plant sales at the home of Mrs Cic Bailey in Lawhitton have for the past 17 years raised money for a variety of charities.

Organisations that have benefitted from the sales include the village church — once for the roof and once for the bells — pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, the Mermaid Centre in Truro and Primrose Hospice. This year the chosen charity is the Children's Hospice South West.

Most years there has been a plant sale and a cake and coffee morning to add to the funds raised but this year it was a stand-alone plant sale, which took place last week from Monday to Friday in Mrs Bailey's driveway.

She said: "It's lots of fun with people coming and going, and those that have come have been very generous."

The idea to hold the annual event stems back to a time when the church badly needed a new roof and when asked to help, Mrs Bailey drew on the areas in which she could strive — gardening and cooking.

She said: "It was my love for gardening that gave me the idea and I thought it would be great if it could benefit others."

Losing count of just how much has been raised over the years, Mrs Bailey said it was around the £400 to £500 mark most years, with this year being a little slower without the coffee and cake.

She added: "I love doing it and I just love being able to give the cheque over afterwards to whichever charity it is — and this year it's for the children at the hospice."

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.