A PIECE of St Agnes railway history has been returned after the local museum won it in a tense bidding war at auction.

A cast-iron sign from St Agnes Signal Box will go on display at the museum after it was secured for £2,300.

The museum acted after it heard in July that items with a local connection were coming up for auction at Great Central Railwayana, in Warwickshire.

Lots included the signal box sign and a train staff for the St Agnes-Perranporth section of the branchline – the museum bought a Chacewater-St Agnes staff in 2009.

Liz Thompson, from the museum, said: "After much discussion among the committee, it was agreed that the museum would attempt to buy them and a fighting fund of generous donations and loans was quickly amassed.

Exceeded

"Sadly the train staff greatly exceeded its estimate of £300 to £500 and its sale price of £750 took it out of the museum's reach.

"The committee decided to combine our two budgets and make a determined effort to buy the sign.

"The bidding started with a commission bid of £1,050 and rose rapidly in £200 steps until the underbidder withdrew and the museum was successful with a bid of £2,300, plus 12 per cent.

"It was a tense few moments."

Museum curator Clare Murton and her son drove to Warwickshire to collect the sign which will have a temporary home in the museum before a permanent home can be found in the winter.

HELSTON town councillors are due to meet this evening to decide what they think about plans to build 340 houses to the east of the town.

An application for outline planning permission has gone in to Cornwall Council for the proposed development.

The applicant, Jackamax Limited, is a company owned by farmer and landowner Mark Rowe.

He wants to build the houses on fields to the east of Helston, between the edge of town, the main road to Falmouth and Rowe's Lane.

As a consultee, Helston Town Council can put its opinions forward, but the final decision rests with Cornwall Council's west-area planning committee.

The public consultation on the plans runs until September 9 and there are already 15 objections lodged with Cornwall Council, and one person in support.

People living nearby are being urged to have their say.

Peter Hadfield, of Trevenen Bal, said: "Of key concern to me is the limited time for the public to make their feelings known: we have until September 9.

"It is of such major importance to the town that residents' views should be heard."

The application is to get approval in principle for 340 houses, including affordable homes, a building for offices and medical practice, and access roads. All other matters would be reserved and the detail held back for a full planning application.

Planning consultants Helston East Partnership have already held two public information days in the Guildhall this year.

The land has already been selected as a possible site for new houses in an infrastructure plan called the Helston Framework Strategy.

It was put together by local councillors and the community, and published earlier this year.

The framework said the best site for new houses was farther south, on fields between Sainsbury's supermarket and the May Tree pub.

The final decision, however, rests with Cornwall councillors.

Helston Town Council's planning committee meeting will be held upstairs at the Guildhall at 6.15pm today..

A DAD has spoken of his horror at finding a would-be burglar attempting to break into his flat using scaffolding which has been left up for six months.

David Ferris, 45, woke to see the intruder's leg coming through the window of his first-floor flat in Footes Field, in Tresawya Drive, Truro.

Minutes before, on the night of July 25, Mr Ferris had been asleep in the bedroom he currently shares with his three-year-old son Ethan.

He said: "I saw a shadow flicker up against the curtain and didn't take any notice, then I saw the window go back and someone start to come in.

"I saw a leg come through the window.

"I swore at them and couldn't get to the window quick enough."

The intruder darted away to join another figure near the three-storey Devon and Cornwall Housing Association (DCH) block of flats.

Mr Ferris rang 999 and rushed after the pair, who ran off.

Eight police officers and a police dog arrived to search his flat and the area.

His teenage son Martin, 14, was woken in a bedroom.

Mr Ferris said: "I thought, 'this is unbelievable'. Now I can't relax; any little noise, I am straight up and looking to see what's going on.

"We just don't feel safe at the moment."

And he believed the drama would have been unnecessary if repairs had been carried out sooner and the scaffolding removed.

Seeping

Mr Ferris claimed he first reported water seeping into the flat at Christmas, causing cracks and damp spots. He said he made up to 180 phone calls to DCH and in mid-February the scaffolding appeared.

"Why can't they get on with the work? In taking so long they are putting our families' safety at risk."

DCH, and Linden Homes, which built the flats, said they have identified and repaired the source of the leak.

But Mr Ferris and other residents with similar problems refute that the work has been completed.

First-floor neighbour Jane Wasley, 53, first noticed water coming into her flat on Christmas Eve.

Since then a hole has appeared and she still has the roasting tin where she placed it on December 24 to catch the water.

She was also concerned about residents' safety while the scaffolding remains.

