The draw for the Cornwall Junior Cup area quarter-finals has been made. West: Camborne School of Mines v West Cornwall, St Buryan v Penryn Athletic, Carharrick v Frogpool, Mullion v Holman Sports. East: Saltash Utd v Veryan, Kilkhampton v St Stephen, Looe Town v Callington Town, Padstow v Holywell & Cubert.

REDRUTH 27 LYDNEY 25

Strong words in the changing room, coupled with a powerful second half performance,  saw Redruth overcome a 15-point half-time deficit to secure a morale boosting win prior to next Saturday's Cornish derby against The Cornish All Blacks, reports Bill Hooper from the Recreation Ground.

The win, against a side struggling at the wrong end of the National 2 South league table, was just the tonic Redruth head coach Steve Larkins needed as he conceded that he had been feeling the pressure in recent weeks. 

He said after the game. "I have felt the pressure from the fans here at Redruth, they expect their side to win and the results of late have not been up to scratch, but today we made some changes at half-time and that seemed help us secure a five-point win here today.

"No question that we were flat during the first half nothing went right we were turning over ball and the referee penalised us mercilessly and we were struggling, the changes at half-time gave us more stable scrum and the ability to go forward and that turned the game for us."

Early pressure from Lydney saw the visitors take the lead with a Tony Wicks penalty as the Redruth scrum buckled.

It got worse for the Reds just moments later as Lydney scored their first try, although the was a hint of a knock on, flanker Harry Brown finishing off the move for an unconverted score.

Redruth looked to build some momentum as Lydney went down to 14 men after scrum-half Jack O'Connell was yellow carded for a professional foul, they got the breakthrough when flanker John Stevens –who put in a storming show during the first half - was put in after a good burst by lock Charlie Davey, full-back Brett Rule, who had previously missed with a penalty attempt, slotted the conversion.

Lydney were still proving a handful for the Reds and when they forced a scrum down in Hellfire corner it set the platform for their second try scored by fly-half Eamon Rees with centre Brad Barnes adding the conversion.

Skipper Chris Holder then grabbed Lydney's third try before half-time as he made the most of Barnes' delightful grubber kick to gather and score in the Piggy lane corner.

Barnes added the conversion and then traded penalties with Rule to leave the visitors 25-10 up at the break and good value for their lead.

The introduction of prop Craig Williams, for Drew and lock Damien Cook, for the excellent Davey, bolstered the Redruth pack and it soon showed.

An early penalty was kicked to the corner by Rule, from the catch-and-drive, exciting young prop prospect Tommy Phillips, crashed over for an unconverted try.

The momentum of the game had now swung in Redruth's favour, another penalty was kicked to the corner, after the initial drive was countered, the ball was moved wide with fly-half Rhodri McAtee's chip over the defence gathered by centre Sam Parsons to score Redruth's third try, cutting the deficit to just five points.

The Reds, with their tails now well and truly up, went in search of a fourth try, it was duly delivered six minutes from time as another powerful drive from a catch-and – drive saw referee Calum Howard having no hesitation to award Redruth a penalty-try as Lydney blatantly pulled-down the drive, Rule's conversion put Redruth into a two-point lead which they held on to until the final whistle.

Redruth 27 pts

Tries – Stevens, Phillips, Parsons, Penalty-try, Conversions – Rule (2), Penalty – Rule

Lydney 25 pts

Tries – Brown, Reece, Holder, Conversions – Barnes (2), Penalties – Wick, Barnes

Yellow Card – Connell (25)

Reduth: B Rule, J Kessell, R Wedlake, S Parsons, M Bowden (D Rutter 26-40 & 48), R McAtee (M Bowden 65), N Webber; T Phillips, R Brown, J Drew (C Williams 41), C Davey (D Cook 41), L Collins, C Fuca (Capt), J Stevens (B Priddey 48), K Marriott.

Lydney: T Wicks (J Rodgers 8), J Hannam, J Innes, B Barnes, C Holder (Capt), E Rees, J O'Connell; Z Swagrzak, M Wallis (C Farrell 56), O Day, C Daniel, D Bennett, M Boobyer, H Brown, L Jackson.

