It is surely one of Helston's more unusual traditions - the annual up-ending of residents to bash their head against the parish boundary stones, with only a clump of earth to cushion the blow.

Yet this year's Beating of the Bounds proved more popular than ever, with a large number of children getting involved this time.

Helston Community College and Nansloe Academy both took a small group of students to take part in the annual custom, with town councillors and residents also getting involved.

The group met on the grassed area outside Helston Fire Station, which also marked the first stone in the section of the boundary that was to be walked this year.

All ages made sure they had their turn, from the youngest participant - little two-year-old Lillian - through to Helston's mayor Gillian Geer.

Town councillor John Boase and town warden Craig Bowcutt had the responsibility of ensuring no cracked skulls as they lifted each person up and over.

The origins of the tradition are hazy - possibly due to the nature of the practice and its potential effect on long-term memory. Some suggest it was started in order to keep tabs on the parish boundary and pass on the knowledge of where it lay to younger members of the community, with the hitting of their heads onto the stones to literally knock the information into them and ensure they remembered.