A community archive is being created in Newquay for residents to record their war related stories.

Deputy mayor Sarah Thomson has worked with Newquay Library staff in a bid to capture family war stories that are being passed down from one generation to the next.

She is now requesting people to send in their war stories and images, which will be displayed around the library for Remembrance in November.

She said: “I got the idea from talking to service veterans and family members on VJ Day.

“My father was with the Royal Worcester’s Polar Bear Regiment. He was issued with tropical kit put on a ship for Singapore but in fact the wrong ship and was deposited on Iceland, hence the Regiment name.

“He had some grim World War Two stories both from Iceland and Europe after crossing the Channel on D Day plus 10.

“My mother was a Penzance girl and remembered a visit to Prussia Cove for a picnic, when her uncle scooped her up and ran to a cave because there was a dog fight overhead and bullets pinging everywhere.

“I myself have a memory of being on Gunwalloe Church Cove when the RNAS Culdrose helicopters returned from the Falklands.

“It was a beautiful sunny day; partners and families were there. The helicopters flew past and hovered just offshore with doors and windows open, there was so much waving, everyone was so happy.

“I would like to see and hear those family memories that can be gathered at Newquay Library to form a community archive. Some will then be printed out to make a display around the library for Remembrance in November.”

People can email family memories and a picture to share to [email protected]

People can also drop off written and hard copy versions to Newquay Library.