EXPERTS fear a volcano in Iceland could explode at any time – which could throw ash into the air and ground flights across Europe.

They believe an eruption has happened nearby beneath a glacier and have issued a red alert warning of a potential danger.

Hundreds of small earthquakes have been detected beneath the Bardarbunga volcano – prompting fears that it is dangerously close to erupting.

No flights are allowed directly over the area, although Iceland's airports remain open.

Back in 2010, the eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano caused widespread disruption over fears that ash would damage the aeroplanes.

The European air safety agency Eurocontrol said it was monitoring reports.

It said this morning: "Bardarbunga remains active with more earthquakes overnight but no reports yet of any ash."

The warning for aircraft reads: "Presently there are no signs of ongoing volcanic activity. The aviation colour code for the Bardarbunga volcano remains red as an imminent eruption can not be excluded."

VIDEO: Scientists have been monitoring earthquakes beneath the Bardarbunga volcano since August 16.

Bogi Björnsson, of the Icelandic Met Office, compiled a video of around 300 earthquakes (see above) recorded underneath the Bardarbunga volcano.

It covers the period from August 16 to August 20. Each dot shows the epicentre of an earthquake over time, with the red the earliest, followed by orange, yellow, light-green and then green.

The scale has been extended by 5 times so the dots can be seen more easily. The planes denote 0 km, 5 km and 10 km in depth.

The volcano has a caldera about 6 miles across and lies under the Vatnajokull icecap.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed yesterday that there had been an eruption underneath a glacier 20 miles away.

The Icelandic Met Office said the incident had occurred underneath the Vattnajokull glacier but had not broken through to the surface.

People have been evacuated from the area, which is about 190 miles from the capital Reykjavik. There are no permanent settlements in the area but it is popular with tourists.

Airlines are monitoring the situation and Virgin Atlantic has re-routed one of its flights from London to San Francisco away from the area.

Note: The cover picture shows an eruption beneath the same ice sheet at Gjalp in 2006. Picture: Oddur Sigurdsson, Iceland Geological Survey.

THE charity Cornwall Wildlife Trust has been given its largest donation yet from a business – just over £15,000.

The money will be used for its marine conservation programme.

The donation of £15,004.05 was gratefully received from Frugi, the Helston's based organic children's clothing brand.

The company, which has grown by 45 per cent over the last 12 months and recently received the enviable Queen's Award for Enterprise, has been making donations to the trust as a share of one per cent of its annual turnover.

Frugi co-founders Lucy and Kurt Jewson signed for a business-to-charity scheme called 1% for the Planet nearly ten years ago.

Mr Jewson said: "The reason why Frugi exists is to not only make brilliant children's clothes, but to show the world that a business can be successful, work along ethical principals, and give something back to society at the same time.

"Everyone at Frugi is extremely proud to continue to help to support the fantastic work that the trust do to protect Cornwall's wildlife and wild places. They are great guys, doing great things."

Ruth Williams, the marine conservation manager for Cornwall Wildlife Trust said: "The amazing donation will be used to fund one-off projects as well as ongoing work to help protect our wonderful marine wildlife.

"Things like developing our Cornwall Good Seafood Guide to help people make good decisions when choosing which fish to eat, collecting information from dive surveys to find out what really lives beneath the Cornish seas, and running events like rock pool rambles."

BOTH Falmouth RNLI lifeboats were launched this afternoon after a yacht ran aground.

The boat got into difficulties just across from Falmouth harbour by Trefusis Point, near Flushing.

The lifeboat crews reported that the yacht was refloated shortly before they arrived.

The boat had damaged her stern however and was towed back to harbour by the all-weather lifeboat. The incident happened just after 3pm.

A CAR crashed on the Roseland peninsula today.

It happened between Veryan and Pendower Beach at around 4pm.

Police, an ambulance and a fire engine from St Mawes were all called out.

On arrival, they found there was no one trapped and made the scene safe. 

THE parents of a toddler with Down's syndrome have held a fun day in aid of two Cornish charities that support children with the condition and their families.

Stephen and Sara Richards said they were delighted to see more than 300 adults and children turn out for their first Down's Syndrome Fun Day in Tolgus Mount, near Illogan, on Sunday. 

The event, which included face- and nail-painting, a tombola and bouncy castle, raised £2,270 for the West Cornwall Down's Syndrome Looking Up group and Cornwall Down's Syndrome Group.

