frost. That's all the news

and weather from us tonight - lots more online of course -

and we'll be back in the morning of the week, and to start the

weekend as well. For more on that snow situation, over to Jay Wynne