Geoff Retallick, 57, who lives above the Ferris family, has kept his windows permanently shut in case someone tries to use the scaffolding to get in.

"Even when it is hot, even if you're asleep, you've got to think that someone might be out there and able to get in," he said.

A DCH spokesman apologised for the inconvenience caused by the delays to the repairs to Mr Ferris' home, adding: "As soon as we are all satisfied the matter has been identified and resolved the scaffolding will be dismantled.

"Our residents are our top priority and we take any concerns about our homes very seriously.

"Our teams have been in regular contact with Mr Ferris and we will continue to keep him updated ensuring that all of his issues are resolved as soon as possible."

A meeting with Mr Ferris over his concerns took place this week.

Truro police said they have investigated the incident and would consider any further information which might come to light.

A Falmouth company's logo is causing an internet sensation - but not for the reason the designers would have liked.

Pendennis, the superyachts company based at Falmouth Docks, have several vehicles painted with the company livery and logo.

However, one van has a sliding side door, which, by an unfortunate coincidence, neatly blocks out the letters 'denn' when it is opened - rather changing the message.

A photograph of the van, with the door open, appeared on the internet a few days ago, and is causing a bit of a stir - having been shared nearly 6,000 times on Facebook already.

It has also appeared on Twitter, where it has caused great amusement for several tweeters:

This is great! Well done Pendennis! http://t.co/49XqmWgbmq

— Jay Wicks (@WickWonder) September 7, 2014

Still laughing at the van photo. Pendennis, take a bow. pic.twitter.com/cVgjVBoM

— Ciaran Clarke (@ciaranclarke) July 14, 2012

Possibly the best van door work I've ever seen, good work Pendennis. Photo credit to Willy T. pic.twitter.com/JyWNBE8P

— Ciaran Clarke (@ciaranclarke) July 13, 2012

The sensation is similar to the one created by a new sign for the Wig and Pen pub in Truro in April, where a signwriter 'forgot' to add enough space between two words, creating a very different message to the one originally intended - as you can see in the picture above.

That image also went viral on the internet, helped by comedian Ricky Gervais, who tweeted the photo to his six million followers:

Spacing is very important pic.twitter.com/2VjRckgMgO

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) April 9, 2014

A YOUNG entrepreneur has fulfilled a life-long dream by opening an aquarium as a means to stay in Cornwall.

Rhys Spry has opened his fish selling shop, Cornwall Cichlid Centre, on Green Lane, Redruth, following the success of his online company which he set up at the tender age of 17.

The 19 year-old, who was given his first fish when he was nine years-old, began A Level courses before realising that he wanted own a business in Cornwall rather than go to university.

After making the decision to leave school he undertook the Peter Jones Enterprise Course at Cornwall Collage, Camborne, and started his own business from scratch in his bedroom.

Rhys said: "Fish have always been a passion of mine and it was just a natural progression of the business really to move from online to a shop, plus I wanted to actually start selling fish.

"It has always been my dream to open a fish shop and I didn't want to move out of Cornwall and Redruth and there doesn't seem to be many graduate jobs down here so I thought I would just get on and do it."

Cornwall Cichlid Centre, named after a small brightly coloured fish, sells a variety of species from easy care "starter fish" at £1 to tropical and specialist fish which can reach more than £100.

The shop also stocks food and equipment for keeping fish.

"There is a lot more to fish than people think," Rhys said.

"Specialist fish need a lot more attention as thinks like the chemical balance of the water, their physical environment and their diet have to be a lot more regulated."

One of the shops main attractions is a stingray nicknamed Suzi by Rhys' fiancée, Louise Halliday.

Rhys said: "There have been quite a lot of people asking about Suzie and how we keep her – she is getting a lot of attention.

"We have to keep the temperature of the water spot on and have to make sure she doesn't get any cuts or grazes as stingrays are prone to infection if they get cut.

"We also have to feed her a special diet. In the wild she would probably eat smaller fish, but here she likes earthworms and pieces of frozen ox and beef heart."

Rhys hopes to expand the business and start selling cold water and marine fish in the future.

Cornwall Cichlid Centre is open between 9.30am and 6pm Tuesday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. The shop is closed on Monday's.

For more information call Rhys on 07826 916565.

These adorable puppies may only think about playing for now - but they are set to play a vital role in keeping crime levels down across Cornwall.

They are the latest recruits for the dog training programme at Devon & Cornwall Police.

The trio are currently with 'puppy walkers' who offer them initial training before more intensive work with them as they get older.

Gizzy, pictured above, is being walked in the Redruth area, while Duke and Elvis are learning their paces in Devon.

