A charity antiques valuation roadshow at the Porthminster Hotel in St Ives has raised more than £400 towards the redevelopment of the town's Bernard Leach Pottery Restoration Project.

Those attending enjoyed a talk by Penzance-based auctioneer David Lay and had their possessions valued by him and his team of specialists.

All moneys received from entrance, valuations, raffle and competitions will be directly transferred to the Restoration Project, with everyone donating their time and resources at no charge. The hotel also gave its resources at no charge.

Bernard Leach (1897-1979) was one of the founding fathers of the Studio Pottery movement. He established the Leach Pottery in St. Ives, along with his friend and fellow potter Hamada Shoji, in 1920.

The future of the pottery has recently been secured. It remained a working pottery for many years after Leach's death and the Restoration Project will be repairing and rejuvenating the Grade II Listed pottery and climbing kilns to allow the public into the premises to get a sense of the atmosphere of a working studio.

Eight studio workshops will also be built for the use of individual potters and public viewing. There is also a new small exhibition gallery and shop incorporating the Pottery Cottage.

The project aims to recreate the quality and reputation of the original pottery by developing Leach's ethos in a modern context. There will be a high level of post-qualification skill training, mentoring and nurturing new makers to include all aspects of the potter's trade - including design, production, marketing and exhibition.

Jill Block, secretary of the Leach Pottery Support Group, commented: "These single-site opportunities are very rare and it is both encouraging and exciting to see the local community and local business supporting the project."