Cadet building fails safety test

A Cornwall sea cadets group has been told it must spend hundreds of pounds to make safe a building it uses for its meetings.

The St Austell Sea Cadet Corps uses a building in the town.

But health and safety officials say the building does not meet safety standards.

The cadets have been told the unit must be upgraded if it is to be used in the future and the work is going to cost £800.

Mesh fence

A health and safety assessment revealed the building's only fire exit leads to an area surrounded by a seven foot (2.1 metre) high mesh fence on all sides.

If there was a fire, that would mean the cadets would be trapped with no way of escaping.

The group has been told it must install fire gates and more security measures.

The group is asking Restormel Borough Council for a grant of £600 to help meet the cost of the work.