A HUSBAND and wife were caught drink-driving as they drove home from the pub in separate vehicles one behind the other.

At Truro Magistrates' Court Lisa and Mark Ellis, of Porthoustock, St Keverne, pleaded guilty to drink-driving at St Keverne on April 4.

Lisa, aged 47, tested at 67mcg alcohol in breath and her husband, Mark, aged 50, tested at 73mcg. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Alison May, for the CPS, said police stop-checked Mark Ellis in a van and his wife had pulled up behind him in another vehicle. Both blew over the limit in the roadside test and were arrested. Neither had previous convictions.

Jeremy Leaning, for the defence, said the couple lived in a remote rural location where they were dependent on driving licences for their work. He was a self-employed electrician and she worked at the health centre in Helston.

"Both will be catapulted from work to claiming benefit as a result of disqualification," he said.

Their home was about a quarter of a mile from the pub where both had gone for a drink, travelling in separate vehicles straight from work. Because of their lease they were tied to their home and could not move for another 18 months.

Each defendant was fined £110 and £105 costs and surcharge and banned from driving for 17 months.

CORNWALL Council has confirmed it no longer plans to replace a rundown teaching block at Helston Community College.

It announced last year that there was no money available to meet the £10 million cost of replacing C Block, and now a report going before Cabinet on Wednesday admits all attempts to find alternative funding have failed.

Its author, Helston and Porthleven councillor Andrew Wallis, the Cabinet member responsible for education, writes: "Following an extensive review process, none of the original options previously put forward for funding the rebuild of C Block are affordable and all other options for funding have been exhausted."

There is no choice but to abandon any plans to replace the 1950s building at this time, he adds, although all agree it has reached the end of its life; the roof leaks in several places and many windows have been nailed shut to stop them falling out, sending temperatures inside soaring in summer.

Last year screws sheared away, leaving a metal window frame hanging dangerously above the college quadrangle.

Despite many complaints by governors and head teacher Pat McGovern and the intervention of MP Andrew George, there is no money available to replace the block.

Mr Wallis says rejected options included borrowing or taking cash from the revenue maintenance budget, reserves or other unspent grants.

"Due to changed financial circumstances, it has now been established that none of the potential capital funding options are currently available," he writes.

"In particular, given the financial position of the school and council, borrowing for the scheme is unaffordable."

He says instead the council is continuing to fund 90 per cent of the cost of a maintenance programme for C Block totalling £270,000, including replacing the windows.

The recommendation is due to be considered by the Cabinet on Wednesday morning.

REPLACEMENT police officers for Helston, Porthleven and the Lizard are unlikely to be in place until next year.

The local force has been a victim of its own success, with three PCSOs being accepted as full constables.

Helston PCSOs Beth Pascoe and Mark Rogers left to begin their training earlier this year and it has now been confirmed that Porthleven's PCSO Jon Bell will also leave to become a constable by the end of the summer.

It means they will be deployed elsewhere within Devon and Cornwall Police and there is no immediate sign they will be replaced locally.

While wishing the officers the best in their careers, parish councillors in St Keverne say they are concerned that officers will be taken away from their area.

Helston mayor Jonathan Radford-Gaby said he hoped the promotions would not be used by the police as an opportunity for making savings.

In response Sergeant Ashley Putman, team leader for neighbourhood policing in Helston, said: "At the moment, new PCSO recruitment will not start until later in the year, which may mean no replacements until the beginning of 2015.

"As pointed out by the Police and Crime Commissioner, all areas of policing are under some level of scrutiny or review to ensure we achieve necessary budget reductions while improving efficiency."

Police in Helston and the Lizard had made changes to maintain neighbourhood cover.

"In simple terms, we're prioritising the neighbourhood aspect of a PCSO role," he said. "Some routine crime inquiries, for example, will no longer pass to PCSO staff unless linked directly to neighbourhood work. They will tend to focus directly on neighbourhood issues and priorities.

"We're looking at all the things we do to see where we can be more efficient or effective."

