Battle against

giant leylandii

A 79 year old pensioner from East Looe featured in the BBC Two programme Close Up last night, called 'Close to the Hedge'. It dealt with the controversy surrounding people whose lives are blighted by giant leylandii fir trees.

Mrs Edith Haywood of East Looe was contacted by producer Jeff Wilkinson because she is a member of the group known as Hedge Line, which she joined in August. Mrs Haywood is worried the trees are undermining the foundations of her house which stands only eight yards away from the hedge. But most of all she says she is upset that the view from her lounge where she spends most of her time, is blocked completely by the trees which also keep out the light. 'It's really awful on dull days' she said, 'Sometimes I sit in my kitchen and I want to scream'.

The fight against the curse of the leylandii has now begun with the Government committing itself to introducing new legislation to tackle the problem.

Stars head

back to London

ACTOR Edward Woodward, and his actress wife Michele Dotrice, have announced that they are to leave their home in the Tamar Valley because they feel it is time to move back to London.

Michele has said she wishes to return to the stage, and the couple believe that when their 17-year-old daughter, Emily, leaves for drama school their current house, an old rectory near Calstock, will be too big for them. They have stressed they will not be leaving Cornwall altogether, as they still have a small cottage near Padstow.

Police search

for boys

A hunt is being conducted in South Wales for two runaway juveniles from Looe in connection with a stolen vehicle which was taken from the St Martin's area of the town late on Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday morning.

The boys, aged 17 and 14, are said to have taken a white Fiat Tipo which was sighted in the Launceston area where it was believed to have been involved in a minor accident. The car was later recovered damaged, and out of petrol two miles east of Merrymeet near Okehampton.

Anyone with information should contact Looe police or ring Crimestoppers free of charge on 0800 555 111.