The first steps have been taken towards tackling climate change in Helston with the forming of an action group.

The group will meet regularly to create a plan that the whole community can follow, which will look specifically at how to reduce the effects of climate change in the town and surrounding area.

Once this is in place, the town council can then vote on whether to declare a climate emergency on local issues.

It follows a meeting called by Helston Town Council last Thursday, to which members of Transition Helston & District, along with any other interested people in the community, were invited.

Describing it as a "desperately important issue", Helston mayor John Martin said of the meeting: "It was all very positive. It's an essential way ahead; we have to formulate a plan so we can work on it locally, rather than just go on about global issues without doing anything ourselves.

"We definitely need action, we can't keep talking about it."

Representing the town council on the new action group will be Mr Martin and councillors Dave Potter, Miles Kenchington and Mike Thomas.

It is being chaired by Jules Lewis from Transition Helston & District, who said its purpose was to take "meaningful action."

He said: "It felt really positive. The upshot of it all was that the council really do want to declare a climate emergency but they want to do it right and have it turned into actions."

Jules said he hoped that people with specific knowledge on climate change and how to tackle its effects would be invited to some meetings, to advise.

"I think we all recognise that while we might all be well-meaning enthusiasts, it would be good to get experts along from time-to-time, to tell us what's what," he added.

At last Thursday's meeting there was talk of a carbon audit, which will look at where carbon is potentially being wasted in the town so the group can focus its efforts in the right places.

A document of other suggestions was put together by the Transition Helston members, including installing bike racks in town, installing electric vehicle charging points and stopping future hedge clearances.

The first meeting of the action group will take place this Thursday, following the town council's planning meeting. Anyone else interested in taking part should contact the town clerk's office beforehand.