More than 1,000 people in one week have signed up to a "game changing" Westcountry co-operative aimed at ending fuel poverty.

Cornwall Together, a collective-buying initiative unveiled by Energy Secretary Ed Davey at the Eden Project a week ago, plans to cut energy bills across the board.

The pioneering project, an umbrella organisation to bulk-purchase electricity, gas and heating oil and share the savings with consumers, could produce up to £3.7 million worth of savings to Cornish households and businesses.

It also offers free loft and cavity wall insulation to every new member.

Partners in the ground-breaking project said they felt inspired by the fact that so many people in the county are joining in and have urged more to look at the cost savings and other benefits.

Project director and energy manager at the Eden Project, Matt Hastings, who dreamed up the scheme, said: "The response has been fantastic – more than 100 people a day are joining and all the partners are doing everything they can to get the message out there.

"The more people that sign up, the greater the potential savings on energy bills and benefits for everyone.

"We want people to tell their friends and families to join in and let them know about how this could offer thousands in Cornwall a cheaper deal on their gas and electricity."

The revolutionary scheme is free to join and will enable consumers to bind together as a single powerful unit to negotiate cheaper energy bills.

The partnership is made up of Cornwall Council, Cornwall NHS, Unison, the Eden Project and St Austell Brewery. It initially plans to buy fuel at low prices and pass on the discounts to its employees, around 50,000 between the members, with a longer-term vision to expand and extend the scheme beyond the Cornish border.

Cornwall Together – which is working with Community Buying Unlimited, the Rural Community Council and Community Energy Plus – will act as the sole bulk-buying contact for energy companies to negotiate with, switching suppliers whenever a better deal can be found. It is thought to be the first time an entire region has united as a community to buy energy.

Staff could see their fuel bills cut by between 10% and 20% under the scheme.

Mr Davey applauded the explicit aim of extending the benefits of collective switching to the most vulnerable householders. This was a reference to the scheme's social purpose, whereby it will invest 10 per cent of the revenue generated from each energy switch into a fund to address fuel poverty, which affects those spending more than 10% of their income on energy. Cornwall Together will then seek match-funding from other organisations.

Mr Davey added that he hoped the move would set an example for others "up and down the country".

The comparison website uSwitch.com described the scheme as a "complete game- changer" which could see the six in ten households that have never switched move off their old-fashioned and expensive tariffs.

Its craggy profile and iconic castle have long been among the most famous images of the Westcountry.

Now St Michael's Mount has scooped a new accolade, beating the likes of Ben Nevis and even the Houses of Parliament in a poll of favourite British landmarks.

According to users of the website MSN Travel, the medieval castle sitting atop its own island in Mount's Bay is the country's seventh favourite landmark. It was the only site in the Westcountry to be named in the poll, and was beaten by places such as Big Ben, Stonehenge and, in top place, The Giant's Causeway in North Ireland.

Charlotte Somers, head of marketing and PR at St Michael's Mount, said she was delighted at the "great plug for Cornwall".

The website wrote of the magnificent castle: "Steeped in legend, St Michael's Mount is an island that once linked West Cornwall to the rest of the world.

"The island was given to the Benedictine monks of Mont St Michel in France by Edward the Confessor, a priory was then built and during the middle ages became a major pilgrimage destination.

"Now home to a medieval castle, Priory Church, sub-tropical gardens, a historical village and a programme of events including weekly music sessions on the village green, there's plenty to keep visitors entertained."

Earlier this summer, St Michael's Mount became one of the most famous images to be broadcast across the world from the Olympic Torch relay. It has also been the backdrop for the filming of a new Hollywood blockbuster, Mariah Mundi And The Midas Box. Starring Michael Sheen and Sam Neill, the children's film is due out next year.

RNLI lifeguards are back patrolling a private beach in South East Cornwall despite an ongoing wrangle between the charity and chalet owners.

