More than 80 women go to new Carbis Babes WI group

The first meeting was held at the Carbis Bay Hotel earlier this month

More than 80 women attended the launch of a new Women's Institute group in Cornwall.

The inaugural meeting of the Carbis Babes WI was held at the Carbis Bay Hotel earlier this month.

Organisers said they expected around 30 or 40 people to attend, but more than double that came.

Helen Kestle from the Cornwall Federation of WIs said she was "overwhelmed at the response."

Ms Kestle led the meeting, providing an explanation of the WI, its history and a discussion of what the new group might look like.

She said: "It's amazing that so many women are interested in joining and being part of something new."

A pastry chef was a guest speaker, and she described her experience of setting up a local cake business.

The next meeting of Carbis Babes WI, due to take place on 9 April, will hear from a speaker who repurposes materials that are difficult to recycle, such as wet suits, as unique accessories.