JOHN HARRIS has been ringing the bells at the parish church in Landewednack for more than half a century.

He has rung bells around the world but his home is at St Wynwallow Church, and the other churches around the Lizard.

"It's not as easy as it looks," said the 69-year-old. "You've got to get used to the weight of the bell on the end of the rope. Once you get the swings right, it works itself.

"Some people just take to it and others need a bit of practice."

He began bell-ringing as a 16-year-old and recently received a certificate to commemorate 53 years at the ropes with the Truro Diocesan Guild of Ringers, signed by the Bishop of Truro, the Right Reverend Tim Thornton.

When asked why he was a bell-ringer, Mr Harris added: "I suppose it's tradition, really; I've always done it. Looking back over the years, it's just been a part of it all.

"It started with church of course, I was in the choir. There's the camaraderie too.

"It's a social thing and you meet these people every week."

Mr Harris was born in The Lizard and has volunteered for a number of different local organisations, including at the lifeboat station and the Holman-Climax Male Voice Choir.

He added: "I started ringing with Hedley Stevens who had been part of the team for a few years and he is still ringing today.

"We've worked alongside a number of different people, some of whom are unfortunately no longer with us.

"Currently there are six ringers at St Wynwallow Church. We help out at other churches too. We go to Mullion and last weekend we went to St Keverne for a wedding."

He began singing in the church choir at the age of 12 and joined St Keverne's choir from 1968 to 1976.

He then moved to the world-famous Holman-Climax choir, singing from 1976 to 2012 and visited America four times with the group. He is still a volunteer with the RNLI and is the deputy launching authority at The Lizard lifeboat station.

He has held various positions at the station including as a crew member and was involved in a number of difficult rescues, including that of a yacht with 12 people onboard which got into difficulty 40 miles south of Lizard Point. The lifeboat was at sea for 11 hours, towing the yacht back to the Helford River in hurricane force winds.

Mr Harris' extraordinary service with the RNLI was recognised in 1987 when he received his long-service badge and in 2012 he received his second bar to his badge recognising more than 45 years' service at the station.

Police are appealing for information after a 52 year-old man was left with a "possibly life-threatening" brain injury because of a motorbike crash.

The incident occurred around 2pm on Thursday in North Hill, Blackwater, near Truro, and involved a white Ford Transit van and a black Harley Davison motorbike.

The local motorcycle rider has been left with a "serious brain injury" and was taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, before being airlifted to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth where he remains.

The road was closed for seven and a half hours while serious collision investigators attended and examined the scene.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information which may help with the enquiry is asked to contact police on 101 and quote the reference number 0358 110914.

London mayor Boris Johnson is "thrilled" to be selected as the Conservative candidate to fight a Tory safe seat at next year's general election.

Johnson beat off a challenge of three rivals last night to secure the support of party members in Uxbridge and South Ruislip as their pick for 2015 after seeing off concerns over his determination to also see out his full City Hall term, which runs to 2016.

"I am obviously thrilled," he said after winning the contest outright in the first round of voting following behind-closed-doors presentations to the local association in a school hall.

He sought to play down suggestions it marked the latest stage of a mission to succeed David Cameron as Tory leader.

"No, this is the first stage in the campaign to retain the seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip for the Conservatives and to get across the message of what the Conservatives have achieved not just in London but across the country as a whole in turning the economy around," he said as he emerged.

"And urging people not to throw it all away by allowing Ed Miliband and the Labour Party to get in.

"It will be a tough fight, it will be a long fight. But I have no doubt whatever that we are going to be able to return David Cameron and the Conservatives with an absolute majority in 2015.

"This is Act One, Scene One of a very long process and what I have got to do now is have a lot of talks with people here in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, get to know people, get to know the association better. There's a lot of digging in to be done."

Mr Johnson insisted it was not a problem to be an MP and continue running London until 2016.

"It has been done before and I see no reason why it shouldn't be done again," he said.

"I would point out that it is possible to be both an MP and have a very big job such as foreign secretary or prime minister at the same time."

He admitted that he had no immediate plans to relocate to the constituency.

"I live in London. I have got a home in London. I don't rule it out but it won't happen immediately," he said.

Praising the quality of his opponents, he said: "It was a very enjoyable selection process and I want also to pay tribute to the other three candidates who were here tonight who were all very good indeed and I am sure they will go on to get good seats."

