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At 7am this morning Cornwall Council's Director of Corporate Resources, Michael Crich, told ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio Cornwall the council had issued "about 1,000" spending cards. By 12 noon this figure had dropped to "about 600."

At 7am Michael said the cards' spending limits "starts at around £1,000." By 12 noon the figure started at £500.

Four days after the Daily Telegraph broke the story, and asked by Laurence Reed about the council's policy on buying alcohol: "I'm not sure."

Anyone hoping for a swift end to this story is likely to be disappointed.

STOP PRESS: 2.45pm. Council now says a total of 509 spending cards, of which 154 are issued to schools.

STOP STOP PRESS: 3.15pm Council now again says spending limit on cards is "usually around £1,000."

Anyone feeling confident yet?