AN ECO-FRIENDLY paint business in Hayle has started a campaign to give away excess stock.

Nature Paint, a company which specialises in making paint from non-toxic and natural ingredients, has launched the Big Paint Donate to give away stock to places which are in need.

The company has been looking for charities, schools and other organisations which could put the paint to good use.

Hannah Amos, marketing director of Nature Paint, said the business is keen to help out in the community as well as reduce the amount of waste.

She said: "Instead of throwing it away, we wanted to help people out. It's not in our ethos to chuck things away that are not being used. We really wanted to reach out and help people that perhaps don't have the money to repaint."

The excess supplies come from discontinued lines or from the trial colour process which the company decide not to stock.

The paint comes as a dry powder made from Cornish clay that can be mixed with water and applied to ceilings and walls.

As the bio-degradable paint contains no toxins, it is ideal for use in nurseries, schools and community halls said Ms Amos.

Ellie's Haven, a charity which offers relief to children with long-term and life-limiting medical conditions, recently received a donation.

Nigel Libby, general manager and co-founder of Ellie's Haven, said: "We really appreciate the donation and would like to thank Nature Paint for their support. We plan to use the paint at Ellie's Haven and our charity shop."

Nature Paint originally planned to donate just within Cornwall, but since details of the Big Paint Donate were posted on the company Facebook page it has gone nationwide, with people from as far as Scotland asking for support.

For more information about the Big Paint Donate and to find out what colours are on offer you can e-mail hannah@naturepaint.com or visit the Nature Paint Facebook page.

KEY figures in Hayle gathered to celebrate an "historic day" for the town as construction started on land that has been derelict for 40 years.

The first part of the regeneration project at South Quay – which will see a supermarket and vital repairs to the harbour wall – started on Friday.

ING, which owns the harbour, organised a site tour for town councillors and Hayle MP George Eustice, who have been part of the consultation to get work started at the quay.

John Pollard, leader of Cornwall Council and councillor for Hayle North, welcomed the news after seeing three previous owners of the harbour fail to regenerate the site.

He said: "It's an historic day for Hayle. For us who have been dealing with this for 40 years this is the moment we never thought would happen, but it has and it is.

"This is an example of what can happen when we work together."

The £30 million development will also see flood defences along the harbour wall raised, sluice gates replaced and a new promenade constructed.

Talks are expected to confirm plans for the construction of a pedestrian bridge from the quay across to Penpol Terrace.

Work will soon get under way to repair the breach in the quay wall, which has been a "scar" on the landscape of the harbour for decades.

George Eustice, MP for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle, said: "I think this project is proof good things come to those who wait; we have certainly waited. Credit is due to all those who have worked so hard to get this exciting project off the ground because it has been a complicated process.

"It is now time to get the job done and I am really looking forward to what a new South Quay will mean for the future of Hayle."

Developers Bowmer and Kirkland have around 30 people working on site, where the construction of an Asda supermarket is expected to be completed at the end of next year.

The regeneration also includes plans for a restaurant, 30 homes and a retail unit.

Phillip Ellis, divisional director at Bowmer and Kirkland, said the architects have done a great job ensuring the development will be visually in-keeping with the historic harbour.

He added: "At the moment work is going very well. What really pleased me is how we have been welcomed in the community. It's probably the most interest we have had from the community asking what we have been doing."

Access to the site will include a junction being created on Carnsew Road: details of when roadworks will take place are yet to be confirmed.

FIRE personnel from Launceston and Bodmin freed a casualty from a vehicle in a road crash at Piper's Pool on the A395 road last Tuesday lunchtime.

A milk tanker and Land Rover had collided and firemen used rescue equipment to cut free one casualty who was taken to hospital by land ambulance.

CHRISTMAS came early for a brave St Austell schoolboy with a rare hereditary condition when he met a Paralympian swimming star.

Rocco John Phillips, who was born with haemophilia, was whisked up to London to meet swimming sensation and London 2012 athlete Jack Bridge, who also lives with the genetic bleeding disorder.

