A Falmouth children's group which was faced with closure will be able to continue its programme of fun activities after appealing for help in the Falmouth Packet.

Leona Quirk, one of the leaders of 1st Falmouth Rainbows, had said the group was "desperate" for leaders in April, as university students who had been helping were due to finish their studies and move away from the town.

But following a newspaper appeal she said she was "inundated" with offers, initially getting help from more students on a short term basis, and recently gaining two more leaders, one of whom will take on a permanent role.

Leona, a 22 year old trainee teacher who runs the club in her spare time, said: "After the Packet article we had quite a lot of people contact us.

"We have now got a new long term volunteer who has signed up to help and just begun, and will be doing her qualifications in September.

She added: "It has meant that we can keep the unit open, it's fantastic, we are really, really proud."

"It was the 25th birthday a couple of weeks ago, it's really great that we have not had to fold in 25 years."

Leona will be joined by Annabel, 25, who works at Falmouth Yacht Haven, and will hopefully be able to teach the girls a bit about Falmouth's history and the town's maritime heritage.

Leona was also recently told by Falmouth fish and chip shop Harbour Lights that the Rainbows would be one of the groups sponsored by the business this year, after the owner read about their plight.

As part of the sponsorship, the company has said a cut of any money spent in the restaurant by people connected to the Rainbows will be handed to the group.

She said: "Harbour Lights are very well known and loved, so through their sponsorship of us, we believe that we will receive increased support from our community. This kind of help is extremely valuable to a small group like 1st Falmouth Rainbows.

She added: "It will give us more freedom , and we will be able to do more things with the girls."

Now the group has enough leaders to carry on running, although Leona is looking for a third, and is at almost full strength: although five girls left this week, there are already names on a waiting list to join the group.

The girls meet in the town every Monday evening, and anyone interested in more information can contact Leona on 07841 152 254 or email first.falmouth.rainbows@live.com.

Picture from 1st Falmouth Rainbows: . Top row Annabel and Leona with Sophia, Maisy and Isabelle. Middle row Amy, Lilia, Jessica and Grace. Bottom row Talwyn-Rose, Isabelle, Amelie, Bella and Olivia.