People across the UK might well be able to see a sliver of an eclipse of the sun later today. The weather for Cornwall is forecast to be fine and clear as the moon passes before the disc of the sun. While excitement has been mounting across a wide slice of America, where the eclipse will be total, the result for us here in the UK will be less impressive. The moon will block out just two per cent of the sun's disc – taking a 10 per cent bite from the diameter of the sun. Read next:...

Welcome to our live coverage of all the day's biggest stories, traffic and travel from across Cornwall on Monday, August 21, 2017. We'll be looking at all the traffic from 7am until this evening, so keep checking back to make sure you get wherever you're going as quickly and safely as possible. We will of course also be breaking news as it happens and keeping an eye on the weather. It's David here until 2.30pm when I hand over to the late team led today by...

A man found in difficulty in the sea at Treyarnon Bay in Padstow has been taken to hospital after being rescued by an RNLI lifeguard on Saturday morning. A member of the public and local business owner heard someone shouting for help at about 9.30am and alerted the lifeguard and coastguard, who in turn called on a lifeboat from Padstow to attend. Lifeguard Cam Wickins was on duty and grabbed a rescue board and went to the water's edge, but could not see the man. Cam Wickins An RNLI...

A Bodmin teenager recovering from cancer has had her confidence boosted by taking part in a round Britain sailing challenge.Elsa Barker-Brown, 15, was warmly welcomed into Falmouth on Friday, along with six other young people in recovery from the disease as they finished the latest leg of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust's Round Britain Voyage.Falmouth is the port where Dame Ellen memorably completed her world record circumnavigation of the globe in 2005.This is the 12th leg of the four month...

A Penzance-bound train has derailed at Paddington Station this morning. The Great Western Railway train was departing at the beginning of its journey shortly before noon when the incident happened. The rear power car left the tracks, forcing Network Rail to close platforms one and two to allow an investigation to take place. Train derailed at #Paddington 1157 service to Penzance @standardnews @thetimes pic.twitter.com/ECVk2oDvyU— SJ Williams (@SJWilliams95) August 20, 2017 A GWR...

A seven-year-old British boy who was separated from his mother and reported missing during the Barcelona terror attack is confirmed to have died. Julian Cadman, a dual British-Australian national, was reported missing by his grandfather after the massacre on Las Ramblas on Thursday (August 17) that left 13 dead and at least 120 injured.In the aftermath of the attack, Julian's relatives urged people to share a photograph of him on Facebook as fears for his safety grew.Confirming his death on...

Marine welfare groups in Cornwall have appealed for information following reports that a seal was badly injured after being caught by a boat propeller in St Ives. Reports surfaced yesterday afternoon (August 19) that a seal in St Ives was struck by a propeller after being fed from a pleasure boat in the harbour. The seal was able to swim away but it is believed that the injuries sustained would not be survivable. Many responses have expressed concern the victim could be 'Sammy' the...

A Truro driver has voiced his concern over "confusing" new road markings in Threemilestone which he believes have been painted incorrectly. The local man, who asked to remain anonymous, said the roadworks were painful for residents and commuters but now that they have been lifted a "major error" has been left in their place. He shared a dashcam video online, which he hopes will illustrate the errors he believes are in place on the approach to the Threemilestone roundabout...

Ever since it hit our screens in 2011, tv show Game of Thrones has developed a cult following but we couldn't help but notice the similarities between Westeros and Cornwall.Is there any difference between dragon slaying and herding a particularly disobedient herd of sheep?Could Jon Snow and Ross Poldark be long lost twin brothers? Can't you just imagine a Game of Thrones character hosting a banquet and serving up stargazey pie, pilchards and ale?NamesThe similarities between GoT and Kernow are...

The DVLA releases a list of banned number plates which are considered too rude for the road twice a year. According to according to Auto Express, the DVLA, which is responsible for maintaining a database of drivers in Great Britain, takes action over concerns that some plates are offensive, rude or just plain silly. The banned list contains letter and number combinations which could cause offence for being sexually explicit or for religious, political or racial reasons.Read more: Lidl promotion...

