Grants worth more than £2,500 have been given out by Helston Town Council, which will include improving the children's play area at Coronation Park.

With a total of £2,660 in the pot to hand out, the last request on the list, from South Kerrier Alliance, was given the remaining £660 as a contribution towards the £1,000 requested for five picnic benches in the play area.

In research carried out by SKA on social media, at the Lakeside Cafe and the February Farmers' Market, 81 per cent of people responding wanted more seating.

This will be part of a wider plan to improve the area, which will need substantial grant funding from larger bodies such as Sport England.

In addition to play equipment for children up to the age of eight - with 80 per cent of people wanting a roundabout, 69 per cent 'springies' - and 81 per cent wanting equipment for children such as a seesaw and numerous notes about a zip wire, there were also many requests for adult fitness equipment. Of these, 87 per cent wanted rowers, 76 per cent were for walkers and numerous people mentioned about static cycles - particularly ones that generated electric for phone charging.

SKA had already received a grant from the town council in this financial year, for £1,500 towards a new skate park.

The largest amount given by councillors on Thursday went to Helston Memory Cafe - £1,200 for providing coach trips out for members.

The group, which has around 65 members, of which 85 per cent live in Helston, aims to improve the lives of people with memory impairment, along with their families and carers.

Three times a year the group visits places such as Heligan Gardens and Enys Gardens, with the trip recorded on video and then shown back to members at a later date, to help stimulate memories.

Helston in Bloom was given £600 - a rounding up of the £592 asked for - to continue twice-yearly planting of two pots outside Helston Museum, a trough in Five Wells Lane, two troughs in car parks, three small planters and two large planters in front of the town stones on Redruth Road and Falmouth road, along with extra planting for beds in Horse and Jockey Lane and Godolphin Road.

Volunteers also hope to clear and plant a bed in Porthleven Road, opposite Coronation Park.

A grant worth £100 was given to Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, after members agreed with councillor John Boase that while people in Helston did use it, there were "other opportunities for people to give if they wish."

Councillor Ronnie Williams had initially not supported giving any money at all, believing that "there's a lot of need in this town - let's start looking after our town."

Cruse Bereavement Care was also given £100, with councillor Rev Danny Reed saying that while he wished to support it he didn't think the charity should receive the £500 requested. He explained: "I'm not at all opposed to this group of people, but if you needed Cruse Bereavement Care tomorrow you would be on a six-month waiting list, which I find unacceptable in terms of bereavement care."