Boy racers have been blamed for causing damage at an iconic Cornish beauty spot. The National Trust, which owns Godrevy Lighthouse in St Ives Bay, says the car parks are becoming a popular late night haunt for groups of joy riders whose activities are resulting in costly repairs. Richard Pope, National Trust visitor services manager for mid and south-east Cornwall, said: "We haven't got CCTV, we don't want to stop people coming in." He said police had been made aware of the situation.

A cyclist has been hurt in a collision with two cars near Plymouth. Paramedics, police and four fire crews were sent to the A386 between Robotough and Yelverton at 1.06pm on Saturday. They found two people trapped, one inside each vehicle. Police and ambulance crews were also on scene and the cyclist was cared for by paramedics. Fire crews used hydraulic cutting gear to release the two persons trapped and a total of three people were taken to hospital.

Environment watchdogs are to cut red tape to make it easier for farmers to maintain watercourses after the Somerset Levels were hit by prolonged floods last winter.

Thousands of acres of farmland on the levels was underwater for months after record-breaking rainfall last year resulting in some farmers having to lay off workers and sell stock.

The Environment Agency came under fire for failing to carry out crucial dredging on the rivers Parrett and Tone, which are vital for drainage of the Somerset Levels, and blocking farmers from carrying out maintenance themselves.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson conceded earlier this year that years of neglect which had left vital rivers silted up were partly to blame.

After a series of meetings involving the Minister and the National Farmers' Union (NFU), the agency is now drawing up a six-month pilot scheme which would allow farmers to carry out maintenance to reduce the threat of flooding.

That was welcomed by the NFU which said the floods damaged farmers' incomes, the land and wildlife.

"Part of the problem for farmers with watercourses on their land is who is responsible for the management of it," spokesman David George said.

"It makes life very difficult and anything that would make that simpler would be very much welcome.

"The problem last year wasn't that the flooding happened but that it was allowed to go on for so long. Crops were ruined and because of the time it took to clear.

"The Environment Agency said it couldn't pump the water off quickly because it would reduce the amount of oxygen in the rivers and affect the fish.

"This is prime, grade A agricultural land and yet they seem to be more concerned about the plight of the fish that the plight of the future of farming."

Details of the new project emerged in a report to the South West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.

It said: "Priority has been given to deliver the actions from the Secretary of State which focussed on improving access and engagement on our maintenance plans, reducing red tape and making it easier for farmers and landowners to undertake watercourse maintenance.

"We have been working with Natural England to ensure that proposals to reduce red tape do not compromise the environment.

"We have incorporated conditions into the guidance to ensure that watercourse maintenance is undertaken responsibly...

"We will ensure that any proposals do not result in damage to the environment. "

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A serious case review has been launched into the death of a woman who police think may also have killed herself and her two young sons.

Katherine Hooper and five-year-old son Joshua Patterson were found on Friday at the foot of Haytor Rocks on Dartmoor after plunging 100ft to their deaths in view of horrified onlookers.

Police discovered her second son Sam Patterson, aged two, dead in the family home in Dukes Close, Paignton, and launched a murder inquiry.

It has now emerged that the 25-year-old mother was deemed a "high risk vulnerable person" by police who launched a search operation when she went missing more than two months ago.

Social workers in Torbay and the various agencies involved will now be subject to a thorough review.

Detective Superintendent Paul Burgan, who leads Devon and Cornwall's Major Crime Team, said police were "still at a loss to explain her actions".

Friends have spoken of their complete shock and disbelief that the "devoted" mother might have killed her children.

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CORNWALL will welcome Prince Charles and Camilla to the county today.

The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall will visit Lostwithiel, Bude and St Austell, before moving on to Devon.

In Lostwithiel they will host a reception at the Duchy Nursery to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Cornwall Crafts Association.

They will visit Bude Castle the same day, viewing workshops run by local craftspeople and meeting members of the community and local groups.

They return to Lostwithiel on Wednesday, the Duchess's birthday, to visit the newly restored Duchy Palace, after a £1 million regeneration by the Prince of Wales's Charity, the Prince's Regeneration Trust and the Cornwall Buildings Preservation Trust.

The Duchess will be presented with a cake as the town band plays Happy Birthday.

