West Briton (Falmouth, Penryn, Helston, The Lizard)

Dive master died after ascending too quickly

AQUALIFIED dive master died after ascending too quickly during an incident off Malta, an inquest has heard. Darrel Nicholas Pascoe, 66, was visiting the Mediterranean island with his wife Sue for a week-long holiday diving on shipwrecks. An inquest...

Student’s car crushed as wild weather rips through Cornwall

≫Falmouth University student Anna Richmond inspects the damage to her car which was crushed outside her rented accommodation by falling trees

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A new beginning for Cornwall’s economy »Boosts for industry, devolution and Kernewek.

THERE is a real, palpable sense that Cornwall has arrived into the lexicon of Westminster and we have done so not as a Dickensian Oliver Twist character but as a region, area, country – choose the word as you feel – that is going to fundamentally...

Fears for wildlife as Falmouth Docks plan fast-tracked

≫Cornwa●● Wildlife Trust and members of the local fishing industry are warning against ‘cutting corners’ over huge Falmouth Docks plans.

Campaigners lose fight to save trees

AYEAR-LONG battle by Falmouth residents and environmental campaigners was lost on Monday when Cornwall Council chopped down three muchloved street trees. Police officers, security guards, council workers and about 40 protesters attended Trelawney Road...

‘Joyful’ little girl died after surgery on tonsils

THE family of a five-year-old girl who died after having her tonsils removed have urged parents to “trust their instincts” and speak up if they are worried about their children undergoing surgery. Amber Milnes, from St Just in Roseland, underwent...

Bus firm to axe all services in Duchy

»Hundreds of jobs put at risk as First Bus blames falling passenger numbers and ‘ongoing financial challenges’ for decision.

Abandoned pub fire to be investigated

≫A firefighter tackles the suspicious blaze at the Boslowick Inn on Prislow Lane in Falmouth

Crowds gather to remember heroes

≫Remembrance Sunday in Helston saw a parade led by the town band, with sailors from RNAS Culdrose, veterans, and various clubs and community groups, followed by a short service in Coinagehall Street More Remembrance Day pictures on

Sinkhole swallows Mini Cooper outside bakery

≫Malcolm McKenzie’s Mini was parked by the back wall of Berrymans Bakery in Redruth when what’s though to be an abandoned mineshaft opened beneath it

Communities would no longer be consulted about plans for a new bar or nightclub in the local area if misguided government plans for secret alcohol licensing notices get the green light...

Alcohol licensing notices are a type of public notice which are used to make local communities aware of plans to sell alcohol in the local area. This could be plans for a new pub or bar, or for a venue to vary the terms of its existing licence - for...

Cornwall’s biggest solar farm passed

DESPITE originally being refused at Cornwall Council amid huge local opposition, what will be the Duchy’s largest solar farm will now be built. A Government planning inspector has approved the Fairpark solar farm in the Hendra valley on...

Appeal launched to help secure future of village’s beating heart

FORGET second homes or sewage spilling onto the beach at Trevaunance Cove on a regular basis, St Agnes is now facing another battle. The village hub, its beating community heart, is at risk of closing for good and potentially being lost to its people...

Visit Cornwall folds after cash troubles

CORNWALL’S official tourist board has entered voluntary liquidation due to “insurmountable financial problems”. Visit Cornwall, the community interest company (CIC) responsible for promoting Cornwall as a visitor destination since 2015, called the...

Comedian visits charity drama group after sell-out show

YOUNG members of a drama charity have welcomed comedian and presenter Harry Hill as their special guest. Following his sell-out performance at the Hall for Cornwall, the comedian visited Drama Express in Hayle which provides opportunities for young...

South West Water fined £24m over sewage spills

SOUTH West Water has been told by the water watchdog it must pay out £24 million in ‘enforcement packages’ over failures linked to wastewater spills. It is one of two UK water firms having to pay out, with Anglian Water having to pay out over £62m. A...

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Foal Lucy reunited with owner after being stolen

≫Jean Curd, from Allet, near Truro, with Lucy, the miniature Shetland foal which was finally returned to her owner six weeks after being stolen.

Students celebrating GCSE success

THOUSANDS of students at schools across the county learned what the future holds for them when they opened their GCSE exam results. Five years’ work by students at Richard Lander School in Truro were rewarded with results that, the school says,...

Controversial pods for homeless axed

ACONTROVERSIAL plan by Cornwall Council to site ten homeless pods for vulnerable young people near Truro’s Waitrose store and Duchy of Cornwall homes has been scrapped amid political intrigue. The council’s new cabinet member for the environment and...

‘Magical’ glowing plankton lights up coast

»STUNNING photographs show glowing plankton lighting up a breaking wave in the dead of night. Richard Haynes, 58, captured images of bioluminescence at a cove on the Lizard peninsula, calling it “just magical”. Bioluminescence is light produced by a...

