AN INTRUDER broke into a home in Listry Road, Newquay, between midnight and 8am on Sunday.

The culprit smashed a window panel in the back door to get in. Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting GN/14/266.

THE NEW committee overseeing the Wadebridge Carnival in August has promised a great family day out with a host of musicians coming to the town.

The new date is Saturday, August 9, and the parade will feature three samba bands from across the county, the kilted Kernow Pipers and, from Devon, the Bideford Youth Pipe Band.

Also making an appearance will be 20 motorcyclists of the Royal British Legion Riders' Club who will be revving up their Harley Davidson machines for the occasion.

After the procession, band the Gumbo Flyers will be performing at a carnival party in a marquee in Jubilee Field, with a bar run by Wadebridge Rugby Club.

Carnival committee chairman Robin Moorcroft said everyone had been working hard. "We are going all out to put on a great carnival in August that we hope will live up to expectations.

"We have managed to book some superb talent to perform on the day, with others still to confirm they will be appearing, but it's looking good for a great family occasion."

THE case against a Bodmin man who admitted handling a handbag and two mobile phones stolen from a car as well as stealing meat from Sainsbury's in the town has been further adjourned for sentence. Nigel Boland, 40, of Castle Street, Bodmin, is due to be sentenced on February 27.

A CLIFFTOP path near Looe could collapse at any time after the Valentine's Day storms further loosened a giant section of earth beneath it.

Huge cracks had already begun to appear in the path at Talland Bay – but torrential rain on Friday has caused them to widen even more.

The section of the South West Coast Path remains closed, although an alternative route has been identified to allow ramblers to walk between Talland and Polperro.

Edwina Hannaford, Cornwall councillor for West Looe and portfolio holder for Environment, Heritage and Planning, said: "It's quite a bit worse now on top and the Valentine's Day storm has taken part of the cliff out beneath.

"It's being attacked from both sides and it could go at any time, especially if we keep getting more rain."

Engineers from Cormac, Cornwall Council's highways contractor, have visited the site and confirmed a cliff slip is imminent.

The path section of path between Talland Bay and Hendersick will remain closed in the interests of public safety.

"When it goes we'll have to assess what can be done," said Mrs Hannaford. "I want to stress that the route is still available for people to walk and the detour is about 10 minutes. It does include a steep hill to climb but a good climb is healthy for you."

A Cornwall Council spokesman said: "The cliff will fall at some point but we can never predict when.

"We won't be able to stabilise it until it comes down by itself. There's very little we can do but we can make sure the public are safe. It could be a range of things that could make the cliff fall - high tides, cold weather - but because it's soft ground this will happen more often."

No one at the South West Coast Path Association was available for comment.

SHAUN CHARLES, 30, of Jasmine Way, St Merryn, has been fined £600 with a £60 surcharge and £85 costs after being convicted by Bodmin magistrates on Wednesday February 12 of using a motorcycle without insurance at West Hill, Wadebridge, on August 17.

His licence was endorsed with eight penalty points.

POLICE are appealing for information after a tax disc was stolen from a vehicle in Bodmin.

The disc was removed from a grey BMW when it was parked in Priory Road between 10am on Sunday, February 17 and 7.50am on Monday, February 17.

Contact 101 quoting crime reference number BB/14/268.

CHILDREN from a St Austell primary school met some real life Fireman Sams when firefighters from the local station dropped in on Friday.

The youngsters from Bishop Bronescombe School were shown around the fire engine and saw the hoses used to put out blazes.

The fun-filled visit gave the young students an opportunity to learn about fire safety and meet the crew. The children also saw the firefighters spring into action when they received an emergency call during the visit to the school.

MICHAEL KEITH ROWE, 59, of Gilbert Road, Bodmin, entered guilty pleas at Truro Magistrates' Court on February 7 to carrying out a gas fitting while not being approved by the Health and Safety Executive and failing to ensure that owners and neighbours of a property at Trispen were not exposed to risks to their health and safety; he was fined £2,000 and told to pay compensation of £250.

ST AUSTELL Sea Cadets had a clean sweep at the Cornwall District Drill and Piping Competition, winning all the awards they were eligible for.

Held at HMS Raleigh, Torpoint, the Hood won awards for: Best Standard party, Best Dressed Standard Party, Best I/C Standard Party – LC Lewis Winnett, Best Piping Party Cadets – AC Keiran Stephen, AC Luke Adams, Ct Rhys Childs, Best individual piper – AC Luke Adams and Best Dressed piper – AC Luke Adams.

