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Feock GP Gary Hughes' wife appears at Truro Crown Court charged with murder

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A FEOCK wife accused of murdering her husband appeared at Truro Crown Court this afternoon for a preliminary hearing. Marion Siobhan Hughes, 58, of Collinge, Trolver Croft, Feock, is charged with the murder of her husband, Geraint Hughes, known as Gary. There was no application for bail when Mrs Hughes appeared before High Court Judge Mr Justice Burnett, who has been sitting at the Edward Street court all week. Sean Brunton, for the Crown Prosecution Service, set a timetable for a plea and case management hearing – where Mrs Hughes will be expected to enter her plea of guilty or not guilty to the charge. Mr Brunton said: "The matter appeared before magistrates earlier on today and it has come before this court for a preliminary hearing because your lordship was in residence and it was felt expedient to do so." Mrs Hughes, who was remanded in custody, is due to appear before a crown court again on March 20 but the venue will be set at a later date. Mr Hughes was found dead at his home in Feock last Friday morning by police.

Feock GP Gary Hughes' wife appears at Truro Crown Court charged with murder


Perranporth skydive will launch leukaemia charity for terminally ill medic

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A group of trainee doctors will be leaping from a plane over Perranporth to launch a charity set up by their terminally ill friend. Eight medical students and four university staff will be undertaking a skydive tomorrow in support of their inspirational friend, Freya Barlow, 22, and to raise money for the Freya Barlow Trust. The trust aims to raise funds to improve areas such as psychological services and the general care of young cancer patients. The skydive, which will also raise money for local leukaemia charities, has so far attracted more than £2,700 in donations. Miss Barlow said: "Through my own experiences of being ill, I have really learnt the importance of being able to continue living your life whilst in hospital. "I hope the trust will grow and be a lasting legacy to raise awareness and provide support for those with cancer and give them the helping-hand they so desperately need. "So let us take to the skies and fly for a moment this Friday. Let's start this fund in the open. Outside, free and smiling." Miss Barlow was first diagnosed with leukaemia in January 2012. Despite her illness the brave Norfolk born student continued her medical studies at the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (PCMD). But after fighting the disease twice and undergoing a bone marrow transplant, Miss Barlow was told in November that the cancer had returned and was terminal. She has now taken the difficult decided to end her studies and spend her time with family. Professor Steve Thornton, who is taking part tomorrow's jump, said: "Freya and her friends are an inspiration to us all, and I'm delighted to join them in this skydive. "I'm extremely proud of how these young medics have supported each other through this incredibly difficult time. "Freya lives life to the full, and her outlook is very much about making a difference. I think this jump is the perfect way to kickstart her fundraising trust." Freya hopes to take part in the skydive, but if she is unable to do so a family member will jump in her place.

Perranporth skydive will launch leukaemia charity for terminally ill medic

Childcare staff gather to recognise dedication at Fit 'N' Fun Kids Excellence in Childcare Awards

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CHILDCARE organisation Fit 'N' Fun Kids honoured its staff from across the county at an awards ceremony in St Michael's hotel in Falmouth. Over 100 guests gathered to celebrate the achievements and commitment of over 50 staff members who work all across Cornwall for the Falmouth-based company to care for children aged 0-11. Fit 'N' Fun Kids founder Rachel Jones said: "They are all winners in my eyes, but the lucky fifteen, who have been voted by staff and parents should feel very proud of their success." The winners were: Outstanding Apprentice - Katie Stevens; Nursery Nurse of the Year - Sophie Hawke; Nursery Assistant of the Year - Chezelle Coggin; Crèche Manager of the Year - Lynn Grahame; Crèche Assistant of the Year - Marie Martin; Nursery Manager of the Year (Room Managers) - Aimee Wright; Senior Manager of the Year - Victoria Eva; Employee of the Year - Lynn Grahame; Parent of the Year Award - Bridget Turner; Commitment to Parents Award - Danika Cavill; Outstanding Commitment to Personal Development - Nichola Gill; Personality of the Year - Allana Drennan; Long Term Employee of the Year (over 7 years) - Sarah Howard-Bush; Partner of the Year - Rachel Marks; Fit 'N' Fun Kids Winner of Winners Award - Karen Oliver.

