An appeal to keep Helston’s church bells ringing on Flora Day has gained international support after well-wishers from across the Atlantic chipped in with a donation.

Roger Nott, the tower captain at St Michael’s Church, was surprised to find a letter from Suffolk, Virginia, including $200 sent from Captain Loring Nichols and Janice Nichols, which the couple had sent after reading about the appeal on the Packet website.

The couple, who Mr Nott believes lived in the area when the retired naval captain was stationed at RNAS Culdrose between 1973 and 1976, wrote about their fond memories of the Flora Day celebrations.

In the letter, Mrs Nichols wrote: “My husband and I and our two children lived in Helston from 1973 to 1976 and this donation is our way of saying thank you to all the people of the town for the warm reception we received while living there.

“The tradition of Flora Day is always remembered here on May 8 and we always play our recording on the day.”

She added: “Thank you also to the Helston Packet for letting us keep in touch.”

Mr Nott said when the letter arrived with a foreign postmark he thought “what on earth is that?”

He said: “It’s wonderful, the power of the press. It’s really wonderful that we get support worldwide.”

He will be writing a letter of thanks to the couple, and added that the appeal is still open.

In January, £12,700 of maintenance work was carried out in the bell tower, but it was discovered that a further £3,000 was needed to repair seven cracked wooden bell wheels, which the ropes hang on, and which could be more than 100 years old.

He told the Packet at the start of March that in his opinion bell ringing was “more sacred and sacrosanct than Flora Day”, and that he was “anxious” to see the work carried out ahead of the celebration in May.

Anyone wishing to donate can send cheques, made payable to the St Michael’s Parochial Church Council, Helston, to Mr Nott at 8 Manor Way, Helston, TR13 8LJ.