SHANTY group Falmouth Shout presented a cheque for £1,000 to the Falmouth RNLI appeal during an appearance at the Pennycomequick pub on The Moor.

This donation marked the official closure of the appeal which exceeded its original target of £100,000 with a final total of £130,000.

The cheque was presented to Falmouth RNLI Appeal deputy chairman Paul Wickes and Falmouth RNLI volunteer deputy lifeboat press officer Simon Culliford.

Paul said: "Simon and I were delighted to receive the cheque donation of £1,000 to the Falmouth RNLI Appeal from Falmouth Shout.

This is the last donation to the appeal which is now officially closed and it is fitting that Falmouth Shout presented the last cheque because they have been such amazing supporters of the RNLI over the years."

The group created the international Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival, which also raises funds every year for the RNLI.

When committee members put the appeal together just over a year ago, they had the ambition of raising £100,000 towards the refurbishment costs of Falmouth Lifeboat Station to house the new Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat when it arrives in Falmouth next year.

Paul added: "We had no idea how the appeal would progress, but we can now officially declare the Falmouth RNLI Appeal has raised a staggering £130,000.

"The contributions have largely come from local people, to whom we are immensely grateful, without whose help the appeal would not have succeeded, so thank you Falmouth and friends, one and all.

We can all now look forward to Falmouth RNLI being better equipped to support local and visiting mariners and I know the committee members are all humbled and privileged to have been able to support such a worthy good cause."

Falmouth Shout was formed 17 years ago by former Falmouth RNLI Coxswain Alan Barnes MBE and other volunteers at the station at that time.

Alan, who is also the shanty group’s chairman, said: "We are a group of friends who enjoy singing and although some people have moved on for various reasons, many of the original members are still with us.

"Over the years we have raised a considerable amount of money for the RNLI, one of two charities that we like to support, the other being the Mission for Fishermen at Newlyn."