Cornwall News by Into Cornwall. Walks in and around St Austell from July to December 2012

Cornwall Council leader appointed

John Pollard is elected new leader of Cornwall Council as a Liberal Democrat-independent coalition becomes its new cabinet.

Explosion fear from fertiliser store

Residents fear thousands of tonnes of fertiliser stored in a Cornish town is an explosion risk.

MI5 checks South West Water security

MI5 visits South West Water to examine how supplies are being kept safe from attack, the BBC has learnt.

Vaccine developed for farm disease

Farmers in Cornwall will have a vaccine to protect sheep and cattle against the Schmallenberg Virus by the summer.

Half of UK tourists visit London

Penzance is among locations around the UK which saw increases in visitor numbers in 2012, new figures from VisitBritain show.

Pair released over man's farm death

Two men who were arrested in connection with the death of a man on a farm are released without further action.

Pregnant woman refused on ferry

A heavily pregnant British woman is refused permission to board a cross-Channel ferry from France to England.

MPs seek water poisoning apology

Politicians from Cornwall will lobby the government to press for more research into the Camelford water poisoning 25 years ago.

Officer facing misconduct inquiry

A well-known Cornish police officer is suspended following an allegation of serious misconduct.

Artist's coastal painting marathon

Artist in year-long SW Coast Path marathon

Olympic torch 'generated millions'

Torch relay 'generated millions' for Cornwall

Cornwall joy at County final spot

Cornwall boss Dave Thomas is proud of his side as their 41-29 win over Hertfordshire sends them to their first County Championship final since 1999.

Devon cruise to 66-run Cornwall win

Devon crush rivals Cornwall by 66 runs to get their first win of the season in the MCCA Trophy group stages.

Truro wait before naming new boss

Truro City chairman Peter Masters says the club is unlikely to appoint a new manager until next month.

From Cornish mines to Fijian rugby

Cornish-born Plymouth Albion flanker Sam Matavesi reflects on his surprise call-up to the Fijian national team.

Launceston trio to face charges

Launceston trio Ben Hilton, Tim Mathias and Barrie-John Chapman cited after match against Worthing in April.

Bright backing Cornwall defence

Cornwall winger Richard Bright is confident that the Duchy's defence can hold out against Hertfordshire.

Albion boss targets forward signings

Plymouth Albion head coach James Shanahan says bolstering the club's forwards with experienced players is one of his main priorities.

BBC News | UK | World Edition

Family urges domestic violence probe

The family of a woman murdered by her ex-partner call for a public inquiry into how complaints of domestic violence are handled by police.

Scotland 'can afford independence'

Scotland can "more than afford" to be a successful independent country, its first minister says as he launches a paper outlining the nation's economic strength.

A&E units on cliff edge - NHS chiefs

A&E units are on a cliff edge, say NHS leaders as MPs start an inquiry into the state of emergency care.

Pound falls after dip in inflation

The pound falls after lower fuel prices lead to a lower-than-expected inflation rate of 2.4% for April.

Pirate movie sites blocked in UK

Big UK net firms have begun blocking access to two movie streaming sites accused of flouting copyright laws.

Marks and Spencer sees profits fall

Marks and Spencer reports a big fall in annual profits, as troubles in its clothing division continue.

UK shared exam system faces break up

The shared A-level and GCSE system for England, Wales and Northern Ireland should no longer be continued, says Education Secretary Michael Gove.

Sharp jump in Royal Mail profits

Royal Mail's annual profits more than double, helped by strong growth in parcel deliveries as more people shop online.

PM plea as gay marriage row rages on

MPs will continue debating gay marriage as David Cameron seeks to renew his vows with grassroots Tory members angry over alleged "loon" slur.

1,125 case in measles epidemic

The number of measles cases in Swansea and Powys rises by 20, bringing the total to 1,125, health officials say.

Residents against Heathrow expansion

Residents in three London boroughs overwhelmingly say they are against Heathrow Airport expanding, according to council surveys.

Bone in April case 'from skull'

Bone fragments found in the fireplace of the man accused of the murder of five-year-old April Jones belonged to a human skull, a jury is told.

Seven years for baby death father

A 24-year-old Plymouth man who killed his four-week-old daughter is jailed for seven years.

Sir Cyril abuse claim inquiry widens

Police investigate 10 people over allegations of sex abuse at a residential school after claims ex-MP Sir Cyril Smith abused boys there.

Eric and Ernie's writer Braben dies

Eddie Braben, the writer credited with contributing to the huge success of comedy duo Morecambe and Wise, dies aged 82.

Baby disabled after jaundice error

A baby was left deaf and blind because a trainee midwife did not recognise signs of jaundice within days of his birth, a health trust admits.

