One of the South West’s most iconic structures, St Michael’s Mount, will turn red on Wednesday 1 February as the British Heart Foundation (BHF) launches Heart Month.

For just one day, the castle will be floodlit red from sundown to encourage locals to ‘Go Red’ and support the charity’s lifesaving research.

As part of Heart Month, which runs throughout February, the BHF is asking people to raise funds for its work by going red any way they can.

Watching the historic building turn red will be local fine artist Jeremy Sanders.

He will be producing a one-off oil painting of the historic castle whilst is it specially illuminated.

The finished landscape, which he will complete overnight, will then be auctioned online on behalf of the BHF.

Mark Hawkins, BHF Fundraising Manager for Devon & Cornwall, said: “It will be wonderful to see St Michael’s Mount lighting up in red to highlight our campaign.

“It will be visible for miles around and we hope that local residents and visitors to the area will admire this structure and remember that the BHF needs their support during Heart Month.”

“While the castle ‘go red’ for one night only, we are delighted to be working with Jeremy to capture this moment for posterity.

He has kindly donated his professional skills to create a unique artwork that will be auctioned on our behalf.

“It is a great example of the creative ways that people can ‘Go Red’ and support our life saving research.”

The BHF funds research into heart and circulatory diseases like heart attacks, stroke and vascular dementia, and the risk factors that can cause them, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Since forming in 1961, the charity has funded research that has contributed to lifesaving breakthroughs such as heart transplants, pacemakers, portable defibrillators, and valve replacements.

However, despite huge progress, heart and circulatory diseases still cause more than 160,000 deaths in the UK every year.

People can get more information about the Go Red fundraising campaign and learn how they can get involved by going to: bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/fundraise/do-your-own-thing/go-red