AN ALERT police officer may have saved Newquay's railway station from being destroyed in an alleged arson attack on New Year's Eve, when officers responded to dozens of incidents in the Bodmin-Wadebridge and Newquay policing sector.

In Bodmin alone, officers were forced to respond to 13 emergency calls, the majority of a domestic nature.

A man was arrested at Newquay railway station at 3.55am after PC Russell Speller, who was on patrol in the area, smelt burning and discovered a male near a wooden shed at the station.

He found a small fire in the shed and arrested the male.

Serious

Sergeant Reggie Butler and Inspector Ian Drummond-Smith attended from Newquay Police Station, with fire extinguishers, and Sergeant Butler entered the shed and quickly put the fire out.

Mr Drummond-Smith said: "This was a serious incident. If the shed had caught properly we could have lost the entire railway station. The wooden shed is directly under the wooden station canopy. This was a great spot by PC Speller. The case has now been handed to British Transport Police."

The man arrested was a 23-year-old from Paignton.

It was a busy New Year's Eve in the town with ten arrests.

These included drunk and disorderly behaviour and assault on police.

The most serious incident was in Trenance Road where a serious assault took place and police are appealing for witnesses.

A male was left bleeding heavily and knocking on doors for assistance. He was taken to Royal Cornwall Hospital under police escort. He did not have life-threatening injuries. A man aged 40 was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.

It is not clear where or how the assault occurred and anyone with information should contact Newquay police on 101 or in confidence crime stoppers on 0800 555111.

Mr Drummond-Smith said: "It was a busy evening in Newquay but most people were very well natured. However, as usual, some people drink too much and spoil it and we banned seven people from the town and arrested ten. Another male was arrested at Indian Queens. Extra officers were drafted in and 22 officers were patrolling the streets."

There were six incidents in the Wadebridge area, including two emergency calls arising from a fight at a pub in Port Isaac.