FBI = False B. Invader.

Email messages being received in the Mid Devon area purporting to have come from the FBI have confirmed as false by police at Crownhill, Plymouth and are known to be an attempt to spread computer virus. One such email received in South Zeal was not addressed to the recipient but still appeared among other emails and read;

Dear Sir/Madam, we have logged your IP-address on more than 30 illegal Websites. Important: Please answer our questions! The list of questions are attached. Yours faithfully, Steven Allison, Federal Bureau of Investigation -FBI- 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 3220, Washington, DC 20535 phone: (202) 324-3000.

Anti-virus protection on the computer had already deleted the suspect ‘attachment' and the police believe that most anti-virus protection systems are likely to do this but their advise is that anyone receiving this or any similar suspicious emails should not open the attachment and should delete the email immediately.

Thanks from Moldova

Some nice Christmas news is that Christian Response to Eastern Europe (cr2ee) volunteers have ensured that the last load of goods collected in South Zeal, Sticklepath, and the area around Okehampton for the Devon based charity that were intended for families in Moldova, childrens' orphanages and medical and educational units have been received in time for Christmas. Clothes and blankets, computers, sewing machines, bicycles, and toys have all been among the items donated during the year and every item is appreciated and made very welcome by people whose plight is hard to imagine and who continue to need help.

Woolens knitted by many generous people are now bringing comfort to small children, toys so generously given up by our own young people have brightened other young lives and shoe boxes packed with ‘personal' gifts have been particularly appreciated. Collections continue and volunteers continue to give their time and effort to receiving, sorting, packing and transporting donated items to maintain the person to person contact across the miles and countries between donor and recipient.

To all contributors go sincere thanks from the collectors at Buttercup Cottage, South Zeal, who wish them, and every reader of this column a very Merry Christmas.

A tip on rubbish

The Commoners are asking that when garden rubbish is dumped on the Belstone residents' garden rubbish tip that no laurel, fir, yew or rhododendron leaves are ever left there. If any of the above is eaten by stock on the Commons, it would result in the death of the animals concerned. Also it would be very helpful if the dumped rubbish is burnt by its owner - if not immediately, then a few days later when the rubbish is not so green. If anybody would like to be in charge of keeping the tip in a tidy state, please contact either Michael Reddaway on 01837 840425 or Andrew Terry on 01837 840718.

High jump for charity

Sarah Toms, at Cheriton Bishop Surgery, who was brave enough to take a high jump for charity, is pleased to confirm that the local support she received helped raise a grand total of £835 for Breast Cancer Care. The leap she took was a tandem parachute jump and, surviving that, she raffled a decorated fruit cake. Sarah appreciates the all those supporting her in raising money for this worthy cause and expresses her thanks to each and every one.