In Bude they will unveil a plaque commemorating the restoration and refurbishment of Stratton Community Hospital, and the Duchess will spend some time at the Children's Hospice South West's Little Harbour Hospice at Porthpean, near St Austell.

She will tour the facility and meet the children, their families and supporters.

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Farming Editor

Farmers must be given a fair deal under the EU's new-look Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) when the details are finalised, insist farming organisations.

Under current arrangements in the agreed draft, English farmers would be penalised with heavy subsidy cuts, and burdened with added and unnecessary "greening" considerations.

A fair deal on the CAP is a necessity, says the CAP Coalition, a group of 33 partner bodies led by the National Farmers' Union (NFU), the Country Land & Business Association (CLA) and the Tenant Farmers' Association (TFA).

Senior representatives met at the Great Yorkshire Show on Wednesday to reinforce its "simple message to the Government" – that it supports policies which ensure English farmers can continue to produce high-quality food for the public. That meant not signing up to new environmental conditions which will be placed on farmers – and scrapping plans that would see the unilateral reduction of the Single Farm Payment subsidy by up to 15%.

Bitter criticism of the way Environment Secretary Owen Paterson handled CAP negotiations in Brussels was levelled by Colin Rowland, chairman of the Devon branch of the NFU – the nation's largest branch – who said: "He failed us ... and there is no doubt we shall be severely disadvantaged."

Mr Rowland, who farms at Bampton, near Tiverton, added: "I cannot stress strongly enough the feeling of frustration among farmers to hear, on the one hand, the Government's backing for British food production, but its determination to disadvantage and undermine English farmers' resilience compared to our European competitors on the other hand.

"Mr Paterson wants us to focus on making the sector more efficient and productive than its global rivals. I just don't see how cutting English farmers' payments and channelling more money to environmental schemes, that take land out of production and increase costs, will do that.

"We know that the Government has to set the deduction rates by the end of the year. Between now and then, we would like to see it set out its priorities for rural development, how it will help us provide, or at least not hamper, the right conditions for farmers to produce more food."

George Dunn, chief executive of the TFA, said: "English farmers are rightly proud of their environmental credentials and their ability to produce world-class products for the public."

He was "deeply concerned" about the Government's determination to increase the rate of "voluntary modulation" – the money taken from direct subsidy payments for rural development schemes. It was already at the highest level of any EU member state, he said, and should not be raised.

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Organisers of the 179th Stithians Show voiced their relief after soaring temperatures brought the crowds flooding back following 'inclement' weather for the last three shows.

The weather forecast read 22C with barely a cloud in the sky as visitors flocked to the showground, near Truro, as early as 6am yesterday to avoid queues.

The South West Sweet Pea Championships had 60-plus entries, compared to just three last year, making it the best-attended competition for over 20 years. Horticulture secretary Susan Knight was "tickled pink" at the huge increase.

"This is the best we have had since the show moved to this showground 20 years ago," she said. "The number of exhibitors has doubled and we have had to go up two more stands to cope."

Show secretary Yvonne Toms said: "Last year was worst that I can remember for 15 years. I think it was the worst for everybody and everything.

"I am so relieved. It is extremely busy out there. To see people picknicking and sitting around is wonderful."

The traditional opening march was led by St Stythians Band at 10am. The Stithians flag was hoisted by Reverend Danny Reed, who said: "This is without doubt the best weather we have had in my five years being involved with the show."

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Property Editor

Westcountry homes have added £57 a day to their value over the past three months as the housing market revival continues, a property website has reported.

There has been a typical rise of 2.28%, or £5,215, to the average South West house price in the second quarter of this year, according to the website Zoopla's latest findings.

According to the same report, the average value of a house in the South West is now £233,999, with the national figure now standing at £235,912.

All regions across Britain saw increases of at least 2% to property prices in the past three months. This is the first time such an across-the-board rise has been recorded since the financial downturn in 2009, showing confidence is "flowing back into the market" Zoopla's report says.

In cash terms, London outperformed the rest of the country with a typical £12,610 increase to property values over the second quarter. In fourth place in the national hotspot top ten is Totnes, South Devon, where prices rose by 3.2%, to an average of £310,472. According to Zoopla, Totnes houses have added £105 a day to their value from April to June.