Replacements (not used): J Perks, J Lovell, A Wheeler

Referee: Calum Howard (RFU)

Crowd: 685

Redruth-man-of-the-match: Tommy Phillips, another good performance from the young prop who continues to grow in stature with every game, crowned with the Reds' important first second half try to start the comeback.

Bedford Blues 41 Cornish Pirates 40

Cornish Pirates' hopes of British and Irish Cup success came to an end in dramatic style at Goldington Road as Bedford Blues secured a 41-40 victory, writes Bill Sobey. The Pirates needed a positive result, with games elsewhere going their way, but they were unable meet their part of the requirements, despite a Tom Riley hat-trick and a spirited performance from the rest of the men in black and gold. The lead changed hands seven times as both sides sought five points to save their place in the competition. It was perhaps a period in the first half, while down to 14 men, that cost the Pirates. Blues took full advantage while Kieran Goss was in the sin bin to score two tries and set up a 24-16 lead at the interval. Although Pirates fought back superbly in an extraordinary second half, it wasn't to be. Director of rugby Ian Davies was pleased with his players' endeavour despite them falling short by a point. He said: "I though the boys performed really well in the second half, especially. We messed up a line-out and they countered very well in the lead-up to Kieran's yellow card in the first half. "They scored two tries then and that gave them a lot of confidence going into half time. We spoke about how we would need to come out and respond in the second half and we did that. All I wanted, right at the end, was to get in their half and give Kieran Hallett a chance to kick us to victory because he was flawless all afternoon. "We needed that little bit of luck, but fair play to Bedford, they defended really well. Our boys kept hammering away but we weren't able to do it." Pirates got off the mark within two minutes through a Hallett penalty after Bedford infringed while trying to run the ball out of defence from the kick-off. The visitors' scrum also looked strong initially and drew another penalty, which Hallett kicked superbly to double his side's lead in a dominant opening five minutes. The Blues responded well and won a penalty themselves when the two packs collided again deep in Pirates' territory. They opted to kick for the corner, and the second of two catch and drive attempts resulted in a touchdown for No.8 Paul Tupai, converted by captain James Pritchard. However, Pirates retook the lead when centre Riley scored his side's first try after an opportunist break and Hallett then added the extras. The impetus shifted decisively in Blues' favour as the half reached its midpoint when a superb break was halted at the last moment by a determined tackle from Goss, but the wing's decision to not release his opposite number Pat Tapley earned him a yellow card. It didn't take Tapley long to get his revenge, as he released full-back Pritchard to score in the left corner for Bedford's second try in the minutes that followed. The former Plymouth Albion man then added the conversion to his own try. The cost of being a man down was brought to the fore again when Blues' wing Dean Adamson exploited another gap to burst clear for his side's third touchdown in just the 31st minute. Pritchard's conversion stretched the hosts' lead to eight points as Goss returned to the pitch. Pritchard and Hallett traded a penalty apiece in the run-up to half time, but it was the Pirates who would have been happier to hear the whistle for the break, despite slowing Blues' progress a little when back to a full complement. Indeed, Pirates emerged from an evenly contested start to the second half to score their second try, again through Riley, but created by some slick handling from Goss and scrum-half Tom Kessell. Hallett's conversion brought the Cornishmen back within a point of their hosts with more than half an hour still remaining. Pirates' comeback was completed in the 53rd minute when Max Bodilly squeezed over for their third try and Hallett added an excellent conversion from close to the left touchline to establish a six-point lead just short of the hour mark. But just as in the first half, momentum continued to shifted, and Bedford took over the lead once more with Tupai scoring his second try of the day in similar circumstances to his first, finishing a powerful drive for the try line with Pritchard adding the conversion. Pirates responded with Hallett kicking over a penalty after a dangerous tackle from Hayden Thompson-Stringer on Kessell saw the Blues man earn a yellow card. Being down to 14 failed to stop Bedford, however, with Tupai charging down a Pirates kick and Tapley helped himself to a try. Pritchard then added his second penalty with five minutes remaining to put the game seemingly beyond Pirates, with a nine-point difference between them and less than two minutes left. However, a hat-trick score from Riley and a quick-fire conversion from Hallett set up a breathless finish. In the end, a pass from Hallett hit replacement Dean Brooker in the chest deep in stoppage time and the knock on allowed the Blues to finish the game as victors. However, results elsewhere meant neither side advance to the latter stages of the competition this year.