Music was provided by the Carharrack and St Day silver and junior bands and a raffle of 87 prizes, which included spa days, tickets to see Plymouth Argyle and Truro City FC, rugby tickets to Exeter Chiefs and a bottle of House of Commons whisky signed by David Cameron, which attracted lots of attention.

Mr Richards said: "It was an absolutely fantastic day, there was a really good atmosphere and all the children had a really good time."

They decided to hold the event to raise money for two groups which have supported them since their daughter, Faith, was born with Down's syndrome.

Mr Richards said: "When me and my wife got married 28 years ago we were told that we couldn't have children. Just over three years ago we found out that Sara was 38 weeks pregnant and two weeks later Faith was born.

"We were elated, but worried when we found out that Faith had Down's syndrome, but all those fears completely subsided when we met her.

"Since then we've had a lot of help from both the West Cornwall Down's Syndrome Looking Up Group and Cornwall Down's Syndrome Group and we really wanted to give something back for the next set of parents who will be looking for help and advice from the charities.

"Down's syndrome support is very good in Cornwall and it's improving all the time.

"Saying that, there's always room for improvement."

Faith, who turned 3 on Monday, also had fun on Sunday. "She really enjoyed the day; she was walking around waving and blowing kisses like the queen because everyone knew her.

"Faith is brilliant and beautiful. She's very outgoing, very friendly and very loving. She leaves an impression on everyone she meets.

"We're part of the Trevenson Church, in Pool, and everybody at the church calls her their child; she's just lovely."

The money raised from the event will help fund speech therapy programmes in Cornwall, including classes in Makaton, a method of communication combining speech, hand signs and symbols.

Mr and Mrs Richards thanked all the businesses which donated prizes and food for the event, including Rodda's, Chaffins, Portreath Bakery and Sainsbury's.

The couple now say they hope to hold a similar event next year.

For more information about Cornwall Down's Syndrome Group e-mail Mr Richards on stephens.richards@mypostoffice.co.uk

IT'S A fundraising effort not to be sneezed at.

One woman who has set up a youth group for Truro youngsters can now be found once a week manning a plant stall – despite being allergic to blooms and petals.

Kristy Walker, 34, from Carey Park, says for as long as she can remember simply walking past a plant or flower makes her break out into a sneezing fit.

However, she decided she could not sniff at the opportunity to run the stall and raise money for youth group Random Dragonz.

Kristy, a former special needs teaching assistant, launched the club in February.

The club runs out of St George's Church hall but to raise enough funds to keep the group going and to pay for activities and equipment, the community-spirited Truronian decided to launch a weekly indoor market.

"The stalls change every week but we have a great selection; we have everything from pies and pasties, crafts, books and candles, jams and baby gifts.

"I have a plant stall and I am allergic to all of them.

"My friend, who has an allotment and is a landscape gardener, brings them around to my house and I look after and them and then I take them to the market.

"I am allergic to all plants and as soon as I am anywhere near them I start sneezing like a trooper. But I absolutely love flowers," she said.

"I have just got used to it and make sure I take antihistamine and have plenty of tissues."

Kristy says as far as she is concerned she will put up with the itchy eyes and the runny nose if it means she can raise much-needed cash to provide fun and activities for children aged 8 to 14.

"There's not really anything for the youngsters unless you are a Scout, a Rainbow, Brownie or a Guide," she said

The market runs every Tuesday between 10am and 2pm, and some of the money raised is donated to the church as a thank you for its support.

Random Dragonz meet at the church hall on a Monday and Tuesday between 4.30pm and 6.30pm, and sessions will resume on the first Monday and Tuesday in September.

TROUBLE between a teenager and his parents because he would not follow their house rules culminated in an assault by him on both of them after he had been drinking.

At Truro Magistrates' Court Christopher Nicholas Trewin, of Loggans Way, Loggans, Hayle, pleaded guilty to assaulting his father, Paul, and his mother, Marie, on June 29. He also admitted damaging a door.

Gail Hawkley, for the prosecution, said there had been friction in the home for a few weeks because Trewin was not abiding by the house rules. He had arrived home late on June 29 and was abusive when questioned about how he got money for drinking. He was told to leave, and then pushed his mother, causing her to stumble backwards and bang her lower back, which had caused her pain since.