Number seven in the list of worst-performing areas is Yelverton, West Devon, but even here prices have risen by 1.76% in the second quarter of 2013. The average Yelverton house price is now £265, 614.

This reported upturn in the housing market has surpassed many experts' expectations for 2013. Some analysts had previously predicted house prices would be largely flat this year. But there have been recent signs strong increases seen in the London market have been filtering outwards.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors had predicted a rise of up to 2% in prices during 2013, but now it says it could be closer to 4%.

These latest figures also chime with the most recent housing report from the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA). The NAEA found the number of sales per average estate agents branch in May was the highest since June 2009 – 10 sales per branch. The number of house hunters, too, has risen, according to the NAEA, up to 313 per average branch in May 2013, compared to 274 in May 2012. "If this trend continues through the summer, it will be another positive indicator that the UK may finally be moving out of recession," said a NAEA spokesman.

Zoopla based its findings on its website figures for house values across Britain. Lawrence Hall, spokesman for Zoopla.co.uk said: "Confidence is beginning to return to the market, with both lenders and buyers seemingly more convinced that the worst of the economic crisis is behind us.

"This is starting to drive activity all the way up the housing chain and house prices have increased as a result, and for once not just in the South East."

Justine Andrews of estate agents Marchand Petit, which has a branch in Totnes, said there are many reasons why the town might be seeing an upsurge in house prices. "Activity is definitely up in the property market here. Totnes is increasingly sought-after because it is so well-connected by road and rail, with a wealth of good restaurants and shops and a vibrant community."

But Peter Symons, partner in Stags estate agency and based in Totnes sounded a note of caution. "We must remember these figures are estimates based on Zoopla's figures. This will be a small sample of houses changing hands in one three-month period in a relatively small town. We have sold two million-pound houses in Totnes in this quarter, which could well have skewed the figures upwards. Our researches show that although activity and sales are up, the market generally in the South West is still extremely price-sensitive."

In Yelverton, Lynn White of Mansbridge and Balment estate agency said that she had seen few rises in actual sale prices in the past quarter. " The market is still very price sensitive."

The news of house price rises comes amid warnings from a national think-tank that Exeter is now "off-limits" to lower income working families seeking to rent privately.

The Resolution Foundation says in its report, Home Truths, that the city's private rental stock has hit a price level at which a couple with one child and an income of £22,000 would struggle to afford even a "modest" property, requiring up to 45% of an income of £22,000 to pay rent for a small family home.

After a full day's schedule yesterday, the itinerary doesn't ease up for the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall on their busy three-day tour of the Westcountry.

From Lostwithiel last night they were due to spend the day in Brixham and briefly Exeter today, first visiting the Heritage Pontoon to view a number of vessels and meet members of the community and fishermen.

Prince Charles and Camilla's day in Devon will also take in the "Fishing Into The Future" workshop, hosted by the International Sustainability Unit and SeaFish, where Prince Charles will make a speech.

In Exeter they will commemorate the opening of the new Cornwall House for young men.

Tuesday in Devon is followed by Wednesday back in Cornwall. The visit to Lostwithiel takes in the newly reopened Duchy Palace, a meeting with three Cornish charities and then, to mark Camilla's birthday. the presentation of a cake.

The impending arrival of Kate and William's baby wasn't just at the forefront of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall's mind, as it became apparent during the first of their three day tour of the Westcountry.

From the off there were reminders of the new little arrival around the corner with locals in Bude bringing their own babies to meet and greet the Royal couple.

Poppy, 26, and Paul Steen, 33, brought along five-day-old Lowen to introduce to Prince Charles and Camilla. With a due date extremely close to the expected arrival of the heir to the throne, it wasn't until after Paul had delivered his son in an unexpected home birth last Wednesday that he realised a silver penny had been in the offing.

"It was exciting," he said. "It was pretty special after the last few days we've had. His due date was today but he decided he was going to come a little early. The midwife told us we could have had a silver penny."

The reminders didn't just confine themselves to the greeting public, on a visit to a gift and card shop called Box of Secrets, the Duke and Duchess laughed when shop assistant Jenny Dawe, 63, told they might like to buy a new baby card.

As well as local treats such as rock, gifts along the route included small teddy bears and it remains to be seen what an undisclosed purchase from Coastalyarns was.

