This week has marked  the beginning of a new era for Helston Museum as it is taken into the control of the community.

Cornwall Council transfered the management of the tourist attraction to the South Kerrier Heritage Trust, a registered charity that has been set up by a group of local people yesterday, Thursday, August 1.

Trust chairman Judith Haycock said: “I am delighted that we have completed our agreement with Cornwall Council and look forward to working together with the support of the local community.”

Last year Cornwall Council invited groups to come forward to bid to take on the museum.

Twelve months on all the documents have been finalised and everything is in order for the museum to be run locally, although the council has said it will continue to part fund it for the time being.

Mrs Haycock added: “For the first month the public should see no big changes in the service that is provided by the museum.

“We will be appointing a curator, but until that person is in place there will be a lot more volunteers helping to run the museum.”

Two volunteer training events have already been held, and trustee Loveday Jenkin said: “It is wonderful how many people have attended. If anyone else would like to help, especially during the next month, please pop into the museum or contact us on helstonmuseum@gmail.com.”

The museum will remain free of charge and continue with its standard summer opening times and programme of exhibitions – 10am to 4pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 10am to 1pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

There are also extra free activities being organised for families on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with families encouraged to just drop in.

At the end of the summer the trust will begin implementing some of the improvements that have been identified in a business plan. These changes will be carried out over the next three years to help the museum offer an even better experience. These include promoting the museum more widely and encouraging more people to visit.