WORK to fix the landslip in Calstock has now started and could take up to five months to be finished, Calstock parish councillors were told at a meeting last week.

Cornwall councillor for Calstock Dorothy Kirk informed members at the full council meeting that work had started and was 'likely to take up to five months' to complete.

Esther Richmond, Cornwall Council community network manager, said: 'It is difficult to put an exact timeline on the works to the landslip.

'However, Cornwall Council considers the repair a priority and works have started at the site. We recently held a residents' meeting where we canvassed their views on extended working hours.

'Following a positive response we will increase the working hours for repairs to the landslip. This will be reviewed as necessary if any concerns are raised with residents adjacent to the landslip.'

At the meeting Peter Salisbury, from South West Ambulance Services Trust, said he had spoken to the service's training officer and there was a possibility that a defibrillator could be loaned to residents of Lower Kelly for no charge while they are cut off from the national road network.

He assured councillors that the ambulance service had a plan in place for emergencies, as an emergency vehicle would be unable to get to Lower Kelly.

Mr Salisbury said: 'The plan is that if enough people are interested, we would run a defibrillator course.'

Councillors also agreed to fund two places on an intensive First Aid course, to provide more help for residents of Lower Kelly.

Cllr Dick Hoyle said: 'There are two places available on an intensive First Aid course.

'I would suggest that two residents on the far side of the landslip attend the course and we pay for it. Our only involvement would be to pay for the course, it would be Esther Richmond and the Friends of Lower Kelly that should decide who goes on it. It would just be another way for us to give more support to them.'

Calstock also received a visit from Cornwall Council chief executive Andrew Kerr last Friday, who met with councillors to talk about the issue and see the landslip first hand.