A long-awaited extension has been completed at Mullion’s parish church to make it accessible to all.

St Mellanus Church has had building work on its vestry extension, which was officially opened last Wednesday retired RAF Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum who is a member of the church.

He is the author of First Light, a book about his exploits as a Second World War spitfire pilot and lives in Mullion.

The vestry extension includes a meeting room, kitchen and disabled toilet, which means the church can be used for more community events in the future.

The Friends of St Mellanus Church committee has helped to raise the money, receiving £1,000 from the Goonhilly Wind Farm Community Fund and £1,500 from the Cornwall 100 Club, as well as £1,985 from the Co-operative Membership Community Fund.

It has meant the Friends could also buy 20 outdoor chairs, 36 indoor padded wipeable chairs, six lightweight collapsible tables and kitchen units, including a sink, plus two soup urns and a microwave.

For the new toilet there is a baby changing unit, a child seat and a paper towel dispenser, with the committee grateful for the donation of a fridge given by Biddicks, the electrical shop in Mullion.

PCC representative David Welsh said: “We have waited so long to have this badly-needed extension, but the estimate, of approximately £100,000, was beyond the means of the Parochial Church Council. “Now, thanks to the Friends of St Mellanus Church, match funding the PCC’s contribution the project has been realised.”

He added that the Friends, which raise funds all year round for the fabric of the church, also made use of a generous bequest given on the death of much-loved local resident George Greatwood.

Mr Welseh said the builders, EH Reynolds of Helston, had done “a first-class job”, adding: “The PCC are also hugely grateful to Tony Peter, a local resident, who kindly donated the exterior stones which blend in beautifully with the original vestry stonework.”