A GROUP of 21 Francophiles from Truro visited its twin town of Morlaix for an anniversary celebration.

The visit to Morlaix, Brittany, on the 35th anniversary of the original twinning agreement was "very successful", according to Jean Anderson, chairman of the Truro-Morlaix Twinning Association.

She added: "Some personal links with friends go back many years but newer members discovered how strong those links are and why the relationship has flourished.

"The French hosts provided a balanced programme of activities and free time, and the warm September weather was an added bonus."

Events included a visit to a local school which runs an organic farm as part of the curriculum, a guided tour of the chateau of Rosanbo and its gardens and an evening dinner.

At a formal reception at the Mairie, short speeches were given by the deputy mayor of Morlaix, the president of the Morlaix Twinners, Etiennette Destable, and by Ms Anderson.

Truro mayor Loic Rich had also sent a message of greeting, which was read out on his behalf by former chairman Anne Moodie.

Six Truro members will be travelling to Morlaix again this month for three days of "immersion" in the French language and culture.

Truro will welcome some Morlaisians in March next year for a similar experience. In May 2015 Morlaix will again host for the next exchange visit.

Anyone interested in joining the Truro-Morlaix Twinning Association may contact 01872 320121 for further details.

The next social event will be a French-themed evening at Malpas village hall on November 29.

The annual Eddie Jones Boules Tournament took place at Boscawen Park in beautiful sunshine.

The Truro-Morlaix Twinning Association said its members "did their best" to keep the tradition of boules, or pétanque as it is more properly known, alive in Truro by meeting monthly during the summer months and holding a competition to end the season.

Eddie Jones was a founder member of twinning in Truro and the association said: "We were delighted to welcome his son and daughter and others of his family to the event."

Nicola Rowe and Nigel Jones presented the Eddie Jones Trophy to the overall winner Bill Anderson and the runner-up trophy to Lilian Polkinghorne.

A FALMOUTH teenager who set up an anti-bullying campaign has received an award for her work.

Amy Jones, 17, was presented with the Young Person's Award at the Cornwall Inspiring Human Potential Awards. She was one of 100 people to be recognised for their efforts to make a difference at the first award ceremony run by the Learning Partnership Company.

Earlier this year Amy won a Princess Diana Award and became an Anti-Bullying Ambassador for the UK. She set up 'Stay Strong :)' as a result of her own experiences at the hands of bullies.

The campaign includes a website, school workshops and events and it has the backing of many celebrities, such as singer Gareth Gates and diver Tom Daley.

It started with an emotive video she posted on YouTube two years ago about being bullied.

She said: "A total of 31,599 children called Childline in 2011/12 because of bullying, 46 per cent of children say they have been bullied at school at some stage of their lives; 38 per cent have been suffered from cyberbulling and 28 per cent chose not to tell anyone that they are suffering from bullying."

She is now working full time on the campaign, adding: "I am also really busy creating videos for social media and our website, and will soon be adding blogs to help spread the anti-bullying message.

"Bullying affects lives not only whilst we are young, but from those I have interviewed it has stayed with them way into their careers. A high proportion of those not in employment, education or training has been due to experiencing bullying at a young age."

Stay Strong is a not for profit organisation, relying on sponsorship, and Amy is recruiting a volunteer network of young people to help in schools, colleges, groups and networks. Anti-bullying week starts on November 17 and she is planning several events locally. For more information e-mail amy@staystrong.co.uk or visit www.facebook.com/staystronguk

With the sun setting and Pendennis Castle in the background this stunning footage shows a Merlin HM1 helicopter from RNAS Culdrose practising manoeuvres at dusk, close to the shore in Falmouth Bay.

Amazed passersby look on as the helicopter hovers barely 50 feet above the surface of the water.

After holding its position for a minute or so, the pilot takes it up into air, points the nose of the aircraft down vertically and swoops towards the shore before peeling off in the direction of Helston.

It's a demonstration of supreme skill and control - skills Merlin pilots will need to draw upon in the coming days and weeks.