The sports-mad 11-year-old joined 23 other boys, who also have haemophilia, after being nominated by his nurse.

Rocco, who lives with his mum Jo Chippett, dad Graeme, and younger sister Tilly, 8, at Retallick Meadows, is "incredibly brave", said his mum.

This summer, after a series of bleeds, the Bishop Bronescombe School pupil spent several weeks in a wheelchair.

However, his mum Jo, 33, said Rocco has not let his condition stop him living the life he loves.

Jo said: "My dad had it and I am a carrier so there was a 50/50 chance Rocco would too.

"He was tested when he was born and it was confirmed, it was really hard to hear but we were ready and you learn to deal with it as it happens.

"Rocco is amazing. He does his own treatment, which involves using a needle daily – I think for a child of his age he is incredibly brave. He is a typical boy and very gung-ho and it can be hard to rein him in at times."

Haemophilia is an uncommon disorder that only affects men. It prevents the blood clotting properly and can include prolonged, excessive blood loss as well as internal bleeding in the joints, which may eventually become damaged.

Meeting Jack, who has scooped six British swimming records despite his illness, left Rocco a bit "starstruck", said Jo.

"Jack was brilliant with the children. They played water polo and to meet someone who also has bleeds and is fit and strong has inspired Rocco to take part in swimming galas and competitions."

Rocco, already a keen swimmer, has joined the local swimming club at Polkyth and has already gained bronze, silver and gold in the rookie lifeguard award.

"It was a really fantastic experience for Rocco to meet Jack and other boys with haemophilia because it is such a rare condition, which many people don't understand. It's nice for him to know he is not on his own. It really did feel like Christmas had come early," added his mum.

The boys were given swimming coaching and physiotherapy advice during their day at the Buddy Award Swimming Academy.

CHRISTMAS will be extra special for one Wadebridge family after two children won a competition to have their dad flown over from New Zealand – seeing him for the first time in eight years.

Cory Duggan, 39, was flown all the way from the other side of the world to spend the festive period with his family in West Hill, Wadebridge after daughter Melodie, 10, and son Tyler, 8, sent in their nomination to win a Pirate FM competition.

An emotional Cory arrived at Newquay airport on Tuesday morning after taking a connecting flight from London and was greeted by his family in the arrivals lounge.

He said: "It was very emotional; it's been tough not seeing them. I'm visiting for six weeks so it will be great to finally spend some quality time together."

Cory, from Paeroa near Auckland, met mother Becky Hepworth, 32, in the UK, where Melodie was born.

In 2004 they decided to move to New Zealand, where Tyler was born. However Becky found it hard to settle in the new country and was homesick for Cornwall.

"I was only there a year but was terribly homesick, missed my family and made the difficult decision to return home," she said.

Upon their return Becky and the two children settled in Wadebridge but Cory, a truck driver, wasn't able to come with them and Melodie and Tyler haven't seen him since.

Becky said: "For the past eight years Cory has been keeping in contact with the children on the phone, and for years Tyler even thought his daddy lived in the phone. They haven't seen him for over eight years so Cory was just a voice out of the phone."

However over the past week the family have been bonding and making up for lost time.

Becky said: "He's been bonding with the kids really well and Tyler especially won't leave him alone, always saying 'I love you daddy' and hugging him."

The children's nomination read: "Me and my brother haven't seen him (dad) in years ... this is the only pres-ent we want for Christmas."

A SACKFUL of Santas made a festive dash to the finishing line to raise money for Cornwall Hospice Care.

Approximately 200 jolly characters swapped reindeer for running when they took part in the school-led event at Poltair School on Friday.

The pupils have already raised more than £1,800 for the charity, which helps Mount Edgcumbe Hospice at St Austell and St Julia's at Hayle.

Rose Wiltshire, Cornwall Hospice Care event co-ordinator, said: "We would like to thank all the students and staff who helped to organise, or took part in the Poltair School Santa Fun Run, as well as the parents, friends and families who have sponsored a Santa, or helped to decorate a suit."

