News in brief

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Man beaten with baseball bat

A man has been taken to hospital after being beaten with a baseball bat.

The man was attacked during a burglary at his home in West Looe in south east Cornwall at about 0120 BST on Sunday.

Officers say the man was taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident.

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Unicycle ride backs zoo plans

A supporter of a Cornish zoo's plans to build a new sensory visitor centre is taking to his unicycle to raise funds for the project.

Steve Gregory, from St Columb, is leaving Land's End on Saturday.

He is expected to ride through west Cornwall before finishing his ride at Newquay Zoo.

Mr Gregory said the sensory centre would bring the zoo to children who otherwise would have missed out on the experience.

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Figures reveal tagged offenders

New Home Office figures show that 67 offenders in Cornwall are currently electronically tagged.

The probation service says it is an efficient way to monitor the activities of people who might otherwise be in prison.

Some offenders who have been released early are tagged. People under curfew can also be electronically monitored.

Cornwall assistant chief probation officer Peter Vallis said the system works well.

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Hatchery hopes for more holiday visitors

A new manager has been appointed for the National Lobster Hatchery at Padstow.

The project has been through some difficult times with problems over levels of stock and poor visitor numbers.

But Acting Manager Nigel Rees said things are improving.

He said he is hoping the hatchery will become more than just an attraction for holidaymakers.

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Piazza defended by council

Council officials have defended Truro's controversial piazza.

The huge open area in the city centre will host a music festival at the weekend. A fair promoting Cornish produce has been taking place all week.

The city council said they are the latest in a series of popular events.

The piazza has been criticised because buses still cross the area. It has also been suggested that it could be used as an overflow car park.

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Archive to get £500,000 of papers

Historic documents which have been bought for more than £500,000 will be handed over to Cornwall's Record Office.

The archive material, purchased by the Cornwall Heritage Trust, dates from the industrial revolution.

It includes correspondence between the steam engine designers James Watt and Matthew Boulton.

There are about 1,100 documents in the collection.