You can follow their training in a new blog on the police's website, where a number of videos and pictures have already been posted, including the one below:

Truro City  are to stage,   what is believed to  Cornwall's first ever International football game, in the new year when they host the England v Wales U18  match on Friday February 27 (7.45pm).

Further details about the match, which will help the club celebrate its 125th anniversary,  will be announced in due course.

 This evening City travel to play managerless Dorchester Town in the Southern League's premier division, hoping to build on Saturday's 3-0 home win over Hitchin Town and manager Steve Tully is expected to rely on the same squad for the game, which kicks off at 7.45pm.

The game definitely goes ahead despite the death of  the Dorset club's  kit manager Alex Legge.

Alex (38), the son of club life President Stacey Legge,  joined Dorchester  at the start of last season but  passed away suddenly in the early hours of this morning.

The club said: " Alex was an extremely popular guy and much loved by everyone associated with the club, he will be sadly missed. Our thoughts and sympathies go to his family at this deeply distressing time."

THE thought of speaking to 100 strangers in the street is daunting for most, but for someone who has a stutter, it is one of their worst nightmares.

And for lifelong Falmouth stammerer Michael Joyes, it was a challenge he had to overcome to complete a course to help him get rid of his stutter and change his life for good.

The result of the course, and two years' hard work which followed, meant the 22-year-old was able to pass his degree – including a 45-minute oral speaking exam – and secure a top job as a research scientist.

Michael went to St Mary's Primary and Falmouth School, but unlike his friends, just doing normal things became a struggle.

"Just making a phone call to ask my friend to come out for a game of football, or calling family, was horrible," he said.

"When it came to reading to a new teacher in English class, I used to stutter through it.

"You feel slightly isolated and detached – it's really frustrating not being able to express who you are."

After starting a chemistry master's degree at the University of Bath, Michael decided to change his life.

He took part in the McGuire Program, which was the subject of a Channel 4 documentary two weeks ago called Stammer School: Musharaf Finds His Voice.

At the end of the four-day residential course, Michael had to speak to 100 separate strangers in the street. He also battled with a public speaking challenge.

According to Michael, the course helped him to pass his degree, which he finished in July, and get him through an interview for his dream job as a PhD student in sustainable chemical technologies at the same university.

"Without the program," he said, "the speaking tasks which I had to complete for my degree would not have gone nowhere near as well.

"Before the course I would have sat there stuttering and got five words out in a minute.

"The high pressure of the interview situation (for the job) makes the most fluent speakers become tongue-tied.

"Before the course it would have been an absolute nightmare. It would have been hell."

Michael starts his new job at the end of September.

He said: "I felt liberated and excited, and happy that the work I had put in paid off.

"It's brought out my character which was sort of hidden behind the stutter.

"It has given me the ability to be who I am, which is more outgoing and talkative.

"And it's really given me the opportunity at university which I wouldn't have had."

But he added: "It's not a cure. I don't want to instil false hope. I will never be a fluent speaker but I can be an eloquent speaker."

Michael now volunteers with the program and helps others through their stammering.

-- photo

Andy Joyes (Father), Mary Ann Joyes (Mother), Michael Joyes and Julia Joyes (Sister), at Michael's graduation last year.

SANTA Claus is coming to town! Yes, you read that right, the sun might still be shining in the final days of summer but Jolly St Nick is planning a visit to Truro this month to entertain children.

Father Christmas will be stopping off at Truro Community Library on September 24 while he is on his holidays.

There he will meet children, talk about his holidays and explain all that he has learned about the different countries he has visited.

The free event will also include stories for the children and an art and craft session.

Santa will be at Truro Community Library at 10am on Wednesday September 24.

A platoon of part-time soldiers will retain its base in Truro rather than being re-located to Devon, the Ministry of Defence has announced.

In July last year, the Government announced 6 Rifles D company would abandon its Cornish base from 2016, which would have ended links going back to the 18th century.

Now the Territorial Army (TA) Reserve Centre in Truro will remain, along with a single platoon of about 40 reservists, although company headquarters will still be switched to Plymouth, along with two platoons.

The Government plans to reduce the size of the Army by 20,000 troops, and expand the TA to 30,000 members.

Truro and Falmouth Conservative MP Sarah Newton warned the move would "frustrate" attempts in "maximising the local potential of the Army reserve".

And she said on this week's U-turn: "It is really good news, for the unit itself and all the people who supported the campaign."

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "The Army can confirm that the reserve centre in Truro will be retained.