But if the Royal baby is seen suspiciously hugging a blanket made of Cornish Alpaca yarn in coming months that may provide the answer.

The Duchess's visit to the Little Harbour children's hospice at Porthpean near St Austell, run by Children Hospice South West, also provided its reminders.

While being helped by 13-year-old Alex Smith to unveil a plaque to commemorate her visit, on Kate and William's imminent new arrival Camilla said: "We are all just waiting by the telephone.

"We are hopeful that by the end of the week he or she will be here."

Later, the Duchess of Cornwall was presented with a gift for herself and also a baby hamper which contained a teddy bear for her soon-to-be born grandchild, which the Duchess delightfully dubbed "a special bear".

The Duchess of Cornwall revealed yesterday how she and Prince Charles had been "waiting by the telephone" for news on their future grandchild on the first day of a three-day tour of the Westcountry.

Camilla said that she and the Duke were eagerly anticipating the news while receiving a hamper of baby gifts on a visit to the Little Harbour Children's Hospice yesterday lunchtime.

With the Duchess of Cambridge expected to go in to labour at any time, much of the talk on the Royal pair's visit to Cornwall orientated around the subject of their grandchild. However, with a trip to Brixham planned today and one to Lostwithiel tomorrow, their focus was still on the region, if only for a little while longer.

Underneath clear blue skies, Prince Charles, in a cream suit and purple striped tie, and Camilla, in a pale blue dress and beige shoes, began their day in Bude.

After meeting local dignitaries, the Duke and Duchess were taken on a tour of the town, visiting an assortment of local shops to the backdrop of sea shanties sung by local group Bencoolen Wrecklers.

A visit to Bude Castle followed, made in front of throngs of flag-waving school children, before the pair made their way to the town's rennovated wharf, where they met shop owners, Bude RNLI, local surfers and Bude Surf Life Saving Club.

Town mayor Paula Dolphin said: "This is an amazing event for the town, we haven't had one for years. Bude is a hidden gem and the Royals coming here is amazing."

If the visit of the Duke and Duchess lifted spirits in Bude, it certainly did the same for staff, volunteers and patients at Stratton Community Hospital.

Irene Maynard, 85, from Kilkhampton, a patient at the hospital, said meeting Camilla was a "lovely experience".

"She made me feel quite at home," she added.

Giving a speech before unveiling a commemorative plaque, Prince Charles spoke of the "importance" of community hospitals, praising the fundraising efforts of the league of friends, something that chairman Candy Baker said "meant a huge amount".

The fundraiser, who has spearheaded the £1 million fundraising drive, added she was "very fortunate and it was a privilege".

From Bude, the Duke and Duchess parted ways, Prince Charles heading for a number of private meetings and Camilla to the Children's Hospice South West near St Austell.

After a tour, Camilla said that while the public perception was that hospices were "sad places" quite often the opposite was true.

On Kate and William's new arrival she remarked: "We are hopeful that by the end of the week he or she will be here."

Tamsin Lewis, head of care, said: "It's just been amazing for Children's Hospice South West to show to everybody what a children's hospice is all about and that's about having fun. Sharing the memories with the families and being able to show that to Camilla is just brilliant."

The party then visited the Duchy Nursery in Lostwithiel to mark the 40th anniversary of the Cornwall Crafts Association.

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Surfers and beach users are being urged to back an extension to the bathing season to stop raw sewage being dumped when it rains.

The number of Westcountry beaches boasting the highest water quality standards dropped to the lowest level for a decade last year because of the washout summer.

The Government has now launched a consultation as part of plans to modernise the official season, which currently runs from May 15 to September 30.

Labour says the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is attempting to reduce the water testing, which only takes place during this time.

Campaign group Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) said there was a dramatic increase in the amount of unmonitored sewage discharged out of season.

It said the online survey was a golden opportunity to extend the period from April until October, thereby adding two months' extra water testing.

Campaign director Andy Cummins said Defra was "neutral" on the issue but many local authorities had been lobbying for a shorter season to avoid testing around the "shoulders" of the summer, when rainfall causes more sewage discharges leading to beaches failing to meet standards.

"The way people use the sea has changed dramatically in the past 40 years, with improvements to wet suits and the popularity of sports such as kite surfing," he added.