He punched his father to the back of the head and back several times and kicked his leg. His mother stepped between them, and Trewin punched his father again to the side of his face and elbow, before leaving the property.

Trewin told the police his parents had been calling him names and pushing his temper. "They were making me feel like a bad person, which I am not."

They had both threatened to hit him during the assault, he claimed. He said what he did to them was all down to drink.

Trewin was told to do 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £100 costs and surcharge.

Cornwall is set for a wet and windy final bank holiday of the summer holidays.

Heavy rain is expected to sweep across the county this morning, and will last for much of the day.

The forecast has promoted the Met Office to issue a yellow weather warning.

It states: The warning reads: "Heavy rain is expected to affect many southern areas of Britain at times during bank holiday Monday, with strong winds a possible additional factor close to southern coasts.

"The public should be aware that there may be some impacts to holiday traffic and other outdoor activities."

An Illogan man has been jailed for his part in an unprovoked attack in which a group of three beat and kicked a dog walker senseless and tried to make his pet bite him.

Craig Dolling, 21, along with Barrie Rose and Abigail Stanowski left victim Daniel Snell needing 37 stiches in head wounds after they kicked him and hit him around the head with a rounders bat.

Mr Snell, aged 20, suffers from Asperger Syndrome and was living in supported accommodation when he was attacked as he walked his dog to a park in Torquay.

He was targeted because he had lent Stanowski £30 and she was angry that he has asked for it to be repaid, Exeter Crown Court was told.

Dolling, Rose, aged 21, from Exeter; aged 21, of Illogan, Cornwall; and Stanowski, aged 23, of Factory Row, Torquay, all admitted causing grievous bodily harm.

Rose and Dolling were each jailed for two years and ten months and Stanowski for two years by Judge Erik Salomonsen.

He told them: "This was a very serious assault on a victim with learning difficulties who you all knew. You had all been drinking and there was no provocation and he was set on as he walked his dog.

"It has been described as a vicious and sustained attack in which he suffered kicks to his head and blows from a baseball bat which Dolling had in his possession.

"The majority of the injuries were inflicted by Rose and Dolling but Stanowski also played a part. A witness described the kicking as constant. There was also an attempt to get his dog to bite him.

"You were completely out of control and the victim suffered multiple injuries and needed 37 stitches and a significant injury to his optic nerve. It is not surprising this vulnerable man has suffered psychological effects.

"This was a sustained group attack using a weapon. The aggravating features make custody inevitable. I would be failing in my public duty if I did not mark this group attack with immediate sentences."

Mr James Taghdissian, prosecuting, said the three defendants had been drinking for seven hours before they carried out the attack at the entrance to Sherwell Park in Old Mill Road, Torquay on the night of April 9 last year.

The victim had asked Stanowski to return a loan of £30 when she had been at his flat earlier but there had been no animosity until they set on him as he walked his dog.

He said a witness overlooking the street had seen the attackers pulling the Staffie by its lead towards its owner and trying to get it to join in by biting him but it had not done so.

Mr Taghdissian said the victim was lucky not to suffer permanent damage to his brain or eyesight.

Mr Edward Bailey, for Dolling, said he has recently become a father and is currently staying at a parent and child centre in Cornwall where he hopes to start a course at Camborne College. He said the child will go into care if he is jailed.

Miss Ceylan Bayram and Mr Martin Salloway, for the other defendants, said they deserved credit for their guilty pleas and for staying out of serious trouble in the 16 months since the attack.

An anonymous source has lifted the lid on the mental health situation in Cornwall, revealing that people arrested under Section 136 are being held in cells at Camborne Police Station due to a bed shortage at specialist units in the county.

The unnamed individual, who works for Devon and Cornwall Police and is based at Camborne, has said that "this is just the tip of the iceberg".

He said: "Anyone arrested under Section 136 where they are a danger to themselves, are admitted to custody and put in a cell at Camborne Police Station.

"When they need a bed they are sometimes sent out of the county because Longreach is closed and we have known people sent as far as Darlington for a bed at a specialist unit.

"Some people are being treated appallingly by the mental health team and the situation in Cornwall is in crisis.

"The mental health situation in Cornwall is in meltdown and putting people in cells is not conductive to their wellbeing.

"We had one patient who was put in a cell for 44 hours until they could get a bed at a specialist unit. This has been going on since May and is the tip of the iceberg."

The Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust was quick to respond, saying that the situation is out of their control and the shortage in beds is a direct result of the temporary enforced closure of Longreach House in Redruth.

