A lorry driver who killed a woman when he ploughed into the back of queuing cars on the A30 while fiddling with his radio seconds after sending a text message has had his "soft" jail term increased. Former soldier Joseph David Smith had been using his mobile phone while driving to send and read messages and browse webpages, including gambling sites, Google searches and a Paypal account, in the hours and minutes before the fatal collision. Read more: Falmouth Docks evacuated after...

The community of Perranporth has shown unbelievable support to a homeless man who turned up in the village.The homeless man named Shaun, who is believed to be from Essex, was sleeping in bus shelter in the village before locals rallied around to help him get back on his feet.Residents helped out in every way they could, from donating new clothes and shoes in his size, to bringing him hot food – but one local business owner went above and beyond to show why Perranporth is one of the most...

A man has been arrested after a bizarre incident which saw a car end up in the water at a Cornish beach. It happened last night on Great Western beach in Newquay, with reports that the VW Golf had been "driven into the sea". A call to police saw local Newquay officers arrive as waves rolled past all four of the vehicle's wheels. MORE: Driver survives car plunge off 60ft cliff and here's everything we know so far One onlooker said police made a man climb out the boot of the...

The death of a 32-year-old mum following breast implant surgery could have been prevented, an inquest has been told. Kandi du Cros died of multiple organ failure caused by sepsis in January 2014, the coroner's court in Truro heard. She had developed a "profuse" fungal lung infection which could have been treated, but it could not have been predicted, experts said.Her death was due to a combination of factors linked to a rare autoimmune disorder.Mother-of-one Mrs du Cros underwent...

People had to be turned away on the door of a sell-out Cornwall Live Q and A with Tim Farron in Penzance last night as huge crowds came to Penwith College to quiz the Lib Dem leader. Tim Farron, who has been leader of the Liberal Democrats since July 2015, came to Cornwall with his party entourage in the bright yellow battle bus that has been touring the country. Despite relatively short notice impressive crowds turned up to question Farron on a whole host of pressing issues including the...

Tributes have been paid to a 19-year-old from Bude who has died from a rare form of cancer which his family said couldn't be cured with any conventional form of treatment. Talan Penny was described as an "active and a well loved member of the community". Read more: There's a protest against Falmouth University being organised On a Facebook page called Talan's Journey, dedicated to updates on his illness, it said: "Our lion Talan died peacefully on the 4th of May, at home...

The Liberal Democrats say they have dropped attempts to take control of Cornwall Council.Talks have been going on since last week's elections left Cornwall with a hung council.The election ended with the Tories on 46 out of 122 seats, needing 12 more to gain overall control of County Hall. The Liberal Democrats and the Independents won 37 and 30 seats, respectively.The Independents formed a coalition with the Liberal Democrats for the past four years.In a statement yesterday, the Lib Dem group...

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron is attending a live question and answer session at Penwith College in Penzance, hosted by Cornwall Live. You can watch the debate live on our Facebook page from 7pm onwards, or follow the evening on our live blog below. Please submit any questions you would like answered via our Facebook Live broadcast, and we will put as many as we can to Mr Farron and Mr George. Read more: See all the latest news from around Cornwall.

Penzance bucked the national trend at the recent local elections, and one particular Labour councillor is keen to point it out. The West Cornwall town's Labour candidates enjoyed a strong showing and the big swings to councillors Cornelius Oliver of Penzance Central and Tim Dwelly of Penzance East, who were re-elected with increased majorities, has to be one of the most notable aspects of the Cornwall Council elections. Meanwhile Labour's candidate in Penzance Promenade ward, Tracey...

A furry friend more suited to the other side of the world is on the loose in Cornwall after being spotted in a back garden in the countryside and then giving the RSPCA the run-around before hopping off. Andrew Elder, who lives at Trecrogo near Launceston, had quite an exotic surprise yesterday when he discovered the mysterious creature in his garden. The RSPCA said it was called in by the concerned witness to the curious visitor on Monday evening (May 8).But despite an animal welfare officer's...