Childcare staff gather to recognise dedication at Fit ‘N’ Fun Kids Excellence in Childcare Awards

Burglars steal £6,000 of property from home near Camelford

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BURGLARS stole more than £6,000 of property – including £3,000 in cash - from a home in the Camelford area on Friday night. Police are appealing to the public for information about the break-in, which happened between 7.30pm and 11.30pm in Slaughterbridge. Besides the money, the thieves also swiped two motorcycle helmets, an Apple Mac computer, a PC computer, a £300 diamond and gold ring, a £300 bracelet and a ladies' Gucci watch worth £900. Police are asking people to be vigilant and to contact them immediately if offered any similar items for sale. Anyone with any information is asked to call 101 quoting reference BC/13/498.

Burglars steal £6,000 of property from home near Camelford

Falmouth car fire 'was accidental'

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A CAR fire on Prislow Lane in Falmouth this afternoon started accidentally, the fire service has confirmed. Firefighters needed specialist breathing equipment and water jets to tackle the blaze at around 3.50pm. A spokesman for Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said: "On arrival the car was found to be well alight. The cause was accidental."

Falmouth car fire 'was accidental'

Fire crews tackle house fire in St Agnes

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FIREFIGHTERS tackled a property fire at Kerensa Gardens in St Agnes this afternoon after a passer-by spotted smoke coming from the house. Crews from Perranporth and Truro strapped on breathing equipment before entering the building to put out the flames at around 2.40pm. They then used a special fan to blow smoke out of the property. A fire service spokesman confirmed the fire had been started accidentally.

Fire crews tackle house fire in St Agnes

Camborne man Derek Pascoe cleared of sex assaults and rape

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A CAMBORNE man has walked free from court after being cleared sexually abusing a young boy and raping him as an adult. Pascoe, of Redbrook Road, was accused of five counts of indecency with a male person, two of indecency with a child and one of rape in relation to that witness between 1996 and 2012, and two further charges of sexual assault on two other men. He went on trial at Truro Crown Court on Monday. After a short deliberation, the jury unanimously found him not guilty of all charges on Friday afternoon. The jury previously heard that Pascoe, 57, had 34 previous convictions dating back to 1973 including a number for gross indecency with a child. One of those was when he appeared at Truro Crown Court in 1985 and was convicted of masturbating in front of two boys. Giving evidence on the fourth day of his trial at Truro Crown Court on Thursday, he said: "My problem is that I get some weird kick out of masturbating in front of another person." Sean Brunton, defending him, said: "And the offences on your record all relate to that type of conduct." Pascoe replied: "The sexual offences, yes." Pascoe said he had completed a number of courses for sexual offenders that had given him ways of dealing with his attractions. He said: "If I am out and about … and I see a young person that I am attracted to. If I start thinking about those things I just stay in the car or just drive home." When asked if he was proud of what he does Pascoe said: "I am totally ashamed and afterwards sometimes you think it is not doing any harm but afterwards the guilt comes along and I have sometimes found it difficult to live with." But he denied that he had committed any of the offences he is now charged with and said that if he had he would have turned himself in to the police. "I know I have got problems and my criminal record shows that but I could not force myself on anyone. "This is worse than it has ever been. This is horrible and I know without a shadow of a doubt that I have never touched him and it does make me feel worthless to be accused of it." Pascoe started sobbing as he added: "I would never live with myself if I had raped him."

Camborne man Derek Pascoe cleared of sex assaults and rape

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby is welcomed on visit to Penzance

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THE first visit to the far west of Cornwall in more than a century by the country's foremost Anglican clergyman saw Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby enjoy a varied itinerary in Penzance.

Part of a three-day stay in the county, the Archbishop spent Saturday morning in Penzance, visiting Penwith College, the Giving Shop in the Wharfside shopping centre, St Mary's Church and the Penlee lifeboat station, as well as paying prayer visits to homes around St John's Church.

First stop was Penwith College where the Archbishop mingled with students from the college and pupils from local schools, including Humphry Davy and St Mary's Church of England, while enjoying a buffet breakfast in the college's Zennor building, which enjoys spectacular views over Mount's Bay.