Three of the aircraft from RNAS Culdrose are due to head out to Sierra Leone shortly to help tackle the growing Ebola crisis.

They will be supported by specialist casualty-receiving ship, RFA Argus, and dozens of army medics.

Argus is currently docked in Falmouth while she stocks up on supplies before heading out to the capital, Freetown.

The Merlin helicopters will be based off the coast and will help transport UK forces.

Merlins - or AugustWestland AW101s to give them their full name - were originally designed as anti-submarine helicopters, but are more frequently used by the Royal Navy for search and rescue missions.

Since coming into service in 1999 the helicopters have seen action in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Each aircraft costs an eye-watering £13m.

Six fire fighters from Helston were called to deal with a blaze at Bulwark road yesterday afternoon, involving 10 square metres of wood chippings and logs. Crews used one hose reel jet to extinguish the accidental fire.

The fire service was later called to Boscawen road, Helston to deal with a chimney fire.

Patrick McLoughlin, the Secretary of State for Transport, has confirmed that the Department for Transport intends to negotiate with First Great Western to run the Great Western rail franchise from next October until March 2019, with an option to extend it for a further year.

The franchise will allow First Great Western to work with Network Rail on its signal improvements between Plymouth and Penzance.

Funded through the Cornwall Growth Deal, once complete it will enable two trains an hour to run between the two. This would also speed up the proposed signal improvement programme on the mainline by five years.

Cornwall Council appears to take an unusually cautious view of proposals to convert redundant agricultural buildings for residential use, according to analysis presented to more than 150 Cornish farmers last week.

A special seminar at Sticker, near St Austell, last week heard a panel of experts outline how recent regulatory changes are affecting agriculture.

Gareth Rowe, of Smiths Gore, presented statistics provided by Cornwall Council, and by the much smaller, district councils of Torridge and of Mid Devon. The figures showed that a new planning framework introduced by the government earlier year appears to be interpreted in very different ways by the different councils, with Cornwall – now one of the largest unitary planning authorities in the country – being much more likely to refuse the conversion of a redundant agricultural building under the new "permitted development" rules.

"This doesn't mean that you can't do it," said Mr Rowe, "only that you still have to submit a planning application in the usual way."

The government had hoped that its more relaxed view of re-developing redundant agricultural buildings would ease pressure on greenfield sites and breathe new life into the rural economy.

But Mr Rowe's analysis of the 32 applications submitted in Cornwall since the new "permitted development" rules were introduced found that only two – just 7 per cent – had been allowed. In Torridge and Mid Devon councils, by contrast, the comparison figures were nearly 70 per cent.

"It's still early days and the statistical base is still small," Mr Rowe told the audience. "But it does look as if there's a strong case for taking expert advice before tangling with the planners, particularly in Cornwall."

Brian Harvey, a rural partner at Francis Clark chartered accountants, then outlined the need for farmers to consider ways of using all available allowances to reduce their tax liabilities, paying particular attention to whether their business spending constituted "repairs" or "improvements."

He also outlined the advantages of considering "succession planning" and inheritance tax issues, particularly if planning gains might result in increased values.

Phil Reed, head of rural services at Stephens Scown, brought the audience up to date with latest developments within the European Union and his thoguhts on how they might affect rural payments.

The seminar was organised by Smiths Gore, Stephens Scown and Francis Clark and hosted by Griggs Country Store.

The row over the summer dog ban on Falmouth's beaches looks set to run through the autumn, as café owner Steve Gray fears the issue could divide the town.

He and his wife Jayne say they have had to clear dog mess from around their café most days since the summer ban ended on October 1. Bylaws prohibit dogs on Castle to Gyllyngvase, Swanpool and Maenporth beaches from Easter Sunday to September 30.

Falmouth Town Council is considering a petition from dog owners and some other tourism interests, asking for dogs to be allowed on beaches all year round.

"The system works fine as it is," said Mr Gray. "It's a nuisance having to clear away the dog mess after 30^th September, but you certainly wouldn't want to be doing it all year round."