Medical director Dr Ellen Wilkinson said: "Since May this year we have been operating with less than half our usual number of acute psychiatric beds and without access to the county's Section 136 suite.

"This is as a result of the temporary closure of Longreach House in Redruth after serious fire concerns came to light during a major refurbishment programme.

"In May we put in place a number of interim measures to provide alternative care options for people in Cornwall where safe and appropriate. This includes providing mental health staff into Camborne custody suite to support people detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act and we are grateful for the assistance of the police in providing this facility during a situation which is outside of our control."

"All our clinicians continue to work very hard to ensure patients received the right care in a safe environment and we are very concerned about the impact this sustained closure is having on our patients and their families. We look forward to being able to reopen Longreach House as soon as we are assure that patients can be cared for safety there."

Local MP George Eustice has admitted that he is concerned by the situation and he believes that the answer to the problem is to re-open as Longreach as quickly as possible.

He said: "Detaining patients with mental health needs in police custody is unsatisfactory and I have come across similar cases of this sort before.

"Unfortunately, in certain instances where there is a high risk of suicide and where patients need permanent supervision, it is often the only option while the mental health team identify a residential place out of county.

Mr Eustice also went on to say that he would like to see Longreach re-opened as quickly as possible and will keep a close eye on matters and will discuss the issues at his next meeting with health managers.

A FORMER probation officer has launched project to help give unemployed youngsters skills to help them back into work.

Kelly Thorne is a photographer and videographer based at Heartlands and the founder of the 4Elementz community project.

4Elementz was set-up in 2012 and works closely with the job centre by allowing local unemployed people to gain media related work experience and mentoring that will hopefully help them into employment or further education in the future.

Miss Thorne has already taken on two of the placement youngsters, Nathan Trease from Camborne and Dale Lynn from Redruth, on a permanent creative and digital media apprenticeship.

"I founded this community project because I wanted to find a way of helping change lives, not just photographing people.

"Many people claiming Job Seekers Allowance are sent to work and because of the agreement I have with the job centre, many come here to me.

"While on a placement here they learn photography, videography and social media skills, which are transferrable and can be used to promote any future businesses they may be involved in.

"Both Nathan and Dale had been unemployed for a while before they arrived here and were suffering from a loss of confidence, now it is a dream for true for them both to be here full-time."

Miss Thorne hopes to raise £5,000 through Crowdfunder, a figure that will allow her to buy three new computers, as well as other equipment and ultimately double the number of placements she can take on at any one time.

"We now have a waiting list for placements and it allows the new media aware generation to engage with professional projects."

4Elementz has also helped a number of local musicians film videos and promotional packages, with some going on to secure gig and festival booking as a result.

Pledgers to the project will also be given a package depending on the size of the pledge.

Packages include professional photo shoots, a makeover and studio shoot and a videography introduction package amongst other incentives.

To pledge visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/4elementz-work-programme.

Devon and Cornwall Police is in danger of going bust unless big changes are made according to a leading crime boss.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall Tony Hogg, has delivered a stark warning on police spending saying "if we carry on regardless then Devon and Cornwall Police will simply go bust."

Hogg, who is reaching the halfway mark of his term of office, says new ways of working must be found to future proof the police force.

He has called for businesses and local communities to club together and for a boost in volunteering to keep the streets safe.

But, he told the Western Morning News that anyone who thought changes were not on the cards was facing a rude awakening.

He said all public services face enormous challenges in the years ahead and policing was no exception.

"As other services reduce and withdraw, policing is expected to fill the space," he said.

"Government funding has reduced and will carry on doing so.

"I will continue to fight our corner rigorously, but, in reality, it's extremely unlikely that the government or any opposition party will increase the money available to us.

"Every single day of the year Devon and Cornwall Police receive more than 500 999 calls, almost 2,000 calls to 101 and record about 900 incidents.

"The impact on policing shows no sign of abating. Two prime examples are the demands of alcohol abuse and mental health.

"The stark reality is that we need to find innovative ways of delivering this vital service with less Government money.

"If we carry on regardless then Devon and Cornwall Police will simply go bust."

His words came in the light of figures which suggested overall crime rates across the urban and rural areas of the Westcountry are "flat-lining."

The region suffered a worrying 6% rise in 2011/12, but this was mirrored in a 6% drop during 2012/13.