The Archbishop then faced a thought-provoking question-and-answer session from the students – on the Church's plans to set up a credit union. The Archbishop raised a laugh when he said he would not be sending out large vicars with dark glasses to collect bad debts while, when asked if religion was important in society, he said it was "irreplaceable and essential".

Other questioners wonders how an omnipotent and benevolent God could allow natural disasters such as the typhoon in the Philippines and what the worst and best parts of his job were; he replied that paperwork was his least favourite, and confessed he could not understand why a fuss was made about him as an Archbishop: "It embarrasses me, but it does mean I get to meet so many amazing people."

The Archbishop also told the students that they were in a "fantastic college – it's a marvellous and motivating place".

A visit to the Giving Shop followed, where he was shown round by David Smith from Churches Together and manager Annette Costello.

Mr Smith said: "The Archbishop was so personable and so easy to talk to; he's certainly not one for airs and graces.

"He said he was amazed with the work going on on behalf of Churches Together in the Giving Shop and the support it's able to give to the community in a variety of ways."

After visiting homes in Penzance distributing cards for those who wished to be included in books of remembrance, the Archbishop preached on the theme of "Hope in darkness" at a service at St Mary's Church.

The service included performances by Mousehole Male Voice Choir and a choir from Humphry Davy School.

Finally he visited the Penlee lifeboat station where he and other senior church figures on were taken by coxswain Patch Harvey on board the all-weather craft Ivan Ellen and out to the spot where the lifeboat Solomon Browne was lost in 1981. "He said a few words at the site and then drove the lifeboat back to Newlyn," said Mr Harvey. "He was very down-to-earth and seemed to absolutely love it down here."

Reflecting on his visit to the county, the Archbishop said he felt Cornwall was a good example for the rest of the Anglican Church to follow.

"It's very distinctive and I wanted to come here early to learn about what Bishop Tim (the Right Reverend Tim Thornton, Bishop of Truro) is doing here," he said.

"It's very different. There is an extraordinary history of spirituality here which is nothing like the rest of the south of England."

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby is welcomed on visit to Penzance


Public gathers at St Ives Guildhall to say no to 'new village' at Gonwin Farm

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MORE than 120 objectors packed into St Ives Guildhall to hear town councillors unanimously reject a proposal for what could amount to a whole new village being built between Carbis Bay and Lelant.

St Ives Council's planning committee met to hear the application for outline permission for the 235-home development at Gonwin Farm.

The meeting was relocated to the Guildhall from the council chamber to accommodate the large turnout.

After presentations from Cornwall Council planners and the Carbis Bay Residents' Action Group, each councillor outlined their objections.

St Ives Mayor Colin Nicholls said: "All of the councillors from the planning committee were there and everybody had something to say about it. St Ives Town Council unanimously rejected it."

Action group chairman Des Hosking said: "The town council planning committee unanimously agreed to support our request for refusal of the application, and that Cornwall Council should refuse the application.

"If a decision is not made within the 13-week timescale then it could be called in by the Secretary of State and we do not want this to happen."

The St Ives and Carbis Bay Urban Extension proposal – branded but one as a "blot on the landscape" – would see 235 homes built on farmland.

The plans include shops and industrial units, a restaurant, pub and café, and a sports field.

Gonwin Farm is currently home to a number of high-end holiday lets surrounded by green fields overlooking St Ives Bay. It sits not far off Longstone Hill, the busy main road into St Ives from the east and Lelant – the main route for holidaymakers, making it a prime spot for development.

Local names linked to the plan include Michael Wodskou, of Gonwin Manor, and David Ellsmore, of Porthia Limited.

Proposers Gonwin Developments and west Cornwall-based RLT Architects stress they have conducted a public consultation and made efforts to address local concerns.

Objections range from concerns about adding to an already-busy Longstone Hill – the proposal includes a new roundabout – to worries about the lack of schools and GPs.

Wider concerns involve the loss of such a large area of land and the loss of what many in Lelant see as the green buffer between that village and Carbis Bay and St Ives.

Dr Richard Machell, who lives near the site, said: "This is the largest application for housing ever in the St Ives area and there has been so little consultation between the planning department and the developers and our community."

Public gathers at St Ives Guildhall to say no to 'new village' at Gonwin Farm

Camborne couple Richard and Tania Bennetts accused of attacking groom-to-be on stag night

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A CAMBORNE husband and wife have been accused of attacking a groom-to-be on his cowboy-themed stag night.

