A MOTHER has told of how her family feared their son would die after he was rushed to hospital at three days old with a heart defect.

But little John, now aged 7 months, has confounded expectations and recovered from open-heart surgery.

Jemma and Gareth Cattran praised the medical team at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children for their incredible work in saving his life.

"He surprised everybody in intensive care," said Mrs Cattran. "He pulled through – he's quite a miracle to be honest."

The family are now raising money for Cornwall Air Ambulance and the Bristol hospital's heart unit.

Mrs Cattran's parents own the Newton Equestrian stables at Mullion and the couple have a daughter called Jess, aged 3.

Mrs Cattran said John was born seemingly healthy on February 25.

"He was just three days old. He wasn't feeding very well and then he collapsed," she said.

A visiting midwife called for an ambulance and John was flown to Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske by air ambulance.

He was rushed to Bristol's specialist children's hospital where he underwent keyhole surgery to have a new valve fitted in his heart.

Mrs Cattran said: "The medical staff were brilliant. I just think adrenaline was keeping us going."

John was placed in intensive care and after 11 days in hospital returned home.

But five days later, the family took him back to hospital.

"I was unhappy with his breathing. Then he collapsed again overnight," said Mrs Cattran.

He was transferred back to Bristol and, aged only four weeks, had open-heart surgery.

That was followed by more surgery two weeks later to replace the valve.

"They didn't think he would make it. That was pretty intense," added Mrs Cattran.

She said John was eased off life-support three days after his last operation and would either recover or die.

"I was an emotional wreck. They didn't want to do the surgery – they didn't think he would make it – but we had no choice.

"He had to have it and then he pulled through."

John still needs a feeding tube but Mrs Cattran said he was making progress every day.

"He will need further surgery when he's four or five.

"Bristol children's hospital – I can't praise them enough.

"They only ever operated on a child as small as John once before."

She believed his heart defect should have been picked up at antenatal screening.

"Babies are tough-cookies, they really are," she added. "It's amazing what he's been through and he doesn't cry when we take him for injections.

"It's amazing what we take for granted and then something like this happens. It puts things in perspective."

The family have organised a sponsored ride on Sunday and a dressage demonstration by St Piran's Stud at the stables at 7pm on October 11. 

Tickets are £10 with the money going to the two charities, available from the stables.

Staff returned to work as normal at Falmouth Docks this morning after being evacuated due to a fire risk.

Workers at Pendennis Shipyard, A&P and other marine businesses were allowed back into the site following the excursion zone placed on the docks yesterday afternoon.

The area was cleared after a worker spotted a flame coming from the hose attached to an oxy-acetylene tank just before 3pm yesterday.

By 8.30pm last night, the incident was finished and fire crews left the scene after the temperature of the cylinder was cooled to a safe level.

For the full story, click the link below.

A tiny kitten suffered savage wounds and left needing a neck brace after being subjected to a frenzied attack - by a seagull.

Youngster Chuckie was targeted by the marauding bird when he went to explore a rooftop for the first time.

Shocked owner Jaidene Park heard squawking and raced out to see her 14-week-old pet being brutally pecked and clawed.

She shooed away the seagull and grabbed Chuckie before retreating back into her flat in Porthleven.

Local residents say the the fearless fliers are making their lives a misery.

Local restaurants have even resorted to handing out water pistols to customers to fire at the divebombing gulls who swoop down to snatch food.

Jaidene said Chuckie was just being inquisitive when he clambered on to the garage roof and strayed into the bird's territory.

She said: "Where we live, it's a flat, and there's a garage roof outside where seagulls nest each year.

"My cat had climbed out on tf the living room window on to the garage roof.

"I heard all this screaming and came rushing out. This was the first time he'd investigated a seagull. I think he was more curious than anything else."

Jaidene raced Chuckie to the vet where his wounds were dressed and he was fitted with a protective collar.

He's now recovering at home.

Jaidene added: "The seagull definitely came off best. He was quite scared afterwards and I think it's been a painful lesson learned."

Porthleven is one of number of cornish holiday sports where locals say they face a summer-long blitzkrieg from kamikaze birds determined to swipe their food.

However Cornwall Council insists the gulls are legally protected members of a wild species and thus cannot simply be culled.

Over the years it has tried various schemes to curb the menace - including "bird dispersal units" who go around playing high-pitched tapes of gulls squawking in distress to scare them off.

Experts say the problem is not confined to Cornwall, with Britain's urban gull population - thriving on takeaway scraps and open-topped litter bins - growing by 20 per cent a year.

