Plans to cut the opening hours at Helston Folk Museum have prompted a Manaccan man to offer his time for free in a bid to keep the facility open.

George Restell, who lives near Gillan, said the decision to reduce the opening hours, due to come into effect today, was a "great blunder" on the part of Kerrier district council, which owns the museum.

"I think it is a big mistake," he said. "The next thing is that people will not go because they don't know when it's open, and then Kerrier will say the numbers are dwindling and close it altogether. It is the thin end of the wedge."

Mr Restell feels so strongly about the move he has volunteered to man the museum for part of the week, and hopes other supporters may feel able to do the same.

He suggested some form of rota system could be set up, in a bid to prevent the museum being closed to the public in the afternoons for 39 weeks of the year.

Full-day opening is to be reinstated during the school holidays.

Kerrier council's head of regeneration, Robert Grose, has written to Mr Restell acknowledging his offer and suggesting he meet with officers to discuss the proposal.

Mr Restell criticised the council's handling of the issue, saying it had failed to consult local people over the move and then not made people aware of the new schedule.

"They have just ridden roughshod over everyone," he said. "People had no idea the hours were changing. They should postpone it and reconsider their decision."

That decision, taken earlier this year by members of the Kerrier Cabinet, was thrown into some confusion this week after Mr Restell pointed out to council officers that the museum's full-time opening hours were advertised on the back of tickets issued at car parks across the district.

As the Packet went to press yesterday, Kerrier leisure services officer Graham Johns said it was likely the reduced hours would be introduced as planned, and notices advising people of the new schedule would be put up on car park ticket machines.