Fred Thomas, whose alter-ego Betty Stogs has raised almost £100,000 for charity, and Alexa Webster, who helped bridge the divide between students and the town, were invited to lunch and presented with town plaques by Falmouth's mayor on Monday.

Mayor, Grenville Chappel, said he wanted to say "thank you" to two people who have done a lot for Falmouth - Fred for all his fundraising and Alexa for bringing the universities and students closer to the town council.

Betty Stogs was left at home on Monday when it was Fred who arrived to accept the accolade. As Betty, he has raised almost £100,000 in a decade, most of which was generated in Falmouth and all of which has remained in Cornwall. In recent years, he has supported the RNLI, but when Betty first appeared, her chosen charity was the Children's Hospice South West.

Betty was born ten-years-ago after a mutual friend of Fred and Steve Skinner, owner of Skinner's Brewery, suggested Betty Stogs was brought to life and suggested Fred for the job. "That was because I had done a lot of pantomime stuff," said Fred.

"Steve had wanted to pay me, but I said I would do it for charity and wanted to do it for the children's hospice. Betty was only supposed to make ten appearances over 20 weeks initially, but someone asked me to come to the shanty festival and it all kicked off from there."

He added: "That was the first time I had been to Falmouth and had such a welcome that I came back the next year for the full three days. Falmouth is such a friendly town, it's always good fun."

After his shanty appearances, Fred, whose day job is dairy sales manager for MA Grigg in St Austell, was asked to bring Betty to the town's carnival and has joined Falmouth Marine Band in leading the parade for many years. Whenever Betty is in Falmouth, she is always armed with a collecting bucket.

Alexa Webster spent two years as FXU's president for community and welfare. Her role with the students' union brought her into contact with the town council and saw her work hard to bring "the town and gown" together and knock down barriers.

"She has pulled the students and the town council closer together than they have ever been," said Mr Chappel. "I hope her successor, Harry Bishop, is as good."

Alexa now works part time for Falmouth University as part of its mentor scheme and has also offered her services to the town council for any voluntary work. "I cannot let go," she said, "I have absolutely loved the past two years. It has been amazing to give back to the town and be part of the town council in my own way, to help out.

"I am looking forward to various projects and looking forward to helping out - it's very exciting. If they (the council) needs me as a volunteer for anything, they just have to give me a text."