The first Tesco Express store in Cornwall was opened in Falmouth on Friday (August 10) with staff celebrating the launch by donating £500 to the RNLI.

Members of the Falmouth RNLI volunteer crew were guests of honour at the opening of the store on Discovery Quay with manager Leigh Gale presenting Dave Nicoll and Tom Bird of the Falmouth RNLI with the cheque.

Tesco Express manager Leigh Gale said: "We are pleased to be able to offer our support to the RNLI and the dedicated crew of volunteers who operate the lifeboats, and would like to welcome everyone to the store on our opening day."

The RNLI are currently running an appeal to help pay for crew training. The 'Train One Save Many' campaign is raising money to provide vital training for the charity's crews who operate the lifeboats throughout the country. Only 1 in 10 lifeboat crew now have maritime background, which makes training vital to allow volunteers to go to sea and save lives. It costs £1000 to train each crew member each year and the RNLI need to raise £10million over 5 years to train their lifeboat crews.

Dave Nicoll, area fundraising manager for the RNLI and volunteer crew member at Falmouth Lifeboat Station said: "We are extremely fortunate with the support we receive from the local community and we would like to thank the new Tesco Express for adding their support with this donation. As a charity we work hard to raise money to fund crew training as well as buy and maintain station equipment. Help from local businesses and individuals is invaluable and without it we would be unable to carry on saving lives at sea."

Store manager Leigh Gale added: "Myself and all the staff are looking forward to welcoming our customers into the new store and we hope that Tesco will become a key part of the community."

The new Tesco Express store will be looking to stock a range of local Cornish products, including both sweet and savoury products from Falmouth based W.C. Rowe, Roddas clotted cream, a selection of bottled beers from St. Austell, Sharps and Skinners breweries, Pure Blu Spring Water, and local produce such as Cornish Broccoli, Cauliflower, Potatoes, Cabbages. Local Choice milk is also due to be available to customers, alongside Furniss biscuits, and a selection of local cheeses such as Toppenrose Gold, Cornish Blue, and Cornish Brie. The new store on Discovery Quay will open from 6am to 11pm seven days a week.