A major public health project in Uganda which has been led by Falmouth Rotary Club, but involved clubs from across Cornwall and West Devon has won those involved the prestigious Connecticut Trophy.

The £120,000 WASH project, headed by former Rotary District Governor John Pearce, provides water, hygiene and sanitation to communities in an impoverished region of the East African country.

At the annual Rotary Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) Conference in Birmingham, District 1290 (Cornwall and West Devon) was said to have undertaken “the most outstanding activity in the furtherance of world understanding and made maximum progress in international service.”

Falmouth was supported by 11 other clubs in the District and one each from France, Canada and Masaka in Uganda.

Mr Pearce, who accepted the award on behalf of the West Country clubs, said: “This project has achieved so much more than its initial objectives.

“It has created a level of cooperation between the communities, the different levels of local government and Rotary which did not exist previously which has greatly assisted the understanding of the problems and their solution.

“The project has attracted support from many quarters but special thanks are due to Truro’s Richard Lander School, and the Basil Tanner Trust for their contributions which equalled a quarter of the total raised.”