EMERGENCY roadworks are causing traffic chaos in Penryn after a street closure.

Lower Market Street was closed at around 4pm yesterday after some tiles and masonry fell into the road near the town hall.

Workers from Cormac put up temporary traffic lights at both ends of the one-way street while the debris was cleared.

Traffic is flowing both ways on Higher Market Street.

Workmen are on site putting scaffolding up today.

According to town clerk, Michelle Davey, the lights are causing problems for motorists.

"It is causing all sorts of problems," she said.

"There has been a few incidents with people shouting at each other.

"We have not been told anything [by Cormac]. They don't normally tell us if it is an emergency."

"The problem is the way they have done the lights because, if you are coming out of Saracen Place, you don't know which way the traffic is coming from on Higher Market Street."

S spokesman for Cormac said: "The traffic lights are in place due to material falling onto the road and they will be in place until tomorrow." 

TWO adventurers from Culdrose are to set off today on a journey across Europe in a car which looks like a cow.

Benjamin Goodwin, 28, and his co-driver Daniel Pollard, 29, are setting off from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose to take part in a charity rally.

They will make the journey dress in cow style 'onesies' in a 25-year-old Volvo that they have decorated with fluffy cow print and bull horns.

The duo will travel in their cow car from St Austell to Pula in Croatia within 10 days to raise money for Cornish charities.

Benjamin said: "The cow horns are my favourite part of the car. We also plan to wear our fancy dress costumes for the entire trip, but we don't want to milk it."

 Their car was donated by Trelawny Citroen Penzance. The pair are raising money for money for MS, Cancer Research and the Cornwall Air Ambulance.

A number of proud Redruth residents are dusting off their passports as they prepare to make the long journey across the Atlantic Ocean to Mexico.

The group will soon be travelling to Redruth's twin town of Real del Monte, to take part in the town's sixth annual pasty festival and celebrate the shared cultural identity between the towns.

The region of Pachuca previously boasted many silver mines that were sold to British companies and before long, a large Cornish community had established itself with the majority of migrants coming from Camborne and Redruth.

These days the Mexicans living in the area have their own unique twist on the pasty, one that includes chilli peppers and the two delegations compared recipes and techniques at the Redruth Pasty Festival last month.

Mike Kiernan, director of the Cornish Global Migration Programme and one of the people making the trip, is proud of the link.

"We do have a massive amount of information about 'the great migration' of the Cornish worldwide.

"I first visited Mexico about 13 years ago when my mission was to complete a full survey of the Cornish burial ground in Real del Monte.

"Since then the relationship has developed and we will be travelling to take part in the Sexto Festival Internacional Del Pasty, but I will be staying on after so that I can update our records and hopefully find more information of the presence of the Cornish in Mexico.

"Our connection with Mexico is rather more than just a fun pasty thing."

Mr Kiernan will be joined on the trip by Vanessa Moyle, a bard of the Cornish Gorsedd and Redruth town councillor Deborah Reeve.

Also making the trip will be Marion Symonds from Portreath Bakery who recently appeared on the Great British Bake Off.

Miners from Redruth and Camborne were also responsible for introducing football to the region.

In 1901 Cornish mine workers were responsible for founding the famous Mexican football club Pachuca, who have since won five national championships and today compete for honours in the top level of the Mexican football league.

Mr Kiernan is still actively seeking information from anybody whose ancestors travelled to Mexico and anybody with any photographs or stories are asked to email cgmp@cornishmigration.org or at Murdoch House in Cross Street, Redruth.

A PUBLIC meeting has been organised for next month for people to discuss plans to demolish a Perranporth hotel and replace it with apartments.

Plans have been submitted to demolish the Ponsmere Hotel and build in its place 28 apartments, 11 homes, two flats and a restaurant along with associated parking and other facilities.

The plans have been met with opposition from some locals who would like to see a hotel on the site. A protest in Perranporth attracted other campaigners who opposed the protest.

The public meeting will be held on Thursday November 13 at 6pm at Perranporth Memorial Hall.

Cornwall Council has arranged the meeting to allow members of the public to discuss the plans and for councillors to hear the views of the public. No decision on the plans will be made at the meeting.

All who wish to attend and speak at the meeting will need to register. All are welcome to attend but the maximum capacity at the hall is 190 and must not be exceeded.

The planning application is set to be considered by the central area sub planning committee when it meets on November 24.

