Plans to regenerate Portreath harbour with a new heritage centre and turn a Second World War camp into a wildlife area have received £50,000 of central government funding.

Communities Minister Mark Francois announced on Monday that the harbour would be one of 15 projects to receive a share of £700,000 of cash from to restore local landmarks to their former glory.

The grant will allow Portreath Parish Council to removing unsightly structures to reveal unspoilt views of the grade II listed harbour and support local fisherman with a new purpose built facility to make, repair and store fishing equipment as well as ice and chill the local catch.

A heritage centre showing visitors how Portreath’s importance to the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site will be built, and a derelict Second World War WAAF camp site is to be renovated to provide a wildlife area for local schools educational programmes.

Mr Francois said: “Across our Great British Coast we’ve got heritage hooks to be proud of, but some of these places need some tender, loving, care.

“That’s why over the past year we’ve invested £3.7million to get them back into ship-shape and now Portreath harbour and 14 more brilliant British attractions will be buoyed up by work to restore them to their former glory.

“This country has sight-seeing gems that are a match for anywhere in the world and I’d urge people to take a trip down to the seaside to discover them.”