He said the area would still be covered by officers from Falmouth who would be called out as necessary, for example to provide an additional police presence on the streets during Flora Day in Helston.

The police were also bringing in a volunteer Special Constable as a bridge between the many community watch schemes and the neighbourhood team.

"I do recognise and share to a degree the general community concern that neighbourhood policing will be impacted by staff and budget constraints," he said.

"We're adapting to the organisational changes in the short term and recognise the value placed by the community on their neighbourhood teams, and I hope I can offer some reassurance that we will minimise the effect of the short-term local reductions in PCSO staff."

COUNCILLORS have objected to a request by a pizza takeaway in Falmouth to extend its opening hours past midnight because of concerns that it would turn into a "late-night haunt".

Meeting on Monday, members of Falmouth Town Council's planning committee were asked to consider an application from the owner of Domino's Pizza on The Moor, Richard Unwin, for permission to stay open until 1am every day to meet demand.

The application to Cornwall Council was for a variation to a condition attached to the business's planning permission which was granted in 2008, which allows the takeaway and delivery business to stay open from 9am to 11pm.

Town clerk Mark Williams said the council was concerned about potential problems of congregation and antisocial behaviour around the business, at 40 Killigrew Street/9 The Moor, if the application were granted.

Making a presentation to the committee, Mr Unwin said he had received no adverse comments from the police about the clientele of the business since it opened.

However, Rowenna Brock said she was "a little bit concerned" that the 1am opening would allow Domino's to take over from The Packet Station as a late-night haunt after the pub shut.

Councillor Brock added: "What happens if we grant this and it goes horribly wrong?"

Councillor Oliver Cramp said that concerns expressed in a letter of objection from a member of the public in relation to late-night openings on The Moor were valid, adding: "Much as we would like to support local business, 1am is an unknown quantity at this time."

Four councillors recommended the application for refusal.

A VILLLAGE hall has risen from the ashes after it burnt down six years ago.

Community groups had the first tour of the new Ponsanooth hall ahead of its official opening on June 2.

On June 1, exactly six years after the Methodist hall was destroyed by fire, there will be a public service to officially hand over the keys from the church to the community.

According to local businesswoman Michelle Firminger, the story of the building's rebirth should inspire other groups.

She said: "This should be an inspirational story to any group working hard to achieve something positive for the benefit of others.

"This has taken six years of very hard work in the face of lots of obstacles, and been a serious learning experience for a lot of us.

"To know all those opportunities and aspirations we had for this building will come to fruition in less than a month is an incredible feeling."

The chairman of the Friends of Ponsanooth Hall Chris Trewern said: "My reaction on visiting the site every day or so is always 'wow'.

"My personal feeling is of great thankfulness to so many people – to the prime funders; to all those who have contributed money and time; to the professional team and contractors who have been able to transform this derelict building into somewhere that will serve the community for generations; but primarily to the people here in Ponsanooth who have made it possible.

"I hope it will be a place where each person finds a welcome and life can be enjoyed together."

Before the fire in 2008, the Methodist Church was the primary community meeting space and the home of Ponsanooth pre-school committee members. In June 2009, planning permission was granted to rebuild the hall, after a working group was set up to run a project to rebuild it.

In January 2013, the National Lottery agreed to grant the project £346,000.

Before the hall opens its doors on June 2, the building will host a trade fair for community groups to showcase what will be on offer. The user group open day will be on May 28, from 9am to 5pm.

The new facility has four rooms, a main hall and a community café, which will be staffed by volunteers.

Committee members have also asked for local volunteers to help with cleaning, administration and maintenance.

The hall is available for private functions and commercial hire for classes, events and conferences. For more, visit www.ponsanooth-hall.co.uk

Cornwall 17, Devon 0

GRAHAM Dawe's reign as Cornwall head coach got off to a winning start as they retained the Tamar Cup with a comfortable triumph over Devon at Polson Bridge, writes Nigel Walrond.

The final margin of victory should have been much greater, but Cornwall blew several chances against a Devon side missing players from Exmouth and Newton Abbot preparing for their County Cup final.