The others in the frame were the deputy leader of the local council David Simmonds, another senior councillor Simon Dudley, the deputy leader of Windsor and Maidenhead council who was born in the constituency, and Harrow-born barrister Suella Fernandes.

Mr Johnson previously served as MP for Henley for seven years before leaving to take up the City Hall reins in 2008.

He will defend a majority of 11,216 in the north-west London constituency held by former deputy chief whip Sir John Randall, who is stepping down.

Shadow minister for London Sadiq Khan said: "The fact that Boris Johnson is so openly campaigning to replace David Cameron shows just how weak the Prime Minister has become.

"Rather than tackling the rising cost of living the Tories are turning in on themselves, jockeying for position in a future leadership contest.

"When Boris Johnson should be fixing London's desperate housing crisis, he will instead be spending the next two years campaigning to be an MP and Tory leader.

"He will be a lame duck mayor who has put his personal ambitions above the needs of the hard working Londoners he was elected to serve until 2016."

Labour's candidate for the seat Chris Summers said: "The voters of Uxbridge and South Ruislip now have a very clear choice between a ruthlessly ambition career politician who sees them only as a convenient stepping stone, and a committed campaigner who seeks only to be a constituency MP and who would work tirelessly on casework and campaign for them on local causes such as HS2 without fearing it would impact on his loftier ambitions."

Sitting alone in a pew towards the rear of Illogan parish church, Bernard Gronert's thoughts travel back to 1944 and the day he skipped in from school to find his father and mother wracked with grief.

Their home in the village of Tregajorran, on the slopes of Carn Brea, near Redruth, would never be the same again.

Bernard's twin brothers, Claude and Tommy, had been cut down by a German sniper within moments of each other as their platoon attempted to storm a position in the Dutch town of Oosterbeek during the Battle of Arnhem which began 70 years ago yesterday. (SEP 17)

"I remember it very clearly," said Bernard. "A telegram had been delivered. Mother was crying and father was comforting her. Everything changed. Mother never really got over it and she cried a lot for the rest of her life."

Tommy and Claude, like many young men, had left their protected jobs underground at South Crofty mine to fight fascism.

"They didn't tell my parents what they were planning to do, and when they came home and said they'd joined up it broke my mother's heart," he said.

"I can still see her crying and asking them why they'd done it. They didn't have to go because they were miners at Crofty, but a cousin of ours who was already in the army came home with a lot of stories and I think Tom and Claude were just attracted to the fun of it."

The Battle of Arnhem raged from 17 to 26 September 1944, German forces eventually defeating the Allied attack.

Tommy and Claude, who were aged 21, were with 6 Platoon, B Company of the 2nd Parachute Battalion as British and Polish troops took part in an ill-fated action named Operation Market Garden.

On Sunday 17 September 1944, the twins parachuted on to Drop Zone X near Heelsum in Holland. It was while attempting to take a railway depot that the platoon came under heavy machine gun and sniper fire.

There were numerous casualties, including the commanding officer.

Claude and Tommy are buried next to each other in the Airborne Cemetery at Oosterbeek. Their names (sadly, misspelt) are recorded on a memorial in St Illogan churchyard.

Now 82, their younger brother says he will never forget the lads' exuberant characters and zest for life.

"They were talked about often in the years afterwards," said Bernard, who at the time shared a cottage at Tregajorran with his dustman father Robert, mother Lylie, and four step-siblings. "We tried to think of the good times, but Christmas and birthdays were awful."

After the war ended in 1945, and in spite of her terrible grief, Lylie Gronert was certain of one thing: she would never let another son take up arms.

So when Bernard received his call-up papers for National Service a few years later, she went straight to the door of her local MP and demanded he be excused on compassionate grounds.

"She got her way, too," recalls Bernard. "Though it made no difference in the end – because I failed the medical."

Joining in the hymns and prayers at a special remembrance service in St Illogan Parish Church, he added: "I think it is important for my family to continue remembering my brothers and for everyone to remember all the boys who gave their lives."

Primarily a commemoration of those who lost their lives in the Battle of Britain, the service was led by the Reverend Charles Sargent.

Various branches of the services, including the Royal Air Force Association, Royal British Legion and Veterans' Association attended the service alongside veterans and serving personnel from RAF Portreath. 