YOUNG girls from Helston have had the chance to develop their understanding of people with disabilities by taking part in activities which have limited their vision, mind and physical being.

Fixing blindfolds, members of the 3rd Helston Brownie pack worked in teams to translate words formed using marbles placed in egg cartons representing the pinpoints of braille messaging.

A game of pass the parcel brought limb immobility into perspective when the music stopped and each girl had to use only one hand to open the present with the other secured in a bandage sling.

Brown Owl Liz Nash said: "The girls sat and discussed, as a group, their findings, noting that it took more time to complete a task and negotiate obstacles."

The town's hospital and mobility centre helped the pack experience the physical practicalities of using wheelchairs and crutches, donating equipment for the group to try around their Andrew Hall meeting place.

As the meeting drew to a close in the fourth week of the project, the pack invested new member Ellie. She chose to take her promise using sign language, helping the other girls learn a new form of communication.

Mrs Nash added: "Taking part in the various challenges has opened their eyes to the world around them, with some of them now having a clearer perspective of what mobility is like for some children in their classes who have to use a wheelchair to get around."

The pack which meets at The Andrew Hall in Church Street, Helston, each Thursday, is looking for more girls to join in its adventures and make friends. Contact Mrs Nash on 07732 450502 if interested.

The A39 between Truro and Falmouth is closed after an accident involving a Tesco lorry.

The lorry came off the road at Kea Corner last night.

PCSO Chris Braddon, based at Falmouth police station, tweeted: "The A39 is closed between Playing place & Arch Hill, Truro for the recovery of an articulated Tesco lorry from an RTC [road traffic collision] last night."

A diversion is in place via the A390.

Police say the road is expected to re-open at 1.30pm.

Bookies are offering 8/1 odds on a white Christmas for Cornwall - the first time the Duchy would have seen snow falling on Christmas Day for ten years.

The Met Office said they would not rule out snow on December 25 in Cornwall, but it was too early to give a forecast for 12 days' time.

William Hill have offered odds of 8/1 – the longest odds anywhere in the UK – for snow to fall in Penzance on Christmas Day.

The most likely location for snow, according to the bookmakers, is Aberdeen in the far north of Scotland at odds of 5/2.

Meteorologist Kirk Waite, from the Met Office, said: "It is not out of the question but it is too early to tell. We are looking at a fairly typical December pattern at the moment, which mostly bring things from the west. This normally brings us milder and wetter conditions. To bring wintry precipitation to Cornwall it would require it to be relatively cold.

"We are still in that outlook period and until we get closer to the time, within a week, then we can start looking more at the forecasts for Christmas Day rather than the general trend."

The last snowfall on Christmas Day in Cornwall was in 2004, when snow fell over much of the west and north of the UK. Cornwall saw an unusual amount of snow in December 2010, but it did not fall on Christmas Day.

One snowflake has to fall at an airport for a white Christmas to be declared and the bookies to pay out.

Cornwall will see a "flipflopping" in temperatures with some freezing nights on the way ahead of a warmer spell.

Sunshine and clear night skies are going to cause the mercury to fluctuate in Cornwall and the UK according to weather experts.

Last night the lowest temperature recorded in the UK was -5.9C (21.3F) in Scotland, marginally warmer than the -6.6C (20.1F) at Eskdale Muir in Dumfries on Friday night where around 4in (10cm) of snow covered the Highlands.

Alex Burkill, a forecaster at the Met Office, said: "It's going to be much milder than it has been of late for many parts."

He said temperatures today could reach double figures in some areas with the South West likely to enjoy 11C, while London will see 9C and possibly 10C.

Mr Burkill said many places tonight, going in to Monday, would stay above freezing.

He said for the next week or so there would be periods where it will be sunny with clear skies but therefore colder, and periods where the weather would be more unsettled but milder as a result.

"That's why we're going to see a flipflopping in temperatures," he said.

Mr Burkill said that on Monday night, into Tuesday, temperatures will drop below freezing quite widely.