The Poltair Santa Fun Run is the last of ten events in the Santa series for Cornwall Hospice Care, which, in total, has seen more than 2,000 Santas fundraise for the charity at events across the county.

At least £25,000 has already been raised with more money to come from sponsorship in the new year.

A DRIZZLY Sunday morning was brightened up when Launceston saw nearly 250 people don their Santa suits and run 2km around the town to raise £4,500 in aid of Children's Hospice South West (CHSW).

It was the first Santas on the Run fun run in Launceston and the town square was filled with festive songs from Launceston Junior Infants School choir and lively music from the school samba band.

The square filled up with friends, colleagues and families including dogs, and babies, and after a warm-up by Matt Luxton of FA Fitness and a countdown, the Santas ran the circular route from the Square, up Windmill Hill, through Coronation Park, down Race Hill, through Southgate Arch, along Castle Street and through the Castle grounds, finishing back at the Town Square.

They were greeted with a medal and festive treat. Launceston's town crier Rob Tremain announced that the Santas had pledged more than £4,500 in sponsorship.

Events fundraiser Sarah Stott from CHSW said: "We are delighted with the success of the first ever Santas on the Run in Launceston."

She thanked everyone who volunteered to help.

CHILDREN'S Hospice South West's Little Harbour is planning to give some very special guests a Christmas they will never forget.

This week 16 families will be creating precious memories at the house over the festive period, which provides care and support to families with children who have life-threatening or life-limiting conditions.

Six-year-old Lucas Willinghams, his twin sister Hope and little sister Betsy, 3, will be among the dozens of children spending Christmas at the hospice in Porthpean, near St Austell.

"This is the first Christmas that we will spend Christmas away," said their father Jason Willinghams.

"We're not quite sure what to expect but everyone is very excited."

Lucas, who is undiagnosed, is unable to talk and has to be fed food and medicine through a tube.

"He has something centrally wrong with his brain. The way his brain is formed isn't quite right," Mr Willinghams said.

"He can't communicate but he is a very happy boy," he added.

The family have been visiting Little Harbour since it opened two years ago.

"It gives us time we can all be together when we know that the care for Lucas is second to none and we can spend some quality time with the girls without worrying if Lucas is all right," said Mr Willinghams.

"We cannot wait to spend our Christmas there all together."

Emma Lloyd, head of fundraising at the hospice, said support from the local community in the lead-up to the festive season has been overwhelming.

"We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the local community and local businesses who have donated items to give our families a really special Christmas and new year at Little Harbour," she said.

"Thank you to everyone who continues to support our beautiful hospice by the sea. You really are making a difference and so generously helping us to make the most of short and precious lives."

FIREFIGHTERS were called to a fire in the roof space of a house on East Road, Quintrell Downs, Newquay, on Thursday.

They cut away loft boards to extinguish the flames at around noon.

CHINA clay mining giant Imerys has bought out of one of its main competitors after it was given approval by the UK Competition Commission (UKCC).

The French firm announced it had acquired Goonvean Ltd, which operates six sites in the mid-Cornwall china clay area, last November.

But the acquisition was referred to the UKCC after an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

On Friday Imerys announced the review process was complete now it had entered into a legally binding Final Undertakings agreement, which marks the end of the referral process.

The agreement details the pricing controls which will apply to UK customers.

The merger between the two firms will be completed by January 1, 2014.

Ashley Shopland, Imerys Minerals Ltd director, said: "This is good news for the mid-Cornwall china clay industry.

"It means that we can now proceed with the full integration of Goonvean Ltd into Imerys, including the completion of the legal merger of the two companies on January 1, 2014.

"The operational integration of the businesses will commence soon afterwards.

"The last 14 months have been very demanding, during which an enormous amount of work has been completed by a great number of people within both Imerys and Goonvean.

"We can now all look forward to developing a more sustainable and competitive china clay business in the years to come that will continue to provide high-performance, quality products."

THE MERLIN MS Centre is appealing for unwanted Christmas presents to be donated to the charity for use as raffle prizes.