A boyhood friend, who served alongside Tommy and Claude Gronert from Tregajorran, near Carn Brea, in 6th Platoon during the Battle of Arnhem, recalls the day the twins were killed.

Fellow Cornishman Jack Edwards said: "After receiving our orders, Lieutenant Cane led us through a few back gardens towards the railway viaduct. We turned left on to a track opposite the railway station.

"Tommy Gronert and I were the forward scouts and we were shot at almost immediately. We took cover behind a rise. The order came through to push on, which we did. Virtually straight away a bullet hit the track exactly between Tommy and myself. It looked as if there was a sniper in the vicinity.

"We again took cover. Tommy carried on and reached the end of a sort of railway barrier made of upright railway sleepers. I heard Tommy shouting that there were Germans approaching from the other side of the railway track.

"Again the order came to advance and Tommy moved on to the railway track with others. At that moment, Claude Gronert, Tommy's twin brother, was nearby. Our lads were in the open with absolutely no cover. I had just got to the end of the upright sleepers, but every time I showed my head I was fired at.

"Then I heard Tommy call out that he had been hit. Apparently he had been shot in the mouth, the bullet passing through the back of his neck. It all happened in a few seconds.

"Nobody had a ghost of a chance in that open space. There was no way we could get help to the men and the rest of us who were not in the open decided to move back under cover of a wooden barrier, which was the only available protection. We had no way out. A German machine gun caused the most damage and any move we tried to make was met by fire.

"When we returned after the shooting had died down it was a terribly sad sight that met our eyes. Lieutenant Cane said a few words and then died.

"Tommy and Claude Gronert, the twins, lay close to one another. Both dead. Claude had received three bullets through the top of his tin hat.

"For me it was a shattering blow because we had been friends for a long time. All three of us came from Cornwall and had joined the Paras in 1943 from the same unit. Their army numbers were 5511523 and 5511524, while mine was 5511508."

Moving personal experiences will be shared as people who have died as a result of substance abuse are to be remembered in Cornwall's first service of its kind.

The event at Truro Cathedral on September 20 is intended as a memorial service and to provide support and encouragement to people struggling with addiction.

The Addaction charity and other agencies will be on hand to give help and advice to anyone going through similar experiences, and to support family and friends whose loved ones died due to addictions.

It is believed Cornwall is only the third area to hold such an event, following Bristol and Glasgow.

Sid Willett, from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Drug and Alcohol Action Team, said: "On average, there are around 20 drug-related deaths per year in Cornwall, and more if alcohol is considered. Each of these represents a premature death, which is by and large preventable. We are reaching out to people in Cornwall and beyond who may have experienced a family member, loved one or friend die as a result of substance misuse. Everyone is invited to this service, which will poignantly highlight these losses with contributions from those touched by this issue.

"With this service of remembrance, we want to show that people who have died as a result of substance misuse issues are not forgotten and that their passing leaves a legacy of change for others encountering similar issues. The families need to know that they have support and can grieve as any other. These deaths are not acceptable in this day and age and another positive aspect of this service is that highlighting these issues can only lead to greater dialogue and focus on preventing them in the first place."

Canon Lynda Barley, canon pastor at Truro Cathedral, who will be leading the service, added: 'We are honoured to be hosting the first Acorn service and pray it will generate increasing awareness of those affected by substance misuse. This growing problem is a blight on our communities across Cornwall and we are pleased to support the families, friends and agencies working with both young and older people struggling in this way."

Cornwall Council vice-chairman Ann Kerridge will attend the 5pm service which will include music from Luke Deakin, a singer/songwriter, and personal reflections from two speakers - all three having lost someone through substance misuse or experienced a personal recovery. The congregation will be invited to light candles for their loved ones.

David James, who will read a personal reflection about his brother Chris, said: "When someone you love dies in the circumstances Chris died in, you are overwhelmed with memories, guilt, self-questioning and regrets. The things you did and experienced together flood back as do the key moments in your shared lives.

"Even more important than the memories of what you both did, is the common humanity you shared. With Chris, those moments where we understood each other's sensitivity and awkwardness, felt each other's vulnerability, shared humour simply through a glance or an expression and communicated love and genuine concern without fuss or even words are the moments I miss and long for."