Meanwhile, Paul Mott, from weather forecaster MeteoGroup, said: "On Wednesday temperatures will be up to 13C (55.4F) in the London area, and it will be mild in the South from the middle of the week.

"Around 7C (44.6F) is the average at this time of year in the London area. 13C (55.4F) is above average but not unusual for this time of year, but it will be a lot milder than we have seen recently."

Sky-watchers in Cornwall have braved freezing temperatures to enjoy a celestial firework display as one of the year's most spectacular meteor showers reached its fiery peak.

Clear skies, which sent the thermometer plunging, ensured a good view of the Geminid meteor shower last night.

Astronomers said the weather conditions expected were close to perfect for the annual spectacle.

In London just after midnight some very bright meteors streaked across the sky.

At their height, the Geminids could produce between 50 and 100 shooting stars every hour. They might be glowing in multiple colours and include occasional rapid bursts of two or three.

The best time to see the meteors was expected to be at around 2am, when the "radiant" – the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to originate - was almost overhead, next to the constellation Gemini.

But meteors should have been visible throughout the night from around 10pm.

Speaking ahead of the shower, Robin Scagell, vice-president of the Society for Popular Astronomy, said: "It should be a good display, weather permitting – we might not be far off perfect conditions in the UK.

"The constellation is very high in the sky and most of the Moon will have gone away. An average of one comet a minute would be a good rate, and that's possible. You might also get little bursts of activity with two or three together."

The official Geminid "maximum" is at 11am, but daylight will prevent them from being seen then.

Meteor showers occur when the Earth ploughs through clouds of cometary dust. The tiny particles, some no bigger than a grain of sand, burn up brightly as they enter the atmosphere.

The Geminids are unusual in that they are not shed by a classic icy comet but a body that shares characteristics of both comets and asteroids.

Known as 3200 Phaethon, the three-mile-wide object was discovered in 1983 by two British scientists examining Nasa satellite images and initially classified as an asteroid.

But it has an eccentric orbit that looks more like that of a comet than an asteroid and brings it well inside the orbit of Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, every 1.4 years. Nasa describes it as a "rock comet".

Traditionally asteroids are made of rock and comets mostly of ice.

"It's not as clear-cut as it used to be," said Mr Scagell. "A lot of asteroids are quite icy. There are asteroids that look a bit like comets and comets that look a bit like asteroids."

The Geminid meteor shower itself was first noted in the 1860s. Over time, it has become more intense, with up to 20 comets per hour reported in the 1920s, rising to 50 in the 1930s, 60 in the 1940s and 80 in the 1970s.

Travelling at some 22 miles per second, the meteors burn up about 24 miles above the Earth.

Another unusual feature of the Geminids is that they can shine in different colours. Mostly glowing white, they may also appear yellow, blue, green or red.

Regardless of whether 3200 Phaethon is an asteroid or comet, it is classified as a "potentially hazardous" near-Earth object (NEO).

To be classified as potentially hazardous, an NEO must pass within 4.6 million miles of the Earth. Each year in December, the Earth is less than two million miles from Phaethon's orbit.

At its closest upcoming approach on December 14 2093, the object will be 1,812,640 miles away – quite far enough to be safe.

"It's not any immediate danger to the Earth," said Mr Scagell.

Did you photograph the Geminid meteor shower? Send your pictures to eashcroft@westbriton.co.uk

The Highways Agency has released a list of the planned roadworks in Cornwall between Monday, December 15 and Sunday, December 21.

All works are subject to changes due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances.

A 24hour contraflow and 40mph speed limit is in place on the A38 at Dobwalls for while resurfacing takes place. Works are expected to finish in May 2015.

One lane of the A30 will be closed between Carminnow Cross and Innis Down, near Bodmin for drainage works. A 50mph speed limit is in place and works are expected to finish in March.

A eastbound lane of the A30 at Cannaframe, near Launceston will be closed between 9am and 4pm on Monday for survey works.

A westbound lane of the A30 between Callywith and Carminnow, near Bodmin will be closed between 8pm and 6am for drainage works on Monday. A diversion via the A38 will be in place.

A westbound lane of the A30 at Trebursye will be closed on Monday between 9am and 4pm for barrier repairs.