David Morford was out in Camborne with 12 to 15 friends who were all dressed in cowboy hats and checkered shirts.

Richard, 29, and Tania Bennetts, 42, went on trial on Monday at Truro Crown Court accused of head-butting and glassing him.

Iain White, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said on August 11 last year the group went first to the White Hart pub before moving on to Wetherspoon's, where Mr Morford, then aged 26, recognised the defendant.

Mr White said: "That person was a man he recalled who had caused an unwanted disturbance coincidentally on his brother's stag night some two or three years previously."

The friends moved on to the Tyacks Hotel where, after getting a drink Mr Morford, went to the toilets.

Mr White said Mr Bennetts came in shortly afterwards and started asking Mr Morford if he was someone else.

Mr White told the jury: "As David Morford turns to walk away Richard Bennetts head-butts him on the right-hand side of his face."

The court heard that in the ensuing scuffle, Mr Morford was escorted from the toilets by a member of the venue's bar staff and while he was being restrained, he was set upon by Mrs Bennetts.

"She swore at David Morford, who is in front of her, and then thrusts a half-pint glass directly into his face," said Mr White. "He was in fact utterly defenceless."

The glass shattered on impact and Mr Morford was taken to hospital with cuts to his mouth and forehead. Mr White said Mr Bennetts then punched Mr Morford's brother, Christopher, outside the venue, breaking his nose.

The Bennetts, of North Roskear Meadow, deny the charges.

When interviewed by police, Mr Bennetts, who is accused of assaulting David Morford and causing him actual bodily harm, admitted that he had been involved in an incident but said he had been the one struck on the way out of the toilets.

He also said he could not rule out having punched Christopher Morford, who he is accused of causing actual bodily harm, but said it would have been in self-defence.

Mrs Bennetts, who is charged with wounding Mr Morford with intent to do him grievous bodily harm or alternatively unlawfully wounding him, told police that hitting Mr Morford in the face had been an accident as a result of her being shoved and punched and stumbling.

The trial continues.

Camborne couple Richard and Tania Bennetts accused of attacking groom-to-be on stag night

Camborne miner reveals conditions working underground 60 years ago

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A former Camborne miner, one of the first Italians to work thousands of feet underground at South Crofty Mine, has been speaking about his life 60 years on. Giuseppe Amenta, known as Jo, and his wife, Gladys, recently embarked on a special tour of Italy to mark their diamond wedding anniversary. The young Sicilian, then 18, came to England at the invitation of the then National Coal Board who travelled to his home town, Palermo, near Sicily, to recruit workers for mines back home. "I used to race push bikes and came to Britain to save up for two years so that I could return and continue my racing career," he said. Now, 60 years on, he calls Cornwall his home, saying he has no regrets despite surviving some of the harshest conditions working underground. Having arrived in Sheffield in 1952 in the middle of a miner's strike over pay, he was quickly transferred to Cornwall. "They didn't want Italian's down the mines because of the strike action. They found work at South Crofty where I remained for just under 33 years. "It was extremely tough," said the father of two, "There was no health and safety in the 1950s. We used wire to hold our boots together. We had to buy our own gear. "You had a pick axe and shovel and you worked in a space that was three feet wide and six feet high, the work was hard. A lot of men fell ill because of the conditions. When you were drilling you couldn't see your hands in front of your face the air was foul and thick with wet dust." Giuseppe was one of 20 Italians who arrived at the Cornish mine, with that figure soon doubling as the workforce grew to keep up with the demand for tin. He said: "I worked alongside people from all over the country, Wales, Ireland, the Midlands and north. There were so many dialects underground." The men worked a six day week until the 1960s when health and safety rules came in. Guiseppe dug for tin in Robinson's shaft which stretched under the Heartlands. "I could walk for miles underground to Parc Bottom, North Roskear, Brea village, Barncoose, Illogan and Tolgus. The lowest I have worked is 440 fathoms (2,640ft). Many couldn't cope with the heat and physical work." He even recalls having little or no training when he was handed his first detonators and dynamite and asked to blast rock. "I was with a team of four Italians and we were told to just get on with it. We had no idea how long to cut the fuse wire and I bit the end of the detonator with my teeth to place it into the dynamite, I did that for four years, I was never shown any other way. It's amazing that I am still here." Determined to prove himself, the young miner even used library books to teach himself new techniques. "I was called a lot of names, there was a lot of prejudice in the 1950s. I was told that I was creating too much waste while I was breaking the tin. "Gladys got a book on mining in Africa and it showed me how to break a 'stope'. In my first two weeks (using the new method) I broke 68 fathoms. The engineers called me a liar, they couldn't believe that I was drilling 26ft holes by hand in a single day. "They sent in time and motion people to look at me and after two weeks they accepted what I was doing." His amazing work rate impressed mining officials all over the world who came to South Crofty to marvel at his feats underground. "People came from Switzerland, South Africa and Brazil, and teams from the School of Mines in Camborne to watch how I was doing it. They even came to me to be trained." He was also put in charge of safety, ensuring the men were not at risk from falling rocks. "It was extremely dangerous, if the rock collapsed it could cut you in half. You couldn't use props to support the walls, I had to test the ground every day, looking for cracks and water seeping through." Many of his colleagues died down the mine and he was seriously injured in three accidents, cutting his wrist and finger. "I struck my ankle with a pick axe. I didn't realise at first. My mate noticed blood on the ground. he noticed blood on my foot. I removed my boot which was filled with blood. I was off work for six days. "A few people died of heat exhaustion, one man was smoking near a newly blasted area and there was an explosion. Not all of the dynamite had gone off in the first blast and his face was badly damaged. He spent seven months in Bodmin Hospital and died a few years later." He even recalled helping one miner who lost his finger while tipping a wagon loaded with tin. "I found his finger and chucked down a hole. They came looking for it to take it to hospital. I had to tell them that it was gone." Having left the mine in December 1984 Giuseppe embarked on a new career teaching judo and karate, which was popularised by the infamous martial arts expert of the time, Bruce Lee.

