16/04/2017 Spotlight

Good evening. stories on the BBC News Channel.

A Devonport-based frigate has escorted two Russian warships

as they passed through the English Channel.

The Ministry of Defence says HMS Sutherland spotted the two

corvettes as they sailed through the North Sea on Friday.

The Type 23 frigate also escorted a Russian support tanker

Sutherland's commanding officer said it was vitally important

the Royal Navy demonstrates its presence and commitment

to the integrity of UK territorial waters.

It comes at a time of heightened tension with Russia.

Five dogs have died in a house fire at Poyle near Crediton in Devon.

Fire crews were called to the scene just after 8.30am this morning

and used breathing apparatus to fight the blaze.

The end of terrace property was severely damaged.

Only the animals were inside at the time.

Boat operators are being asked to keep their distance from coastal

wildlife this Easter after a recent spate of incidents in which seals

Conservationists say this is a crucial time

for many birds and mammals and they should not disturbed.

It's a spectacular sight, a humpback whale in the bay earlier this week.

This footage was shot from a professional wildlife

watching boat from acceptable distance but conservationists say

that overenthusiastic wildlife watchers have been disturbing

and distressing marine animals and birds.

Birds have been forced from their nests and seals have

If they stampede down and it is then having to go a long distance over

land they can rip out claws, pregnant females might damage

With sea birds it will damage their nests if they suddently panic

and fly away to escape from any perceived danger.

Boat users, paddleboarders and kayakers are being asked to keep

at least 15 metres away from any wildlife they're watching.

People are being asked to report any breaches they see and if possible

to take photographic or video footage as evidence.

Rescuers in Devon are finding missing people quicker

The North Dartmoor Search and Rescue team has had a busy first three

months of 2017, with three quarters the number of call outs

that it dealt with in the whole of last year.

But, as Hamish Marshall reports, better signals for mobile phone

users are allowing people in trouble to be located faster.

It's getting chilly and darkness is closing in.

David Stoneman is briefing the North Dartmoor search and rescue

We don't know if they're on that ridge, whether they're even

in the right valley, so the whole game starts to become

And that sometimes can add three or four hours onto the search.

This time they know where the casualty is.

She answered a text message, so they can pinpoint her to four

metres, thanks to a system called Sarlock.

This was an exercise with a group member playing the role

I managed to click on the message and in less than 30 seconds I had

a grid reference of where they knew I was and it gives you reassurance

But of course you can't a signal everywhere so anyone using the Moor

A sea jogging race has taken place in Dorset today,

People competing in the Weymouth Wade had to jog through shallow sea

water to a point level with the King's Statue,

then make it back along the sand to the finish.

The event was organised by Weymouth and Portland Lions Club.

Some lovely Easter weather today and it's not looking

We've got quite a bit of cloud out there.

It's thickening up, giving some outbreaks of light rain and drizzle.

So it is an overcast, damp night but, with all of that cloud,

no issues with temperatures and the winds finally ease as well.

It does mean quite a grey, dull start to the day.

We could see a bit of patchy rain to first thing.

Then we get some sunshine developing.

I think many of us will see some decent spells of sunshine tomorrow.

A few showers will be dotted about, largely for eastern parts.

I think for Devon and Cornwall and the Isle of Scilly it should be

dry and with lighter winds, we do do get some sunshine, feeling

a little bit warmer than today, with highs of 15 Celsius.

It does look like, after tomorrow, it should be a largely dry week.

By day we'll see light winds, plenty of sunshine, but by night it

will be rather chilly and we will see some

If today's conditions were great and stamp, tomorrow's weather offers

more promise, clear