Students face hypnosis alert

By Graham Johnson

CABARET-STYLE hypnosis involving students in Falmouth has been branded "horrifying and dangerous" by professionals.

Young people have been taking part in hypnotic party games and once under the influence appear to be totally unaware of what they are doing.

The situation can be made far worse when drink or drugs are involved and there are fears now that the craze could spread and involve more mysteries of the occult.

Instructions on how to hypnotise come from books bought for as little as £5.

The craze follows the popularity of a television programme featuring hypnotist Paul McKenna.

He gets members of his audience to perform outrageous stunts in front of the camera but refuses to reveal his technique.

One of those "dabbling" in the unknown claims it to be nothing but a "bit of fun".

Mr Brett Allen, who goes under the name of Baron, bought a book in a witchcraft shop in Covent Garden. Hypnosis was an alternative to taking drugs and exploring people's inner minds, he said.

People had a lot of misconceptions about it, "that we are all into black magic and the occult and stuff." But he added: "There is a small minority who enjoy that kind of thing but I am not one of them."

Mr Allen, a student at Falmouth School of Art and Design, said: "The world's your oyster. You can do whatever you want when you have got someone in your spell."

But he is quick to point out he has never taken advantage of any of his subjects. Groups of up to ten students gather in bedsits, flats and homes to take part in the sessions. But there are fears that vulnerable students could fall prey to others.

One girl student admits to unknowingly being forced to kiss and fondle a male friend in front of others.

The 19-year-old blonde, who does not wish to be named, was also made to simulate a woman in labour and instructed to lie on the floor moaning, panting and screaming.

"I don't know what happened. I am getting flashbacks and my friends are now telling me that I participated in some rather embarrassing scenes," she said.

"A party environment is not the place to mess about with mind-bending games."

Road humps spark outrage

LARGE new road humps in Falmouth's Fox's Lane have upset residents who claim the road now resembles an airport runway.

"If there were a few lights we would have jumbo jets landing there," said Mrs Barbara Bray, who is representing the residents in their fight to scrap the humps, which have huge glowing white arrows painted on them. Along the length of the lane, which leads to the Falmouth School of Art and Design car park, there are four humps, or sleeping policemen, which were installed by the county council as traffic calming measures.

Residents had accepted the fact they were to get humps in the road, but what they were not prepared for was their size.

"They measure about five feet across," said Mrs Bray. "None of us could believe it – it's a monstrosity."

Mrs Bray added: "It's disgusting. We do not want that and we are not going to settle for it. We have councillors on it now – this is not what we expected."

The residents claim the humps will cause more problems than they solve. "You cannot pull in to let anyone pass anymore and they are like climbing Everest for old people," said Mrs Bray.

"They have already had one person off his motorbike and people are finding it easier to go over them at speed," she added. "They will do cars no good at all, especially those with low suspensions."

Mrs Bray and her neighbours have sought the help of local councillors in their fight and they will be raising the matter with the county council.

Mrs Bray's final words on the humps were: "I have never seen anything so ugly in my life – they are beyond belief."

Terrified old fold turn the clock back

PENSIONERS in Penryn are reverting to turn-of-the-century sources of heat in a bid to beat VAT on electricity and gas.

One woman is switching to paraffin lamps and heaters before the November budget in which the Chancellor is expected to push ahead with plans to impose an 8.5 per cent levy on domestic energy in the new year.

Mrs Elsie Roberts, of St Thomas Street, Penryn, has brought two paraffin heaters, one of which is designed to be used in a tent, for her front living room in her council-owned sheltered accommodation.

Old people have expressed concern over the eventual cost of the tax.

"I'm really terrified because I don't know where I'll stand in April. That's why I'm using paraffin because at least you can control what you spend."

But the heaters are fuelling concern that they may be a fire hazard and emit noxious fumes in a confined area. Pensioners admitted the local authority were unhappy with the situation.