Revenge porn – the distribution of a private sexual image of someone without their consent and with the intention of causing them distress – will be made a specific offence in the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, which is currently going through Parliament.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said: "The fact that there are individuals who are cruelly distributing intimate pictures of their former partners without their consent is almost beyond belief.

"We want those who fall victim to this type of disgusting behaviour to know that we are on their side and will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.

"That is why we will change the law and make it absolutely clear to those who act in this way that they could face prison."

Minister for Women and Equalities Nicky Morgan said: "Circulating intimate photos of an individual without their consent is never acceptable. People are entitled to expect a reasonable level of respect and privacy.

"It is right that those who do circulate these images are held to account, and that we educate young people to the hurt that can be caused by breaking this trust."

The change will cover the sharing of images both online and offline. It will mean that images posted to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter will be caught by the offence, as well as those that are shared via text message.

Images shared via email, on a website or the distribution of physical copies will also be caught. Those convicted will face a maximum sentence of 2 years in prison.

The offence will cover photographs or films which show people engaged in sexual activity or depicted in a sexual way or with their genitals exposed, where what is shown would not usually be seen in public. Victims and others will be able to report offences to the police to investigate. Officers will work with the Crown Prosecution Service to take forward cases for prosecution.

Those found to have committed a sexual offence can continue to be prosecuted under existing legislation, which can lead to sentences of up to 14 years in prison.

The change in the law will be made via an amendment to the Criminal Justice & Courts Bill, which includes a number of measures to toughen up sentencing.

These include ending automatic half-way point release for criminals convicted of rape or attempted rape of a child, or serious terrorism offences, and ensuring that all offenders who receive the tough Extended Determinate Sentence (EDS) are no longer automatically released two-thirds of the way through their custodial term.

The Falmouth Oyster Festival is now in its final day.

The annual celebration of all things oyster has been drawing the crowds. The programme for today is:

10.00 Craft and food stalls open

10.30-11.30 Cookery demonstration Fat Hen Cookery School

11.30 Falmouth Working Boat Race, Inner Harbour

11.45-12.45 Cookery demonstration Arty Williams, The Cove

12.30-2.30 Sea Shanty Lunch

1.00-2.00 Live music The Falmouth Sessions

2.00-3.00 Cookery demonstration Ken Symons, Olivers

3.00-4.00 Working Boat Prizes, Grand Prize Draw, plus guest appearance by Falmouth Marine Band

4.00-5.00 Festival closes with the Oggymen

The festival is designed to mark the start of the oyster dredging season, the diversity and quality of Cornish Seafood and, in particular, the last remaining traditional oyster fishery in Europe still dredging by sail and hand punt.

The four day festival has been packed with cookery demonstrations by leading local chefs, there are oysters, seafood, wine and local ale to sample along with children's shell painting, entertainment in the form of sea shanties, a town parade, live music, an oyster shucking competition, a Falmouth Working Boat race and marquees brimming with Cornish produce.

The festival is a must for all oyster, seafood and maritime heritage enthusiasts!

The government has given Cornwall Council an extra £50,000 to help smooth planning obstacles to build more houses.

The money, part of a nationwide £3million Site Delivery Fund, is to help construct properties which already have planning permission but which remain caught up in red tape.

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said: "The money will help councils clear the way for builders to get on site and get work underway quickly, providing families with new homes and boosting local businesses and jobs."

UNISON members working for the South West Ambulance Service are due to go on strike for four hours tomorrow (Monday), as part of the national campaign to reinstate the 1% pay rise awarded by the NHS Pay Review Body earlier this year but scrapped by the Government.

These will include paramedics, nurses, Technicians, staff working for the 111 out of hours service, and other administrative and logistical support workers. The action is likely to see pickets at Truro Ambulance Station on the Threemilestone business park.

Paramedics in uniform are due to picket between 7am and 11am. They will however be responding to emergency calls. The government has said that in some parts of the country it will use the Army, if necessary, to deal with emergencies.  UNISON is also introducing an overtime ban.

UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis said: "This Government's treatment of NHS workers has angered them and this anger has now turned into action. Refusing to pay them even a paltry 1% shows what the Government really thinks about its health workers. Inflation has continued to rise since 2011 and the value of NHS pay has fallen by around 12%.

"We know health workers don't take strike action lightly or often. The last action over pay was 32 years ago. But we also know a demoralised and demotivated workforce isn't good for patients.

"We will work with NHS employers to minimize the impact on patients. But it's not too late for Jeremy Hunt to act to avoid this and we repeat our offer to the Government to negotiate with us. To date the Secretary of State has refused to meet with health unions to negotiate pay."

Nurse Michelle Goodman who is employed on the SWASFT –run 111 service for the South West added: "I am a single Mum with a son at college, I am £780 pounds down each year, EMA has been scrapped and I am losing sleep worrying about how to pay my bills, no one is listening to the struggle, so I am taking action to say enough, I am really worried how I will get through the Winter, I have no money for coal"

Joanne Kaye. UNISON South West, Regional Secretary said: "Our members across the board work hard to deliver quality public services, day in day out and deserve a decent pay rise. The MP's pay review body recommended an award of 9%. While prices rise and rise, many of our members and their families are finding it impossible to cope. As the end of the month draws close, the choise between car fuel, grocery shopping or school meals becomes harder and harder. Our members are simply asking for a fair pay rise.

"UNISON members in the ambulance service and other services put their lives on the line every day and yet it seems are not valued by this government in the same way MP's are."

The government imposed a 1% cap on pay rises in 2012, which remains in place for many in the public sector.

A Department of Health spokesman said: "We are disappointed that trade unions are taking industrial action.

"NHS staff are our greatest asset, and we've increased the NHS budget to pay for over 12,500 more clinical staff since 2010.

"We cannot afford a pay rise in addition to increments - which disproportionately reward the highest earners - without risking frontline jobs."

London Cornish 53 Portsmouth 23

 London Cornish recorded their fourth straight bonus point victory as they swept aside Portsmouth 53-23 at The REMPF to go top of London Two South West, writes Ben Gilby.

Pompey arrived in South-West London with a weakened pack, and they didn't make the best of starts when their kick-off failed to go ten metres. From the resulting scrum, the ball was fed to winger Robin Heymann on the right, who blazed past the visiting defence to score within the opening minute. Luke Spells' conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

The visitors then settled, and gained a penalty. They opted to tap and go, with Rob Giquel feeding Daniel Gates, but just as the Hampshire side began to make ground, they knocked on. The game went through a period of successive penalties, awarded by Argentinian referee Alvaro Delbarco, officiating at his first game in England. Only one of these led to any points, and it was Portsmouth full-back Chris Morgan who bisected the posts successfully.

Cornish responded powerfully, and shortly after the re-start, were awarded a penalty which was kicked to the corner. From the resulting line-out, the pack's power was far too great for the visitors makeshift affair, and Mike Bond was driven across the whitewash after 10 minutes. Spells converted from just in from touch, and the Black & Golds were 12-3 ahead. 

The Exiles now had the bit between their teeth, and Spells fed Hakes who went on a trademark run up the left, which was finally ended when he was tackled into touch. Shortly afterwards, 'The Exiles' were awarded a penalty and Spells kicked the conversion to extend the lead to 12 points.

Just three minutes later, one of the more unusual episodes of the season so far took place. Portsmouth winger Dave Jones received a pass in the centre, around 20 metres out. To the vast majority of the spectators, Jones appeared to knock-on as the ball looked to have fallen to the ground. However, there was no whistle. Jones picked up the ball and plunged over the line between the posts. Morgan converted and the visitors were right back into it at 15-10.

This shock score clearly galvanized the Hampshire men, who had a period of concerted pressure. With 'The Exiles' on the back foot, referee Delbarco awarded Portsmouth a penalty, which Morgan kicked. The score was now at 15-13, and it was very much game on.