"This will ensure the close links with Truro and the reserves will be maintained and it is very much hoped this strong recruiting ground will provide many more reserve soldiers in the future."

The Rifles has centuries-old links to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.

Mrs Newton argued the move from Truro would cause "real problems" for serving riflemen in west and central Cornwall, and harm future recruitment from these areas.

In the House of Commons in January, then Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said he was "looking at" basing in Cornwall – hinting at a U-turn.

In March, Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois said ministers "understand the strong historical attachment The Rifles have to Cornwall, so I hope to be able to give her a clear answer in the near future".

Under the proposals, the Truro centre would have remained the base for 243 Field Hospital (V), Royal Army Medical Corps, and Army cadets. 232 Transport Squadron, Royal Logistic Corps, based at Truro and Bodmin, would remain but become a Port Squadron subordinate to 165 (Wessex) Port and Enabling Regiment, which moves its HQ to Plymouth from Grantham in Lincolnshire.

Dorchester Town 1 Truro City 2

City moved up  two places to ninth in the Southern League premier division table – just one point off the play-off places  – as they made it two wins in four days after Saturday's 3-0 home win over Hitchin Town.

Second half goals by Craig Duff and Cody Cooke put City 2-0 up, before an own goal by keeper Kyle Moore gave the Dorset side a glimmer of hope.

But City held firm for the three points against a managerless Dorchester side who finished the match with ten men after Jack Smeaton saw red for a second  bookable offence.

City boss Steve Tully made just one change to his starting line up, with Ben Watson replacing Barry Hayles up front.

And Watson was unlucky early, on hitting the post, after Isaac Vassell had already missed a great chance.

The breakthrough did not come until 71 minutes, when Duff headed home from close range a fine cross from Barry Hayles, who had replaced Vassell.

After Smeaton was sent off,  City doubled their advantage through Cooke's fine finish, after he had earlier also hit the woodwork, with three minutes left,  before Moore carried the ball across his own line from a corner two minutes later.

It came though too late to affect the result and City will go into Saturday's FA Cup home game against Larkhall Ath in fine heart.

City boss Steve Tully said: "We deserved the win over the 90 minutes. It was a difficult game, both physically and mentally."

A PLANNED 1,500 housing development on the outskirts of Truro has been named as one of 36 developments which will share a pot of £850 million from the Government.

Developer Inox has received outline planning permission to build the homes, a school, residential care home and other developments on land at Langarth Farm and was named by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles as one of the successful bidders for the cash.

Inox last week announced that it had submitted a planning application to develop a supermarket and other facilities on land next to the site for housing. It is hoped that the supermarket development, if approved, could provide funding for a stadium for Cornwall to be built on the site.

The Government is making the money available to kick-start large-scale housing developments to help provide new homes across the country.

Mr Pickles said such developments were critical in getting Britain building, and maintaining a level of housebuilding which has been growing since 2007.

The money is part of the Government's £1 billion five-year large sites infrastructure programme, which is also aiming to help fund road improvements, schools and parks on new developments.

All the projects which have been named by the Government will go through a rigorous due diligence process before they receive funding.

Mr Pickles said: "This government's long-term economic plan is getting Britain building again. Residential construction is now at its highest level since 2007 and continuing to rise, and 216,000 new homes were given planning permission last year. We are supporting locally-led development, and this £1 billion programme will help unlock or accelerate over 200,000 new homes across the country.

"This is part of our wider package of housing programmes to support home ownership, increase investment in the private rented sector and further increase house building."

The funding will be available between 2015 and 2020 and will be in the form of a long-term loan with interest.

Rob Saltmarsh, managing direct of Inox Group, said: "We are delighted that the Government has recognised the importance of Langarth Farm in providing hundreds of new homes and jobs for Truro and Cornwall by including our scheme in its national large sites infrastructure programme.

"This loan investment is a huge vote of confidence in our scheme.

"It will allow us to accelerate construction of some of the road and junction infrastructure that will serve Langarth Farm, in line with the Government's economic plan to get Britain building again.

"We are currently working up the reserved matters planning applications and technical agreements with a view to starting on site in early 2015, with phase one delivering approximately 400 new homes, of which 35 per cent will be affordable homes aimed at meeting urgent local need."

A TRURO taxi driver harassed his pregnant former partner with 100 phone calls and 50 text messages after she said she was having an affair and dumped him.

At Truro Magistrates' Court Lee Llewellyn Burton, 44, of Lowen Way, Threemilestone, pleaded guilty to harassing Claire Powell by making unwanted calls and sending her texts between August 2 and 10.