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Scrapped plan for bridge to link city cost £1m

THE huge cost of planning and designing an abandoned bridge project which was mooted for Truro as part of a scheme to regenerate the city has been revealed. A Freedom of Information Act (FOI) request made to Cornwall Council has disclosed that the...

Body in woods identified as murder inquiry is launched

POLICE have confirmed the identity of a suspected murder victim whose body was found in woodland earlier this month. The body has been formally identified as that of 50-year-old Lee Hockey from the Truro area. His next of kin have been...

Fraudsters stole £20k from local rugby club

TWO then-married fraudsters who stole more than £20,000 from a small rugby club to spend on drugs and clear their debts have been handed suspended prison sentences. Katie Curgenven, 36, also known as Katie Stevens, took out a debit card in her name on...

Castle to Castle swim success

THIS year’s Castle to Castle swim in Falmouth proved to be the biggest yet, attracting 552 participants. The swim, between Pendennis Castle in Falmouth and St Mawes Castle on the Roseland peninsula, has so far raised more than £107,000 for the Royal...

Fisherman’s Friends to stage three-day Stithians festival

≫The Fisherman’s Friends Festival will also feature Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Kate Rusby, Skipinnish, Seth Lakeman, Peat and Diesel, and Sharon Shannon

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Double Royal visit charms the crowds at Cornwall show

The Duke of Cornwall and the Duchess of Edinburgh made a rare official outing together at the Royal Cornwall Show last week. William and Sophie were a big hit as crowds followed them during their tour of the showground on Friday. The pair sampled a...

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Ancient habitat is covered in algae from sewage pollution

≫Dense algae covers a maerl bed off St Mawes, on the Roseland peninsula, caused by poor water quality.

£150m docks expansion plan to host bigger cruise ships

THE biggest investment in 70 years could transform Cornwall’s premier cruise ship destination, according to a newly filed planning application. The Falmouth Docks and Engineering Company (FDEC) has filed an application with Cornwall Council and the...

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WE’VE teamed up with Iceland and The Food Warehouse with a fantastic offer! You can get one free pack of 6 Iceland Ice Cream Cones in-store from Wednesday 14th May 2025 until close of stores on Tuesday 20th May 2025. Iceland and the Food Warehouse are...

ALL CHANGE

IT’S a new dawn for Cornwall Council and one the unitary authority has never previously experienced. At the polls last week the ruling Conservative administration was decimated, losing 32 seats, while Nigel Farage’s claim back in February, when he...

Hospital U-turn on overtime pay

NHS bosses at Cornwall’s main hospital have done a U-turn on cutting staff’s overtime pay. Less than three weeks after it came to light, the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT), backpedalled on it plans to make savings by cutting overtime pay. Last...

P-P-PERFECT PARTY FOR WORLD’S OLDEST PENGUIN, 37

≫The world’s oldest known Humboldt penguin has celebrated her 37th birthday – with a cake made of fish and ice. Spneb has lived at Paradise Park zoo, in Hayle since 1988.

Drugs trio ‘terrorised’ unsuspecting family

ATRIO who left a family so terrified they had to move house have been jailed. Adam Thouless, 33, Ben James, 30, and Joshua Lindell, 35, are thought to have been pursuing a drug debt when they turned up at a property in Redruth one night in February...

Wibble-wobble adventures with Percy Pengelly

AFTER completely selling out in 2023, Percy Pengelly is returning to Cornwall with more memorable big-top high jinks. Adapted from a book by Cadgwith author Jenny Steele Scolding, theatre company Cousin Jack’s production of Percy Pengelly and the...

≫With the help of a special surfboard

designed by artist Damien Hirst, Dr Sam Bleakley has launched the new Surf! exhibition at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth.

National Trust in talks to run Heartlands site

≫There are fresh hopes that the mothballed Heartlands mining attraction in Pool could be brought back to life. The National Trust, together with two charity partners, is in talks with Cornwall Council about providing a ‘sustainable future’ for the £35...

Lithium boost for Cornish economy

MINERAL exploration and development company Cornish Lithium has been granted planning permission for what would be the UK’s first commercial lithium production facility. Cornwall Council approved the proposals for the firm’s Cross Lanes Lithium...

Cornwall celebrates St Piran’s Day

Hundreds celebrated Cornwall’s patron saint on Wednesday, March 5, St Piran’s Day, with parades, music and singing. Here are some of the celebrations from Truro and Falmouth

Fears over future of Victorian village

CONCERNS have been raised over the decision to auction off a theme park’s exhibits following its sudden closure. Items from Flambards in Helston which are set to go under the hammer next month include items which, it’s alleged, were borrowed from or...

25 years on, ShelterBox continues to deliver hope around the world

MORE than three million people have been supported by Cornwall-based disaster relief charity ShelterBox 25 years after it was formed to support people across the world with emergency shelter – that’s more than 300 people every day. To mark the...

