THE Royal Navy was drafted in for a rescue mission yesterday (Wednesday) to remove cars stranded by the road collapse in Calstock — all thanks to the initiative of a young boy.

As the Times went to press 1 Assault Group Royal Marines lined the quays at Calstock and Cotehele in a mission to ferry cars stuck behind the collapsed road at Lower Kelly, down the river to Cotehele.

Around 30 cars, belonging to residents and a few holiday-makers who were in the village at the time of the collapse, were taken one-by-one down the river by landing craft using the existing slipways.

Ten-year-old Charlie Southcott, who lives in Lower Kelly and attends Calstock Primary School, had the bright idea of getting the Royal Navy involved to help.

Charlie and his family attended a carol service hosted by marine engineering company Babcock at Devonport Dockyard where his father works. They spotted Commodore Graeme Little, of Devonport Naval Base, and asked if Charlie could meet him and shake his hand. After talking for a while, Commodore Little gave Charlie his business card.

Cornwall Councillor for Calstock Dorothy Kirk said she was out viewing the disaster at Lower Kelly on Boxing Day when Charlie approached her: 'I was out looking at the situation, thinking about what we were going to do when Charlie came up to me and said we could try asking the Navy for help and gave me Commodore Little's number. I thought "could I do that?" and then thought I may as well try.'

Mrs Kirk said when she spoke to Commodore Little he said he thought they may be able to assist.

'The next thing I knew, I saw Colonel Garth Manger and his little girl walking around Lower Kelly. We put in a formal request from Cornwall Council to the Navy and now they have come to help us.

'It all started with Charlie. It was his quick thinking and initiative that started off the whole rescue — he really is a star!'

Charlie's mother Vanessa said she was very proud of Charlie: 'He is always interested in the local community and he is chuffed to bits that he could help. This is the only positive thing to have come out of this whole situation.

'Thank God we are on a river bank because I don't know what they would have done otherwise.'

Colonel Garth Manger, commanding officer of 1 Assault Group, said: 'The Royal Navy was delighted to come to the aid of the civilian authorities who would normally assist the public. In this case we used Royal Marine expertise to provide amphibious boats where there was no other feasible access to repatriate vehicles to the national road network.

'My men train to conduct disaster relief around the world and while this was slightly different it was a fantastic opportunity to do some real training while helping the community in which we live. The car owners also had the chance to accompany their cars on the specialist landing craft normally used to transport troops and amphibious vehicles.'