Cornish Guardian (Newquay & the North Coast)

Dangerous driver who caused fatal smash jailed

AMAN who killed a grandmother while driving dangerously and under the influence has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison. Jamie Hawken, 30, from St Dennis, St Austell, had previously pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. Last...

Vicious storm leaves a trail of destruction

AMASSIVE clean-up operation was launched across Cornwall after Storm Goretti left a trail of destruction in its wake. Strong winds and heavy rain swept the peninsula on Thursday night, with westernmost Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly bearing the...

Council is accused of ‘scandal’ over care home fees

DISTRAUGHT families are alleging a “systemic scandal” at Cornwall Council concerning their late loved ones’ care, which has led to some Cornish residents paying more than £100,000 for treatment they believe should have been provided free by the NHS. A...

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A new beginning for Cornwall’s economy

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...

Dangerous driver is jailed for fatal crash

AN “extraordinary woman” from Newquay was killed when a driver failed to properly secure a two-tonne drilling rig to his vehicle trailer, a court has heard. Liam Smith was driving along the B3297, entering the area of Burras, between Camborne and...

⟫There was a wealth of music and song as St Denys Church hosted another successful Festival of Christmas Trees.

‘Thank God we turned round when we did. We would have all died’

THE survivors of a fatal blizzard in Patagonia in which one of their friends and four other trekkers died have described how their once-in-a-lifetime trek turned into a horror story. Hayley Newnham, 41, Tom Player, 39, Matt Smith, also 39, Christian...

Bus firm to axe all services in Duchy

HUNDREDS of jobs are at risk after First Bus announced plans to withdraw all its services in Cornwall. The firm said its entire operation in the county would be shut down after the last service ended on Saturday, February 14, 2026. It blamed the...

Memory Walk raises £28k for Children’s Hospice South West

MORE than 230 people took part in an emotional night-time charity walk this month at The Lost Gardens of Heligan. Children’s Hospice South West’s (CHSW) annual Moonlight Memory Walk took place on November 8 at the gardens in Pentewan near St...

Councillor quits the Tories over ‘racist’ remark

THE former chair of Cornwall Council has resigned from the Conservative party after she was condemned by two of the Duchy’s MPs over a Facebook post they deemed to be racist. Councillor Pauline Giles, who is the Cornwall councillor for St Blazey,...

1,500 houses are planned for theme park site

APROPOSED garden village of up to 1,500 homes is being planned by the joint administrators of the Camel Creek theme park near Wadebridge. The adventure park remains open, and the Tredinnick Garden Village would be built on fields next to it. The site...

⟫Newquay Activity Centre paddleboarders got into the spirit in preparation for the week-long Spooky Newquay spectacular.

THOUSANDS of zombies descended on Newquay on Saturday as the town marked its biggest annual Spooky Newquay Zombie Crawl. Crowds of ghouls left onlookers stunned as they shuffled, groaned and danced their way through the seaside town as they made their...

Marathon efforts are rewarded

AVETERAN runner has clocked up a century of marathons – crossing the finish line of his 100th race to cheers at last weekend’s Eden Project Marathon and Half-Marathon. The milestone achievement coincided with the 15th year of the event, which is...

Reform boss quits

THE most powerful Reform UK member in Cornwall has resigned as leader of the party at Cornwall Council. Councillor Rob Parsonage’s shock departure comes just days after the deputy leader of the Reform group on the council, Cllr Rowland O’Connor,...

Sheep invaders force football team to cancel match

ANON-LEAGUE football club was forced to cancel its first competitive match on its new pitch after finding it strewn with poo deposited by hundreds of sheep. St Neot AFC had been due to play Looe Town’s second team in the St Piran League Division 4...

⟫An awe-inspiring fox sculpture made from a storm-felled rhododendron has been created at the Lost Gardens of Heligan.

A GIANT sculpture of a leaping fox has been unveiled at the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Called Lowarnes, Cornish for vixen, the 6m-tall sculpture is carved from russet rhododendron wood grown at Heligan. Its creators are the Cornish brother-and-sister...

Crime crackdown

A“HOTSPOT” crime crackdown has been rolled out in another Cornish town, with extra high-visibility patrols being conducted by police officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and uniformed local authority street marshals in Bodmin. Alison...

Political row over new energy plant

APOLITICAL war of words has broken out over a Cornish MP’s support for residents who are opposed to plans for a geothermal plant in the county. A member of Cornwall Council’s cabinet says he is so astonished at Ben Maguire’s stance he’s asked the...

Surfer takes on mammoth Cribbar wave

⟫ A surfer is towed by a watercraft before riding a huge wave at Cribbar Point, Newquay, during large swells caused by Hurricane Erin.

Students celebrate success as GCSE results revealed

PCs sacked over death in custody

TWO Devon and Cornwall officers who failed to provide emergency first aid to a man who died after collapsing in the back of their police van have been sacked for gross misconduct. A disciplinary panel found the actions of PC Grant Mackenzie and PC...