From January 2, the centre will have a gift amnesty box in reception where people can offload unwanted gifts.

"We have all experienced it, after the hype of the festive season is over we realise just how many of the presents we received are actually unwanted," said Sarah Snell, community fundraising manager at the Merlin MS Centre.

"Such items are often perfect for raffle or tombola prizes for our planned events."

COMMUNITY groups and organisations across Cornwall have been working hard to support Merlin MS Centre throughout the year.

The Cornwall Federation of Young Farmers, which selected Merlin as its charity of the year, raised £4,000 from a variety of events and activities throughout 2013.

Carclaze singers donated £1,000 raised from a concert.

This year's St Ewe County Fair raised more than £3,000 for the centre.

The ladies' captain at Trevose Golf Club, Patricia Haley, chose to support Merlin throughout 2013 raising £3,000.

Members of the Masonic Duke of Cornwall Lodge raised more than £2,000 for the centre this year.

TORPOINT Community College hosted a Christmas lunch for the town's senior citizens.

The lunch, on Tuesday last week, saw Torpoint pensioners greeted with Christmas carols before they settled down to roast turkey and all the trimmings. During the meal the guests were entertained by the pupils in the way of music and singing.

Head chef Tina Crago said she was really pleased with the comments from all who attended.

On completion of the meal, the guests were taken to the main hall for a concert by the school's own choir, the Torpettes and solo renditions by Shekara Rowe, who sang Santa Baby, and Aza Adelina Babii, who sang Away In A Manger.

THE FUTURE of Cornwall's only centre for people with multiple sclerosis is looking brighter after kind-hearted Cornish Guardian readers helped raise an impressive £22,000 in 2013 to keep it running.

In April this year, this paper launched a campaign to save the Merlin MS Centre in St Austell after the charity announced it could be forced to close due to increasing financial pressures.

And since then Merlin supporters and kind-hearted readers have been digging deep to help the charity, which has to raise £300,000 a year to meet its costs.

But it needs readers' continuing help to continue providing lifeline services to MS sufferers from across the county.

"The appeal in the Cornish Guardian really helped raise our profile and as a result we gained lots of support from various groups and organisations that in total raised nearly £23,000," said Ellie May, marketing and communications manager at Merlin.

"Everyone at Merlin MS Centre would like to say a huge thank you for all the amazing support from Cornish Guardian readers in 2013.

"Although not out of the woods yet, it has meant that we are able to go into 2014 in a much more secure position. We hope to have your continued support in this coming year," she added.

Throughout the year, fundraisers ran, cycled, walked and kayaked hundreds of miles to raise thousands of pounds for the centre and community groups and organisations from across Cornwall rallied together in response to the cry for help.

But now the centre, which receives no government funding and relies on the hire of its conference and therapy rooms as well as grants and donations, is facing continuing financial pressure as demand for the lifeline service continues to grow.

More than 1,000 people in the county suffer from MS, an incurable chronic condition affecting the central nervous system, which is double the national average.

"Yearly the amount of people that the charity helps increases with more people either being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis or hearing about the work of the centre," Mrs May explained.

"With an increase in demand comes an increase on resources. Merlin is always looking for organisations that are able to help support the charity," she added.

Zena O'Rourke, editor of the Cornish Guardian, said: "The Merlin Centre provides an invaluable service to the county's MS sufferers and we are proud to support their work. Cornish Guardian readers have given extremely generously in 2013 and I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to support this appeal.

"We would also urge people to keep giving in 2014 to ensure this vital service continues."

AN ORGANISATION has secured more than double its original target to fund improvements to parts of the region's coast path.

The South West Coast Path Association (SWCPA) held a sponsored walk earlier in the year, with the aim of raising £250,000 to fund 90 improvement projects in the region.

Nearly 1,000 people took part in the Great South West Walk which consisted of 56 relay walks covering 630 miles of the coast path.

Between sponsorship and donations from tourism businesses, along with the release of matched-funding by the South West Coast Path Team, the fundraising total reached £640,000.

