Man survives fall from Tamar Bridge

A MAN who fell almost l00' from the Tamar Bridge - on to a grass embankment - early Wednesday morning suffered serious leg and back injuries as a result.

The man, thought to be in his early 20s and from Plymouth's West Park area, was described yesterday as being in a stable condition in hospital.

Police believe he had been on a night out before climbing over one of the parapet rails on the bridge, and then making his way on to the workmen's maintenance scaffolding. From here it is thought he tumbled on to a steep muddy bank, 30 metres below the Plymouth side of the bridge, and then down the slope, hitting a concrete pillar at the bottom.

The incident happened around 3.20am, emergency services arriving at the scene following a report of a man calling for help.

Firefighters used an inflated vacuum splint to enable paramedics to carry the man to an ambulance.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police said when they arrived at the scene the man was conscious and told them he had climbed over a barrier and had slipped. The spokesman said: 'He is very lucky to have survived the fall'.

David List, Tamar Bridge manager, said they had no idea what the man had been doing, but it was thought he had been trespassing.

More visitors and

more staff for Eden

THE Eden project welcomed its 250,000 visitor at the weekend and this success has led to a recruitment drive at the attraction.

The project's latest recruitment campaign is targeting an increase of 70 staff to join the team on a permanent basis.

Already, 120 extra staff have been added to the original 150 and Eden is particularly keen to recruit people interested in covering peak activity between 10 am and 3 pm.

The Eden project – your say, page 5.

Extension for

bed spaces

IT looked last night as if approval was to be given to a proposal for a two storey extension at the Granada Service Station, Saltash.

The plan, by Compass Roadside, was due to be debated yesterday evening by Caradon council's planning control committee (east).

Planning officers had recommended approval of the scheme, to construct an extension linking the existing Travel Lodge to an amenity building. This would provide an additional 14 family bedrooms for the Travel Lodge, amounting potentially to 56 bed spaces. The facility already has 61 bedrooms, so the extension would represent a 23% increase in the accommodation.