BOB VYLAN

CONTROVERSIAL rock rap group Bob Vylan once again spoke out against both the British government and Israel, as they began their set at the Boardmasters Festival. Frontman Bobby Vylan’s expletive-laden rant saw him criticise Reform UK, MPs, England,...

Murder inquiry after hotel fire

A MURDER investigation has been launched after the body of a man was found at the scene of a devastating fire in Newquay. Emergency services were called to the scene of a large fire at an abandoned hotel in Narrowcliff at about 4.35pm last...

Controversial band still set to play festival

DESPITE calls for controversial duo Bob Vylan to be banned from playing this year’s Boardmasters event, the festival has said their performance on the main stage will definitely go ahead. However, the festival organisers will face a licensing hearing...

Human remains found in woods identified

AMAN has been remanded into custody charged with murder after human remains believed to be those of a missing man were discovered. James Desborough, 39, appeared before Bodmin Magistrates’ Court on Thursday accused of murdering Daniel Coleman,...

Police search woods in murder inquiries

»TWO separate murder inquiries have been launched by detectives investigating the disappearance of a man following the discovery of a different body. A man and a woman were arrested on suspicion of murder last week as part of a missing person inquiry...

Exhibition charts artist’s journey from Tywardreath to Tibet

⟫Internationally acclaimed artist Tony Foster, who has worked all over the world, is to show a new collection at the Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery.

Gary Barlow shines at Sessions

⟫Former Take That frontman Gary Barlow had the crowd in raptures as he enjoyed a triumphant return to the Eden Sessions.

⟫Western toad tadpoles

swimming among the lily pads in a lake on Vancouver Island, Canada, create a mesmerising spectacle in this award-winning image by Shane Gross. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is returning to Eden for a second time as part of its...

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...

Police deployed to ‘disrupt criminals’

SPECIALIST police officers have been deployed to Newquay and St Austell to “spot and disrupt criminal activity”. Devon and Cornwall Police have been carrying out ‘Project Servator’ deployments in the lead up to the busy summer period, when a number of...

Truly beautiful wildlife images are nourishment for the soul

ANEW exhibition of wildlife photography showcasing the biodiversity of the Lost Gardens of Heligan is now open to the attraction’s visitors. Called 200 Acres, the size of the Heligan estate, it features images taken by Andy Wilson, who balances his...

‘Hotspot’ policing initiative targets the yobs

APOLICE crackdown on antisocial behaviour and serious violence in ‘hotspot’ areas of Cornwall is to be extended into Bodmin thanks to a £1 million funding boost. The policing initiative, which was initially launched in May 2024 and has been operating...

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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...

Perfect weather helps Eden to look blooming marvellous

⟫A sea of lilac and purple anemones awaits visitors to the Eden Project where sunny days and cool nights have created ideal growing conditions.

Cornwall to Australia: Harvey’s epic cycling challenge

A21-YEAR-OLD from Bodmin is cycling from Cornwall to Australia to boost his wellbeing. Harvey Jeffrey Jones left his home on February 26, 2025, and aims to arrive in Australia by the same date in 2026. Speaking from the camp he’d set up in Germany,...

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Peaceful picture wins coast path photography competition

STRIKING photographs capturing the essence of the South West Coast Path have been named as competition winners. Run by the South West Coast Path Association in partnership with Great Western Railway, the South West Coast Path Photographer of the Year...

Cornish hero of First World War is finally identified

A headstone now bears the name of a decorated First World War hero from Cornwall after he was identified more than 100 years after his death. James Ball Baron, a 29-year-old machine gunner from Mevagissey previously awarded the Military Medal, was...

Wildlife pays the price as arsonists hit nature reserve

⟫A firefighter surrounded by ash and flames battles a blaze at Rosenannon Downs where 68 acres of heathland were destroyed.

Craig hit £1m Lottery jackpot after popping out for burger

⟫Craig and Zoe Haggie, from Liskeard, let the champagne flow after scooping the life-changing, seven-figure sum on a National Lottery scratchcard.

Magical moorland labyrinth ready to open to public

⟫Made from traditional Cornish stone hedging, Kerdroya, near Colliford Lake on Bodmin Moor, is ready for its official unveiling.

Magnolia blooms herald the arrival of spring

SPRING has unofficially arrived in Cornwall, according to folklore, after 50 blooms appeared on veteran magnolia trees. According to custom, the blooming of six magnolia trees in some of Cornwall’s most historic gardens has heralded the end of winter...

Councillor defects to Reform to Farage’s delight

CORNWALL Council has its first Reform UK councillor – much to the delight of its party leader Nigel Farage. It was revealed after the party’s conference at Carn Brea Leisure Centre on Monday that Newquay councillor Kevin Towill had defected from the...

