Newquay businesses have come forward to offer their support to the Save Whipsiderry Cliffs Public group.

The group launched a Design A Sign Competition to encourage local children to get behind their campaign to prevent the concreting of the cliffs, and made an appeal to local businesses to donate prizes.

Sarah Ash, a spokesperson for the group, and organiser of the competition said: “We were overwhelmed by the amount of amazing prizes donated by local businesses. It's really encouraging to know that the business community supports us too. Thank you to all those who got involved - we are very grateful!!

Falmouth Packet: The prize giving took place at The Mermaid Inn at Porth of Saturday, March 25The prize giving took place at The Mermaid Inn at Porth of Saturday, March 25 (Image: Supplied)

The prize giving took place at The Mermaid Inn at Porth of Saturday 25th March, where all the signs designed by local children were on display. They were even joined by Mischief, a real Mermaid, who awarded the prizes to the children.

The winning designs have been printed onto weather-proof signs and will be displayed at Whipsiderry to draw attention to The Save Whipsiderry Cliffs campaign.

Jamie Elliott, from local Printing Company PJ Print, who donated the weather-proof signs, told us “ As a local company and as part of the Newquay community, we were delighted to get involved with this campaign.

Falmouth Packet: Protest have been taking place against the infilling cliffsProtest have been taking place against the infilling cliffs (Image: Supplied)

Protecting the natural environment at Whipsiderry is important to everyone that works here, so offering our services for free was an easy decision to make”.

Sarah continues “Deciding the winners was really difficult, as the creativity shown by the children was outstanding. Children have a way of communicating their message in a compelling and convincing way, and they made it very clear through their designs that they object to this destruction of habitat. It’s heartwarming to know that environmental protection is of great importance to the future guardians of our planet”

As well as the weather proof signs being displayed above the beach, it is hoped some of the original signs will be displayed around the town, at locations to be confirmed.

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Newquay residents recently turned out in force to protest against attempts to infill caves at the base of the cliffs.

This is to allow the developers, Living Quarter Properties to build seven holiday-homes, on top of the 200 foot cliff.

The developer has been excavating sea caves, with heavy machinery, drilling into rock, inserting steel rods and filling the caves with concrete, including part of the cliff face above.

They say the work is necessary to ensure that the holiday homes are safe and to stop the cliff collapsing into the sea.

However after a direct appeal to the Royal Duchy to suspend the developer's licence from the protestors, work has been suspended whils an investigation takes place.