'Village hall on wheels' rolling for those in need

A community van providing essential services and support to local residents has started operating in Cornwall.

The Bugle Library of Things (BLoT), a community interest company in mid-Cornwall, said it saw the van as a "village hall on wheels".

The van, equipped with a hob, fridge, and sink, would offer food, clothes, household goods, health services, welfare support and education from a team of trained volunteers, managers said.

"We are so excited for the launch of our community van that will help bring support to people in the community that maybe wouldn't be able to access these services otherwise," said BLoT founder Jo Rusbridge.

The project received £94,308 from Cornwall Council's Community Levelling Up Programme, funded by the government's Shared Prosperity Fund.

Peter Guest, councillor for Roche and Bugle, said he was "delighted" at the launch of the BLoT van.

"This project has been long in the making and, now that it is here, we can provide vital community support, not only in Bugle, but throughout the Clay Country [area north of St Austell]," he said.

Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].