The Duchy dominated the early stages and were awarded numerous penalties, but all they had to show for their efforts was a three-pointer by St Austell fly half Matt Shepherd after eight minutes.

They squandered a glorious opportunity for more points soon after, when Redruth scrum half Greg Goodfellow raced clear and drew the last defender before passing to Rupert Freestone, but the tight-head prop knocked on as he dived over in the corner.

Winger Rhodri McAtee and loose-head prop Jamal Ford-Robinson incredibly suffered a similar fate in trying to score in the same corner, though on those occasions due to desperate Devon tackles.

Cornwall full back Kieron Lewitt missed a 40-metre penalty with the last kick of the half to leave the Duchy leading 3-0 at the break of a first period marred by a serious arm injury for Devon winger Tom Foan, who was stretchered off.

It took only two minutes of the second period for Ryan Westren to feed fellow half-time replacement Lewis Vinnicombe for the game's opening try, and three simple Lewitt penalties around the midway point of the second half wrapped up victory for Cornwall in what was a a good warm up for the start of their Bill Beaumont Cup County Championship game against North Midlands at Redruth on Saturday (3pm).

Cornwall: Lewitt (Cornish All Blacks), McAtee (Redruth), M Westren (Redruth), Webber (All Blacks, capt), Ducker (Camborne), Shepherd (St Austell), Goodfellow (Redruth), Ford-Robinson (Cambridge), Salter (All Blacks), Freestone (Clifton), Jenkins (All Blacks), Cook (Redruth), Whittle (Falmouth), Fuca (Redruth), BJ Chapman (All Blacks).

Reps used: Bartle (Camborne), Friend (All Blacks), Hilton (CAB), Notman (Redruth), Paterson (Ivybridge), Tripcony (CAB), Tompsett (Redruth), Vinnicombe (Redruth), Webb (All Blacks), C Williams (Redruth), R Westren (All Blacks), Venner (St Austell).

CAMBORNE ended St Austell's hopes of a first Tribute Cornwall Cup success by winning the trophy for the third time in four years after a full-blooded final at Redruth.

Nearly 1,200 people braved a strong wind and some heavy drizzle in the second half to watch the arch South West One West rivals battle it out for silverware, having both just missed out on promotion this season.

For the Cherry and Whites, it was the eighth time they had captured the trophy, while St Austell are still seeking their first after three appearances in the final, but they can have no complaints about the result.

Camborne, wearing a bizarre change kit that made it look like they had inadvertently left green warm-up bibs on, made much better use of the elements when they had them at their backs in the second half, and thoroughly deserved their success.

Pinning

With the wind behind them, St Austell really put Camborne under the cosh in the opening half an hour, pinning them inside their own half.

They gathered 10 points in the first quarter, taking the lead after 14 minutes following a burst down the right-hand touchline and a good drive by loose-head prop Hugh Noott, before winger Ashley Taylor raced over in the corner.

Cornwall scrum half Matt Shepherd swung in a fine conversion, and added a 35-metre penalty, to give the Saints a healthy lead.

However, other scoring chances went begging, and that was to prove very important to the final outcome.

Shepherd missed another kickable penalty, while the decision to go for the corner after Camborne infringed again saw St Austell mess up the close-range line-out.

They were also awarded a close-range penalty in the 26th minute, only for Devon referee Simon Lane to reverse his decision after the touch judge spotted some 'over-robust play' from St Austell hooker Miles Davey that saw him sin-binned.

That also proved costly for St Austell as, while he was off the pitch, Camborne made virtually their first visit of the game to the Saints' 22, and after surges for the line by tight-head prop Leigh Hocking and fly half Richard Kevern were repelled, openside flanker Cameron Bone spotted a gap around the fringes of a close-range ruck and dived over the line for a try.

Six minutes later, fellow back rower and man-of-the-match George Hall also crossed out wide after a well-worked move, and even though scrum half Dave Mankee missed two difficult conversions, Camborne turned around level at 10-10, with the benefit of the elements still to come.