Michelle Mcleavy, from Addaction, said: "We welcomed the opportunity to be a part of this important event as it allows the celebration of the lives of individuals who were loved and valued by their families and friends, whilst also providing a safe place for loved ones to share the sense of loss their passing leaves behind.

"We hope that the families and friends, staff and service users and members of the public who attend will be able to gain hope and strength from each other and draw inspiration from the Acorn Service to support them for the future."

A neighbour has made a complaint to Heartlands after she claims festival noise kept her children awake and prevented her from opening her windows.

The mum of three, who asked not to be named, claimed that officers from Cornwall Council's environmental health department visited her house in Tehidy, Camborne, yesterday and agreed that the levels were too high.

In response festival organisers and environmental health have said that noise is being constantly monitored at the site and so far levels have not breached the maximum agreed before the event.

The complainant said: "It was ridiculously loud. The environmental health officers said they were completely in breach of their licence."

"We could hear it all afternoon and evening – we could literally hear everything."

The mother, who lives 1.5miles from the Live at Heartlands festival site in Pool, said called Heartlands to complain late in the afternoon.

"We left it for a while because we thought they would sort out the levels or something," she said.

"But it got louder as the afternoon continued and we honestly thought at one point there was someone riding around with a boom box.

"We couldn't open the windows or the doors. You could hear it through the double glazing. It got to the point where we thought of sticking in ear plugs and putting our heads under a pillow – it's just wrong."

In response Heartlands sent out two environmental health officers.

But the mother claims they said they couldn't take action until the festival had finished.

She said: "My children wanted to camp outside last night but they couldn't because of the noise.

"I've spoken with my neighbours and they can hear it too.

"It's just not the right site for it. We live in a built up area and it is just wrong to hold a festival here. There are lots of elderly residents near to me and they won't be able to do anything about it. If it was in an area with lots of field then it would be a different story."

She said that she agrees events like Live at Heartlands are good for the Cornish economy but claims the company has not taken necessary noise precautions and did not notified her or her neighbours that festival was taking place.

The organisers of Live at Heartlands and the environmental health department say they have only received one noise complaint throughout the festival so far.

A joint statement said: "In terms of noise, an event management plan has been developed in liaison with environmental health at Cornwall Council.

"The community protection section has utilised a code of practice regarding noise control from concerts that is commonly used for events such as this.

"This code of practice specifies noise levels at nearby noise sensitive receptors that have to be adhered to and a management plan was developed accordingly.

"The organisers have engaged a noise consultancy to ensure compliance with these levels who are working alongside officers from environmental health and the licensing section.

"To date there have been no breaches of the specified levels and monitoring will continue until the event finishes."

Live at Heartlands began yesterday and will run until Sunday evening.

The inaugural festival will feature bands UB40, The Boomtown Rats and Happy Mondays among others.

Truro City 0 Larkhall Ath 2

City's poor FA Cup record continued as they went out at their first hurdle after a disappointing performance against the Bath-based visitors.

A goal right on half time and one just before the end were enough to dump City out in this first qualifying round tie.

The home side never really got going, though they did improve in the second half after a lacklustre first half performance.

 And assistant manager Wayne Carlisle admitted after the game. "The  result was obviously disappointing  but more so they way we went about our business.. We were not good enough."

Their cause was not helped by the late withdrawals of the unwell Arran Pugh and Cody Cooke, but that was no real excuse for a substandard display.

City had gone into the match on the back of some good league performances and were favourites to overcome a Larkhall side who play one level lower in Division One South and West of the Southern League.

But the visitors rose to the occasion and few would begrudge them their win.

They defended well and took their chances as an off key City huffed and puffed to little effect for much of the match.

In the first half, City looked lethargic and possibly a touch complacent as Larkhall more than held their own.

Ben Watson did shoot just wide, while Ryan Brett forced a a good save from Alex Shaftoe with a free kick.

But that was about it and Larkhall also had their openings before taking the lead in the first minute of stoppage time.

City keeper Kyle Moore dropped the ball under a challenge and it ran loose for Daniel Jones to fire home.

Les Afful replaced Barry Hayles at half time and City did improve,  with Chris Long denied by Larkhall keeper Alex Shaftoe, who was then lucky when he almost let a tame Jamie Lowry shot find the net.

Larkhall though held firm as they defended in depth as City sought in vain for an equaliser.

Afful came closest when his long range drive rattled the bar with 12 minutes left before the visitors made the game safe with Robert Hobbs beating Moore with a low drive following a quick break.