Lifeguards ceased keeping watch over Tregonhawke beach, Whitsand Bay, amid an 18-month row with Tregonhawke Cliff Chalet Owners Association Ltd (TCCOA) over the lease of a hut the RNLI had used.

Cornwall Council had held the lease but surrendered it.

RNLI chiefs used a temporary gazebo but TCCOA, who did not object to their presence, said they could not allow it because of insurance problems covering liability if anyone was injured.

The association wants the RNLI to indemnify TCCOA Ltd against any liability.

Yesterday Cornwall Council stepped-in and said the RNLI could set-up a gazebo on land outside TCCOA control and resume patrols.

Meanwhile negotiations between the charity and chalet owners will continue.

The deadlock was broken after a child was seriously injured last weekend.

Steve Instance, RNLI lifeguard inspector, said: "We are delighted to see our lifeguards back on Tregonhawke providing a vital lifesaving service to visitors and locals alike on this extremely popular beach.

"The charity has assured the association that it would not be responsible for the RNLI's undertakings on the beach. Although the RNLI hasn't yet reached a permanent resolution with the TCCOA to operate from the beach lifeguard unit, this interim solution to run the service from a gazebo will ensure the beach is patrolled by RNLI lifeguards for the remainder of the busy summer season."

A South West Water scheme in South East Cornwall has been named regional Project of the Year by engineering experts.

The company's sewage treatment scheme in Polperro, near Looe, scooped an award from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).

At an ICE South West ceremony, in Bristol, the £6 million scheme was named Major Project of the Year.

The project took more than a year to complete and included a sewage screening station at Scilly Cove and a 375m-long outfall. It was completed in September. According to the water giant, it has resulted in a major improvement in water quality in Scilly Cove and the surrounding area. Before, untreated effluent was discharged directly into the sea below Reuben's Walk.

According to the judges panel: "This was an innovative and bespoke design solution and construction method-ology, in response to a very sensitive and physically constrained site. Providing a visually discreet scheme in this important tourist area is of particular merit."

Graham Murphy, South West Water's director of engineering, said: "It was a challenging scheme and it was the final phase of South West Water's £2 billion Clean Sweep programme, which modernised sewage treatment in the South West.

"As a result of the programme, around 250 crude sewage outfalls have been closed and the quality of the bathing waters all around the peninsula has been transformed."

It was more than a red letter day for the inhabitants of the town Olympic gold medal winner Helen Glover calls home when the Royal Mail conducted a special post box makeover.

In tribute to the 26-year-old's awesome achievement, a prominent post box in Penzance was painted a sparkling golden colour.

The one-off, which accompanies a set of stamps printed in honour of Miss Glover and her rowing partner Heather Stanning, was certainly turning heads.

Siobahn Tubb, landlady of the harbourside Dolphin Tavern, which is next to the splendid gold post box, said it was amazing.

"It looks absolutely brilliant," she said.

"People are stopping and taking photographs of it. I have been telling people who are on holiday that they should go and have a look because it's the only one of its kind."

Mrs Tubb said she was aware the Royal Mail intended to redecorate an iconic red post boxes to mark the occasion and was delighted when the one on her doorstep was chosen.

"We had heard it was going to happen then we realised it was the one outside when they turned up on Wednesday night and starting painting it with primer.

"We opened at 6am on Thursday, just in case they wanted some teas or coffees."

Her eight-year-old daughter, Bethany, even found herself roped into the project.

"Bethany was standing outside and waving her flag. They asked her if she wanted to have a go and she was really pleased. She said she was honoured to be allowed to take part in a little bit of what was happening."

Mrs Tubb urged the Royal Mail to make the post box a permanent tribute to the golden girl of rowing.

"What Helen has done is a massive achievement. It's a real inspiration to all the youngsters here."

Miss Glover, a former PE teacher who took up rowing only four years ago, and her partner became the first Team GB members to scoop gold when they powered across the finishing line at Eton Dorney in the women's pairs on Wednesday.

