Prince William has helped a local football team - by fixing the the 'pothole-ridden' lane leading to their club.

The Prince Of Wales is helping Mousehole AFC that for years has been accessible by a narrow cavity-filled lane through the village.

It has lead to traffic issues, damaged vehicles, and logistical headaches for visiting teams and supporters.

After hearing about the issues being faced by the local community, The Prince and the Duchy of Cornwall decided to work with CRH, a global leader in building materials, to see if they could help develop a lasting solution.

Now an ambitious infrastructure project, backed by Prince William, is set to transform access to Mousehole AFC, the club's seasonal campsite and the neighbouring Paul Cricket Club.

Construction work began on June 30 on a new access road.

The Prince of Wales said: “I have seen time and time again that community hubs are essential in providing the spaces for people to come together, to build stronger communities and to allow people to thrive.

"It is a privilege to be able to help the local community access Mousehole AFC. I’d like to personally add my thanks for all the hard work that’s gone into making it happen. I look forward to seeing the new road for myself as soon as I can.”

Simon Taylor, project lead for Mousehole AFC, said the planned work is "incredible".

He adds: “Within a week, I was in a Teams meeting with Martin Riley, who’d been invited by HRH to see what could be done to help fix the existing road. Two weeks later, Martin visited the club.

"After experiencing the lane for himself, he quickly realised a full repair wasn’t viable. With planning permission already secured for an alternative access point, we turned our attention to the possibility of building a brand-new road.

"Countless meetings — both on-site and virtual — later, we’ve pulled together an incredible consortium of local and national companies who’ve committed their time, resources, and expertise to bring this dream to life.”

The construction is being carried out at no cost to the club, thanks to in-kind contributions from partners such as ISC, Maen Karne, Tarmac and more.

The route has also been made possible thanks to local landowner Paul Pond, who has granted access to part of his land, and the years of "tireless" campaigning by vice chair Deryk Heywood.

In addition to improved access, the project will deliver new parking facilities, which will enable the club to expand its offering of sporting, social, and cultural events for the wider community.

Simon added: “This project is transformative — not just for Mousehole AFC but for the entire area.

"The cricket club will also benefit from the new road, and we’ll now be able to host more events at Interiora Trungle Parc, turning it into a true community hub.

"Most importantly, it will take matchday and holiday traffic out of the village, improving the experience for everyone. I’m incredibly grateful to our consortium—there are too many individuals to name—but their support has been extraordinary.

"Special thanks go to Martin Riley for his dedication and guidance, GRS Group’s Jon Fisher — without whose project leadership we could not have moved forward — and of course to HRH The Prince of Wales, whose involvement made this possible.”

The new road is expected to be completed in time for the start of Mousehole AFC’s 2025/26 season in the Southern League this August.

Jon Fisher, chief executive of GRS Group, which is leading the works, added: "This project is a powerful example of the difference we can make when we bring together our national capability and expertise.

"It reflects what GRS is all about – building infrastructure that improves lives and connects communities – and it’s one of many grassroots initiatives we’re proud to support nationwide.

"Improving this access road will benefit the wider community around Mousehole, and it’s something we’re very proud to be involved with."