Householders hit by another 4.99% rise

DIFFICULT cuts to balance the books as part of Cornwall Council’s forthcoming budget had taken an emotional toll on officers and councillors, a meeting of Cornwall Council’s cabinet heard. Members heard the portfolioholder for family services had wept...

Ellie sees her golden retriever wish come true

ASERIOUSLY ill 10-year-old girl from South East Cornwall had her wish come true when she was surrounded by more than 50 golden retrievers. Ellie Cleary, from Liskeard, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare type of cancer, in March 2024. Following...

Seaweed farm battle hots up

FROM Historic England to local fishermen, it’s been a resounding ‘no’ to plans for two giant seaweed farms to be created in a pristine bay in North Cornwall. For more than a year residents of Port Quin near Port Isaac, backed by Cornwall-loving...

Eden Project to cut 80 jobs amid financial crisis

⟫The Eden Project has confirmed that it is cutting 80 jobs after facing ‘considerable economic challenges’. The cutbacks at the tourist attraction at Bodelva, near St Austell, which represent about 20% of its current 400-strong workforce, come after it...

Campaigners fight solar ‘goldrush’

ONLY weeks after what would have been Cornwall’s largest solar farm was rejected following pressure from a local campaign group, more residents in midCornwall are fighting plans for yet another huge solar park. The Stop Trelion Solar Farm group has...

Royal Mail unveils 12 stamps to celebrate The Vicar of Dibley

⟫Scenes from one of Britain’s favourite sitcoms, The Vicar of Dibley, have been immortalised in new stamps issued by Royal Mail. Starring Dawn French, who now lives in South East Cornwall having moved there from Fowey, the series followed the fortunes...

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Controversial cliff work halted

THE developer behind controversial plans for seven luxury homes overlooking a beach has had its licence to reinforce the clifftop site revoked following a series of rockfalls. Concerns had repeatedly been raised about the instability of the cliffs at...

Devolution plan is ‘grim’ for Cornwall

THE leader of Mebyon Kernow (MK) – the party which has long been calling for Celtic-style devolution for Cornwall akin to Wales and Scotland – has called the Government’s English Devolution White Paper a “grim day for Cornwall”. All political groups...

Brothers acquitted of horrific murders

TWO brothers have been cleared of murdering a couple who ran a petrol station near Wadebridge. Robert and Lee Firkins were convicted in January 2006 of the murders of Carol and Graham Fisher at their home at Perch Garage, just off the A39. They...

Villagers launch online fundraiser in battle to build affordable homes

St Ewe Parish Council chairman Will Richards on the plot of land villagers want to buy from the Diocese of Truro – with a little financial help.

Cornwall MPs back Assisted Dying Bill

ALL six Cornwall MPs voted in favour of allowing assisted dying following an emotional debate in the House of Commons. The historic vote last Friday, with 330 in favour to 275 against, followed five hours of discussion during which MPs shared personal...

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Another 4.99% council tax hike agreed

SETTING Cornwall Council’s budget for 2025-26 has led to council officers and councillors “tearing their hair out” and having “sleepless nights”, a meeting heard. The council’s Conservative cabinet met last Wednesday to agree draft budget proposals...

Volunteer fighter killed in Ukraine

A FAMILY have paid tribute to their “brave” son who has been killed while fighting in Ukraine. Callum Tindal-Draper, 22, from Gunnislake, South East Cornwall, was killed in action while serving with the foreign volunteer platoon in the country’s war...

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10am-3pm Book your place today 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 you to make an...

Shipwreck treasures to be sold at auction

ATREASURE trove of thousands of artefacts recovered from shipwrecks is to be auctioned off next week. The Shipwreck Treasure Museum in Charlestown, near St Austell, has been on the market for some time, complete with its collection of more than 7,000...

£50m demo plant boosts Cornwall’s lithium ambitions

THE opening of a £50 million demonstration facility for producing lithium in Cornwall is a milestone in helping the UK’s transition to clean power, its backers say. Cornish Lithium’s demonstration plant near St Austell is set to start producing...

Beautiful Northern Lights head south to Cornwall

⟫Stargazers across Cornwall, including Joelle Stokes who took this stunningly atmospheric shot while out on the clay trails near St Austell, were treated to another spectacular light show from the aurora borealis – or Northern Lights – last Thursday...

Historic aerial pictures show how times have changed

⟫Newquay’s iconic Headland Hotel stands in splendid isolation in this picture taken from the air by Arthur William Hobart in the 1930s. His collection of images has now been digitised by the Historic England Archive.

New ‘seed pod’ grows at Heligan as harvest celebrated

AVISUALLY striking education centre that looks like a bird’s nest is set to be built at a major Cornwall tourist attraction. The Heligan Learning Seed Pod, with its wood lattice walls, was first mooted in 2021 as part of Sir Tim Smit’s grand master...