Full details of the application can be found on the online planning register under reference number PA14/01020 via the following link:- http://planning.cornwall.gov.uk/online-applications/

COMMUTERS driving through Grampound are facing delays this evening as work continues to upgrade the village's gas supply.

Traffic travelling home is queuing in both directions through the village, where there are temporary traffic lights and a 20 mph speed limit in operation. 

Wales & West Utilities began work last week to replace the outdated old metal gas mains and associated pipes with plastic alternatives.

And there will be disruption for some weeks yet as the essential maintenance work could take up to 12 weeks to complete.

POLICE are at the scene of a crash at Carnon Downs this evening.

Officers were called to Forth Corth near Tregye Road, shortly after 6pm today.

The road is partially blocked and it is causing delays to drivers.

PROGRESS has been made in the ongoing battle over Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust's decision to hike up staff car parking fees.

New parking charges for staff working at Treliske -in some cases a five fold increase for lower paid workers - came in to force this week despite sparking outrage and petitions signed by hundreds.

In August the trust agreed to increase parking charges at the site saying it could no longer justifying spending £40,000 per year, which would rise to £70,000 when it needed to prioritise clinical services.

Instead it urged staff to use the Park and Ride, which also had its concession scrapped and doesn't run at times conducive to workers shift patterns.

Falmouth and Truro MP Sarah Newton called on the trust to consider the affect the situation was having on staff morale and made an economic case to extend the Park and Ride scheme, using data collected from workers.

The trust is now in discussions with Cornwall Council - who runs the Park and Ride - to extend the service. It has also confirmed disabled workers will receive a concession to make it affordable to park on the Treliske site.

Mrs Newton said the announcement was progress for the campaign which has been highly-charged.

She said: ''I am pleased by the trust's positive response to my suggestion that it get round the table with Cornwall Council to secure a better deal for its hard working staff.

"I am also very grateful to the staff members whose hard work on a Park and Ride survey has enabled me to make a strong case for extension; their determined campaigning has really made a difference.

"This is of course far from the end of the road and I will continue doing all I can to secure extended opening hours at Truro Park and Ride."

Mrs Newton added: Given the trust's new financial commitment I am hopeful that, through continued close working with all at RCHT and Cornwall Council, this can be delivered.''

A FORMER Mormon bishop of Helston has called for members to reconsider the reasons behind their faith – saying they are being deceived and "held hostage by their beliefs".

Using the opportunity of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the church's Helston chapel, Stephen Bloor has written an open letter to church members.

He is calling on people to honestly ask themselves the question: "If the Church wasn't true, would I want to know?"

He has spoken publicly for the first time since he stood down as bishop – saying he had been gagged by the church.

He added that members of the church, properly called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, are told not to question their beliefs – or they risk being deceived by the devil.

The church has responded that it has nothing to hide and has faced anti-Mormon campaigns throughout its history.

Mr Bloor told the West Briton: "I was taught never to question my faith.

"I was always told if you start to ask questions and it makes you feel bad, then it's from Satan.

"Now I feel I was being lied to from the very start. The man who founded the religion was nothing but a con-artist, a charlatan and a paedophile.

"I was told I was special and that God had saved me and would lead me to salvation, but sadly I now realise it's just a fairy tale.

"I think the people in the Mormon church are good people, lovely and kind-hearted people – but they are being deceived and they are hostages to their faith.

"There is just so much the leadership won't tell the members about the origins of the church for fear of losing them."

A podiatrist who runs a clinic in Helston, he has been a Mormon all his life, along with his family, parents and grandparents.

Mr Bloor, who lives in Mullion, said his grandfather helped with the deal to secure the site for Helston's Mormon chapel while he, as a child, helped paint girders while the building was under construction.

After leaving Helston School, he joined a Mormon mission in Manchester at the age of 19.

He became bishop of the Helston ward in 2004, but broke away from the church in 2011 after discovering details about the life of the church's founder, Joseph Smith, which contradicted what he had been taught by the church.

Mr Bloor added that the most difficult aspect had been the effect on his close family, who were still members of the church.

"Tragically, Mormon families are held hostage by their beliefs in the afterlife," he said, "such that when one part of a family leaves the church, it is considered like a death in the family."

He said he faced being shunned and sidelined by his family, friends and the Mormon community.

"They say they don't shun in our church, there's no official policy – but it still happens," he added.

"I am just so extremely grateful that I have the most amazing loving parents, siblings, wife and children, who have continued to love and support me. For many this is not the case.

"I am constantly receiving e-mails from people all around the world who lose their spouses and other relationships when they leave the church.