There was no way back for City on a day they will quickly want to forget.

City: Moore, Tully (Carlisle 75), Farkins, White, Long, Green, Lowry, Brett ( Ash 69), Vassell, Hayles ( Afful half time) Watson. Subs (not used) James, Searle.

Yellow cards:  none.

Goals;  Jones (45+1) 0-1, Hobbs (80) 0-2. 

Referee : Andrew Quin.

 crowd 414

REDRUTH  14 CORNISH ALL BLACKS 13

In a dramatic finish Redruth saw a last gasp penalty attempt by Cornish All Blacks' skipper Kieron Lewitt  miss, before confirming their win in the first of this season's Cornish derbies reports Bill Hooper from the Recreation Ground

It was a typical derby encounter,nip and tuck all the way, laced with brilliance, errors and at times tempers getting the better of players.

Redruth's head-coach Steve Larkins was happy with the result, if not the performance of his side. 

He said. "I am pleased but to be honest I feel that our performance was a step down from last week at Southend, but I am happy we have secured two wins from our opening two fixtures.

"I felt we took the wrong options on occasions especially in the lineouts, at times we seemed to be cruising along and again wrong options cost us two further scores during the first half.

"Both sides had men in the bin at various stages during the game, but we are a young sidestill learning and can only get better, I thought Todd Prisk at lock had another fine game for us he did well at set-piece and around the parkgetting the vital second try.

For Cornish All Blacks' Director of Rugby Neil Bayliss there was obvious disappointment at suffering a second one-point defeat in as many games.

He said. "I am bitterly disappointed to lose a derby game and a second defeat by just a point. I thought we played really well in certain areas of the game I thought our scrum and lineout went well throughout. I feel that ill-discipline cost us the game, we gave away far too many penalties particularly during the second half.

"A second one point loss will rankle with the boys and it's something we will want to put right next week against Shelford."

Playing down the slope first half the All Blacks opened the scoring with a Lewitt penalty.

Redruth stormed back putting in some good phases, which led to Murphy's yellow card.

Full-back Murray Westren kicked the penalty to the corner with lock DamienCook winning the lineout to set up the drive that led to skipper Chris Fuca's try. Western kicked a fine conversion from wide out.

Lewitt kicked a second penalty before the quarter-hour mark as Redruth went off their feet at the ruck.

Both Greg Goodfellow and Rhodri McAtee were having influential games at half-back for the Reds, while Cook and Prisk worked hard at scrum and lineout time.

In the backs Nielson Webber was keen to impress against his former club while on the wings both Tom Notman and Robin Wedlake caught the eye.

Similarly good running by All Blacks' wingers Edwards and Kyle Speare kept the Reds' defence on it's toes.

Tempers became frayed prior to half-time which saw Redruth No.8 Kyle Marriott dispatched to the bin, however the score-line remained unchanged until the break.

The All Blacks began the second half strongly scoring an early try to retake the lead. Putting the ball through various phases it was Murphy who spotted the gap to dance in under the posts making the conversion a formality for Lewitt.

Despite dominating during the third quarter the All Blacks couldn't manufacture another score that their play deserved.

A yellow card for All Blacks No. 8 Barrie-John Chapman changed the game once more as the All Blacks went back to  14 men.

Redruth kicked a penalty towards Hell-fire corner Cook once again soared high to secure the ball with the Reds' pack driving the ball over the line referee Philip Davies awarded the try scored by Prisk after consulting with his assistant.

Westren kicked a good pressure conversion to nudge the Reds back into the lead with some 18 minutes to play.

Ashley Hosking, on for Goodfellow, then appeared to strike an All Black player and was lucky just to be yellow carded.

Both sides looked to create opportunities to add to the scoreline, but Lewitt's late miss mean't it was the Red camp that celebrated at the final whistle.

Redruth 14 pts

Tries – Fuca, Prisk, Conversions – Westren (2)

Yellow Cards – Marriott (30), Hosking (65)

Cornish All Blacks 13pts

Try – Murphy, Conversion – Lewitt, Penalties – Lewitt (2)

Yellow Cards – Murphy (7), Chapman (57)

REDRUTH: Westren, Wedlake (Bonds 64), Webber, Parsons, Notman, McAtee, Goodfellow(Hosking 51); Phillips, Brown, Drew (Tompsett 62), Cook, Prisk, Fuca (Capt), Hambly, Marriott.