Hugh Walker, from the unit management team, said: "The cadets did a fantastic job and were a credit to the unit and themselves. On behalf of everyone earlier in the day, Commanding Officer S/Lt Ben Nash took great pleasure in collecting the Dirk Trophy, which is awarded to the best Sea Cadet Unit in Cornwall District from the District Officer Lt/Cdr Stella Trehair.

CALLINGTON students showcased their drama skills in a piece commemorating the First World War.

Callington Community College Drama GCSE students performed their devised piece at the Hall for Cornwall in Truro at the end of January.

They developed their ideas through improvisation workshops and created a powerful group piece based on two poems by Wilfred Owen - The Sentry and Dulce et Decorum Est.

The experience allowed them to show off their drama skills as well as see the work of other drama students across the South West.

They also got the opportunity to work with professional stage managers and technical teams as well as experiencing performing in a large theatre.

THE organisation behind the campaign to re-open Bodmin's Public Rooms has been buoyed by the overwhelming support of residents.

A mail shot survey by the Bodmin Community Association (BCA) received almost 600 replies, with 85.83 per cent strongly agreeing the building should be saved for the benefit of the community.

Many more residents responded to the Public Rooms pubic survey than Cornwall Council's consultation on the regeneration of the town, with just 356 residents bothering to complete the Bodmin Town Framework questionnaire.

The BCA has put in a bid to Bodmin Town Council to transfer the Public Rooms and museum into its ownership, and held preliminary talks with the council last week.

The association's dream is to turn the building into a multi-functional venue, and has estimated £1 million needs to be spent to create a top class arts and community facility.

The BCA wants to work with the council to obtain funding to renovate, restore and re-open the Public Rooms, and has already been awarded a grant for a feasibility study to be undertaken on the work required to re-open it.

BCA chairman Peter Old said: "We are extremely encouraged by the public's response to our efforts to take over the Public Rooms and re-open it as a community hall for the benefit of residents in Bodmin and the surrounding area.

"Initially, we would like the town council to provide us with a licence to operate the building, during which time the council would still be responsible for it, but the association would be responsible for operating it.

"This is because we will need time to raise the substantial funds necessary to carry out the total refurbishment of the Public Rooms.

" If everything goes to plan and we are successful with our funding applications, we will then hope to negotiate the freehold hand over of the building.''

The town council closed the Public Rooms last year, making six staff redundant in a bid to save money.

Mr Old said it the town council agreed in principal with what his association's proposals, the next step would be to apply for £100,000 development grant.

The BCA has put together a portfolio of intended improvements to the Public Rooms. It includes a revamp of the main hall and stage, with retractable seating for 300 people.

An open lobby with a box office, café and bar area are also being considered.

The association says it could also be possible to include commercial kitchen facilities, which would enable the building to be used for a variety of functions such as weddings, dances, dinners, plays, musical theatre and other activities.

Mr Old said: "The vision is ambitious, but there is no reason why Bodmin cannot be home to one of Cornwall's premier entertainment venues, capable of holding musical events, putting on theatre and films as well as hosting local community group events

"In order to create such a venue, we believe funds of at least £1 million will need to be raised."

PADSTOW'S Kernow Players will be staging their first ever panto production at the Little Theatre tonight until March 1.

Jack and the Beanstalk is produced by Tania Grubb and directed by Judith Alcock and tells the classic story of a hapless young lad Jack who sells his mum's prize cow for a handful of beans believing them to be magic.

The villagers, the king and the princess are being terrorised by an evil witch, and a giant of immense appetite who will eat anything and everything if he doesn't get his gold.

Overnight the beanstalk magically grows and aided and abetted by Dame Trott, Dozy Den, and the Royal household; Jack climbs the beanstalk and the adventure begins.

The production is full of lively song and dance and, with great costumes and sound effects, promises to be a great family show.

Performances start tonight at 7.30pm and continue every Wednesday,Thursday, Friday and Saturday until March 1.

Tickets are available from 'W' Lanadwell Street, Padstow Tel: 01841 532292, £7 for adults; £3 children.

MP FOR South East Cornwall Sheryll Murray has welcomed the news of extra funding from the government to help the victims of the recent flooding.

Prime Minister David Cameron told Mrs Murray in a letter on Friday that the government will provide repair grants of up to £5,000 per house and business affected to help build better flood defences.

Mr Cameron also confirmed that businesses which have been affected by the floods will get 100 per cent business rate relief for three months and will also get an extra three months to pay business taxes they owe.

The announcement comes after a review of the Bellwin scheme, which gives additional money to local councils in times of an emergency. When Cornwall moved to a unitary authority it lost its ability to claim this money from the government.

"I am pleased that David Cameron has announced changes which should mean millions more for Cornwall," Mrs Murray said.

"There is still a lot of work to be done and I will continue to push the issues affecting us in South East Cornwall."