A Bodmin pensioner is in a stable condition in hospital after his car plunged 60ft down a cliff at Polzeath. The elderly man was airlifted to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth after he accidentally reversed his car off the cliff at New Polzeath just before 3pm on Monday (May 8). He was first treated by paramedics at the scene for chest pains after firefighters managed to cut him free from his vehicle. Read next: Police negotiators in cliff harnesses spend four hours talking man down from...

A train passenger who failed to pay for two tickets costing £8.70 in total has been fined almost £1,300 in court.As part of a crackdown on rail users in Cornwall who have repeatedly not paid for their tickets, Mary Philip's case ended up before Bodmin magistrates.She was fined a total of £1,296.70 after she travelled on the railway twice in Camborne without paying for a £2 ticket and a £6.70p ticket. Philip, 43, from Commercial Street, Camborne, was fined by Bodmin...

A new radio station dedicated to the community of Newquay is a step closer to becoming reality. Earlier this year plans were unveiled to create Radio Newquay, the town's first full-time community radio station, and the team behind the project has now been invited by telecoms regulator Ofcom to apply for a licence. The not-for-profit station will aim to deliver all of Newquay's community updates, latest events in the town, surf forecasts and specialist programmes featuring performances from...

A man from Cornwall has denied raping two girls in Devon. Adrian Jewell, 46, is also alleged to have filmed an 18-year-old girl secretly on his mobile phone by placing it in a bathroom. One of the girls complained about him more than a decade ago but he denied it and police did not take the case to court until a second girl complained in 2015.Read more: Cops let five men in Devon and Cornwall walk away with a caution after admitting rape Jewell, now of Joan Moffat Close, Liskeard, denies...

A woman from Cornwall is taking action to warn dog owners of a deadly disease after losing her "previously fit and healthy" dog to an illness that she said was a bigger killer than the flesh-eating Alabama rot. The cause of Alabama rot is unknown but it has killed more than 100 dogs in four years. Read more: Cornwall man allegedly raped two girls and inappropriately filmed another A national conference is due to be held among vets and scientists to discuss the mystery disease...

Bodmin residents claimed that many people did not vote for the town council elections because they were led to believe they were postponed after Councillor Steve Rogerson's death. A dozen voters from St Petroc's ward took to Facebook to complain that the communication about the local elections meant they didn't vote. Read more: Cornwall town and parish council election results 2017After the death of Steve Rogerson, a popular long-serving Cornwall Council member from Bodmin, the Cornwall...

Police are hunting a callous thief who stole a charity box from a village church. The incident happened between 9am and 5.30pm on Thursday (May 4) at the St Newlyn East parish church along Churchtown but details have only now been released. Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.Read next: Police investigate violent assault in Newquay which left a 29-year-old man in hospital It is not known how much was inside the charity box. Devon and Cornwall Police...

A house fire in Roche last night (Monday, May 8), near St Austell, saw a man treated by paramedics and three homes badly damaged. Crews were called to a property on Hermitage Road at 9.05pm. Read more: People who live in council houses could be banned from smoking inside A spokesman for St Austell Community Fire Station said: "Smoke and flames were issuing from the building - LPG gas cylinders were involved. "Three properties were involved. One was completely damaged and two...

Value retailer Wilko will open its newest store in Cornwall next week and prizes are on offer for the first customers. The firm, founded in 1930 as Wilkinson Stores by J K Wilkinson, is now putting the final touches to its latest shop with staff busy ensuring the outlet in Truro's Boscawen Street, is well stacked for when shoppers first come through the doors. Read more: Woolworths could return to Cornwall's high streets after former director approached Shop Direct Wilko Truro interim store...

A veteran from south east Cornwall is going to stand trial in Northern Ireland over a shooting that took place in 1974 after a judge had said the case was being dropped due to "insufficient evidence".Dennis Hutchings, from Cawsand near Torpoint, is accused of the attempted murder of an "innocent, unarmed man" as he ran away from an army patrol in Northern Ireland in 1974,Read more: Cannabis factory found in police raid in CornwallThe 75-year-old is accused of having killed...