'IT'S A BARGAIN' said Cornwall councillor Dorothy Kirk after hearing that the bill from the Ministry of Defence for the rescue of 40 cars trapped by the Calstock landslide was £17,000.

The cost of the military operation by the Royal Marines last month to release cars that were cut off after the Lower Kelly road collapsed on Christmas Day will be met by the taxpayer.

'When you think of the cost of paying to hire a car which is what everybody would still be doing now I think £17,000 is a bargain,' said Cllr Kirk.

'Plus we had all that expertise and skill of the Royal Marines and their safety advice. We are very grateful to them, they did a great job.'

Residents used hire cars paid for by Cornwall Council to get around after their own vehicles were trapped.

Getting the Royal Navy involved was the idea of 10-year-old Charlie Southcott from Lower Kelly who approached a senior naval officer at a concert he was attending with his family.

A spokesman for Cornwall Council said: 'The number of vehicles and full extent of the essential supplies to be moved was not known at the time the original estimate was provided by the MoD.

'In the event, 40 vehicles were transported by the marines, a number of which were owned be people visiting relatives or holidaying in the area.

'In addition, supplies of heating oil and equipment required by a local builder were also transported into the area affected by the landslip.'

He said the operation was a great success and the local community would benefit from having access to their cars and supplies of heating oil during the period of the works which were not expected to be completed until April or May.

'The cost submitted by the MoD is in accordance with standard procedures set out in military aid to civilian authorities protocol.'