Friends, family and colleagues have spoken of their pride at the win, while her constituency MP, Andrew George, said the victory was richly deserved.

"The Glover family are well known and admired locally," he said.

"Helen's victory will be universally celebrated in the Penzance area."

A last-ditch bid is to be mounted to save a helicopter "lifeline" service linking a fragile offshore community to the Cornish mainland.

British International Helicopters (BIH) has disclosed that flights between Penzance and the Isles of Scilly will be scrapped from November 1.

The news has been described as a "bitter blow," but MP Andrew George, whose constituency straddles both areas, and Cornwall Council have vowed not to give up.

Mr George said the closure of the "important lifeline service" which has operated for 49 years was quite simply "devastating news". He added: "It could have a severe impact not only on the Isles of Scilly, but also on Penzance."

Mr George said that many had feared BIH would pull the plug after an unsettled year since announcing the sale of its heliport in Penzance to supermarket giant Sainsbury's. Plans to relocate to a new transport hub at St Erth were scuppered by fierce local protests and the company had said the service would instead fly from Newquay. However, according to BIH, the final nail in the coffin was dealt by a legal challenge issued by Tesco and two private individuals over planning permission granted on the heliport site.

Mr George said he had already contacted aviation minister Theresa Villiers to ask for her support and that he hoped various stakeholders would come together.

Cornwall Council, meanwhile, has urged the Government to give the Isles of Scilly transport link the same support as Scottish islands.

"Effective, all-year-round transport links are vital to the economy of the Isles of Scilly and to the wellbeing of the islanders," said council leader Alec Robertson. "The Isles of Scilly face the same challenges as the Scottish islands and it is wrong that they do not receive the same level of Government support".

A spokesman for the Department for Transport told the Western Morning News they would be happy to attend a meeting.

"We are aware of British International Helicopter's announcement regarding their services to the Isles of Scilly and we are happy to meet with the local council to discuss the impact of this decision," he said.

The loss of the helicopter will leave transport to the islands in the hands of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, which operates airplanes and the Scillonian ferry service.

But Chris Pomfret, chairman of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, said helicopter flights were an important element of the transport links, adding: "The loss of this service is a bitter blow to the Isles of Scilly."

He said he was disappointed with Tesco's action and "would ask them to think long and hard about the impact of this on the local residents".

"Tesco are very proud of their community relations and I will be writing to the chairman and chief executive on behalf of the business community to see if they can intervene," he said.

Mike Hicks, chairman of the council of the Isles of Scilly, said he was "deeply saddened" by BIH's announcement.

He said: "Our immediate priority is to ensure the stability of our transport infrastructure going forward, and to work closely with all our partners, both on the islands and on the mainland, to bring that about."

A train passenger who stood up to a gang of foul-mouthed yobs at a Cornish station was subjected to a volley of abuse and threats for his trouble.

British Transport Police said the incident happened at Penryn railway station near Falmouth and are appealing for witnesses to come forward. PC Wayne Frost said a group of men entered Penryn railway station shortly after 7pm on Tuesday, and began shouting and swearing loudly in front of other passengers at the station. He said: "One passenger asked the men to curb their language, only to be met with further abuse and threats from members of the group. The men's behaviour caused a number of passengers at the station to fear for their safety to such an extent that they did not board the service to Truro which this group of men got on at Penryn."

The men who got off at Truro, are described as being white, in their 30s. One wore a turquoise-coloured top, a second wore a black jacket and jeans and a third wore a white T-shirt.

Mr Frost added: "Enquiries are ongoing, including reviewing CCTV from in and around both Penryn and Truro stations, to trace these men as their behaviour on this evening was completely unacceptable. I would urge anyone who witnessed the incident, or knows the men responsible, to come forward."

Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40.

An MP and council leaders were yesterday desperately trying to salvage a "lifeline" helicopter service linking the Cornish mainland to the Isles of Scilly.

