Plans to separate Helston from The Lizard as part of a shake-up of the political landscape in Cornwall have been strongly opposed by Falmouth and Camborne MP Candy Atherton.

Speaking at this week's public inquiry into Boundary Commission proposals to alter Cornish constituencies to provide a sixth MP, Ms Atherton pressed the case for The Lizard to remain with Helston in the St Ives constituency, instead of being absorbed into a new constituency with Camborne and Redruth.

The MP also listed numerous reasons why Hayle should be removed from St Ives and linked with the industrial towns, instead of The Lizard.

Ms Atherton said: "The communities of The Lizard and Camborne and Redruth have little, if anything, in common. The Lizard wards are a mainly rural area with tourism and farming as their principle occupations - completely different to Hayle, Camborne and Redruth.

"The people of The Lizard relate to Helston as 'their' town. Indeed, Helston markets itself as the 'Gateway to The Lizard'."

The MP highlighted the fact that bus routes serving The Lizard were centred on Helston and only one road - an un-graded road through Gweek - linked Camborne-Redruth and The Lizard without passing through Helston.

"If you ask the people of The Lizard where they shop, receive medical care, are educated or worship, they will tell you it is Helston," she said.

"With every service you look at, Helston and The Lizard are linked - community hospital, employment, local government. If the Boundary Commission's proposals were to be followed, all the services that need parliamentary representation would be provided from a town not part of the parliamentary seat."

Ms Atherton said there was a considerable level of support for the proposal that The Lizard should remain in the St Ives constituency.

Kerrier district council has supported the move, as has Penwith district council, while the county council, although initially unsupportive, later agreed the peninsula should be linked with Camborne and Redruth.

Whatever the outcome of the three-day inquiry, the changes will not be implemented until after the next General Election.