MORE than £10,000 was raised during Callington's first ever festival week, thanks to local support.

Callington Festival Week committee has expressed a big 'thank you' to local residents who came out and attended the numerous events last month, which started with the Lions' Club gala day and ended with the carnival.

Committee chairman Mike Gill said: 'It has been good to see the organisations in the town centre come together in support of the community.

'A lot of hard work involving several groups in and around the town took place, but without the generous support of local businesses, shops and the general public, this event would not have been possible.

'We would like to say a big thank you to the residents of Callington and the surrounding areas for the terrific support given to the festival week.'

Concerts, theme evenings, a vehicle rally and children's events were all part of the week's events, bringing together organisations including the Callington Rotary Club, Callington Lions' Club, town council, Prim Raf theatre, WI, churches and choirs.

Callington Portreeve Rick Lumley was also instrumental in getting the week off the ground.

Mr Gill said planning would start shortly for festival week 2010 which aims to be bigger and better.

Charities to benefit from this year's cash include Marie Curie, Macmillan Nurses, Muscular Dystrophy Respite, Multiple Sclerosis Society, ShelterBox, Riding for the Disabled at Duchy College, Rotary Life Straws, St Luke's Hospice, Callington Christmas Lights, Friends of Callington and Gunnislake Health Centres, Children's Hospice Precious Lives and Looe-based Ellie's Haven for children with cancer.