St Ives MP Andrew George and Cornwall Council were seeking urgent talks with ministers and asking for subsidies applied elsewhere in the UK to be made available in the Westcountry.

The actions follow an announcement by British International Helicopters (BIH) that it would close its service between Penzance and the Isles of Scilly from November 1.

The decision, described as "a kick in the teeth", came on the heels of a legal challenge by supermarket giant Tesco to planning permission granted on the Penzance heliport site to rival Sainsbury's.

BIH said the last-minute challenge had delayed the sale of the site, money from which was desperately needed to keep the service flying, from another location.

The Department for Transport told the Western Morning News yesterday that they would be prepared to meet with leaders of the communities left reeling by the shock news.

A CAR which collided with a moped, killing a Fowey teenager, had been an insurance write-off, an inquest heard.

Zoe Couch was speeding and lost control of her Ford Ka on January 25, 2010, crashing into 16-year-old Rosie Allen as she rode her moped along the A3082 Par Moor Road.

More than two and a half years after the tragedy, the inquest into Rosie's death was finally held at Truro Coroners' Court on Friday last week.

It was told how Miss Couch's Ford had previously been involved in an accident and had suffered catergory C damage – where the cost of repair work is more than the car's market value. The court also heard that, despite being road legal, Miss Couch's Ford still had "numerous defects" and was "not in a serviceable condition".

There were issues with the brakes and suspension, the wheels were the wrong size for the car and it was "not well maintained".

Miss Couch had bought the car for £600 from her boss at the Four Lords pub in St Blazey, where she worked as a barmaid.

Geoffrey Chapman, a police forensic vehicle examiner, said that in his opinion the defects could have led to "adverse handling and braking characteristics" which may have contributed to the collision.

MPC Marcus Rowe, also with Devon and Cornwall Police's road unit, said his calculations put Miss Couch at doing around 60mph, but that she was not exceeding the critical, or maximum, speed for the corner in her car of 77mph. He felt the suspension set-up and the defects made for "sub-optimal" handling and could have contributed to the collision.

There was no evidence that Miss Couch tried to brake, he said.

When questioned about the moments leading up the crash by Coroner for Cornwall, Dr Emma Carlyon, Miss Couch said: "I'm not sure – I lost control. I went to the right hand side [of the road] and tried to correct it and then oversteered and span out."

She denied she had been distracted by anything, that she was on the phone or that her music had been too loud.

Fireman Mike Warren, who attended the scene shortly after the collision, said the music in the Ford Ka suddenly burst into life and was "earsplitting".

He said: "The music coming from the car made it difficult to concentrate and communicate. It was like music coming from a nightclub," he said.

It was unclear whether the music – which turned itself on – was at the volume level previously set in the car or whether the accident had caused the system to malfunction and play at full volume.

"[The music] was on [while I was driving] but it was not excessively loud," said Miss Couch. She also said she didn't notice any of the car's defects.

"I thought the car was fine. It was nice to drive," she added.

She "didn't remember" if she was speeding or not.

One of the first people on the scene was ambulance technician Stephanie Barrett.

In a statement to the court, she said that Rosie's moped "looked like a lump of metal" after the crash, so extensive was the damage.

"It was like a bomb had gone off, there was so much debris everywhere," she added.

Rosie's body was thrown into the undergrowth alongside Par Moor Road and was partially submerged in a ditch.

Despite concerns from others on the scene that she may have suffered severe spinal injuries, Ms Barrett moved Rosie fearing as she may drown if the upper half of her body wasn't taken out of the water.

"There must have been speed involved to rip the young girl's clothes off"," she added.

Describing Zoe's Ford Ka, she said: "I couldn't believe anyone could have gotten out of the vehicle in the condition it was in."

Zoe's dad, Keith Couch, said his daughter was on her way to college in St Austell when he received a call from her.

"She was hysterical and crying," he said. She told her father: "I've had an accident I think she's dead," he said in a statement to the inquest.

"[Zoe said to me] I tried but I couldn't move out of the way.

