This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-25742397

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Royal Marines to rescue stranded Calstock cars Royal Marines start their rescue of stranded Calstock cars
(about 9 hours later)
A 10-year-old boy has called in the Royal Marines to rescue cars stranded in a Cornish village.A 10-year-old boy has called in the Royal Marines to rescue cars stranded in a Cornish village.
About 40 vehicles were trapped after a road collapse caused by a landslip on Lower Kelly, Calstock, on Christmas Day.About 40 vehicles were trapped after a road collapse caused by a landslip on Lower Kelly, Calstock, on Christmas Day.
Charlie Southcott suggested bringing in the marines after meeting a senior officer at a carol service.Charlie Southcott suggested bringing in the marines after meeting a senior officer at a carol service.
The marines will move the cars on to a landing craft and they will be taken by river to Cotehele Quay. The marines moved the cars on to a landing craft and they were taken by river to Cotehele Quay.
The landslip closed a 20m (65ft) section of the road to local businesses and about 30 homes.The landslip closed a 20m (65ft) section of the road to local businesses and about 30 homes.
Local councillor Dorothy Kirk said without "Charlie to the rescue", residents' cars may have been stranded "for months".Local councillor Dorothy Kirk said without "Charlie to the rescue", residents' cars may have been stranded "for months".
Commodore Graeme Little, the commanding officer of Devonport Naval Base, gave Charlie his business card, which he in turn gave to Ms Kirk.Commodore Graeme Little, the commanding officer of Devonport Naval Base, gave Charlie his business card, which he in turn gave to Ms Kirk.
"I disturbed Cmdr Little on his Boxing Day walk on Dartmoor and said 'please can you help us' and he said he thought his chaps could," the councillor told BBC News."I disturbed Cmdr Little on his Boxing Day walk on Dartmoor and said 'please can you help us' and he said he thought his chaps could," the councillor told BBC News.
Before permission for the rescue operation was granted, it was discussed "at the highest level" - at a Cobra (Cabinet Office Briefing Room A) meeting being held to discuss the exceptional flooding situation across the UK.Before permission for the rescue operation was granted, it was discussed "at the highest level" - at a Cobra (Cabinet Office Briefing Room A) meeting being held to discuss the exceptional flooding situation across the UK.
"I doubt very much whether Cobra had heard of Calstock before," Ms Kirk said."I doubt very much whether Cobra had heard of Calstock before," Ms Kirk said.
Charlie, who attends Calstock Community Primary School, said he thought it was "awesome" the marines were coming to help, adding that perhaps he was seen as a bit of a hero by Cornwall Council. Charlie, who attends Calstock Community Primary School, said he thought it was "awesome" the marines were helping, adding that perhaps he was seen as a bit of a hero by Cornwall Council.
The rescue operation will be carried out by members of 1 Assault Group Royal Marines. The two-day rescue operation is being carried out by members of 1 Assault Group Royal Marines.
"We train to do this all around the world - but not usually on our own back door," the group's commanding officer, Col Garth Manger, said."We train to do this all around the world - but not usually on our own back door," the group's commanding officer, Col Garth Manger, said.
"It's one of the things the Royal Navy is really good at - disaster relief - but normally after hurricanes, not after landslips.""It's one of the things the Royal Navy is really good at - disaster relief - but normally after hurricanes, not after landslips."
The marines will drive the cars off the slipway at Calstock - built for the US military in 1943 - one at a time on to a special landing craft. The marines are driving the cars off the slipway at Calstock - built for the US military in 1943 - one at a time on to a special landing craft.
They will then be taken a few miles down the river to Cotehele Quay, where they will be unloaded in an operation expected to take two days. They will then be taken a few miles down the river to Cotehele Quay..