"I've been threatened with excommunication four times. I did a deal not to talk about the church when I left as bishop but I think the time has come for me to speak out publicly.

"There's a massive exodus from the church at the moment and reliable information is more readily available."

The current bishop of Helston, Nelston Oliver, said he was not aware of the contents of the letter and could not comment fully.

But he added: "It's a shame this has overshadowed our 40th anniversary.

"I can say as a church, we like our members to question and discuss their faith. We don't hide things at all. We're not brainwashing people or anything like that.

"You can go on to websites and you are always going to find anti-Mormon literature, which is something we've put up with for years."

Meanwhile church celebrated its 40th anniversary of the chapel in Helston on Sunday.

The mayors of Helston, Porthleven, Penryn and Penzance were among guests at the ceremony, held at the chapel in Clodgey Lane.

It acts as the centre for the church's activities in west Cornwall, including as far as Land's End and up to Falmouth.

The bishop, Mr Oliver, said: "We had an excellent service which was well attended and included four mayors.

"We had a social gathering on the Friday and then followed that with the service on Sunday. We just wanted to celebrate the 40 years we've had of the chapel in Helston and show how blessed we are."

He thanked Helston mayor Mike Thomas for speaking at the service.

The Mormon church was founded in New York by Joseph Smith around 1830.

Mr Bloor's open letter can be found at his blog at http://stevebloor.wordpress.com

CAMPAIGNERS are concerned that controversial Christmas trees could return to their beach in a repeat of the saga which played out earlier this year.

According to the Porthtowan Dunes Community Group (PDCG), which held an open day on Sunday to gather feedback on options for protecting the eroding sand dunes, the villagers were "getting angry again" at the thought of seeing the firs return to the beach.

In January, 100 people buried unwanted Christmas trees in the sand as part of a Cornwall Council scheme to stabilise the sand dunes and provide a habitat for spring wildlife.

Barely two weeks later, more than 30 of the trees were scattered across the beach and village after a fierce storm.

The saga continued for six months after strong winds left the decaying trees exposed with sand piling up behind them.

During the PDCG gathering meeting on Sunday, hen 78 villagers filled in a questionnaire about the future of the dunes.

Alison Mills, the group's treasurer, said later: "One of Cornwall Council's favoured options is to bring back the trees.

"It is very much not a favoured option of the community.

"There is a big worry in the community that they will put the trees back, because it was such a disaster.

"Even if it is only a thought of it, the community is getting angry again at the thought of putting up with the Christmas trees and pine needles."

Ms Mills said the group was "delighted" with the response and the support at the meeting. She said the majority voted for the 'plan B' option to flatten the dunes and cover them with grass.

She added: "The results will be collated and sent to Cornwall Council who recently instructed the group not to undertake any further works midway through the mutually agreed action plan of June 2014."

Cornwall Council has said trees could again be buried in the sand.

A council spokesman said it had commissioned a study of a number of beaches and dunes systems across Cornwall, including Porthtowan.

"Once the report has been received and its recommendations reviewed, then we will liaise further with the local community," she said.

"The report, funded by the Environment Agency as part of a review of the effects of winter storms, is anticipated to be complete by the end of this month."

Ms Mills said: "We were very disappointed to hear that the council is awaiting the results of yet another dunes study as it promised, frequently, the group would be involved in the instigation of any study.

"We really do think that the community should have a voice and should be listened to and at the moment we fear that this is not the case.

"The group hopes that the council will note the enthusiasm of the community and take a more positive attitude in continuing the improvement of the beach and dunes."

DOZENS of people have got in touch with messages of support for revolutionary new cancer centre The Cove after the West Briton exclusively launched its £1 million campaign last week.

Now, to help inspire potential fundraisers, the West Briton has compiled a top five list (see below) of ways to support the centre, which will serve Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The Cove Macmillan Cancer Support Centre will be based on the site of the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, and will cost £2.8 million to build.

Macmillan has pledged £1.8 million towards the project but the charity needs readers to help raise the remaining cash before the planned opening in May 2016.

Emma Wright, Macmillan fundraising manager for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: "We have had a fantastic response so far – people have been sending in cheques, donating online and via text.

"We have had lots of interest from businesses wanting to help, and local charities such as the Cornwall Bowel Cancer Support Group, and sports and community groups with fundraising ideas.

"We always knew Cornwall needed a specialist cancer centre but, since the launch, we have had a real boost from people who have told us that they can't wait for the centre to open, and would have benefited from the facility when they were undergoing treatment.

