A couple who dream of marrying in Helston's Guildhall are to get their wish - although they narrowly avoided having to spend £1,500 for the privilege.

Becky Watson and Ian Wheeler asked Helston Town Council if they could hold their wedding ceremony in the Corn Exchange after getting engaged there at the end of this year's Midday Dance on Flora Day.

On Thursday councillors met to decide whether to spent the £1,525 fee for a wedding licence for civil ceremonies, which would cover the Corn Exchange, council chamber and mayor's parlour for three years.

Councillor Dave Potter was of the opinion that it was a "great venue for weddings," but did not want to see public money spent funding it when civil ceremonies could already take place in the town, at Isaac House in the Coinage Ope alleyway.

He said: "If the people want to get married, I say we charge them £1,525."

Mr Potter acknowledged this was "a lot of money," but suggested that for every further wedding that took place there, the fee could be used to reimburse the original couple.

Other councillors were not in favour of this idea though, with councillor Nicola Roberts saying: "I think this is a money-making exercise and I don't think it would take very long to recoup the money and then make money."

Councillor John Boase also believed it would "self-funding" and pointed out that with the One Stop Shop moving from Isaac House to the library, there was no guarantee how long registrar services would remain.

However, councillor Rev Danny Reed, a Methodist superintendent minister who conducts marriage ceremonies, said: "I think we're in a society where the number of people getting married is diminishing. I think it needs more research into the likely take-up and also the cost of having the person here to be responsible."

The town council has been told that a representative would have to be on hand at every ceremony in the Guildhall, as well as remove or cover any religious references- including the large picture of Jesus in the council chamber.

Mayor Gillian Geer said the research already been done and if the council was to charge £300 per ceremony, like Penryn Town Council, it would only require two weddings per year to get the money back over the three years.

The decision to apply for a licence was carried by seven votes in favour to three against, from Rev Reed, Mr Potter and Ron Edgcumbe, with one abstention. Councillor Ronnie Williams declared an interest and left the room for the item.