It's work with schools in the area has led to Helston Museum being presented with a prestigious award for education.

Assistant curator Tracey Clowes travelled to Worcester Cathedral this week to collect a Sandford Award, an award for excellence in heritage education, on behalf of the museum.

The team was were highly praised for all aspects of their education programme, from the diversity and quality of available workshops to the enthusiasm with which the sessions were delivered.

Judging took place on May 20 this year, during a visit by 28 pupils from Nansloe Academy aged five and six, who are conveniently within walking distance of the museum.

The workshop that was observed by a judge was all about Henry Trengrouse, a local hero who, in despair at seeing lives lost aboard a ship close to the shore, invented his rocket lifesaving equipment to transport unfortunate sailors back to the safety of land.

The judge Robin Clutterbuck said: "Palpably, the children were learning in front of my eyes. The relevance of the session was exceptional; not only is the Lizard Peninsula the site of many shipwrecks, but it is still a dangerous coastline, with search and rescue helicopter services running from nearby RNAS Culdrose [up to March this year] and some of the children’s parents worked there.

"Furthermore the children’s own experience of playing on local beaches made the lifesaving issues very familiar. The session could not better have brought together local heritage, national history and personal meanings.

"The fact that a local man invented a way of saving people from drowning made this museum visit an essential part of the children’s education, in my view."

Tracey Clowes, who is also head of education at the museum, said: "We absolutely thrilled to have been given this prestigious award and it is a testament of the hard work of our wonderful volunteers and staff."