Huge lumps of rock thrown like pebbles and boats destroyed: Porthleven counts the cost of storm PICTURES

The baulks which separate the inner and outter harbours of Porthleven, and have long protected the inner harbour from the power of the sea, succumbed to the sheer power of the sea to wreak havoc on the once protected boats. 

Above picture: Vanessa Glossop.

In total seven boats were sunk, with the remaining boats at risk as the normally calm inner harbour became a malestrom. These boats had to be removed or they would have been swamped by the waves.

Thanks to the community pulling out all the stops, these boats were removed and  are now "scattered around the harbour in any space which could accommodate at boat".

The danger is still there as without the baulks the inner harbour, harbour head and main road are at risk from unchecked seas and swell tover coming days.

It was not just the boats which bore the brunt of the seas, but parts of the harbour wall succumbed to the power of the waves.

Porthleven’s ice cream parlour now has its windows boarded up and the iconic Bickford-Smith Institute or as many will know as the clock tower had its seaward side windows smashed in by the waves. The old lifeboat house has also been damaged.

Cllr Andrew Wallis said: "The full extent of the storm damage cannot be assessed as the seas are still churning and the wind howling at levels rarely seen in Porthleven. The worry is with a large depression heading its way to Cornwall’s coast on Friday or Saturday more damage to the infrastructure is likely.

"Even the great storm of ’89 was not as prolonged as the weather we have and about to face in the next few days. Wednesday 5th of February 2014 will long be remembered by the people of Porthleven, but not for positive reasons."

This following picture are of Porthleven today.