Camborne miner reveals conditions working underground 60 years ago

Around 250 people live with HIV in Cornwall

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There are around 250 people in Cornwall living with HIV, around a quarter of them without even being aware of it. This week marks National HIV Testing Week (November 22-29) and the team at the Sexual Health Hub in Truro are keen to raise awareness of the importance of getting tested. Providing they have been diagnosed early, people receiving a HIV diagnosis today can expect to enjoy a normal life expectancy with little disruption to their lives, except for having to take daily tablets. Kathryn Eccleston, consultant in GU/ HIV Medicine at the Sexual Health Hub, said: "Many people remember the HIV tombstone campaign from the 1980s and so there is a lot of fear still attached to it. We want people to understand that treatment has progressed significantly since then and it is no longer the grim diagnosis people think. People diagnosed with HIV can continue to live fit and healthy lives when there has been an early diagnosis. The only adjustment is that they may need to take medication daily." One of the problems is that often both medical professionals and individuals themselves won't think HIV applies to them. Kathryn says: "There is a lot of focus on the traditional high risk groups – gay men and those from countries with a high number of HIV positive citizens – but the numbers of heterosexuals becoming HIV positive is rising with a significant proportion of those unaware they have the condition. People can often overlook obvious HIV warning signs because they are white, middle class and married." Around 50 per cent of people who contract HIV will experience Glandular Fever/ flu like symptoms in the early weeks after exposure but half will not. With problems only arising months or often years down the line, it is important to get tested early on if you think you may have been put at risk. In fact unprotected sexual intercourse (i.e. without a condom) including oral sex, sharing a needle or from mother to child while in the womb are the only ways you can contract HIV. It is not possible to "catch" HIV from sharing a toilet, toothbrush or kissing. The Hub offers confidential tests where patients are given a number rather than name and this information is not shared with GPs or other agencies unless the patient gives permission. A HIV test is offered to all who attend GU clinics and over 90 per cent accept the offer. For more information call the Hub on 01872 255044.

