THE Boscastle Buoys have topped the £10,000 mark for money raised in aid of Cornwall Hospice Care.

The group are well known for their compelling repertoire of sea shanties and traditional Cornish songs.

They also raise money for the charity in memory of a friend, Boscastle artist Raymund Rogers, who died at Mount Edgcumbe Hospice in St Austell. So far they have collected more than £10,000.

The Boscastle Buoys formed around five years ago after a group of locals, mainly from the Boscastle area, discovered that as well as sharing a drink in the local pub, the Napoleon Inn, they also enjoyed singing.

Originally called the Boscastle Boys, they changed when one of their members came up with the idea of using the word 'Buoy' to represent a buoy in the sea, with Boscastle being a fishing village.

Their fame has grown and now as well as singing in their local pub, the Boscastle Buoys are also asked to perform at events throughout Cornwall, including the Royal Cornwall Show.

One of the group, Roger Nicholls, known as Rog, explains: "We're often asked to perform at venues and we say, well yes we can if we can bring the bucket along? We want to shake the bucket for Cornwall Hospice Care wherever we go."

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.