A charity music festival that has grown in popularity year-on-year has given out the first set of a series of cheques as it enters its 20th anniversary year.

Last year's Helstonbury at the Blue Anchor raised £14,200 - more than ever before - through four days of live music from bands and musicians across Cornwall.

Now it has started giving some of that back, to local charities and good causes.

Cornwall Care’s Trengrouse nursing home in Helston has benefited from a £500 donation that will be used to treat residents.

After taking a tour of the home and meeting residents and staff, festival organiser Paul Turton and Blue Anchor landlord Simon Stone presented a cheque to Trengrouse manager Melanie Bedlow.

Paul said 2019 marked the 19th Helstonbury event, adding: "We’re very proud to donate proceeds to a variety of very worthwhile local causes.

"This money will go into the Trengroouse amenities fund that helps buy gifts, outings and activities for residents.”

Trengrouse provides 24-hour care for people living with complex dementia. There are 41 beds and 52 members of staff.

Manager Melanie said: “We are really grateful for this donation and would like to thank everyone who works so hard making Helstonbury the annual success it is for their generosity.

“Funding like this enables us to buy extra treats for our residents that will, I know, be greatly appreciated.”

Also receiving £500 was the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) at Nare Point near St Keverne, which keeps a watch over the entrance to the Helford River and Falmouth Bay during daylight hours.

Don Garman, station and training manager at the station, said: "This valued contribution will help to meet the running costs of the station during 2019/20 and may contribute to two projects we are planning - the installation of a defibrillator for the benefit of those using the coastal path and improvement of our very basic toilet facilities."

All 56 coastwatch stations in England and Wales must cover their own running costs, with Nare Point looking to raise around £5,000 annually.

"Our remote land location means we do not have a hinterland with a significant population to support the station, however we are one of the busiest stations in Cornwall and indeed England and Wales with 22,000 vessel movements logged per year and an average of 15 incidents per year," he added.

Helstonbury also makes it its mission to support new music talent, which has led to a donation to young local band Soupe Du Jour.

The band performed on the Helstonbury Introducing Stage last year and are now performing at as many venues and events as possible.

To help them along the way Helstonbury has sponsored them with a brand new PA.

More grants are to be given out in the coming weeks and months.