Cornwallcounty

Falmouth Town Council will lead St Piran's Day celebrations in 2027 after the 2026 parade was cancelled by its external organisers with insufficient planning time remaining. The council will organise a weekend of events from 5 to 7 March, including pasty-making sessions, a Cornish food market, and a ticketed evening concert featuring local band Kernoasis.

Simon Iliffe, 55, of St Austell appeared in Truro Magistrates Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to making three category B indecent images of children aged six and 12. Police discovered the images on his Samsung tablet in July 2025 after he had deleted them; they were later recovered. Iliffe, a registered sex offender with previous convictions, described it as 'a momentary relapse' he regretted. He was handed a community order, 180 hours unpaid work, and remains subject to a sexual harm prevention order until 2029.

Alfie, 17, from Troon in Cornwall, travelled to London on 4 November to see Korn at the O2 Arena. The teenager became separated from two friends near the mosh pit at around 10.30pm and did not meet them at their planned 11pm rendezvous. Alfie has now been found.

Over 100 people protested against plans for 78 affordable homes in Illogan, near Redruth, forcing Illogan Parish Council to move its meeting to a larger venue. The parish council voted unanimously to object to the application by developer EBC Partnerships Ltd to build on land off Basset Road. An application report states 219 households have been identified on the housing register with a connection to the parish, as of April 2026.

Ben Starkie, a 24-year-old midfielder for Truro City, has been recalled to the Tanzania national squad following his recovery from a serious hamstring injury that sidelined him for much of last season. Starkie, who qualifies through his mother, earned his first call-up since June 2024. Tanzania will play two matches against Nigeria in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers later this month.

Councillors in Cornwall have compromised on a dispute over benches outside Balcony Bar And Kitchen in St Ives. Neighbouring businesses complained the three benches were blocking entrances and damaging trade, with the seating area only 1.47 metres from the road instead of the required 2 metres. The council's Street Trading and Pavement Licensing Committee agreed to renew a licence for two benches as a proportionate compromise.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust had aimed to end corridor care at Treliske by the end of October, but a surge in patients since the start of November has forced the hospital back into using corridor spaces. The trust declared a critical incident on 5 November, meaning demand had exceeded its capacity. Acting chief executive Kim O'Keeffe told the trust's board that patients are now being treated in corridors across the hospital, as well as in discharge lounges and day case areas.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust aimed to end corridor care at Treliske by the end of October, but a surge in patients since early November has forced the hospital into a critical incident. The trust's acting chief executive reported that corridor spaces, which had been cleared from wards and largely eliminated from the emergency department, are now back in use across multiple areas including a discharge lounge and day case areas.

Reverend Steven James Wild, 72, is on trial at Truro Crown Court facing ten counts of sexual assault and one of indecent assault, with alleged incidents spanning 2004 to 2019. The alleged victims, all adult female members of the Methodist Church, reported that senior ministers dismissed their complaints. Wild denies all charges.

Sophia Aitken, a 12-year-old schoolgirl, was killed when she was hit by a bus on Lauchlan Way in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire at around 1.10pm on November 3 during her lunchbreak. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her family described her as 'a ray of sunshine' and asked for privacy to grieve. Police Scotland is investigating and appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage.

Billy Moore and Anita George are celebrating 45 years each as publicans in Cornwall. Moore has run The Fountain Inn in Mevagissey since 1981, while George has led The Logan Rock Inn at Treen for the same length of time. Together they have dedicated 90 years to their communities, with George raising over £1 million for local causes and both becoming fixtures in their villages.

PC Michael Ireland of Devon and Cornwall Police was dismissed after a misconduct hearing found he intentionally swung a drunk prisoner with such force that the detainee smashed his head into a wall and lost a tooth. Ireland lied about the incident, claiming the prisoner had caused the injury himself. He also sprayed another drunk arrestee with irritant spray and verbally abused him, and on a third occasion handcuffed a man and grabbed him by the throat, threatening to 'fold him in half'. The incidents occurred between December 2023 and January 2024 and were captured on CCTV and body-worn camera footage.

