IN this week’s Cornish Times, in shops from today (Friday) we lead with news that Cornwall Council is planning to spend almost £40m on buying 250 homes to be used as temporary and emergency accommodation for people who find themselves homeless.

We also report that the authority is considering a new affordable rent system linked to wages.

Villagers in St Cleer say that pruning work planned for trees in the churchyard there will not go far enough to prevent possible damage to neighbouring properties.

We speak to a man who has undertaken a 336-mile walk around all the First World War battlefields in this centenary year of the Armistice – it has left him stunned at the sheer scale of the slaughter.

We also have excerpts from a diary kept by a local market gardener during the conflict, showing how it impacted on life back home.

We also have two pages of pictures and a report from the Cornish Times-sponsored East Cornwall Harriers Primary Schools Cross-Country League event, which was made difficult for the youngsters by stormy rain, fog and fading light.

Meanwhile, Cornish Times readers have been asked to identify the mystery gentleman in a portrait found stored at Liskeard Museum, and a Chelsea pensioner has had a proud day at HMS Raleigh seeing his granddaughter receiving a trophy after being judged the best recruit in her cohort.

To help you plan for the festive season we have a special supplement full of Christmas activities and lights switch-on events around the towns of South East Cornwall.

We also have regular weekly columns such as Ray Roberts’ Nature Watch, TV Choice, the Cornish Times recipe and latest books.

There is all this and more in this week’s Cornish Times.