Around 250 people live with HIV in Cornwall

Badger cull must continue, says NFU

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The NFU is 100 per cent committed to rolling-out badger culling in areas where TB is rife, its South West regional director Melanie Squires is reporting to the current series of Union county annual meetings which began yesterday in Devon. "Controlling badger populations is absolutely necessary if we are going to stop this disease spreading further around the country," she says, "it is a policy that is vital to farming families and their businesses." Her words were echoed at yesterday's Devon meeting by the Union's deputy president and candidate for its presidency, Meurig Raymond, who paid tribute to the farmers, landowners, NFU staff and officeholders "without whom the pilot culls would not have been delivered." But whilst both acknowledged the government's "courage" in proceeding with pilot culls, they stressed that it would have to look at a different model for rolling out culling, with Mr Raymond suggesting that it would be more realistic if landowners were required to opt out rather than having to be canvassed to opt in. He also stressed that the issue of controlling TB would continue to be one of the NFU's top priorities but that Defra had got to be "an equal partner". In her report, Ms Squires added: "There must be a stand-alone body responsible for gaining licences, resourcing the operations and managing the delivery," she says, adding: "There needs to be up-front funding and the process must be simplified." The series of six NFU South West county annual meetings continues today (Thursday) in Wiltshire concluding in Somerset on December 2nd.

Badger cull must continue, says NFU

'Horrendous' Christmas light electricity bill worth every penny to help RNLI, say Redruth couple

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Mick and Margaret French from Carharrack near Redruth have described their Christmas electricity bill as 'horrendous' but they say powering their festive light display is worth every penny. They claim the cost is far outweighed by the looks on the faces of visiting children and the fact they use the event to raise money for the RNLI in Cornwall. This year Mick and Margaret will turn on their yuletide display at 7pm on Saturday 30 November. They'll be joined by RNLI mascot Stormy Stan and the Carharrack and St Day Band and with sweets for the children and wine and mince pies for the adults, night one of the display promises to be a treat for one and all. Mick, who has been hosting his festive display for 16 years now, has raised an amazing £1,500 for the charity that saves lives at sea with his Christmas lights and says that's not bad going as they live in a cul-de-sac; 'We're a bit tucked away which means we don't tend to get people passing by but word goes round and we put posters up reminding people of our annual display. It is a costly business, but it's all so worthwhile when you see the look on people's faces and hear the donations going in to the RNLI collecting box. I hope lots of folk will join us for the big switch on.' Mick and Margaret are long standing RNLI supporters and this year alone Mick has raised £3,200 at events where he has put his model lifeboats on display. Guy Botterill, RNLI Community Fundraising Manager, says people like Mick and Margaret are priceless; 'It costs millions to run a charity like ours each year and all of this through public donations so people like Mick and Margaret are very precious to us. They are also greatly appreciated by our volunteer lifeboat crews around Cornwall who will be on call 24/7 right over Christmas and the New Year. I'd like to thank them for their generosity and hard work and wish them every success with the display.' As a mark of respect, the lights will be switched off for an hour at 8pm on 19 December on the anniversary of the loss of the Penlee lifeboat and her crew. Mick and Margaret French live at 20, Park Stenak, Carharrack, Redruth TR16 5SL. Their festive light display will be on between 5pm and 10pm every night from 30 November until Twelfth Night.

'Horrendous' Christmas light electricity bill worth every penny to help RNLI, say Redruth couple

Review of South West Water bills hinted at by Minister

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Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has indicated hard-pressed households will see the end of spiralling water bills next year as he came under fire for doing little to help.

Many families in Devon and Cornwall pay more than £1,000 a year as South West Water has the highest charges in the country, despite a £50 per household government subsidy.

The Secretary of State this month wrote to water companies urging them to keep bills in check amid the growing political row of the rising cost of living.

In Environment Questions in the Commons yesterday, Labour's Shadow Environment Secretary Maria Eagle said families want "action from the Secretary of State, not a weak letter".

But Mr Paterson said privatisation of the water industry depends on having a "rigorous and robust" regulator, and hailed the tough approach of watchdog Ofwat's new chairman Jonson Cox.

He argued this was lacking under Labour, who oversaw bills rising by 20% to £389 in the last five years of Government. He said: "When the new price review comes through, I think (Labour) will be pleasantly surprised to see that prices will be held and that some may fall."

Ms Eagle said the Government should make all water companies sign up to an affordability scheme in a bid to cut bills.

She challenged Mr Paterson to add the new rules into the Water Bill, when it comes back to the Commons next week.