Falmouth and Helston Police have seized three illegal Surron-style electric bikes in Cornwall. According to CornwallLive, these high-powered bikes are becoming increasingly popular but many riders are unaware they cannot be used on public roads, pavements or cycle paths without meeting strict legal requirements. The bikes may be uninsured, untaxed and unregistered. Police said officers will continue to target illegal use and riders breaking the law may face vehicle seizure, prosecution, fines or driving disqualification.

An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome diverted to a military base in Evreux, northern France, after receiving a bomb threat. The Airbus A320 landed safely at around 10am local time with 151 passengers and six crew members aboard. Bomb disposal teams were at the scene. The airline said it was a security precaution and will reaccommodate customers to Rome as soon as possible. The diversion follows seven bomb alerts affecting flights across Europe two days earlier.

A Storm Resilience Summit is being held in Penzance on 27 November from 2pm to 5pm at Mennaye Field to improve emergency planning and community preparedness. According to the Falmouth Packet, the event is hosted by Andrew George, Liberal Democrat MP for West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and will bring together representatives from COBRA, utility companies, emergency planners and first responders. The summit follows Storm Goretti in January and Storm Austen, which caused widespread power outages. It is open to residents, parish and town councils, community groups and businesses with free entry.

Rob Francis, a 67-year-old Cornish farmer, died after a half-tonne hay bale toppled from a stack and pinned him to the ground at his family farm in Morwenstow on 11 November 2025. An inquest heard he was using a tractor to remove netting from a bale when another fell from shoulder height and landed on him. His daughter, who was nearby, rolled the bale off him and raised the alarm. He was taken to hospital with multiple fractures but his condition deteriorated, and he died three days later.

Newlyn Old Harbour in Cornwall has been removed from Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register following a major restoration project. The Falmouth Packet reports the work was led by Harbour Commissioner Nick Howell and supported by Historic England's Heritage at Risk Capital Fund. The BBC reports the £10,000 project took 18 months and involved restoring harbour walls, mooring, ladders and clearing undergrowth.

Emergency services are urging the public to use 999 only for serious or life-threatening incidents ahead of Bonfire Night. South Western Ambulance Service responded to over 7,000 incidents during the Halloween weekend, 10% higher than expected, and said it needs to prioritise resources for patients at genuine risk. The service asks callers not to ring for updates on ambulance arrival times.

Falmouth and Helston Neighbourhood Team police have seized three illegal Surron-style electric bikes amid concerns about their growing use in the area. The force warned that such bikes are not automatically legal to use on roads or in public places. To be ridden legally on public roads, Surron-style bikes must be registered with the DVLA, display a number plate, have insurance, and the rider must hold the correct driving licence and wear an approved motorcycle helmet. Many Surron bikes do not meet these requirements. Police said they would continue taking 'robust action' against illegal use, with riders facing vehicle seizure, prosecution, fines, penalty points or driving disqualification.

Dominic Chinea, a metalwork expert on BBC's The Repair Shop, relocated to Cornwall last year with his wife Mary and their dog. He has documented the challenges of his move, including storm damage to his workshop roof and house problems, but says beautiful moments like sunsets make the struggles 'all worth it'.

George Gordon, 65, is accused of killing his companion Delia McInerney, 62, in April 2023 at his flat in St Helens, Merseyside, just before she was due to move to Portugal. Her dismembered body was discovered in a chest freezer at his flat on 8 January this year. Gordon admits killing McInerney but claims he acted in self-defence; he initially told police he struck her with a hammer to 'end her suffering' after an overdose. He is also accused of fraudulently obtaining thousands of pounds from her bank accounts and obtaining loans and credit cards in her name.

Probus School Filling Station in Truro, which changed hands in September after 66 years of family ownership, has been granted a 24-hour off-licence by Cornwall Council. The new owners, Birmingham-based Samy Investments Limited, had extended the site's opening hours to 24 hours and applied to sell alcohol at all times. Eight residents opposed the licence, citing concerns about antisocial behaviour, noise and increased traffic, but none attended the council committee meeting that approved the application.