Cornwall’s food and drink stars celebrate success

AFOOD village which is home to some of the country’s top artisan producers was the big winner at the first Great Cornish Food Awards. In a ceremony held at Nancarrow Farm near Truro, more than 60 big names and rising stars in the Cornwall and Isles of...

Oggy, Oggy, Oggy for future of sea shanty festival

THE unmistakable sounds of the sea will be ringing out in Falmouth next month as part of a special fundraising event for the town’s annual sea shanty festival. The event promises to be a rollicking, rousing evening of shanties and Cornish...

‘Police must be relentless in fight against crime’

≫Police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez has vowed to crack down on the ‘wicked issue’ of shoplifting as one of her top priorities for officers across Cornwall over the next five years. She made the remarks at the same time that it was agreed...

‘Connected river city’ scheme signals greener future

≫The first phase of the ambitious £23.6m Truro Town Deal project has started with work to deliver easier walking and cycling to the city from Malpas. The work will deliver improved access to footpaths and new crossing points to connect the riverside,...

Devolution threat to ‘Brand Cornwall’

IT appears a modern Trelawny’s Army is assembling as leading politicians in Cornwall stand fast against growing moves across the border to include the Duchy in a “super council”. Both Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council this month agreed to...

Battle lines drawn in devolution fight

THE leader of Cornwall Council has denied having a meeting with the leaders of Plymouth, Devon and Torbay councils to suggest forming a combined ‘Devonwall’ authority. However, Councillor Linda Taylor says the council leaders have met to discuss the...

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Citizen’s arrests to confront scourge of shoplifting

We are now at a stage where our streets are becoming dangerous because we are not tackling the problem at grassroots level. The shoplifting that I want to prevent isn’t because I am worried about losing a £20 teddy bear – the issue is how it affects...

‘Spellbinding’ panto will delight all audiences

≫Jack and the Beanstalk, with Kernow King Edward Rowe at the heart of all things humorous, is delighting crowds at the Hall for Cornwall this festive season. The Cornish-infused fairytale, which runs until December 31, is certainly not one to miss.

City’s green dream set to be rolled out

»»A ROGUE trader who took thousands of pounds for windows and doors that he never ordered has been left with a hefty court bill following a successful prosecution by Cornwall Council. On Friday, November 29, at Truro Crown Court, Adam Taylor was...

Pets caught up in cost-of-living crisis

ALMOST 200 animals were abandoned in Cornwall last year, according to new figures shared by the RSPCA, a 15% increase in the past two years. The animal charity says it believes a surge in pet ownership during the Covid-19 lockdown, followed by...

Fashion students provide Kernow touch to costume

≫Edward ‘Kernow King’ Rowe has been getting ready for the role of his life as the Dame in Jack and the Beanstalk, this year’s panto at the Hall for Cornwall, with the help of fashion students from Falmouth University. They have worked on one of the...

Countryside fury at solar farm plan

ANGER is growing in an area where a developer is proposing to build what would be the biggest solar farm in Cornwall. Residents of the Carland Cross area say they fear that if permission is granted for the 210-acre solar park it will severely affecct...

Cornwall remembers the fallen at solemn ceremonies

≫The streets of Truro fell silent during Remembrance Sunday services which saw wreaths laid at the War Memorial for those who lost their lives during conflicts. The service was mirrored with similar ceremonies across Cornwall on Sunday and Armistice...

Flambards closes

ONE of Cornwall’s most popular family attractions has closed down “with immediate effect”. Flambards Theme Park, in Helston, confirmed the permanent closure with a lengthy statement posted on its website on Monday. The sudden closure comes just...

£99.5m investment to future-proof airbase

≫This is how the new air engineering training school at RNAS Culdrose could look after a major investment in the Cornish airbase was announced.

Housing on hold

MORE than 23,000 homes which have received planning permission still haven’t been built in Cornwall, a new council briefing paper has revealed. Cornwall, which is in the midst of a housing crisis, has approximately 27,000 families on the waiting list...

Bird’s eye view of new sports hub captured by drone

ITALL STARTS HERE

Book your place today truro-penwith.ac.uk/open-events Attending an Open Day is a great opportunity to explore the campus, see our specialist facilities and speak to our teaching staff. We are here to answer any questions that you might have and help...

Hero’s welcome as Steven completes wheelchair challenge

THE miserable Cornish weather couldn’t dampen spirits on Sunday when former Truro mayor Steven Webb completed his 500-mile wheelchair journey for charity. Soaked by the rain, Mr Webb was welcomed by wellwishers in the city centre after completing his...

UNDER THREAT

THE new Women and Children’s Hospital promised for Cornwall may now never be built, Secretary of State for Health Wes Streeting has admitted. The new building, which was expected to cost £291 million, is now under threat as the new Labour government...