With seventeen minutes to the break, Cornish showed the grit and determination that got them over the line at Winchester last time out - they stole line-out ball, Williams fed Spells who drifted past Portsmouth's defence to plunge over for a vital score. He got up and kicked the conversion, and things looked rosy again, with the score-line now beginning to reflect the balance of play once more at 22-10. 

Just three minutes later, the try scoring bonus point was secured for the fourth time in four games this season with half an hour gone. Matt Hakes went on another powerful run, he fed Anstey, who in turn played in Joe Skinnard. Skinnard beat his man and passed to Spells who went over for his second try in five minutes. The conversion was good.

Portsmouth had the final chance of the half when they were awarded a penalty at the scrum. Cornish appeared to have control of Pompey's put-in and had begun driving the visitors back - however the visitors were awarded a penalty as the referee adjudged the 'Black & Golds' pulled it down. Morgan's kick missed, and Cornish went in at the break 29-13 ahead.

The visitors came into the second half strongly and became far more competitive at the scrum. On 49 minutes, with momentum from one such scrum, Pompey won a penalty which Morgan kicked. Cornish replied well, and within three minutes extended their lead. 

They worked the rolling maul superbly - Will Carew-Gibbs made the yards, before handing over to Oli Low, who put in a great shift in the front row. The maul advanced further before coming out to Robin Heymann who danced round the Pompey tackles to claim his second try of the afternoon. Spells' conversion missed.

The next quarter of an hour became a bit of an arm wrestle, with play based in the middle third of the pitch. Mark Osei-Tutu got things moving again with some eye catching runs. From one such attack, Cornish were awarded a penalty which was kicked to touch. Unfortunately, the following line-out was not straight, but the 'Black & Golds' gained instant turn-over ball, and Craig Chatley could only be halted illegally. With the penalty in the centre, ten metres out, Cornish opted for the scrum. 

When the ball came out, it was fed to Osei-Tutu who drove across the line, with Spells adding the extras, which took Cornish's lead out to 41-16.

There is no doubt that, as the game went on, Portsmouth's makeshift pack began to gel, and this basis led to their second score of the game. The ball went out to replacement Robert Paterson who ran through to dot down. Morgan's conversion was good.

The last ten minutes largely belonged to Cornish - another monster rolling maul saw Bond drive the ball forward over 25 metres. When Portsmouth finally did stop it, Cornish merely re-set, went again, and Will Carew-Gibbs grounded the ball. Spells converted. With five minutes left, Matt Hakes scored 'The Exiles' eighth try of the afternoon after some great build-up play from Ciaran Acford.

So, a fourth successive bonus point cemented Cornish's place at the top of London Two South-West. One of the major positives to come of this game was the feeling that the Exiles players clearly felt they had more in them and could improve further. The stats are impressive - this was London Cornish's 14th win in their last 16 league matches - and over the last 12 months, the 'Black & Golds' have suffered only five losses in 23  games. Whatever way you look at it, this is highly impressive.

Tammy Thorne from Cornwall has been presented with a special award to celebrate her "life-changing" partnership with her dog, Boots.

Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal attended a star-studded awards ceremony in London, hosted by national charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

Princess Annel, the patron of national charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, along with Esther Rantzen,presented the award for Life-Changing Partnership of the Year to Tammy, aged 40.

Tammy lost her hearing in her early 20s and was catapulted into a world of loneliness and isolation. She began to withdraw from society. In 2009, Tammy's life took another dramatic turn. Tammy's degenerative spinal condition had worsened and she lost the use of her legs, which meant she would be confined to a wheelchair.

But then Tammy's hearing dog, Boots, an eight year old Golden Retriever cross Labrador, became her constant companion and best friend. As well as alerting Tammy to sounds she cannot hear such as the doorbell and alarm clock, he has learnt to walk alongside her wheelchair and with a bit of extra training, Boots has even learned to pick up the post!

