Donations given to help keep Porthleven Post Office open and running have been returned to the community.

The money was given following an appeal for help from owners Paul and Sharon Edwards, who said they had "literally run out of money."

A public meeting at the start of September saw 200 people giving up a Saturday evening to offer support and in October a newly-formed Porthleven Community Support Group launched a campaign to raise £30,000.

However, with donations drying up over a period of time, the last estimated balance was around £3,750 and a final statement will be issued at the end of this month, once all outstanding donations have been collected and Just Giving commission paid.

Mike Carter, treasurer of the Porthleven Post Office Community Support Group, said today that owners Paul and Sharon Edwards had decided to give back the remainder of the unspent money, as they felt it could be "used for better things."

Mr Carter said: "The support group encouraged Paul and Sharon to make full use of the generous donations made by supporters, but having used around one third of the amount they decided to try to manage with the change in footfall to ascertain the viability of the post office’s future during the winter period.

"A progressive increase in footfall throughout this period would help support the post office.

"Paul and Sharon said they would prefer the remaining unused money be used for better things within the community."

With part of the money having been used during the critical period to purchase stock, show the creditors the amount of public support and a small amount of marketing, the support group is of the belief tha it would be difficult to create a fair refund system.

As such, it is proposing to ask Porthleven Community Interest Company to hold the unused donations in trust, to be used should the need for a community post office arise.

"No one could have foreseen the way this project was going to develop. If anyone has any reasonable objections or sensible suggestions, please email us at porthlevenpostofficegroup@porthlevenpostoffice.com," added Mr Carter.

He said that West Cornwall MP Derek Thomas had offered to arrange for a temporary mobile post office service to be made available in the interim period if the post office did close, giving the community time to establish another post office facility - although there is no suggestion that the post office is about to close.

"Derek is also trying to establish a support system for rural post offices by way of a subsidy throughout the winter months," he said.

"Paul, Sharon and the support group sincerely thank everyone for their outstanding support, generosity and hard work throughout this campaign and hope a solution is in sight for themselves and the community."