Meanwhile, according to the NFU Mutual annual Rural Crime Survey, 'agri-crime' in Devon and Cornwall rose by 35% in 2013 – costing the local economy an estimated £1.1 million.

Devon and Cornwall police have also warned that funding cuts mean that in future mean that resources need to be diverted to tackling violent crime and away from low-level offences.

Mr Hogg said it was vital for the force to "act differently."

He said: "This means better management of demands on the police, finding new sources of income and transforming the way we deliver services."

Mr Hogg said he wanted to see better sign posting to other services such as local authorities or charities.

He said that he would also be challenging the Government to stop making demands of our police at busy times of the year to support national and international events such as the NATO summit.

Bearing the state of diminishing public sector finances in mind, Mr Hogg expressed the belief that many people and businesses in Devon and Cornwall would be willing to offer support to community safety.

He suggested they might club together to erect speed awareness signs by their local schools to help make their children safer.

Alternatively, he suggested companies offer vehicles and other resources that can directly support policing.

After two years in the job he won on the basis of 197,000 votes, a turnout of 15%, Mr Hogg said the story in Devon and Cornwall "would be bleak" without what had been a carefully considered long term plan.

"We have to make savings without compromising the efficiency of our policing services and we are on track to do this," he said.

Moreover, he said that the Police and Crime Commissioners were a success.

"Having one clearly visible, democratically elected and locally focused individual who the public can relate to and hold to account has a lot going for it, and I believe the concept of Police and Crime Commissioners is working, " he said.

Bideford 1 Truro City 3

City bounced back from Saturday's disappointing home defeat against St Neots Town, with an impressive  win against a Bideford side who ended the match with ten men after Matt Bye saw red against the White Tigers for the second successive game.

All City's goals came from headers, two from Cody Cooke and  what looked like an own goal from Chris McGrath, though Craig Duff also tried to claim it,  with Ben Wood  on target for the North Devon club.

Manager Steve Tully made three changes to his starting line-up from the St Neots  game, with Mike Searle replacing Kyle Moore in goal and  Barry Hayles and Isaac Vassell coming in for Ben Watson and Les Afful.

Rob Farkins and Craig Duff were included in the  City team, returning to face their former club for the first time.

Manager Sean Joyce made two changes to the line-up that earned Bideford their first points of the season with a  3-2 win at Banbury Utd on Saturday, with McGrath returning to the defence in place of Nick Barker and Lloyd Gardner starting on the right wing with Craig Veal dropping to the bench.

Truro should have taken an early lead when Cooke made a surging run down the right wing  but Hayles, sliced badly wide at the near post.

Cooke then picked out Isaac Vassell who shot into the side-netting as Lloyd Irish rushed out to close down the angle.

The breakthrough came on 22 minutes when left back Chris Long put in a   great cross to the far post and Cooke rose superbly to plant a header into the roof of the net.

Bideford responded positively, with Sean Downing testing Searle with a stooping header from a long throw by Ben Wood.,

The keeper dealt comfortably with that effort but might have done better with  the equaliser scored by Wood in the 32nd minute. Downing controlled the ball and ran at the defence before picking out Wood whose shot from just inside the area seemed to take a deflection of Farkins, wrong footing Searle on its way into the net.

Bideford were enjoying their best spell and Wood went close again, drilling into the side-netting after a quickly taken free kick from Bye.

After the hosts stole possession from Duff just outside the box, Bye almost wriggled through the entire defence, only to see his effort scrambled to safety by Farkins.

Truro replaced Hayles with Ben Watson at half time and the sub needed just four minutes to make an impact, combining with Cooke to restore the lead.

Cooke continued his run into the box and when Watson fired the ball across goal, the forward reacted brilliantly to head past Irish into the top corner.

The visitors could have increased their advantage as Duff shot over and Vassell went past Irish but saw Stephen Reed get back to clear off the line.

Bideford's  Richard Groves who could only shoot wide of the unguarded goal from a tight angle. It was a big chance for Bideford and there was a sense it would not be their day when, moments later, Downing's neat finish at the end of a slick move was ruled out for offside.

Truro began to assert their authority in midfield again and Irish had to save with his legs when Watson raced clear from a flick by Vassell.

Duff then missed a chance to score against his former club, scuffing wide when Vassell turned down the opportunity to shoot.

