Volunteers can dig in for saint

The original church was dismantled in 1805

Volunteers are being sought to help with a project to uncover the ancient remains of a church linked to one of Cornwall's patron saints.

St Piran's Church at Perranporth is one of the county's most well-known scheduled monuments.

The dig will uncover the remains of the ancient church, which is buried beneath the sands.

In 1805 the church was dismantled and re-built 2.5 miles inland, where the parish church stands today.

No experience is needed Dick Cole, Cornwall County Council

The four week dig will start in September and the archaeologists want the public to help.

Dick Cole of Cornwall County Council said: "Volunteers will be able assist with the actual dig, as well as the recording of the artefacts and the standing remains.

"No experience is needed and there will be opportunities for people to discover how archaeologists uncover and record information about our past."

The dig is part of a major programme of works at scheduled monuments across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly over the next two years.

Eileen Carter of the St Piran Trust, said: ""I hope a great many people throughout Cornwall will take the opportunity to visit the site during the dig, to see the church come back to life or to help with the hard work."

Thousands of people march across the dunes each year to the site to celebrate the saint's life.