With the heavy drizzle now driving into St Austell's faces, Camborne intelligently made sure they played in the right areas of the pitch in the second period, aided by Exeter Chiefs Academy player Joel Matavesi's booming clearance kicks downfield.

They ground out three penalties from 25 to 30 metres, all kicked by Mankee, and with 11 minutes to go, winger Rob Floyd all but wrapped up victory following a blindside attack off a five-metre scrum.

There was still time for St Austell No.8 Adam Kellow to have a try chalked off for a forward pass, and for himself and Camborne replacement Dean Pascoe to be yellow-carded after a set-to, but it was a day to remember for the Cherry and Whites.

PERRANPORTH were unable to deny fellow Cornwall One side Liskeard-Looe a league and cup double as they went down to defeat in an enthralling Tribute Cornwall Clubs Cup final at Redruth.

The Lions lifted the trophy for the fourth time, and the first occasion since 2007, to add to the Cornwall One title they captured several months ago.

However, they were made to fight all the way by a Perranporth side who finished fourth in the league table, 31 points behind the Lions, and who had been heavily beaten by them twice this season.

The Brewers never gave their opponents a moment's peace, but a better set-piece proved a telling factor in the end as Liskeard completed their season without losing a game to a Cornish club.

Their only defeat all campaign came in the RFU Junior Vase against Gloucestershire side Longlevens, who went on to win the final at Twickenham last Sunday.

And Perranporth player-coach Steve Arthur was proud of his team's efforts.

He said: "The boys came down and gave it their all, and thanks to a big crowd who travelled from Perranporth and gave us a good cheer.

Easier

"I think Liskeard thought they were in for an easier game than they got, and you can't ask for much more from the lads.

"It was lovely playing in front of a big crowd. We normally get three men and a couple of dogs at Perranporth, and that's on a good day. But today we have got people out of the village and given them a day out.

"Liskeard's set-piece killed us, their scrum was very good and they have got a good catch-and-drive from the line-out, but when it came to the loose stuff around the park, I think we probably edged them, but without that first-phase ball you are always going to struggle."

Perranporth made a fantastic start to the contest, and showed their intent after six minutes by turning down a kickable penalty and opting for the corner.

The catch-and-drive was well defended by Liskeard-Looe, but Perranporth then moved the ball to the right, and even though centre Tommy Job's pass went to ground, full back David Rees collected the loose ball and dotted down beside the uprights, with loose-head prop Matt Burton adding the extras.

A rather stunned Lions side hit back well, with No.8 Gareth Cooke driven over in Hellfire Corner, with fly half James Noel-Johnson converting, and they should have taken the lead six minutes later, when winger Ben Kitto looked set to score after a sizzling 70-metre run, only to be halted within metres of the line by a superb tackle from Chaz Buscombe.

However, their second try was not long in coming, with scrum half Andy Sheer's box -kick providing skipper Lewis Elliott with a touchdown.

Just past the half-hour mark, Elliott was sin-binned, and from a quickly taken tap penalty, fly half Alex Wright shot over beneath the posts, and with Burton converting, and adding a penalty late in the half, Perranporth suddenly had a 17-12 interval lead.

The Lions took only 10 minutes of the second period to regain their advantage, though the try was surrounded by some controversy.

They had a player taken out at a line-out inside the Brewers' 22, but Sheer appeared to knock on as he took a quick tap penalty before racing through a bemused Perran defence to score.

However, Cornwall referee Andy Robinson consulted with his touch judge before awarding the try, to Perranporth's disbelief, and Noel-Johnson's conversion made it 19-17.

The Brewers continued to threaten, but Liskeard-Looe put the game almost beyond their reach just past the hour mark when Perran were caught in possession close to their own line after a kick downfield, and winger Kieran Underhill stretched out for a try.

Noel-Johnson converted, and then sealed victory with a penalty two minutes from time to complete a fantastic season for Liskeard-Looe, but the Brewers can take enormous credit from the way they played in the final.