If Searle was at fault for Bideford's goal, the keeper made amends with an excellent save to tip a free kick from Groves against the post.

And Truro finally sealed the win with eight minutes to go when McGrath, under pressure from Duff, could only head a corner from Dan Green into his own net.

There was still time for Groves to test Searle with another curling effort before Bideford's slim hopes of getting back in the game ended with the red card for Bye.

Having been dismissed in the goalless draw between the sides on Boxing Day for two yellows, the midfielder was sent off for a second successive game against Truro after a reckless challenge on City substitute Myles James. 

In the end, City were worthy winners as they maintained their unbeaten away record in the premier division of the Southern League to move up to tenth in the table.

City boss Steve Tully said: "It was a   tough game, a real battle. In the second half we terrorised them and  should have had more goals. As I keep saying we are getting their slowly, but surely."

City are next in action at Corby Town on Saturday.

Bideford (4-4-1-1): Lloyd Irish; Ian Sampson, Chris McGrath, Nick Milton, Stephen Reed; Lloyd Gardner (Danny Wring 86), Matt Bye, Richard Groves, Ben Wood (Craig Veal 67); Sean Downing; Matt Wright. Subs not used: Graham Mercieca, Nick Barker, Kevin Squire.

Goal: Wood 32.

Yellow cards:McGrath, Downing, Wright.

Red card: Bye.

Truro City (4-3-3): Mike Searle; Shane White, Rob Farkins, Aaron Pugh, Chris Long; Jake Ash (Myles James 84), Dan Green, Craig Duff; Isaac Vassell, Barry Hayles (Ben Watson ht, Less Afful 76), Cody Cooke. Subs not used: Kyle Moore, Steve Tulley.

Goals: Cooke 22, 49, McGrath (own goal) 82.

Yellow cards: Duff, Pugh.

Referee: Mark Derrin.

Attendance: 328.

A HOSPITAL worker has launched a petition calling on Royal Cornwall Hospital bosses to reverse their decision to massively increase the cost of staff car parking.

David Phillips, an assistant practitioner at the Treliske hospital, has branded the trust's decision to raise staff car parking charges as "ludicrous".

He has launched a petition, which has amassed more than 700 signatures in just five days.

Mr Phillips, 47, has also launched the Facebook group, called, Say No To Increased Parking Charges – and more than 400 people have joined the page.

But an RCHT spokesman said the trust would not be reversing the car parking charge rise.

The dad, who has worked for the trust for six years and lives in Camborne, said: "All the staff are so angry and upset because it has just been done behind our backs with no discussion with us.

"It feels like just another kick in the teeth.

"This is the county's main hospital and we feel that staff should be treated better. I think we work really hard, we work long hours and we work under pressure.

"I don't know if it will change anything but I feel I have to do something to make them realise they are pushing us too far."

Suggestions that staff could use the park and ride scheme have been scotched by Mr Phillips, who said: "I have to be on the ward at seven in the morning and I don't leave until 7.30 in the evening.

"The bus cannot get you to the ward by 7am."

"RCHT bosses have said they can't continue to support staff car parking when it needs to prioritise clinical services. My personal opinion is that I don't think by making us pay more to park our cars will change anything that happens on the ward. It's going to pay a debt it's not going to improve patient care," said Mr Phillips.

RCHT accepted that some staff would not able to use the park and ride service and would get priority for those car parking permits, but said they would still have to pay more than before. Discussions will be held on the opening hours for the park and ride and payment options.

The MP for Truro and Falmouth, Sarah Newton, is also calling on the hospital's management plans to be halted until further discussions have taken place.

CLOTHING stolen from Trago Mills was being worn by the thief when a store detective caught up with him outside the shop.

Jodi Childs, 33, of Killigrew Street, Falmouth, pleaded guilty at Truro Magistrates' Court to stealing clothing worth £30. He had previous convictions.

His solicitor John Evans said he was an unworldly sort of person as his mother had always done everything for him. When he moved to Cornwall he did not know how to go about applying for benefit. A lot of his time was spent walking around the town and he found it cold at night, which was why he stole clothing for himself. Mr Evans said a local minister had taken him under his wing, paying more than £600 for him in advanced rent so he had somewhere to live, and helping him with his benefit claims. Childs had been terrified to learn that he owed Trago Mills £90 in their claim for damages against him, coupled with their threat that this would almost double if not paid within 14 days, and if not by then, would be followed by court action. This had hindered his repayment to the minister. Childs was given a conditional discharge for a year and told to pay £15 victim surcharge.