A man in his 70s has been rushed to hospital after sustaining serious head injuries in North Devon. The A388, which is the main route between Bideford and Holsworthy, was closed both ways following the incident which was initially believed to be a collision between a car and cyclist.Read more: Watch huge tuna feeding on shoal of fish in Falmouth BayHowever, Devon Live is reporting that police at the scene said the man had fallen from his bicycle and suffered serious head injuries. It was not...

It has got to be everyone's worst nightmare - discovering an intruder trying to break into your home. Naturally the first thing to do would be to reach for the phone and call the police - if that's a possibility. But what if it is not an option to call for help? And what if you are face to face with the intruder? The legal rights of a homeowner practicing self-defence against a stranger breaking in are often considered a grey area in the law.Read more: Seal left badly injured after being caught...

Thieves smashed their way into a home in the seaside village of Perranporth raiding the house and stealing everything from an engagement ring to a child's bracelet.More than £5,000 worth of jewellery was stolen from the home in Wheal Leisure.Police said that thieves broke into the home by smashing through the double-glazed glass of the properties back door.The burglary took place sometime between 7.30pm on Wednesday August 2 and 7pm on Thursday August 3.Police have now launched an appeal...

A 50-year-old man has been arrested following claims that members of the public were threatened with a samurai sword in a small coastal village. Devon and Cornwall Police arrested a man after attending an address near Hope Cove, a small village on the South Hams coast near Kingsbridge. Devon Live reported that officers were called in the early hours of Saturday (August 19) after reports of a man threatening residents with a sword.A police spokesman said: "Local officers attended and a 50...

As summer draws to a close, homeowners need to be on their guard for the annual invasion of many people's least favourite visitor - the common house spider.The eight-legged beasties, which can grow to up to 12 centimetres long, will be looking for somewhere warm to mate - and the dark corners of our rooms seem to be their favourite choice.They seem to have the ability to spoil the nicest of evenings as they scuttle from underneath an armchair, but possibly, help is at hand.This spider is in its...

There has been an angry reaction on social media after a seal was badly injured in St Ives harbour yesterday. The incident reportedly took place when fish was thrown from a pleasure boat, attracting the seal, which was then caught by the boat's propeller. Although the seal was able to swim off, it has been reported that its injuries were not survivable. The incident has provoked a huge response on Facebook. Read more: Everything you need to know about tomorrow's total solar eclipse and...

A barn has been destroyed after a fire at St Ervan yesterday afternoon. Fire crews from Padstow, St Columb, Newquay and a water carrier from Wadebridge attended the scene. The incident was first reported to the emergency services at 4.13pm, and took several hours to extinguish. A fire service spokesman said: "A total of four breathing apparatus, three hosereel jets, one main jet and a ground monitor were used to extinguish the fire that had spread from machinery to the barn. "The...

Family and friends gathered at Bristol City's football ground yesterday to pay tribute to George Zographou, the 18-year-old who died of meningitis after falling ill at Boardmasters. A minute's applause was held and balloons released ahead of the kick off between his beloved Bristol City and Millwall yesterday afternoon. George died in hospital on Wednesday, August 16, after falling ill at the Watergate Bay festival. The 18-year-old boy, who grew up in Westbury and was a student at St...

Cornish patients suffering chronic back pain and a range of other spinal issues are not being referred to hospital after waiting lists for routine treatment were closed in a bid to cope with rocketing demand. NHS Kernow, the organisation which chooses how health funds are spent in the county, has already urged GPs to only send patients on to consultants if absolutely necessary, such as for suspected cancer, trauma or "unremitting pain." The plea came after Plymouth's Derriford...

On Monday (August 21) parts of the world will be plunged into darkness in the middle of the day as the rare total solar eclipse takes place.The incredible phenomenon will be the most incredible display of the year for sky watchers across the globe who will all be desperate to catch a glimpse of the moon moving between the Earth and the sun.The eclipse will best be viewed in America, where millions of people will crowd the streets between Oregon and South Carolina, which will get to see the...