The Rotary Club of Falmouth has donated £1,200 to the Falmouth RNLI appeal thanks to the generosity of shoppers and residents who gave to the club's annual Christmas fundraiser.

The money was presented to Falmouth lifeboat coxswain Jonathon Blakeston by Rotary Club president Paul Wyatt at the Greenbank Hotel earlier this month.

Rotary Club member Keith Collins, who is also a member of Falmouth RNLI community sea safety team, said: "The Rotary Club of Falmouth does an annual Christmas collection in the town and around the streets with our float.

"Each year we nominate two charities to collect for and last Christmas it was decided that it would be Falmouth RNLI and the Cornwall Air Ambulance.

"Just under £3000 was raised with £1,200 given to each of the two charities and the remainder to the Rotary Club charities. The reason that Falmouth RNLI was chosen was the fact that there is an appeal underway to help with the cost of housing a new inshore lifeboat and also because several of our members are sailors. The RNLI in Falmouth is so gratefully respected by all."

Coxswain Jonathon said: "On behalf of the appeal and everybody at Falmouth Lifeboat Station, I would like to thank the Rotary Club of Falmouth for their fantastic support and donation. It will help us continue saving lives at sea."