ROYAL NAVY SAILORS LEND A HAND TO FLOODED VILLAGE

Sailors from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose rolled up their sleeves today to help villagers clean up Coverack following a devastating flash flood earlier this week.

Bracing the wet weather on the Lizard Peninsular, the 35-strong team helped the Cornish village by helping clear the beach area, houses and shops. They also moved sandbags to protect houses from any further flooding.

RNAS Culdrose is an integral part of Cornwall and those based at the air station feel it is an integral part of their duties to help local communities when they need it.

Commander Paul Harrison, the Commander of RNAS Culdrose, said: "Coverack is a neighbouring village to RNAS Culdrose and some of the Culdrose team live there.  

"The flooding earlier in the week has left Coverack with a lot of mess. The clean-up operation is under control, but the village asked for a few more hands on deck to assist them, so we sent them some of our trainees and other volunteers.

"Community is important to us and we regularly get involved in local projects where we can help to make a difference. These kind of activities are beneficial to our trainees too, they help the sailors come together as a team and get ready for operations abroad."

A team of 35 sailors headed to Coverack today and they will be available over the weekend if the village needs them to assist again. 

Chief Petty Officer John 'Soups' Campbell, who lives in Coverack, is acting as the co-ordinator.  He said: "We've basically responded to a request for manpower to help clean up the beach and the town. There is still a lot of silt and debris about.  

"We are basically here to work with the local council and villagers and do what they need us to do. The Coverack community is coping really well and the local authority has done a great job - we are simply giving them a hand.  

"The weather is awful though and everyone has got a bit wet, but we are sailors and that's what we are used to."