Police have rubbished claims by a self-proclaimed Cornish terror group that it was responsible for a series of recent fires and allegedly even has a female suicide attacker amongst its ranks.

The Cornish Republican Army, which was formally known as the Cornish National Liberation Army, wrote an official blog post last week after apparently disappearing for more than a decade.

On the blog, which appears to have since been shut down, the group claims to have set off a "practice device" in the old Redruth Brewery and was responsible for two fires in Truro, one in Penryn and also the recent damage to Rick Stein's Porthleven restaurant.

However, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service has since poured cold water on this most recent claim, saying an investigation into the cause of the fire at Porthleven showed that the most likely outcome was that it was an electrical issue, "not one of deliberate ignition."

The terror group also claimed a member was willing to die for its cause, adding: "Our organisation has grown and we now have one member who is prepared to pay the ultimate price in the battle for Kernow. She is prepared to sacrifice herself although we shall not ask for this lightly - only as a last measure."

However, a spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "We have nothing to suggest that what is stated within these blogs is credible."

The Cornish nationalist organisation has historically threatened to carry out acts of vandalism and arson against commercial targets that it considers to be English in Cornwall, with threats already made against Mr Stein's businesses in the past.