Voices from storm-hit South West
Fierce winds and heavy rain have battered the South West of England for weeks and more dire weather is forecast in the coming days. The BBC's Michael Hirst is travelling around Cornwall following the story from some of the worst-affected areas.
On his journey, he is meeting those caught in the eye of the storm and recording their experiences on video and camera.
Joe McKnight, 20, is a barman at the Sloop Inn in St Ives.
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Many businesses in St Ives have been badly hit with people staying away as a result of the rainy weather, but not the Sloop Inn. "It's been really busy during the worst storms as people come down here to take photos of the waves," says Mr McKnight. Ian Luke is owner of Hayle Golf
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Extreme sports fans have been treated to nautical acrobatics off the coast of Hayle this weekend at the Red Bull storm chaser windsurfing event. But other sports are suffering. Mr Luke says business is down 15% on last year. "Even the driving range is struggling because players don't want to hit balls into a swirling wind," he says. Barry Chapel, 70, is the sign photographer at Land's End.
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"We take the sign down at night, but these storms have been the first time in 14 years we've had to take it down during the day," says Mr Chapel. James Roberts, 21, is a fisherman in Newlyn and an RNLI lifeboat volunteer.
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"Apart from one day in January, last time I was out was the first week in December," says Mr Roberts. "If we hadn't had a good summer, it would be a massive blow for me. With taxes being paid in January, mooring fees and boat maintenance, fishermen have lots of outlay and nothing coming in. I dread to think what some of the smaller boats are dealing with when they haven't been making any money for two months." Patrick Harvey is the coxswain at RNLI Penlee lifeboat station and works closely with the fishing community.
Mr Harvey: "This is an ideal boat - we've had it 11 years and the crew love it to bits"
A fisherman for more than 20 years, Mr Harvey says there has only been one day's fishing since December, and the lack of business was hitting local industry hard. Josephine Wall is a retired mother of three from Porthleven.
Josephine Wall says the 2.5 tonne baulks that stop swell from entering the harbour had snapped "like matchsticks" in recent storms. "The force of the sea has been unbelievable. They've had to take all the boats out of the harbour. And they haven't done that for more than 100 years." Jeremy Richards, 47, has been sailing around the Cornish coast for 40 years.
Boat owner Jeremy Richards, who feels lucky to still have a boat, says: "There were a number of things that conspired against us"
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