Gail Hawkley, for the prosecution, said the couple had been in a relationship for about 15 months, but it ended on August 2 because she had become fed up with his alleged controlling behaviour.

Some of the messages were abusive, one threatening to cut the head off a pony he had bought for her daughter, rather, he said, than letting it stay with the family.

He suspected Ms Powell was seeing another taxi driver and once called her saying he was going to hang himself.

He told the police he was gutted that she had been cheating on him and said she had been calling him and winding him up because of what she had done behind his back.

John Evans, for the defence, said Ms Powell was now pregnant with Burton's child. She wanted him to be part of her pregnancy.

Burton apologised for his unacceptable behaviour, he said. He had found it intolerable that Ms Powell was cheating on him and said his heart was broken because he loved her. Because of what happened he felt unable to continue as a taxi driver. The case was adjourned for a probation report.

Controversial plans to reform Cornwall Council's music tuition service will be discussed by the authority's ruling cabinet committee this morning.

Under the proposals, the council would no longer employ music tutors, who would become self employed, with the authority acting as a broker service.

The council would then act as an administrator by placing staff with schools where needed with the music tutors themselves negotiating their fees.

To take part in this service the staff would have to pay an annual fee of £95. Using this model will pose no cost to the council, where keeping the current system would result in a £350,000 overspend.

The changes have led many to fear for the future of music teaching in Cornwall's schools, and the council itself has admitted the proposals are not ideal.

You can watch this morning's meeting using the live webcast below, or take part in the debate on the blog underneath. Please note these services are moderated by Cornwall Council, and not by the West Briton:

THE developers behind plans for the Stadium For Cornwall have claimed it could generate up to £7.3million a year for Truro.

Inox Group, which has submitted plans for a district centre and stadium for land at Langarth, says that the combination of wages paid to staff employed at the district centre added with estimates of how much would be spent by visiting fans to the stadium would generate £7.3m a year.

And Inox managing director Rob Saltmarsh said these estimates were conservative as they were based on an average gate of 4,000 people, whereas the Cornish Pirates, who would relocate to the new stadium, were confident of greatly exceeding this.

Mr Saltmarsh said: "We already know from research commissioned by Cornwall Council that the annual impact of the stadium on the local economy would be around £3m. If you then add the estimated £4.3m of wages that would come from the 290 jobs created by the district centre that's well over £7m, not including the construction jobs.

"And I've no doubt this figure would be quickly exceeded. The gate numbers are conservative and do not take account of potential spend by family members coming to Truro but not attending a game. Nor do they include potential spend from people attending other non-sporting events at the stadium like conferences, seminars and exhibitions.

"It would all add up, and much of this expenditure would occur outside the normal tourism season and be very welcome."

Inox has detailed planning permission for the stadium and outline permission for a mixed use development on Langarth Farm.

Two weeks ago Inox submitted another planning application for an adjoining district centre which would fund the stadium.

It includes a new supermarket and other retail provision, petrol station, food and drink outlets, community and sports buildings, formal playing pitches, public open space, housing and parking.

However there are three other planning applications submitted to build a new supermarket on sites around Truro and planning officers have stated there is only capacity for one to be approved.

Mr Saltmarsh said that his firm's scheme offered the most community benefit and said he hopes all the supermarket planning applications will be considered together by Cornwall Council's planning committee.

He said: "It would provide a new home for the Cornish Pirates and Truro City Football Club, and give Truro and Penwith College teaching space and training opportunities for catering and hospitality students, while providing a sporting platform of excellence for aspiring local youngsters. Businesses in Truro and Cornwall will also benefit greatly through the creation of first class hospitality and conferencing facilities."

POLICE have released a CCTV picture of a man they want to trace in relation to a bag theft from a Truro pub.

The bag was stolen from a customer in the Wig and Pen pub on Saturday August 23 at around 9pm.

The man police want to speak to is described as white, slim build, about 6ft 1in tall and aged in their early 20s. They wore a white hooded top with dark trousers and white Adidas trainers with black strips down the sides.

They were clean shaven and possibly have a dark mark or tattoo about 1 inch under their left ear and had an Adidas satchel worn across their body.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Police on 101 and quote crime ref CR/100776/14.

AN EVENT which will challenge young drivers, motorcyclists and passengers to think about their attitudes towards speed will run in Falmouth this month.

Organised by Learn2Live, the multi-agency programme will include talks and demonstrations from people who have suffered life changing injuries and lost loved ones through road traffic collisions.

The road safety event will take place at the Princess Pavilions on September 23, 24 and 25.