Replacements (not used): Southworth, Simmons

CORNISH ALL BLACKS: Shepherd, Edwards, S Chapman (Nonu 51), Murphy, Speare,Lewitt (Capt), Oulton (Friend 51) (Oulton 77) ; Mathias (Salter 73), Salter (Semmens 52),Pow (Naqasima 52)Tripcony, Hilton, Chesters, Duke (Davies 54), BJ Chapman.

Referee: Phil Davies (RFU)

Crowd:1320

Redruth-man-of-the-match: Todd Prisk

Cornish All Blacks-man-of-the-match: Andy Chesters

A HISTORIC building has been bought by Falmouth Town Council to prevent it from ever being turned into flats.

The purchase of the former post office on The Moor completes the council's raft of municipal buildings, and follows requests from the public for more meeting space at the council's hub.

The announcement was made at Monday night's finance and general purposes committee meeting by chairman Candy Atherton.

"I am very pleased as this move will ensure the council is in a better position to cope with the additional demands and responsibilities that is placed upon it as Cornwall Council and other community partners shrink their service delivery locally," she said.

"It meets a community need and, crucially, the acquisition will be cost-neutral to the local taxpayer."

The first and second floors of the 1920s' building will serve as public meeting rooms and space.

The ground floor is occupied by restaurant Prezzo.

Ms Atherton said the building could generate income for the council by being hired out for weddings and other ceremonies.

The sale was completed on Friday last week.

"We're all relieved," she said. "It might well have gone to auction and possibly turned into flats."

Plans to turn the building into upmarket accommodation for "single people or couples with no children" were recommended for approval by Cornwall Council planning officers in January.

Developers planned to turn the two upper floors into seven two-flats, and according to Cornwall Council's planning website, a decision is still pending.

Mayor John Body said: "This is an unusual step for a council, but a very necessary one. It will appropriately protect the future of this attractive and historically important building to Falmouth and enables the council to rationalise uses in the municipal buildings to extend the Falmouth Art Gallery, protect the future of the library and house other point-of-contact council services."

A civil servant is celery-brating after his 4ft vegetables won him a national cup for his growing skills.

Competitors taking part in the National Vegetable Society show at Dorset County Show last weekend were green with envy when Clarence Thomas turned up with his three examples of award-winning celery, beating off competition from all over the country.

The 53-year-old civil servant from Chacewater, who works in Redruth and is also a former national cauliflower champion, is now the only gardener in Cornwall to win the class.

The seed of love for growing vegetables started when Mr Thomas was just 12 years old.

He said: "It takes a lot of time and dedication to look after them and keeping them well fed and watered.

"I can't, for example, take holidays when vegetables are growing and during the summer I spend about 30 hours a week in the garden.

"The hobby keeps me going and you are in the fresh air. It's something I can do on my own and nobody's getting in my way.

"I feel over the moon to have won the cup last weekend. There were many other growers who had won the celery class on more than just one occasion so to come top was absolutely brilliant."

Mr Thomas said his award-winning celery, at 4ft tall, was a standard size for an exhibition celery.

He added: "They were all also blemish and pest damage-free."

A tourist company has combined a weeks' worth of marine wildlife footage taken from their tour boat to create a fin-tastic video.

Falmouth based AK Wildlife Cruises have documented one week off the coast of Falmouth in their video a "Wonderful Fin Day".

Set to the soundtrack of Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" the film captures Minke whales, dolphins and a blue shark frolicking and feeding off the Cornish coast.

The three MPs for the West Briton area claimed £486,534.73 in expenses for the year 2013/2014, according to new figures.

The details just released by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) are a summary of costs incurred while carrying out their parliamentary duties as of May 31. It said further claims and repayments processed after that date will be published in November.

In total, all of Cornwall's MPs claimed £984,698.79.

The expenses cover travel and accommodation costs, office costs and staffing.

The costs of paying staff form the vast majority of the expenses bill.

Overall across the country MPs claimed £103 million in 2013/2014 – up from £98 million the year before and more than at the height of the expenses scandal when £102 million was claimed in 2008/2009.

Taking into account years of inflation the latest figures are in real terms below the 2008/2009 expenses.