But the Environment Secretary insisted the reform would amount to a "universal tax".

South West Water's average charge is still £499 – £111 above the national average – a result of botched industry privatisation in the 1980s .

The Exeter-based firm will shortly decide how much it intends to increase its range of charges from April next year.

Gary Streeter, Tory MP for South West Devon, said in the Commons: "The people of the Westcountry have been suffering the pain caused by their water bills for many years.

"Given that the wholesale price of water is not rising, in that it falls from the sky and is free, is (Mr Paterson) convinced that the regulator is robust enough to ensure that rises will be kept to a minimum?"

Review of South West Water bills hinted at by Minister


Cornwall customers face fuel bill rises of £30 million with predicted big freeze on the way

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WITH a predicted big freeze on the way this winter, Cornish households are facing fuel bill increases of £30 million over the next year. It follows news that British Gas customers face an average increase of £123 after the company announced a 10.4% rise from this month. With other fuel companies already announcing similar increases, or being predicted to do do within days, it all adds up to a battle to stay warm this winter. Adrian Wright, of Cornish Energy specialist Happy Energy, said: "Another winter and another year of price hikes is the last thing that households across Cornwall and Devon wanted to hear, especially as our geographic location means many of the properties cannot access mains gas leaving us little alternative but to face the price increases. "These price hikes are now an annual occurrence and have undoubtedly led rise to phrases such as 'eating or heating', which – for some families and pensioners – are very real situations they could be facing. "Whilst we have had a mild end to the summer and start to the autumn, cold weather and snow is forecasted for the end of November with some forecasters predicting that this will be the coldest winter for 100 years. "Because of this, pressure on households in Cornwall will only increase even further." Mr Wright urged people to take advantage of various schemes to insulate properties to make them more fuel efficient. He said: "Under the Government's ECO (Energy Company Obligation) initiative – which is ironically being funded by the energy companies themselves, some of which are the ones putting the prices up – households, whether in receipt of benefits or not, can access a range of measures that will either be completely free of charge or heavily subsidised – all of which will significantly reduce heating bills. "Yet we are amazed that more people aren't coming forward to at least find out what's available to them." For more information on the various schemes available, please visit www.happyenergy.co.uk

Cornwall customers face fuel bill rises of £30 million with predicted big freeze on the way

Owen Paterson expresses 'confidence' in badger cull

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There is "great confidence" that Somerset's controversial badger cull will eradicate bovine tuberculosis from the area, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has said.

The Government has faced criticism for marksmen failing to shoot the required 70% of the badgers in the "pilot" cull area, even following a three-week extension.

But ministers have argued the killing was safe and humane, and that the 65% rate achieved is a good basis for three more years of culling.

Now Mr Paterson has indicated farmers in the area could be "rid" of bovine tuberculosis (TB), which is causing misery for agriculture across the region.

The Secretary of State told MPs yesterday: "I was in Somerset last week talking to those conducting the cull, and they were doing so with great professionalism, skill and restraint, in the face of some opposition, and they were delighted with the results, were convinced there had been a significant reduction in the number of diseased badgers and were looking with great confidence to that part of Somerset being rid of the disease."

Mr Paterson also reminded MPs that badgers can move around – weeks after suggesting the animals had "moved the goalposts" and made a cull more difficult to implement.

The minister made the remark when challenged by Labour's Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) as to why badgers were being killed on farms which did not have cattle.

Mr Paterson said: "You must understand badgers move around. When they are super excretors and they move on to cattle farms, sadly they are very effective transmitters of this disease. That is why we are addressing this disease not just in cattle but also in the wildlife."

Ms McCarthy had asked: "Recent figures from Natural England show only 60% of the farms in the West Somerset cull zone contained cattle and only 43% of the farms in West Gloucestershire.

"Why is the Government culling badgers on farms without cattle?"

The disease, said to be spread by badgers and cattle, led to the slaughter of 28,000 animals last year – more than 20,000 in the South West – at a cost of £100 million to the taxpayer.

The two "pilot" culls – in Somerset and Gloucestershire – will determine the prospects of expanding to up to 40 culls from next year.

A roll-out could mean culling in neighbouring Devon and even into Cornwall – both considered bovine TB hotspots.