Samy Investments Limited, which runs Probus School Filling Station near Truro, has applied to Cornwall Council for permission to sell alcohol around the clock. Eight villagers opposed the licence, citing concerns about potential antisocial behaviour, noise, disorder and litter. The company's director said residents have nothing to fear, noting that none of his other licences have been reviewed.

BBC Cornwall reports that Steven Wild, 72, of St Ives, denies 11 charges of sexual assault and indecent assault between 2004 and 2015. At Truro Crown Court, prosecutors alleged he assaulted five women who encountered him through the Methodist Church. The prosecutor said the touching was often in public and easily disguised because of Wild's senior position as chair of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Methodist District from 2008 to 2022. The allegations emerged in 2018 during a safeguarding review.

A police officer intentionally swung a drunk prisoner around with such force that he smashed his head into a wall in a custody suite, a misconduct hearing has heard. PC Michael Ireland then allegedly lied that the detainee, who lost a tooth, had struck the door himself. The Newquay-based officer also allegedly sprayed another arrestee with irritant spray and used excessive force on a third man. The incidents, which occurred in December 2023 and January 2024, were recorded on CCTV and bodyworn camera footage. Ireland admitted going 'over the top' in some incidents but left the force in December 2025.

Emergency services attended an incident on City Road in Truro city centre at around 5:30pm on November 3, and one person was taken to Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske. CornwallLive understands the crews were responding to reports of a fire. Cornwall Council and Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service have not confirmed details of the incident. A witness reported seeing smoke and multiple emergency vehicles but said she did not see any fire or flames.

Steven Wild, 72, former leader of the Methodist Church in Cornwall, is on trial at Truro Crown Court facing 10 counts of sexual assault and one of indecent assault of adult female church members. The alleged incidents span from 2004 to 2019 across multiple locations including Cornwall, Devon, Bristol, Derbyshire and Southport. Wild denies all charges.

The Cornwall Swim Festival returns to the Lizard Peninsula on November 7 at Trevassack Lake, organised by Cornish Kelpie. The event offers open-water swimming distances from 100 metres to two kilometres, talks from cold-water swimming speakers, live music, trade stalls, and a café. This year introduces the Jo Wilce Memorial Race. Tickets cost £30 per participant and £5 per spectator.

Plymouth City Council is trialling a booking system at its recycling centres to reduce traffic queues at peak times. The scheme, expected to launch at Chelson Meadow and Weston Mill sites, will cost £26,000 and allow people to pre-book slots online or by telephone. Similar systems at other local authorities have shown operational benefits including improved traffic management.

A trial opened at Truro Crown Court of Rev Steven Wild, 72, a former senior Methodist Church leader in Cornwall who denies sexually assaulting five women. The prosecution told the jury the alleged offences took place over more than a decade and involved non-consensual sexual touching of clothed women, sometimes in public. Wild allegedly used his position within the church to disguise such behaviour. A woman who raised concerns was reportedly told she could not make such allegations about him and received no real help from the church.

A former Cornwall Council cabinet member accused the current leader of 'total b******s' over his response to staff absences at an extraordinary council meeting on 3 November. The council has seen the resignation of chief executive Kate Kennally in October after a month's leave, followed by departures of her wife Rachael Rothero, the service director for people commissioning, and chief financial officer Annabel Scholes, who had held the role for six months. Three CFOs have left since 2024. The meeting also heard that Neil Edmond, chief executive of Corserv, the council's subsidiary overseeing highways, transport, aviation and care services, is also absent from his position.

Jennifer Balcarras, 48, and her daughter Selah Reed, 20, went missing during a walk on Snoaka West Trail near Bella Coola, western Canada on Saturday. Their bodies were discovered on Monday and Tuesday respectively. The pair were familiar with the trail, which their brother described as 'not in a remote area' and 'just a casual walk'.

Jake McCullum, a mechanic now 22, pleaded guilty to indecent exposure after exposing his genitals to a woman driving past in Torpoint in September 2023. The victim identified McCullum from an identity parade and told the court his actions left her anxious and fearful, forcing her to change her daily routines. McCullum was sentenced at Truro Crown Court on Wednesday, 4 November.