THE CORNISHMAN today launches a new splash edition for St Ives and Hayle, marking an historic development for the traditional one edition paper.

The weekly newspaper, published every Thursday across west Cornwall, has long been seen as the paper for Penzance where it has been based since 1878.

The first Cornishman front page for St Ives and Hayle.

But it is hoped today's development, which will see a separate version of the paper hit the shops in St Ives and Hayle, will change that perspective.

The paper will feature a weekly splash from the north coast towns and will be packed with stories relevant to readers in that area.

Cornishman editor Jacqui Walls said: "Launching a new splash edition of The Cornishman is a huge step and underlines our commitment to the patch and to growing our readership.

"We want the people of St Ives and Hayle to think of The Cornishman as their paper, just as it is seen as the paper for Penzance."

To celebrate the launch, The Cornishman has secured a host of freebies from local suppliers for readers to choose from, including free chips, ice cream, coffee and pasties, and will be giving away goody bags with the paper at Tesco in Carbis Bay today.

This week's edition features a 70-year-old paper boy from Hayle forced to retire early after being knocked from his bike, the redevelopment of St Ives' famous Porthmeor Studios, a huge setback for the council in the development of a St Erth transport hub, the death of a former Hayle schoolgirl after a tragic accident, the retirement of a long-standing St Ives head teacher, the 'theft' of robot pictures created by a St Ives artist and a full picture spread from the St Ives Chamber masked ball among dozens of local stories.