Trainees from HMS Raleigh in Torpoint found themselves carrying a mast rather than climbing a mast when they responded to a request for help from the Cornish Maritime Trust.

The naval base trainees helped to move a heavy 55ft mast for the lugger, Barnabas, from Cotehele in the Tamar Valley to the port of Charlestown near St Austell.

The mast is a gift to the trust from the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, to replace the historic vessel's mizzen mast which has been found to be unsafe.

Lieutenant Jim Tomlinson, the divisional officer responsible for the welfare and discipline of the young men and women completing the second stage of their training at Torpoint, is proud of the help his department gives to projects in the community.

He said of the mast moving: "I am keen for the trainees to be proud of our maritime heritage and in that respect this was an ideal project for them to do."

Barnabas is the last of the St Ives dipping luggers afloat. The vessel was built in 1881 and will play an important part in the National Maritime Museum, Cornwall, which is being developed at Falmouth.