Thrilled

This has meant the SWCPA has been able to fund 130 improvement projects, all of which will be completed by the end of the year.

Ken Carter, chairman of the Great South West Walk project team, was thrilled with the news.

He said: "Everyone involved is overwhelmed at the final amount raised as well as the number of individuals, local businesses and organisations who have been involved.

"We are thrilled to have more than doubled our original target, enabling our partners at the South West Coast Path Team to exceed the number of improvement projects that were planned."

Projects on the coast path in west Cornwall have seen new granite sign posts being erected along the route as well as many drainage improvements.

In a section of the coast path between Nanjulian and Boscregan, the narrow existing steps were replaced with granite steps which solved the problem of erosion.

A new oak bridge was installed by the team in Lamorna.

One of the most breathtaking sections of the Cornish coast path – from Carbis Bay to St Ives – was made more accessible for people to use.

Vegetation was cut back so walkers had a better view across St Ives Bay and a new flight of granite steps was created.

For more information about the coast path improvements go to the dedicated website at southwestcoastpath.org.uk

A TEAM of DJs are lined up to help revellers bring in the new year in style in Penzance.

The Ritz is hosting NYE Revolution, a party which will include a mixture of hip-hop, disco, rap and house music.

Boogaloo Dee, King Louis and Cllr Pengelly are among the line-up for the event.

Organiser Stephen Childs said: "Work on The Ritz décor has been going on for several weeks with local sculptor Tom Leaper – best known for the Newlyn fisherman sculpture – constructing an immense stage set that will need to be seen to be believed.

"The whole venue will be transformed as never before, along with a bass-heavy sound system. So expect surprises, breakdancers and a great New Year's Eve party atmosphere."

NYE Revolution starts at 10pm on December 31 and lasts until 4am.

Tickets are now on sale at South Shore, The Workbox, and The Strand, Newlyn, and are also available online at https://store.tickethive.co.uk/new/event/nye-revolution/

MOUSEHOLE'S Christmas lights were turned off on Thursday evening to pay tribute to the brave volunteers of Penlee Lifeboat Station.

To honour the eight crewmen who lost their lives trying to save those onboard the Union Star in 1981, who also did not survive the storm, the Mousehole Harbour Lights were set to go out between 8pm and 9pm. Only the Celtic Cross on the nearby St Clement's Isle, and a cross and two angels at the back of the village, continued to shine.

Penlee's current coxswain, Patch Harvey, said it was a day to remember those who lost their lives and said the hour was a fitting way to do so.

"It's a difficult time of year," he said. "We always look back and remember the guys who were lost.

"It's a poignant reminder that things can go wrong – it puts things in perspective.

"I think it's a nice idea. It's about the time the boat was lost and it's a fitting tribute," he added.

Ian Morris, who helps organise the lights, said it is an important part of Mousehole's Christmas display.

"It's a matter of great respect for the 16 lives that were lost," he said.

A number of tributes were left last week as many remembered the tragedy.

On Twitter, 'KernowGirl' posted: "The Penlee lifeboat was lost 22 years ago today. I will never forget that storm. Will be thinking about them all tonight."

While the RNLI said: "Today we remember the 8 volunteer crew of the Solomon Browne who lost their lives in the Penlee disaster 32 yrs ago. Forever in our hearts."

A commemorative service was planned to be held on Sunday at Paul Church.

DISTINCTIVE items, including a Longines watch and a gold bracelet with an Egyptian symbol pendant, have been stolen from a house in Penzance's Alexandra Road.

The items taken between November 20 and 27 were:

a Longines watch with black strap, white face and gold plated surround

wristwatch with silver bracelet and a mother-of-pearl face

opal gold daisy antique ring

antique gold opal ring with filigree gold mounting

large sapphire and diamond ring

topaz and diamond necklace and earring set

gold bracelet with Ankh Egyptian symbol pendant.

If any of these items have been seen or offered for sale, contact Detective Constable Clarke at Penzance Police Station, quoting AP/13/2979 on 101 or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.