The A30 at St Erth, near Penzance will be closed Monday to Wednesday between 7pm and 6am for South West Water works. Traffic signals will be in place.

A westbound lane of the A30 at Cannaframe, near Launceston will be closed between 9am and 4pm Tuesday to Friday for survey works.

The westbound exit sliproad of the A30 at Scorrier near Redruth will be closed Friday to Saturday between 7.30pm and 6am for tree works. A diversion via the Avers roundabout and the A3047 will be in place.

A westbound lane of the A30 in Broadwoodwidger, near Launceston will be closed between 9am and 9pm on Friday for tree works.

A westbound lane of the A39 at Plymouth will be closed between 8pm and 4am on Thursday and Friday for survey works. 

POLICE have charged a man in connection with an acid attack in Truro.

David Phillips, 48, from Hastings is due to appear before Truro magistrates on Monday.

He has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm following the incident on Tuesday.

Andreas Christopheros, 29, was injured in the attack in Carrine Road.

He remains in a critical but stable condition.

Police have not confirmed whether a second man being questioned over the incident is still in custody.

Proud parents Prince William and Kate Middleton have released three photographs of their 16-month old son, Prince George.

The official Christmas photographs show George, third in line to the throne, sitting on stone steps in the courtyard at Kensington Palace.

With his hair neatly combed, he wears a blue sleeveless jumper, decorated with marching guardsmen complete with bearskins and red tunics, over a white top and dark shorts and matching socks and shoes.

The last official pictures of George were published to mark his first birthday on July 22 and, in the intervening four months, the Queen's great-grandson has lost his babyish face and appears to have grown taller.

The photographs were taken in late November by an unnamed member of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's staff, possibly their live-in Spanish nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo.

The next milestone in George's life will be the birth of his brother or sister, due in late April.

George is growing up free from intrusion into his private life by the media - something William and Kate wish for their son.

Their decision to release the pictures could be seen partly as a thank you to editors for not overstepping the mark.

The A39 between Truro and Falmouth has reopened after an accident involving a Tesco lorry.

The lorry came off the road at Key Corner shortly before 4pm yesterday.

Emergency services were alerted to the incident after a female witness rang to report what had happened. 

Fire crews attended and helped the driver out of the lorry before making the area safe.  

It is understood that the driver was not injured.

The road was closed for several hours today while recovery crews removed the vehicle.

Elton John and his band will play a second Eden Sessions concert next summer due to a huge demand for tickets.

Eden had already announced that the superstar singer would be playing on Tuesday, June 16. After tickets sold out in just a few hours of general sale on Friday, a second concert has now been added for the following evening, Wednesday, June 17.

Eden's Marketing Director Rita Broe said today: "We've had an amazingly positive response to the news of Elton John returning to play in Cornwall for the first time in 30 years and appearing for the first time at Eden. The demand for tickets for the June 16 Session has been overwhelming.

"We are thrilled to announce that Elton can play a second Session on the following evening. We are certain his fans will be as delighted as we are at the prospect of double the number being able to see him perform. Two magical nights of Elton at Eden coming up!"

The tour will feature iconic hits and classic album tracks from throughout his incredible five-decade career, including a selection of songs from his highly-acclaimed album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary with a Deluxe Edition.

Elton John's band includes Nigel Olsson on drums, part of Elton's original three-piece band, as well as Davey Johnstone on guitar who joined the band in 1972 , Matt Bissonette on bass, John Mahon on percussion, and Kim Bullard on keyboards.

Tickets for the June 17 concert go on sale tomorrow, Monday December 15, at 4pm. Call 01726 811972 for tickets or visit www.edensessions.com for more information.

Members of the Eden Sessions Inside Track club can buy tickets for the June 17 Elton John Eden Session from 10am tomorrow, Monday, December 15. A pair of tickets will be reserved for each Inside Track member until 3pm on Thursday (December 18).

Undeniably one of the most acclaimed and adored artists of all time, Elton's spectacular stage shows are sought after by audiences worldwide. Since his career began in 1969 he has played more than 3,500 concerts in over 80 countries.

