Parents, staff and pupils brushed up on their painting skills at Porthleven Primary School, saving £2,000 in the process.

Volunteers spent a weekend painting in numbers, redecorating the school dining hall with paint donated by companies in the area.

Leigh Yates, chair of Porthleven School PTA, said: "It's the strength of parent power."

Paint was donated by Jewson Ltd in Helston, Rabart Decorating Centre in Redruth and Interserve, which between them gave "hundreds of pounds worth" according to Leigh.

She added: "It's just made such a difference in the school. I think kids respect it more when the parents have done it. It was great to see new faces helping out as well."

Volunteers were kept fed and watered with pasties, strong cups of tea and bacon sandwiches, with the meat donated by Scorse.

Ms Yates said: "A big thank you to the parents. One came and helped for two hours, another for an hour, while other were there all day. It just proves that a lot of 'little' equates to a great deal."

She also thanked Terry Davis for once again supplying the scaffolding tower.

She added that the ongoing relationship with Interserve and its suppliers was "changing the face of the school."