"I was going along and the car just shot across to the other side of the road."

Recording an open verdict, Dr Carlyon said: "It is not clear what role the defects, music or mobile phone played in the loss of control of the car."

ANGRY residents are to fight plans by an energy company to almost double the size of its controversial solar farm on the outskirts of Bodmin.

The new scheme by Solar Securities at Middle Bodiniel Farm, would be next to the company's existing 5MW solar farm at Lower Bodiniel Farm covering 15 hectares (37 acres) and which started producing electricity in June.

But residents in the area have already complained the panels will further blot the countryside landscape and lorries accessing the site will cause more damage to Copshorn Road, which is now riddled with potholes caused by vehicles delivering equipment to the current solar farm.

Cornwall councillor for the area, Mick Martin, said he expected to receive objections from residents and he would be attending a public meeting on Tuesday to look at the plans.

"I'll need to look at what is proposed in detail before I decide whether or not to call the application in for it to be decided by the planning committee, but I have already heard concerns about the new solar farm proposal,'' he said.

The new site is an area of approximately 13 hectares divided into nine fields which are bounded by traditional Cornish hedgerows, which would be retained. The company says the solar farm extension will consist of rows of angled photovoltaic (PV) panels mounted on steel frames which allow room for sheep to graze between and below the rows.

Solar Securities director Nick Richardson said: "Our first installation at Lower Bodiniel Farm has been a great success so we are now considering a neighbouring site that would meet the equivalent needs of a further 1,000 homes.

"Cornwall enjoys more sun than any other part of the country and solar energy has a critical role to play in tackling climate change and creating security of energy supply, with minimal impact on the environment."

Mr Richardson said work was in hand to repair the damage caused to Copshorn Road.

"As part of our original planning consent we undertook to remediate Copshorn Road, which was inspected before and after the construction of our solar farm at Lower Bodiniel Farm," he said.

"A schedule of work has now been drawn up and agreed with the local authority. We are now just finalising the appointment of an approved contractor and expect the work to be done in the next four to six weeks.''

Local resident Paul Ellis said it was pointless repairing the road if more heavy vehicles were to bring more panels needed for the new development.

"There has been enormous concern in the area about the damage caused to the road, particularly the number of potholes which have appeared. If this application is approved, we are going to get more problems in Copshorn Road," he said.

There will be a public exhibition about the latest solar farm proposals on Tuesday, (August 7) from 2pm to 8pm at The Parish Centre, St Mary's Road, when Solar Securities will explain their outline proposals. A more detailed exhibition is planned later this year.

THE seventh annual Tywardreath Trotter was held on Saturday, round seven of the Cornwall Multi-Terrain Series, sponsored by Personal Best Running and the National Trust.

There were 257 finishers and the race was won in an excellent time of 40.04 by Tony Brewer of the Penryn-based Mile High Club.

He was just under a minute ahead of Launceston Road Runners' Dan Rodgers, with Peter Ellis (Hayle Runners) taking third place in a time of 42.47.

The ladies race was won by Lucy Mancer of St Austell Running Club in a time of 49:08, and 39th overall, with veteran runner Revis Crowle of East Cornwall Harriers second woman home in 50.04, finishing 49th overall.

She was just under a minute ahead of her East Cornwall team-mate Sharon Daw, with Debbie Harrison of Hayle Runners taking third spot in 52.21.

Lucy's performance helped St Austell to win the ladies team title, together with Emma Murray, Deb Grills and Shirley Cairney.

The course is challenging, of which 50 per cent is off-road and is a distance of approximately seven miles. Thanks to everyone who took part and all the helpers and marshals that made the event possible.

Thanks also to all race sponsors, including The New Inn, Cornish Riviera Box Office, St Austell Brewery, Varker Appliances, West Pharmaceutical Services, Webber Rowe Homes, Pave Velo and Tywardreath Butchers.