Elton is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, with 37 gold and 27 multi-platinum albums as well as 58 Billboard Top 40 singles, and he has sold more than 250 million records worldwide. Elton holds the record for the biggest-selling single of all time, Candle in the Wind 1997, which sold 33 million copies. He has also written the music for stage and screen successes Billy Elliot: The Musical, Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida, and The Lion King, which was recently named the highest-grossing stage show or film release in the world.

Among the many awards and honours bestowed upon him are five Grammys, a Grammy Legend award, a Tony and an Oscar, a Best British Male Artist BRIT Award, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Kennedy Center Honor, Legend of Live Award, 12 Ivor Novello Awards and a knighthood from HM Queen Elizabeth II for "services to music and charitable services." Elton has recently been named the first recipient of the BRITs Icon Award, which recognises the very highest level of British music achievement, presented only to iconic artists whose writing, recording and performances set them apart as having made a lasting impact on the nation's culture.

Tickets to the Elton John Eden Session cost £65 plus £5 booking fee.

For more information, see www.edensessions.com

 To buy tickets, call 01726 811972.

Firefighters have installed smoke detectors in a Falmouth house after being called to a kitchen fire.

A fire crew was scrambled to the property on Tregullow Road shortly after 2pm yesterday.

When they arrived, firefighters found the cooker fire was out and worked to ventilate the house before fitting several smoke detectors.

It is understood that no one was injured in the incident.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service has no further information on this incident. 

A BUS company has been accused of making some residents of the Roseland feel like second-class citizens.

People from Portscatho who rely on Western Greyhound's 550 and 551 services to get to and from Truro say that for months they have been left stranded, missed medical appointments and had to leave work early to stand a chance of getting home. Others have been forced to hitch a lift or call on friends and relatives to get them home.

Passengers have also criticised a lack of information about delays and changes to the timetable.

Julie Rowe, 62, of Treventon Road, said: "Two or three times a week one of the buses is late or doesn't turn up.

"When they first took over they were a very good company, with very good drivers, and we were pleased with them."

Mrs Rowe said she had started walking back from St Mawes when the bus didn't arrive and people in their eighties and nineties laden with bags at Truro had waited up to two hours after their intended bus failed to turn up.

Western Greyhound runs a two-hourly service between the city and the Roseland villages.

"If the bus doesn't turn up and you have to wait another hour you can just about cope, but when it's another two-hour wait it just makes travelling by bus impossible," said Pauline Frisby, 66, from Gerrans. "For people who haven't got other means of transport, I imagine they feel trapped when the bus doesn't turn up."

Mum Emma Hillyard, 38, said she returned to work at BT in Truro after 12 months off and encountered problems trying to catch the bus home.

She said: "On the first day it was 20 minutes late and then broke down at Bessie Beneath and we had to wait an hour for a replacement bus from Summercourt. The following day it broke down at Tregony and they had to send a replacement bus.

"Another time it got to about 3pm (about 30 minutes late) and the bus hadn't turned up and I tried ringing Western Greyhound and eventually they answered and said, 'Oh, no, it's been cancelled' because they didn't have a driver."

She was obliged to call her father, who drove from Gerrans to fetch her and bring her back in time for meet her young son arriving home from school.

She said she knew of a passenger who had to ask her employer if she could leave work an hour early to make sure she could get home, after a later bus was cut.

Mary Pollard, 61, who lives in Portscatho, said she nearly missed a train from Truro to go on holiday to Scotland with her husband Chris.

"We feel like second-class citizens," she said.

"We don't want to lose our bus service because we've always had a good bus service here, and without it a lot of people are really stuck. At the moment Western Greyhound is absolutely rubbish. It's a service, and a service should be reliable."

Western Greyhound managing director Mark Howarth told the West Briton he could not make any comment until he had the specific details of each complaint.

A HERITAGE site is offering free parking to try to increase visitor numbers.

Heartlands in Pool began its redeemable parking trial on December 1 and will let it run until the end of March.

If the scheme is a success, Heartlands Trust, the charity which runs the site, has said it will extend the scheme indefinitely.

It costs £1.80 to park for up to two hours and £3.50 for a day ticket in the Heartlands car park on a weekday between March and October.

Redeem

During the trial visitors will still need to pay parking charges but can redeem the value of the ticket against any item bought in Heartlands on the day the ticket was purchased.

