For the first time a purely Cornish rendition of the Floral Dance has been recorded as a song onto CD.

Helston Town Band and Porthleven-born John Treleavan joined forces earlier this year to record the song at Helston Community College.

This has now been released, with sales raising money for the RNLI.

The recording costs have been covered through an anonymous donation, meaning all proceeds go to the charity.

Peter Penberthy, volunteer co-ordinator of the Floral Dance Project, set up to get the CD made, said: “It’s the first time the Floral Dance has been recorded with Helston Town Band and a local Cornishman.

A second song, Trelawny, is also featured on the disc.

World renowned opera singer Mr Treleavan has developed a close association with the band, and has been guest of honour at its Lismore Proms for the last two years.

Ben Curnow, from the band, said: “It’s really exciting for us. We think of it as our tune.

“It’s lovely it’s a local boy and John is a really great character. We’ve had a lot of fun.”

The CD, costing £3.50, will be on sale from the RNLI stall at this Friday’s Christmas lights switch on in Helston and at all Helston Town Band’s Christmas events – the highlight of which will be its Christmas concert at St Michael’s Church on Sunday, December 15 at 7pm, featuring the CuldRoses military wives choir.

It can also be bought via “options” section of the website floraldanceproject.com The song was written by Katie Moss more than a century ago, after she visited Helston on what happened to be Flora Day.

She was so inspired by what she had seen that she wrote the words to the famous tune played on the day. It was first recorded in 1912 and made famous by Terry Wogan when he released it in 1978, reaching number 21 in the UK singles chart – although the recording by the Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band reached number two the previous Christmas.