A competitive cyclist who took up the sport after losing his father has been given a second grant by Falmouth Town Council to support his training.

Jake Alderman's trainer Richard Pascoe from St Piran Cycling spoke to councillors about how his protege took solace in the sport after the tragic loss.

He said: "Like other young people would have, perhaps, he could have taken a very easy route of not working hard and thinking the world owed him a living.

"He's chosen his cycle racing, and he's worked exceedingly hard. Without the town council giving him effectively £20 a week he would not be able to do what he's done."

He said in an application form that the money would be used by Jake to pursue his cycling career as he has had to give up full-time employment, training between 20 and 25 hours per week.

In order to give back to the community he would lead mentoring programmes in schools and put Falmouth in the national spotlight with his sporting achievements.

He aims to take part in the 2020 Tour of Britain which starts in Cornwall.

Last year Jake was awarded a £1,040 grant (£20 per week) to support his training.

This year he applied for a grant of the same size, but councillors ultimately agreed to give him a £500 grant instead after checking how much funding for community grants was left in the council vault (£2,053).

Councillor for Boslowick ward Steve Eva said: "I've got every sympathy, absolutely every sympathy but if you give £1,000 that's half of what we have left.

"I can understand where you're coming from but there's a lot of people who need 200 or 300 pounds here and there and if you give everything Jake wants we wouldn't have much left.

"I'm not saying it's not a special case, I'm not saying Jake doesn't deserve it."

He went on to say: "I understand the good in what you do but we have to be fair to everybody in Falmouth."

After Trescobeas councillor Brod Ross' proposal to grant Jake £500 was carried, Richard Pascoe said: "From the bottom of my heart, I thank you."