Lunchtime maverick Laurence Reed from BBC Radio Cornwall bravely took on the ice bucket challenge with a fishy twist after being nominated by the West Briton's Chris Matthews.

The journalist, who hosts the popular 12pm to 3pm show, was doused with a bucket of iced water at the Newlyn Fish Festival yesterday.

Not only freezing cold, the water was laced with traces of fish after being used to keep products at the festival fresh.

Mr Reed chose to donate to Macmillan Cancer Care and nominated BBC Radio Cornwall's assistant managing editor, Daphne Skinnard, his producer, Amy Gladwell, and the Truro City FC chairman and co-owner, Peter Masters.

The ice bucket challenge first appeared on the social media platforms Facebook and Twitter last month and has gained worldwide audiences and participation.

After taking part the participant is expected to make a donation to either the UK charity Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) or the American charity ALS Association in to help fund research in to the neurodegenerative disease.

UK participants have also been donating to the cancer charity Macmillan.

There is no known cure or cause for ALS which affects the brain and the spinal cord.

Symptoms include feeling weak, especially in their arms, legs, and during speech, and the later stages of the illness, patients may become totally paralyzed.

UK donation can be made by visiting www.justgiving.com/mndassoc or texting ICED55 followed by an amount to 70070, or calling 01604 611860 referencing the Ice Bucket Challenge.

To watch Mr Reed take on the ice bucket challenge go to https://www.facebook.com/BBCRadioCornwall

Truro Magistrates Court has been closed this morning after part of the roof at the building collapsed.

Although no official statement has yet been issued, workers can be seen on the roof attempting to patch up the damage.

All cases scheduled for this morning have either been cancelled or transferred to the court at Bodmin.

Stewart Richards, manager at for contractors ISG who have been working on the roof, said: "Within any job you get occasional water ingress. 

"They rang us up at 8am and we had people on site by 8.30. 

"An electrician is on site checking throughout for health and safety reasons and the ceiling man will be on site this afternoon so they can open the court tomorrow."

The Cornish Pirates have further boosted their squad options by snapping up England Counties under 20s fly-half Bertie Hopkin on a one-year contract.

Bertie, who joins from Guildford, made his debut for the Pirates in a recent pre-season friendly match against St Austell, and he has since featured in the games against Rosslyn Park and Aberavon.

Pirates Director of Rugby Ian Davies said: "Dave Ward telephoned me about Bertie and we invited him down for a trial. His skill set is pretty good and Jamal had played in the same England Counties U20s team, so we knew a little about his character. 

"Bertie has accepted the opportunity we have offered and I have no doubt will endeavour to keep working hard to achieve a starting shirt with us this season."

Having started his rugby at Guildford RFC, aged six, Bertie played for the Surrey club right up to senior level before joining the Cornish Pirates.

He was ducated at Aldro School in Shackleford from the age of 7-13, and then to Lord Wandsworth College, near Hook in Hampshire, from the age of 13-18. It will be remembered, of course, that another fly-half, and a famous one, Jonny Wilkinson, also attended the same college.

Capped for Surrey at youth levels, Bertie also enjoyed a season playing in Christchurch, New Zealand, which helped develop his game. He also played for North Canterbury under 20s.

On returning to Guildford further honours for Bertie included playing for England Counties under 20s, and he also much appreciated the guidance given him by a former 'Pirate', Dave Ward, now of Harlequins, who coached him at Guildford.

Like many young rugby players, Bertie's parents have had a massive influence on his rugby, supporting him all the way. They have never pressured him into anything he has not wanted to do – but they have made sacrifices to get him to where he is.

Away from rugby, hobbies for Bertie include fishing and golf, which he plays to an impressive handicap of 10.8.

Bertie Hopkin - profile

DoB: Feb 22 1994

Birthplace: Guildford

Height: 5' 11" (1.80m)

Weight: 12st 13lbs (82kg)

Position: Fly-half

Honours: England Counties U20s

Twelve firefighters have been tackling a shed fire in Penelewey, Feock, this afternoon.

The crews from Truro and Falmouth were called at 1.15pm.

A Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said they used water hoses and breathing apparatus to put out the fire.

The road was blocked by a fire appliance while the crews battled the blaze.

Firefighters from Truro remain at the scene.