Across the country the biggest claim was by Strangford MP Jim Shannon, whose total spend was £229,262.

Andrew George, Liberal Democrat MP for St Ives, including Helston and the Lizard, claimed a total of £188,724.09 in expenses in 2013/2014.

The costs included:

-office costs - £22,812.72

-staffing - £132,819.77

-travel - £13,279.00

-accommodation - £19,812.60.

Sarah Newton, Conservative MP for Truro and Falmouth, claimed a total of £166,051.17 in expenses in 2013/2014.

The costs included:

-office costs - £22,746.26

-staffing - £134,711.64

-travel - £8,321.11

-miscellaneous expenses - £272.16.

George Eustice, Conservative MP for Camborne and Redruth, claimed a total of £131,759.47 in expenses in 2013/2014.

The costs included:

-office costs - £9,235.95

-staffing - £112,979.65

-travel - £9,543.87.

The figures for Cornwall's other three MPs almost match the total for the three above, at £498,164.06.

Stephen Gilbert, Liberal Democrat MP for St Austell and Newquay, claimed a total of £185,097.43 in expenses in 2013/2014.

The costs included:

-office costs - £19,351.65

-staffing - £133,739.91

-travel - £17,464.44

-accommodation - £14,541.43.

Sheryll Murray, Conservative MP for South East Cornwall, claimed £164,160.05 in expenses in 2013/2014.

The costs included:

-office costs £14,822.98

-staffing £118,293.72

-travel £11,035.83

-accommodation £20,007.52.

Dan Rogerson, Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, claimed a total of £148,906.58 in expenses in 2013/2014.

The costs included:

-office costs - £14,095.85

-staffing - £111,795.66

-travel - £9,375.07

-accommodation - £13,640.

A list of the planned roadworks in Cornwall and Devon for next week has been released by the Hightways Agency.

The works may be subject to change if weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances arise.

Cornwall:

The westbound lane of the A30 at Highgate, near Bodmin will be closed for barrier repairs between 9am and 3pm tomorrow.

The westbound lane of the A38 will be closed between Menheniot and Liskeard from 9.30am to 3.30pm for barrier works tomorrow.

The A30 westbound at Summercourt, near Newquay will be closed for drainage works between 9am and 3.30pm on Monday

The A30 eastbound at Carminow Cross, near Bodmin will be closed for tree works between 8.30am and 4pm on Wednesday.

The A30 westbound at Scorrier, near Redruth will be closed for drainage works between 9am and 3pm on Thursday and Friday.

The westbound lane of the A38 at Menheniot, near Liskeard will be closed for maintainance works between 9am and 3pm on Friday.

Devon:

Two lanes of the A30 at Ebsworthy, near Okehampton will be closed in both directions for 24 hour drainage works from today until Friday, September 26. A 50mph speed limit will be in force.

The A38 westbound between Chudleigh to Heathfield, near Bovey Tracey will be closed for carriageway surveys between 7pm and 4am on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The A38 westbound at Kennford, near Exeter, will be closed for resurfacing works between 8.30pm and 4am on Wednesday and Thursday. A diversion via the A38 and a minor road past Exeter Racecourse will be enforced. The A380 at Telegraph Hill will also be closed. 

A teenage girl has been rescued after getting caught in a rip-tide while swimming of the south coast.

Falmouth Coastguard were called to Pendower Beach in Portscatho at1pm after it was reported that the girl was struggling against a rip-tide.

A spokesman from the coastguard said: "She managed to get back to the beach herself but there were concerns that she had ingested sea water and that she was hypothermic."

A search and rescue crew from RNAS Culdrose took her to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro where she remains.

The Portscatho Cliff Rescue team also assisted in the incident.

World-famous luxury department store Harrods is going to be advised on the health and safety of its food products by Cornwall Council - because of its dealings with specialist Cornish food producers.

The London department store formerly owned by controversial figure Mohamed Al-Fayed signed a deal called a primary authority agreement with Cornwall Council.

The council will look after regulatory interests covering food safety across all Harrods sites.

The new linkup will allow Harrods to deal with a single local authority on food safety regulations and will "dovetail seamlessly" with existing management systems put in place by its head of food safety, Phil Farrington, and his team.

He said: "Working with Cornwall Council allows us to draw on their specialist expertise as the lead authority in charcuterie and cheese making and to strengthen our already robust food safety requirements."