Tammysays; 'Boots means the world to me, he's amazing. We have an active lifestyle and go swimming, kayaking and even water skiing. We love being outdoors and doing everything together. When we're in the water, I'm no different to anybody else.'

Now that Tammy has her beloved hearing dog Boots, she can sleep properly knowing she will be safe with him lying beside her.

'Boots helps me to relax at home and sleep properly, knowing that he will let me know any sounds and keep me safe, enabling me to lead a full and independent life. Boots is my hero, as I know my life would not be what it is today without him - words cannot express what he means to me.'

Approximately 1 in 6 people in the UK suffer with hearing loss, and the Hearing Dogs Awards aim to highlight the life-changing difference that hearing dogs make to deaf children and adults. For more information visit www.hearingdogs.org.uk

The Cornwall Motor Show is continuing until 5pm this afternoon.  Sponsored by the West Briton, the Cornishman and the Cornish Guardian, the event is at Heartlands, Redruth.

For all you Top Gear fans, keep your eyes peeled for 'The White Suited Man' - a superb 'Stig' lookalike.

The Classic Cars Exhibition is located around the 'Viewing Mound' area. Those of you on a nostalgia trip will have a chance...

The show doesn't just have cars to see, there will is be fun and entertainment for all the family. And if you think you might be the next Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button, you have a chance to prove it with a free go in a F1 style simulator.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has been told about the death of a man who drowned this morning after being followed by officers investigating the theft of a bicycle.

Police saw the man enter Sutton Wharf soon after 6.10am. Members of the public saw him enter the water close to the China House pub. But he then got trapped between a fishing boat and the harbour wall.

Two lifeboats and the fire service water rescue team were unable to reach him, and a Royal Navy dive team later recovered his body.

The area has been cordoned off and police say they are still trying to identify the man. The incident had started with police responding to reports of a bicycle theft from Citadel Road East in Plymouth.

Police say they have referred the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

• Cornwall's weather for the next few days appears to be a mix of fair spells with some wet and windy interludes, turning more showery on Tuesday.

• After tonight, any areas of mist and fog will slowly clear to give some sunny spells in the morning. It will become rather cloudy and windier in the afternoon, however, and outbreaks of locally heavy rain will push into southernmost counties later.

• Spells of sometimes heavy rain will spread northwards across the region overnight. It will also be windy for many, with a risk of gales across exposed England Channel coasts.

A FITTING tribute to a popular St Agnes surfboard shaper has been held with a surf competition and paddle out to mark the one year anniversary of his death.

The Rioja Classic surf competition was put on at St Agnes to remember surfer and life and soul of any party Peter 'Chops' Lascelles.

More than 100 people competed in the inaugural event. Prior to the competition kicking off, dozens of people paddled out on their surfboards and formed a circle in the water to remember the local legend.

It is understood a party was also put after the event.

Mr Lascelles, who was originally from Australia, ran a successful surfboard business, Beachbeat surfboards, in St Agnes.

He sold boards to high profile surfers which included Nat young, Mickey Dora, Michael Demont, Ben Skinner and Glyndon Ringrose among others.

Alongside producing boards, Mr Lascelles was a highly regarded short and longboard surfer in his own right.

He twice competed for England in the surfing world championships and coached the last English team to bring home the European title.

Trains to and from Cornwall remain vulnerable to storms, despite the £35 million repairs to the track at Dawlish.

A Cross Country train was halted last week after it was hit by a wave at Dawlish, bringing delays of more than 35 minutes to morning commuters. Network Rail admits that it cannot do anything to prevent similar incidents.

A four-mile stretch of track at Dawlish was severely damaged by storms in February this year. Part of the line was left hanging in the air after the sea wall was demolished. The damage caused months of disruption to rail services west of Exeter.

Last week the 6.34am train on Monday,from Bristol towards Plymouth, was swamped by a wave at Dawlish. Cross Country said its relatively new Voyager trains were vulnerable to seawater because air intakes in the roof allow water to get into the electrics.