The heritage site, which covers 19 acres and has attracted 700,000 visitors since it opened two years ago, will remain free to enter.

Sean O'Neill, chief operating officer at Heartlands, said: "As a community facility operated by the charity Heartlands Trust we've always wanted to present as few barriers to entry as we possibly can at Heartlands.

"By trialling a way that our visitors can park for 'free' we hope that we can encourage more people to visit in the future."

NEIGHBOURS alerted the fire service after hearing a smoke alarm going off at a nearby house in Falmouth last night.

A fire engine was called to Bowles Road at midnight and found a fire in the kitchen of a property.

A fire spokeswoman said: "Crews from Falmouth were mobilised after neighbours reported the sound of a smoke detector.

"Upon arrival and after investigation, it was found that some food had been left on the cooker and had subsequently burnt, setting off the alarms.

"This highlights the need for people to install working smoke alarms in premises and, also, for people to be vigilant."

A MAJOR terrorism incident is unfolding in Sydney, Australia, where people are being held hostage in a city-centre cafe.

Armed police have sealed off the area in the central business district after reports of one or two gunmen.

It is believed that an armed man took the hostages in a cafe run by chocolate company Lindt at around 9am local time.

Pictures shown on Australian TV show people in the window with their hands up holding a black flag with Arabic writing.

The Australian police said they have made contact with the gunman.

Sydney Opera House has been evacuated.

It is believed that three people have fled from the building already.

A tweet from New South Wales police reads: "A police operation is under way in Martin Place, Sydney's CBD. People are advised to avoid the area."

Train services in and out of the Eastern suburbs have been suspended.

There are reports of up to 20 customers and staff inside. 

HOUSE prices in Cornwall have dropped this month by 2.8 per cent, according to a new survey.

However, despite the fall, prices are still up 6 per cent on the same period last year.

According to the latest house price index from Right Move the average property value in the south west region has dropped from £273,000 to £265,000 in the last month.

It has been suggested that a shortage of houses and pre-election jitters could push UK prices up 5 per cent next year.

The company's Miles Shipside said: "The national average price of property coming to market is forecast to rise by between 4 per cent and 5 per cent.

"We predict the South East will see the highest growth in prices next year as the London ripple effect continues and stock shortages remain acute.

"These factors mean that the east and south west regions also look set to perform better than the northern regions.

"However, we predict a slower pace of price growth next year. This means that sellers and agents will have to work harder to achieve a sale next year."

Nationally, average house prices have dipped by nearly £9,000, with some of the most significant changes in London.

But compared with 2013, prices in the south west are up by about 6%.

Mr Shipside said with a general election on the horizon, there was an element of uncertainty in the property market that "may deter some buyers from making a major financial decision to trade up or down".

But he added that recent changes to stamp duty could tempt more people onto the market.

Richard Copus, South West representative for the National Association of Estate Agents, agreed that new rates could have an "interesting" affect on the local market.

However, he said he expected growth in the area to remain more stable, predicting a 2 to 3 per cent rise for 2015.

"The inclusion of London, which has seen big changes in the last week, can distort figures," he said.

"In January we could see people who have been waiting for a good time to buy or sell encouraged by the changes to stamp duty."

'Santa's sleigh' is set to make a special appearance in the skies above Cornwall this Christmas Eve - giving parents the chance to add a little more magic to the festive season.

If the skies are clear, you will be able to see 'Santa' appear in the west, and travel for six minutes as a bright light in the sky heading eastwards before he disappears from sight.

Add the sound of sleigh bells, and you have your very own extra sprinkling of magic to make the kids even more excited before the big day.

Children - it may be best if you stop reading here - because it may not actually be the real Father Christmas you can see travelling across the night sky (The real one will be busy in Russia or China at the time).

In fact, the light you will see will be the reflection of the International Space Station as it tracks its way across the UK as it orbits 250 miles above the Earth.

It can be the third brightest object in the night sky, and is easy to spot if you know where to look.

According to Nasa's own space station tracker, the station should appear in the west at 5.21pm on Christmas Eve - and will be visible for six minutes as it passes overhead.

So, tell the kids they can see Santa has started his deliveries, and get outside on Christmas Eve for his special fly by ...