Next year's event will take place on Saturday July 27. The fun run will start at 5.30pm and the main race will start at 6.45pm.

For full results, go to www.tywardreathtrotters.wordpress.com

Fun run report and pictures, see Page 32.

WADEBRIDGE has failed in its bid to become a Portas Pilot town after the latest round of applications.

If it had been chosen under the Government-backed scheme, the town would have received £100,000 to improve the centre plus advice from retail guru Mary Portas.

Camelford is another town which has been told it too has lost out this time.

The Wadebridge application was led by the chamber of commerce and was supported by the town council and the Wadebridge Renewable Energy Network.

In the first round of Portas Pilot applications, Liskeard was among 12 towns in the UK to be chosen and last month Mary Portas was in the South East Cornwall town with a film crew offering traders advice on how to improve their businesses.

Wadebridge Chamber of Commerce is now concentrating on its efforts to employ a salaried town centre manager to help bring trading opportunities and prosperity to the town centre.

Deputy chair of the chamber, Sarah Prosser said although members were disappointed, the chances of Wadebridge becoming a Portas Pilot town had not been great.

"We knew we only had a slim chance of winning it, but on the positive side, it was a good exercise in bringing key groups together to look at what is needed and what can be achieved in the future,'' she said.

Mrs Prosser felt funding a town centre manager for Wadebridge was now the primary objective.

"A town centre manager is vital because we can't afford to lose out on the funding opportunities and other benefits someone in that job will bring to Wadebridge.''

She said one of the aims in the future was to make Wadebridge nationally known, something that neighbouring Padstow had already achieved with the Rick Stein factor.

"Most people like coming to shop in Wadebridge and they think it must be thriving, but it's all to do with footfall, and getting more people here to support our shops and businesses,'' said Mrs Prosser.

The chamber needs funding support from Wadebridge Town Council but they are worried about using taxpayers' money to help pay the manager's wages.

The plans will be discussed further next month.

But MPs opposed to massive turbines believe the march of onshore technology has come to an end, and want subsidies lavished on them cut further.

A league table published in the House of Commons library reveals Cornwall Council received 25 applications for onshore windfarms between 2002 and 2011.

The figure, which pools applications made before the county's six district councils were scrapped in 2009, is the joint second-highest of all authorities in England.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council also received 25, Northumberland County Council got 22 and Durham County Council recorded 21.

All four are predominantly rural areas, underlining how the countryside has born the brunt of the surge. Authorities in Devon received a combined total of 20 applications, according to information supplied by the Department for Energy and Climate Change.

Proponents contend that wind farms play a vital role in reducing carbon emissions pumped into the atmosphere as they remain the most mature form of renewable technology available, and create jobs.

But critics say they are a blight on rural communities and are inefficient. The coalition Government supports onshore wind farms, though ministers last week confirmed a 10% cut to subsidies developers get.

Subsidies, paid for through household energy bills, will be reviewed again next year against calls from Conservative backbench MPs to cut support by 25%, which has angered environmentalists.

Sources at DECC have indicated the number of wind farm planning applications currently in the system will bring Britain to the total number the country needs, indicating more major schemes will not get the go-ahead.

It is for this reason that London-based developer Quiet Revolution's recent proposals for a 20-turbine wind farm at Buckhayes Farm near Bampton, Mid Devon, is opposed by the area's MP, Neil Parish.

Mr Parish, Tory MP for Tiverton and Honiton, said: "We have enough already on land, and I don't think they are the solution to our green energy needs. We need to look at bio-digestion and look at the tidal range in the Bristol Channel to produce more power.

"They are intrusive into the countryside. People come to the countryside to enjoy it. If I thought they were the answer to our problems, I would be more enthusiastic. But they are not very efficient."

He added: "I will be encouraging a cut of 25 per cent to subsidies for onshore wind turbines."