Mr Paterson also hit out at Labour for opposing the cull after he was accused of being a "complete stranger to evidence-based policy, but a master of moving the goalposts".

"I wish we could go back to the bipartisan approach of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, when we got this disease beaten," he said, adding: "We got it down to 0.01%."

Owen Paterson expresses 'confidence' in badger cull

Who really owns Helston's cannon from HMS Anson and should it be moved?

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TALK of moving Helston's cannon to create a new community space has prompted questions over who actually owns the iconic artillery piece. The gun is a familiar landmark in town and guards the entrance to Helston Museum in Church Street. At a recent meeting looking at proposals to revamp Helston town centre, it was suggested by several people that the cannon could be moved, to create a seating area or public space. Ivan Perry asked town councillors who was responsible for the cannon, given its importance to the history of the area. "The canon, who owns it? Be careful where you're putting it," he said. The answer came form councillor John Boase, who is a trustee of the South Kerrier Heritage Trust, which took over the running of Helston Museum form Cornwall Council this year. He said: "It is the property of Culdrose and the museum is custodian. So it is for the museum to decide what to do with it." The cannon was recovered by divers from RNAS Culdrose in 1964. It was part of the armament of the warship HMS Anson, a 64-gun frigate wrecked off Loe Bar in a storm on December 29, 1807. It is thought more than 100 sailors drowned with the loss of the Anson. The spectacle of so many people perishing close to shore inspired Helston's Henry Trengrouse to invent his lifesaving rocket line and breeches buoy. The custom of dumping the bodies of shipwrecks into mass graves, as was the case with the Anson, also prompted outrage from society. Solicitor Thomas Grylls drafted a new law setting out a more decent way to treat drowned sailors, which was introduced to parliament by Cornwall MP John Hearle Tremayne in 1808.

Who really owns Helston's cannon from HMS Anson and should it be moved?

Crewe Alexandra footballers cleared of Redruth rape allegations

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Seven professional footballers who were arrested on suspicion of raping a woman in Redruth in July have been released without any action being taken against them. The arrests of the first team members of Crewe Alexandra Football Club from Cheshire followed a complaint of serious sexual assault from a local woman in Redruth in the early hours of July 6. Five men were arrested in Cornwall and two were detained in Cheshire and taken into custody in Camborne and Newquay. The men, who range between 19 and 24 years old and come from Warrington, Crewe, Stoke-on-Trent, Nantwich and Cheshire, were all released on bail until September and October, pending further inquiries. Their bail dates were then extended to dates between late November and early December. Devon and Cornwall Police issued a statement today saying that all seven men have released without any action being taken against them. The football club issued a statement on its website, which simply read: "After conducting a thorough investigation, Devon and Cornwall Police have today confirmed that no action will be taken against any Crewe Alexandra players in relation to the alleged pre-season incident in Truro." A spokesman added that the club would not be adding anything to the official statement or commenting further.

Crewe Alexandra footballers cleared of Redruth rape allegations

Falmouth University film student wins national surf festival award

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A FILM student from Falmouth University has won an award for her entry to a national surf festival in London. BA(Hons) Film student Ornella Gardez was announced winner of the Shorties Emerging Talent Award at the London Surf Film Festival. Entitled Teazdcorr, the film follows surfers Taz Knight and Ed Smith on a voyage chasing waves across Madeira. Festival judges were looking for "a central pillar of modern surf culture" in the notoriously strong category. Kinglsey Marshall, head of film, said: "Ornella did extremely well in what is a very competitive arena. "She's shown great promise throughout her studies and I'm delighted to see that her efforts have been rewarded. "A festival award is a significant accolade for any filmmaker, let alone for a student. We look forward to seeing more of her work." Shown exclusively to filmmakers based in Britain or Ireland, Ornella's five minute short captured the screening panel's attention. The judging panel was composed of international greats from the surf industry, including: Alex Dick-Read, founding editor of The Surfer's Path; Vince Medeiros, co-founder and publishing director at The Church of London, publisher of Huck and Little White Lies; Sam Haddad, editor of Cooler; and Tim Nunn, editor of Wavelength Magazine. Now in its third year, the London Surf Film Festival draws global interest. Supported by surf brand Reef, it celebrates creative talent across international surf culture.

Falmouth University film student wins national surf festival award

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