The government has also secured a total commitment in excess of £750 million from the major banks to provide financial support to business and individual customers affected by the floods, and there is to be a targeted review of the resilience of the transport network to extreme weather events.

Mrs Murray said she is also pushing for the government to look at the people who have been indirectly affected by the floods.

"There are many who rely on tourism and this has been hit by adverse news reports and infrastructure issues," she said.

"I am also continually pushing for the details of any help to ensure information gets to those that need it.

"My office is there to help, so please do give my office a ring on 01579 344428 or email me at sheryll@sheryllmurray.com."

A SECRET underground emergency bunker, built to protect essential services in the event of a nuclear war, is being auctioned by South West Water. The bunker, at Coswarth, five miles from Newquay, was constructed in 1978 during the Cold War so experts at the then South West Water Authority could maintain water and sewerage operations even after a nuclear holocaust. The 3,000sq ft bunker was designed for 16 people – 7 in the operations room, 6 in the communications room and 3 in the control room. The rooms are deep underground and the bunker is on the market with a £50,000 guide price. Fifty per cent of the proceeds will be returned to customers through South West Water's next price-setting. The auction is being held at Exeter Racecourse on March 25.

ENTHUSIASTIC performers in Lostwithiel have been putting the final touches to their annual pantomime.

This year, the Lostwithiel Players will be staging Babes in the Wood at the community centre on Friday and Saturday with curtain up at 7.30pm.

Set in Sherwood Forest and featuring Robin Hood, his Merry Men and the dastardly Sheriff Rottingham, the large cast of adults and children have been rehearsing for months and promise a show full of colour, laughter and song.

Tickets priced £5 are available from Lostwithiel Community Centre on 01208 872207.

VIOLENT storms over the past few weeks caused Cornwall's beaches to be strewn with litter and debris, but for a change there was glorious sunshine when people took part in the Great Cornish Litter Pick on Sunday.

More than 50 people volunteered to help in the litter pick at Summerleaze beach, where, as well as plastic and other debris, they sadly found 10 dead sea birds.

The birds included guillemots and razorbills which had been unable to survive the terrible storms.

The event, one of 10 taking place simultaneously at beaches across Cornwall, was organised by Volunteer Cornwall and Clean Cornwall in response to the weeks of stormy weather.

Summerleaze beach clean organiser Ian Saltern said: "It is a community exercise to show our visitors that Cornwall is open for business and to provide local people with an opportunity to do their bit to help clean up after the storms of recent weeks."

The beach clean cleared a large amount of plastic from Summerleaze beach, filling well over 50 refuse sacks.

Other items such as a car wheel, fishing crates and containers were also removed.

Mr Saltern said: "I'm really pleased with how well the event went and would like to thank all those who volunteered their time to help. Cornwall, and particularly Bude, has a great can-do spirit and that was shown today.

"I would particularly like to thank Avril Sainsbury for her help at short notice, also the Widemouth Task Force beach clean group for the loan of their litter pickers and bag hoops, and Bude DIY for providing gloves at a discounted rate.

"People have really enjoyed giving something back and have asked me if another clean is planned soon.

" There are no plans for another clean at Summerleaze at the moment, but people can always get involved with the Widemouth Task Force beach clean (details on Facebook) or take a bag down and do a quick clean themselves."

Further damage was caused to the railings at the Bude Sea Pool last week.

Paul Tilzey, chairman of the Friends of Bude Sea Pool, has issued a plea to any business who can help bring down the new railings which have been offered free by a business in Bilston, West Midlands.

However, Julian Walford, of the Stainless Steel Studio, based at Bilston in the Midlands, has offered to replace the railings to a higher standard than those currently there.

"He has offered to do the repairs and fit marine standard steel. It is a wonderful, wonderful offer," said Mr Tilzey.

"Now we need someone who can transport the railings from the West Midlands down to Bude. We need a kind business to help us in a time of need."

Mr Walford said he and his family come regularly to Bude and love the sea pool.

"The pool is dear to the heart of me and my family.

"When the storm calms down we will come down and take a look at what is required."

THE Cornish Pirates head to Birmingham tomorrow evening for their rescheduled Greene King Championship meeting with Moseley at Billesley Common (7.30pm kick-off).

The match was due to have been played two weeks ago, but was called off due to a waterlogged pitch and the Pirates suffered the same fate last Sunday as their home clash with London Welsh fell foul of the weather.

Moseley, however, did play at the weekend losing heavily 62-5 at Headingley against Leeds Carnegie but the Midlanders have targeted the Pirates game as one they expect to win and Ian Davies knows his team will be tested.