"So, a big thank you to everyone who has got in touch and let's raise that million."

A FALMOUTH councillor who decided to resign saying he could not give enough time to the role has been persuaded to rethink his decision.

Gerald Chin-Quee shocked his colleagues at the full town council meeting on Monday by announcing he wanted to step down as deputy mayor and quit the council for good.

"There's so much more I could have done if I had the time, but my (work) hours have doubled since," he said.

"I shouldn't have stood. As deputy I fell below the standards I expect of myself and that highlighted that as a councillor I also fell below the standard.

"I have been conspicuous by my absence and it doesn't look good; it looks like I don't care, but nothing could be further from the truth."

A councillor for 15 years on Carrick District Council, Cornwall Council and the town council, he added: "I look back on those years with a lot of joy and pride," but told councillors: "I think you need to find a councillor who has more time to devote than I do."

Councillor Rowenna Brock responded by saying: "You are downgrading your self- worth,"and Councillor Candy Atherton said: "We all serve in ways that we have the time and ability for.

"It would wrong if people had to put all their work and time into being a councillor; they should represent all types of people in our society."

Mayor John Body said: "I'm still in a state of shock. We joined the council together and I never met anybody as dedicated and conscientious."

Mr Chin-Quee agreed to a request to take another month to think about his decision.

THREE directors of a defunct Truro law firm have been rebuked after they failed to report the company was in financial strife.

Follett Stock, based in Threemilestone, was closed down by regulator Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) after the firm was declared insolvent and 30 jobs were lost.

Now its three directors have been issued with written rebukes by the SRA for breaches of the Solicitors' Code of Conduct while at Follett Stock LLP and Follett Stock Holdings Ltd (FSHL).

Follett Stock owners Chris Lingard and Martin Pearse will now have a black mark against their names following the sanctions.

Director Fiona Higgins, Mr Lingard's wife, was also issued with a written rebuke for her part in failing to keep the firm in the black.

In a statement, the regulator said the trio had "failed to comply with their obligations … by failing to comply with their regulatory obligations and deal with SRA in an open, timely and co-operative manner".

Mr Lingard, Mr Pearse and Ms Higgins had also failed to notify the regulator of any material changes to relevant information about the firms, and delayed informing the SRA of serious financial difficulty of Follett Stock LLP and FSHL.

The rebuke means the trio will not face any further action at the Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal.

The SRA intervened at Follett Stock on November 6 last year after the firm went insolvent.

David Standish and John Milson, of accountancy firm KPMG, were named compulsory liquidators of the company.

At that point the regulator took control of all the files and monies belonging to the firm.

Where monies could be identified with specific clients, they were returned. Those clients whose money could not be returned were able to make claims on the SRA's Compensation Fund.

To date, seven claims totalling £7,284.24 have been paid to clients who proved they had suffered financial hardship at the hands of Follett Stock.

More claims are in the system, added the regulator.

In the months leading up to the firm's closure, it emerged the firm had settled out of court with former employee Kate Baker over allegations claimed to an Employment Tribunal that Mr Lingard bullied her and told her not to have a relationship or babies. Miss Baker maintained she was sacked from her £45,000-a-year job by Mr Lingard because of her gender after she formed a relationship, according to tribunal documents.

Police are appealing for help from the public to track down a prisoner who has absconded from HMP Leyhill in South Gloucestershire.

Gary Cooper, 53, was found to be missing during a midday roll call on Monday, September 22.

Avon and Somerset Police have made enquiries with Devon and Cornwall Police as his previous addresses include Newquay, Truro and St Austell.

Cooper is described as white, about 5ft 11ins tall, with grey hair and blue eyes.

He has a scar on his forehead and distinctive tattoos on his arms of a dagger and a rose, a dagger and a snake, and a mermaid.

Cooper had been convicted of burglary at Truro Crown Court and jailed for four years.

He was transferred to the open prison in June 2014 ahead of his planned release in February 2015.

Neighbourhoods manager inspector Bob Evely said: "We would ask any member of the public who sees him to call us immediately on 999. Anyone with any other information which could help us trace him is asked to contact us onlinewww.avonandsomerset.police.uk/contactor call 101 quoting the reference 98472/14."

A man was treated for smoke inhalation after a portacabin caught fire in Porthkea, near Truro, on Thursday.

Two fire engines from Truro arrived at the scene just before 3pm where they discovered a six-metre tall portacabin was engulfed in flames.

They used breathing apparatus, one jet and one hose reel to extinguish the fire.

The man was checked over by paramedics before being taken to hospital.