Kingsand received a visit from the top this week when Prime Minister David Cameron included the village in his tour of the storm-ravaged South West.

Accompanied by local MP Sheryll Murray, Mr Cameron was able to see for himself the damage done by last week's ferocious storm to the Institute and Clock Tower which have been declared unsafe.

He also talked to residents who live along The Cleave and walked the street with Mrs Murray to view the damage to their homes.

Institute secretary Anne Carne said Mr Cameron asked her: 'How far have you got here and what can I do to help you?'

Mrs Carne said she told the Prime Minister they needed lots of money but no commitment to money was directly made.

'He did say it would be a good idea to get English Heritage involved and said his office would organise that on our behalf,' she said.

Some residents thought the visit was no more than a public relations exercise, with Claire Wallerstein, who had been evacuated from her home along The Cleave, being one to express this view.

Others said that Mr Cameron's presence had highlighted the village nationally.

Cornwall councillor George Trubody said: 'Mr Cameron was very pleasant, asked a lot of questions and listened. I hope his visit will do us some good.'

Mrs Murray said: 'It was great to have the Prime Minister visit the village and offer reassurance that the Government is doing all it can to help the local area. I was pleased that he took the time to talk to people at their own homes so he could hear their dreadful experiences first-hand.'

Mr Cameron took a coffee break in The Old Boat Store Cafe on The Cleave, which had also been flooded and damaged last week.

While there he held a brief meeting with representatives from the Institute and council agencies. He asked the Environment Agency to look at what can be done to improve defences for properties and asked cllr Trubody to look at setting up an emergency fund to help residents who had been affected by the storms.

Yesterday an inspector from English Heritage was due to meet with conservation officers from Cornwall Council at Kingsand to view the damage to the Clock Tower and Institute.

More stormy weather has been forecast for today.