The Cornish Pirates Director of Rugby said: "Moseley always target their home games as ones they expect to win and to be honest we could have done without them getting beaten so heavily at Leeds.

"Leeds are on fire at the moment, but that said, Moseley are always a tough proposition and we know exactly what they will bring to the party."

Davies expects to stick with the squad he picked to face London Welsh for Friday's game and after two successive postponements the team just want to play.

"We had hoped that the Welsh game would go ahead because the boys are chomping at the bit after the disappointing draw with Ealing," he explained.

Frustrating

"Two weeks of not playing is frustrating and although we have put in some good sessions at Penwith College on their artificial pitch, it is not the same as playing."

He continued: "The plus side is that the break has given the likes of Alan Paver and Laurie McGlone more time to work on their fitness after their injury breaks but they both really need game time in their legs now."

Pirates scrum-half Gavin Cattle is also nearing a return to action after his injury lay-off and Davies hopes that he could be back for either the home game against Jersey or the trip to Bristol at the start of next month.

However, the immediate challenge for the Cornish Pirates will be to register their first league success of 2014 at a ground where they have drawn on each of their last three visits.

Moseley, beaten three times at Billesley Common so far this season, last recorded a win over the Pirates on home soil in April 2008 in a 29-20 success. Only Alan Paver and Rob Elloway survive in the Pirates squad from that day.

Cornish Pirates (from): Fatialofa, Goss, Hendrickson, Holland, James, Jones, Kessell, Moyle, Pope, Riley, Sinclair, Evans; Andrew, Barry, Cahill, Carpenter, Elloway, Graulich, Patrick, Prescott, Stevens, Davies, Cheesman, Dancer, Morgan, Parker, Bodilly, Bolwell, Hallett, Duncan, McGlone, Paver, Carrick-Smith.

JACK Nowell is expected to keep his place in the England team for Saturday's Six Nations showdown against Ireland at Twickenham (4pm).

The 20-year-old Exeter Chiefs winger from Newlyn has been named in the 23-man matchday squad for what will be his first England senior home appearance after his first two caps away to France and Scotland.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster was expected to announce his starting XV at a press conference today.

Another youngster joining Nowell in the squad is Bath's George Ford, and Lancaster said: "We feel that the time is right to include George in the matchday squad.

"A full three weeks of training has allowed him the chance to really understand the way we are developing our game and this time has been crucial in order for him to feel confident and ready in a key decision making and leadership position.

"We have successfully integrated and included many young players over the last two years and George is the next exciting talent to make his mark in the senior England squad."

THE Cornish Pirates have confirmed that five players have signed new contracts with the club – and there are likely to be more.

The five are hookers Rob Elloway and Tom Channon, centre Alex Dancer, and utility backs Kieran Goss and Mike Pope.

Elloway, aged 30, joined the Pirates from Gloucester in 2007, and has performed consistently well since. He has made 176 appearance for the club.

Devonian Channon is enjoying his first season in Cornwall, having arrived last summer from Bristol. A strong running forward, he is 23 and has featured in 19 games.

The three backs, who also joined the Pirates last year and are all in their early twenties, have impressed with their attitude and development.

Dancer is a former England Students player who has been hampered by injury, but is now fully fit and has played in nine matches, while Goss and Pope have both been regulars.

South African Goss has scored eight tries in 19 appearances, and Bournemouth-born Pope has played in 23 matches and scored three tries.

Director of Rugby Ian Davies said: "It's fantastic that these guys have put pen to paper. We need a little bit of continuity and will be looking to secure more of the current squad over the next few weeks.

"Strengthening the squad will of course be fully dependent on who we retain and the budget available."

The Pirates have secured the signing of lock forward Will Carrick-Smith (pictured above) who has joined them on a dual-registration agreement with Exeter Chiefs.

The 21-year-old made his Chiefs debut in an LV= Cup encounter away to London Welsh in November 2012 at the Kassam Stadium, and to mark the occasion he touched down the first of his two tries scored in four LV= Cup appearances for the Chiefs last season.

As well as gaining further experience in the A League, the former Blundell's School pupil and England U19 international has also played Championship rugby for Plymouth Albion and for London Welsh, and last summer for the Randwick club in Australia, where former Pirate and Chief Wade Kelly is head coach.

Born in Wandsworth, London, the 6'11" forward should prove a useful addition, with Neale Patrick having joined fellow injured locks Gary Johnson and James Sandford on the sidelines.

Neale should soon return to full fitness but both Gary, who hasn't played since September and James are likely to be out for the remainder of the season.

Pirates Director of Rugby Ian Davies said: "With the second row injury situation we are grateful to the Exeter Chiefs in helping us out again.

"Will is obviously a big lad and we will be able to give him some game time until the end of the season."