The figures, published in response to a Parliamentary Question, also show the rate at which applications were refused. Authorities in Cornwall dismissed just five and approved 14 – the most approvals of any authority in England over the last ten years. The discrepancy can be explained by applications still going through the system. Six were made in Cornwall last year. In Devon, nine were refused.

Observers warned the figures look to be an under-estimate, despite coming from official sources. In February, Cornwall Council was said to be considering 69 formal requests for permission and a further 200 sites were thought to have been earmarked for Devon.

But the comparisons show how little other areas are targeted compared to the Westcountry. Large Wiltshire and Northamptonshire councils, which have rural areas but are less sparse, received applications in single figures.

Fullabrook wind farm, near Ilfracombe, North Devon – England's biggest – has polarised opinion for years but is now partially operational. And a proposed development at Davidstow in North Cornwall has infuriated locals.

Hazel Williams, senior analyst of Regen SW, the body which champions renewable energy in the region, said: "In the South West, appropriately sited onshore wind projects harness our excellent local, natural wind resource and offer real opportunities for local economic benefit from the generation of energy.

"For example, we are increasingly seeing community groups getting together to lead on renewable energy projects, including large-scale wind, with a view not only to reducing their carbon emissions, but, more than ever, to generate an income both for their community and for their local economy."

But she warned uncertainty about support for large-scale wind from 2014 onwards is likely to create knock-on uncertainty in the industry.

She added: "What we need is long-term, clear and transparent support for all scales of onshore wind that reflects and drives reductions in costs, whilst supporting the delivery of appropriately sited projects."

A spokesman for DECC said any wind farm proposals, regardless of their location, must go through the appropriate planning regime, and developers must engage with local communities. He added that, in proposing an application for an onshore wind farm, a developer will consider factors including the local plan and viability of the wind resource.

He added: "We are reducing the level of support for onshore wind through the Renewables Obligation by 10% from 2013 to reflect falling costs, to incentivise the most cost-effective turbines, and to minimise the impact on consumer energy bills."

The future of Truro City as a Blue Square Bet South club was hanging by a thread tonight after the squad gave the club a seven day deadline to pay the wages they are owed.

If the money is not paid by 10am next Thursday, then the players will reluctantly quit City, just over a week before they are due to start the new season at Billericay Town on Saturday August 18, plunging the club into further turmoil.

The  bulk of the squad have signed contracts, which they say they will allow to go into the league, but have also given 14 days notice that if the owed wages are not paid they will be leaving.

That notice can be revoked at any time if the money is forthcoming.

The latest dramatic developments came after the squad was addressed at training at Tregye, near Truro,  this evening by City vice-chairman Chris Webb, in  the absence of chairman Kevin Heaney, who he told the players was in London meeting with the investors who want to take over the club.

It is understood an impasse between Mr Heaney and the London-based group has led to the present situation with no funds available to pay the long-suffering players who had to undergo a similar scenario last season.

Webb refused to comment after leaving the meeting, but the players were not so reticent and many were visibly distraught at the latest sad turn of events. Many fear this could finally be the end of the road after an unprecedented run  of success.

Bankrolled by chairman Kevin Heaney the club has risen  from from the South-Western League to  within two promotions of the Football League, with a FA Vase win at Wembley along the way.

But now  unless  the money is forthcoming, the club will face the prospect of either pulling out of Blue Square Bet South attracting severe penalties or fulfilling the  fixtures with reserve team players.

It will be a reserve team who travel to Tiverton for a friendly on Saturday and it is highly unlikely Tuesday's scheduled friendly against St Blazey will go ahead.

Striker Stewart Yetton said: "It is a very sad state of affairs. It does not look very hopeful."

Skipper Jake Ash said: "The realism is that as a group of players we do not want to see the club go down the leagues. We have given the club the best opportunity by handing our forms in. It is horrible. There does not seem to be any winner.

"We all feel so sorry for the supporters who have been fantastic."

Manager Lee Hodges said: "It is a very sad situation two weeks before the start of the season for everyone involved at the club now and in the past. The players are gutted."