In this week’s Cornish Times we lead with sad news of a family that has lost all their possessions and their pet cat in a fire that ripped through their home. But in the hours afterwards the community rallied round and has raised thousands of pounds to help, as well as offering many donations of clothes and other items.

Inside the paper we hear how there is now fresh evidence in the long-running case of a veteran accused of historic crimes in the Northern Ireland troubles – he hopes it will help clear his name.

Keeping an eye on planning matters and new developments this week there are stories from Liskeard, Darite and Dobwalls, where a developer has now taken his case to appeal.

There’s quite a bit of pub news in this week’s paper – starting with what is said to be Britain’s oldest pub in a South East Cornwall village – it was licenced in 1620. It’s been empty for more than eight years, but now plans have been approved to refurbish it completely and bring it back to life.

Then there’s the pub you might have seen on the way from Liskeard to Launceston that is lit up so spectacularly with Christmas lights.

And two pubs in South East Cornwall have benefitted from a local company’s decision to give each of their staff vouchers for meals in the pubs this year instead of having the normal work Christmas do.

Still on the topic of hospitality – pubs were allowed to open last week and there were fears of how this might pan out in this part of Cornwall, with the county being the only place in Tier One. We hear the feedback on the first weekend out of lockdown from South East Cornwall’s chief police officer.

Our court page this week provides a good deal of reading – we’ve got all the latest cases heard by magistrates for this part of Cornwall.

But there’s lighter-hearted news as well, as we get into the Christmas countdown, and tell you about some of the events and activities planned in towns and villages around the district.

We’ve got plenty of news from the farming sector this week including the milk delivery company that has stepped quickly into the breach after another firm stopped – they’re supporting a growing interest from local people in having fresh milk with local provenance delivered to their door.

In Sport this week we bring you a report from the first round FA Vase meeting between a jubilant Millbrook and Sherbourne – and a look-ahead to the second round this weekend. There’s a round-up of the South West Peninsula League games including Liskeard v Bodmin. With lots more football reports to read from our excellent correspondents inside the Sporting pages, we also bring you Rugby, Hockey, and news of the merger of two local cricket clubs.

As well as this we bring you the political comment columns, advice on a range of topics from solving winter health problems to how to have a greener and cheaper Christmas, seasonal recipes, Nature Watch photographs and much more.

Look out for your latest edition of The Cornish Times, out in the shops from today!