"The current testing system is quite misleading for the public who may not realise that beaches are only tested in the bathing season.

"If there is a strong representation to the survey from people who care about the environment it will be hard for the Government to ignore."

Across other Europe the season length varies, in some cases with different rules for coastal and inland waters.

Defra says the season for England's 416 designated and monitored bathing waters must be continuous but can be shorter or longer.

Depending on the outcome of the survey, an impact assessment will be prepared and a detailed consultation will be carried out during the winter.

A spokesman for the department added: "We want to make sure our bathing season coincides with when people want to enjoy bathing waters.

"That is why we are gathering views on whether the dates are still suitable and we are open to all options at this stage."

MP Mary Creagh, Labour's Shadow Environment Secretary, said: "Families packing their bags for the seaside will be horrified to hear that Ministers want to reduce checks on sewage in the sea.

"The British summer is short enough and our coastal businesses and communities are struggling."

A man has died after falling 100ft from cliffs at Whitsand Bay in Cornwall. Devon and Cornwall Police said a 25-year old man, who was Polish and living in Plymouth, died after he slipped and fell at around 2am on Sunday morning. Coastguards warned people of the dangers of walking along cliff edges in the dark. Brixham watch manager Dave Scullion said: "Cliff edges become even more dangerous during the hours of darkness when it's often difficult to see the edge and you can easily just take a step into the void."

Council officials are preparing to deal with a group of travellers who set up camp on playing fields in Exeter. Vans and caravans moved onto Cowick Barton Playing Fields on Sunday. City councillor Rod Ruffle said: "I have lived here since 1969 and I can't remember this ever happening before." A spokesman for the city council said: "We will be visiting the site as soon as the police have confirmed their attendance. We will then follow our protocol for unauthorised encampments."

Firefighters were called to a 30ft-long house boat which was on fire in a Cornish harbour. Two fire appliances from Falmouth fire station attended a report at 11pm on Sunday that smoke could be seen coming from a barge moored at Jubilee Wharf, in Penryn. The accommodation barge was heavily smoke- logged when crews arrived. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus went onboard as coastguards provided waterside safety cover. No-one was found on board the boat or injured.

Police want to trace a witness to a verbal attack outside a pasty shop in Tavistock. Officers said the woman, white, aged between 40 and 60 years old with a black poodle, saw a group of women threatened at the Oggy Oggy shop, on Brook Street, on July 1. Two men shouted at the poodle as it barked at them. A 49-year-old man from Lifton has been arrested on suspicion of causing fear or provocation of violence and released on police bail, until September.

A man has been arrested in connection with the death of a 49-year-old pedestrian whose body was found in the Exeter-bound lane of the busy A38 at Plymouth.

Police have appealed for witnesses after the death of the man – who has not been formally named – and who was found at around 10.30pm on Sunday night at Lee Mill in Plymouth. Sgt Steve Walker, of Devon and Cornwall police, said the man's next-of-kin have been informed of his death.

It is understood the man had been making his way on foot from the Hunting Lodge public house area near Ivybridge, heading along the A38 towards the Smithaleigh area, using the footpath adjacent to the eastbound carriageway.

Sgt Walker said the focus of the investigation would be how the man – who was wearing a black shirt and khaki shorts – came to be found in lane one of the carriageway.

It has been ascertained that while he was struck by at least one car, he may have gone on to be struck by several more afterwards.

A forensic post-mortem examination is expected to be carried out in the next few days to determine any issues surrounding his death.

As a result of initial inquiries a man from the Bristol area has been arrested by police in Weston-super-Mare on suspicion of causing death by careless driving. Police appealed for witnesses.

A couple escaped in the nick of time after a fire believed to have been started by a mobile phone charger engulfed their caravan.

The holidaymakers, who were visiting from London, were awoken at 3am yesterday and managed to get out of the unit at Lanarth Caravan Park on St Kew Highway, Cornwall.

Less than a minute later the whole caravan was engulfed in flames, which also spread to their new BMW parked nearby.

The heat of the blaze was so intense that it melted parts of the car which were not directly affected by the fire.

Crews from Wadebridge and Delabole extinguished the blaze, which it is believed was started by a mobile phone charger.

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