Altarnun Parish Council organised a special digital TV switchover coffee morning in the village hall on Saturday, March 7.

The council invited David Farwig of Digital UK and Peter Hockridge of Hockridge and Stacey to provide residents with professional advice on what they need to do to continue to receive TV after their transmitter 'goes digital'.

On arrival in Altarnun, David Farwig noticed that whilst most external aerials faced south towards the Caradon transmitter some were pointing towards Huntshaw Cross. The main reason that the residents used the more distant Huntshaw Cross signal was that the Caradon signal was blocked by hills.

The users of Huntshaw Cross will need to be fully digital by July 1 when analogue BBC 2 will be switched off. Those using Caradon have until August 12.

David Farwig commented: "Holding local events such as this provide everyone with the chance to find out what the switchover means to them." David and Peter thanked the parish council for organising the event and both said that they were delighted to be able to help so many

people.

The council also offered tables in the village hall to local organisations so that everyone could see just what Altarnun's clubs, societies and organisations had to offer. Tables were taken by the Penpont Players, Altarnun Twinn­ing Association, The Altarnun Walkers, The Altarnun Oil Buying Group, Altarnun Local History Society, The Moorland Art Group, Altarnun Short Mat Bowls Club, The Altarnun Youth Group, Altarnun WI, Tre Pol Pen the Parish Magazine, The Altarnun Wildlife Group and last but not least the Sidwell Handbell Ringers.

Clerk to the council Peter Allen said that with over 100 people from the parish attending, the coffee morning had been a great success and many residents had discovered something new about what Altarnun had to offer.

Even before the morning ended many of those attending were saying that a societies coffee morning should become an annual event.