Saltash biker

dies in desert

TRIBUTES have been pouring in to motorcycle off-road specialist John Deacon, of Saltash, who has been found dead beside his BMW bike in the Syrian desert, while taking part in a rally between France and Petra in Jordan.

Mr Deacon, 38, was discovered by another rider on Wednesday afternoon. Details surrounding his death are unknown, as he was riding alone at the time.

However, it is thought he fell heavily from his bike. He has been described as a world class off-road motorcyclist, very popular among colleagues. The race, the Master Rallye in which Mr Deacon was lying in second place after six stages, observed a minute's silence in memory of him.

The motor-cycle ace, who owned a shop in Saltash run by his brother and himself, leaves a wife and two children.

Leaving the

martins alone

SOUTH East Cornwall firm, Downderry Construction, is showing its nature-loving side.

Their lorry and crane-drivers are currently ensuring that they don't go too near a seven foot high pile of sand at their Trewint site, on Bodmin Moor - because it is currently home to sand martins, an officially endangered species of bird. The pile of sand is to be left alone until the breeding season has finished.

Walking the

path on 0-Day

TOMORROW (Saturday) members of the South West Coast Path Association will walk the whole of the 630 mile route, to celebrate the re-opening of the path.

The day, named O-Day will include walkers trekking the whole of the Cornish coastline.