Photo sparks stadium fire concerns

A photograph of Coventry's Ricoh Arena seemingly on fire sparks alarm on social media that the stadium was burning down.

Flightless penguin puzzle 'solved'

The underwater prowess of the penguin may have cost the bird its ability to fly, scientists believe.

Gove proposes split in exams system

Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove says its time for England, Wales and Northern Ireland to go their separate ways on GCSEs and A-levels.

Friend: Accused made stab confession

A man accused of murdering a pensioner admitted to a friend that he stabbed him, a court has been told.

Exams system must split, says Gove

The UK education secretary says it is time for Wales to go its separate way on GCSEs and A-levels.

Flintshire to back prison in Wrexham

Flintshire is set to declare its backing for neighbouring Wrexham to be the location for a "super" prison for north Wales.

Grounded cruise ship refloated

A small cruise liner which ran aground in the waters of Oban Bay, with 112 people on board, is refloated.

Dog attack man jailed for assault

A man is jailed for three-and-a-half years for an attack on a woman with cerebral palsy during which his dog mauled her face.

George Michael 'kept in hospital'

Singer George Michael is being kept in hospital for treatment after sustaining head injuries in a traffic incident, his spokesman confirms.

A&E patient safety 'not guaranteed'

West Midlands NHS chiefs warn they cannot guarantee patient safety in accident and emergency departments in the region.

Bell passed fit for England Test

Ian Bell is fit for the second Test against New Zealand at Headingley as England name an unchanged 12-man squad.

Griffiths & Watt in Scotland squad

Gordon Strachan calls up Leigh Griffiths and Tony Watt to the Scotland squad for next month's match against Croatia.

Wilkinson ready for Lions call-up

Jonny Wilkinson says he will do everything possible to be fit enough to answer a Lions injury call if he is needed.

How religions change their mind

History suggests that religions that don't change die out - but how do they manage it without undermining themselves?

Readers' music to banish the blues

After separate studies pointed to the power of music to lighten the mood, we asked readers what they listened to when needing to cure unhappiness.

The curious story of how the lie detector came to be

The science behind the lie detector test has been disputed since its creation 90 years ago, so is there any reliable way to tell if someone is lying?

Back-to-work scheme failing, say MPs

A scheme to help the unemployed find work appears to be failing the most disadvantaged jobseekers, MPs on the Work and Pensions Committee say.

Police search MP Nigel Evans' office

Police search the Commons office of Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans in relation to a "serious arrestable offence".

Cleric Abu Qatada refused bail

Radical cleric Abu Qatada is refused bail by an immigration tribunal in his latest bid for freedom.

VIDEO: House of Commons

MPs are debating plans to legalise same-sex marriages in England and Wales.

VIDEO: Why did UK inflation rate fall?

The UK's inflation rate fell to 2.4% in April, according to the Office for National Statistics, down from 2.8% in March.

VIDEO: 'First crane egg in 400 years'

The first crane egg in southern Britain in more than 400 years has been laid by a nesting bird.

VIDEO: Family call for murder public inquiry

The family of Maria Stubbings, who was murdered by her ex-partner, are calling for a public inquiry into how complaints of domestic violence are handled by police

VIDEO: Could UK have had a different coalition?

The days which followed the 2010 general election saw tense and frantic negotiations between the three main parties as they fought for the right to govern Britain.

VIDEO: Bed-sharing 'raises cot death risk'

Sharing a bed with a newborn increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome fivefold, research claims.

VIDEO: Ark Royal makes final journey

The Royal Navy's former flagship, the Ark Royal, leaves its home port of Portsmouth for the final time, bound for a scrap yard in Turkey.

VIDEO: Church of Scotland backs gay clergy

The Church of Scotland's General Assembly has voted to allow gay people in civil partnerships to become ministers.

VIDEO: Princes open Help for Heroes centre

The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry have opened a new recovery centre for Help for Heroes in Wiltshire.

Calculate your inflation rate

Find out how much your cost of living is going up

Ulster fries for G8 leaders?

What to prepare for breakfast at G8 summit.

The British Empire's last exhibition

British Empire Exhibition in Glasgow 75 years on

How does your team fare in fans' league table?

How do your football club's attendances match up?

Is Apple's tax avoidance rational?

Is the company's tax avoidance rational, asks Robert Peston

The rise of food swapping

The people who trade asparagus for ice cream

Blind woman caused to hallucinate

Disease leaves blind woman seeing things

Foreign comedians stand up for the UK

Why foreign comedians love the British comedy business

Papers mull Cameron 'humiliation'

Papers claim prime minister is facing 'humiliation' in the Commons