The recollections of a brother and sister evacuated to Helston during the Second World War have prompted family members to seek further information about their time in the county.

The quest was inspired by a chance meeting in Greece with Helston residents Roland and Muriel Holton, who contacted the Packet in the hope that the war-time memories might strike a chord with readers.

The account sent to the Holtons tells how 16-year-old Gladys Faithfull was evacuated to Cornwall after her secondary school in London was bombed in September 1940.

Gladys, who recalls arriving in Helston in the dark and many of the children getting wet feet in the "large gutters", was billeted in an annexe of the Atlantic View Hotel, Porthleven, with seven other teenagers.

"They were often hungry, the food was very poor quality, and most got lice," said Gladys' son, Tony.

"After a 'revolt', they were given some money for meals at lunchtime which was spent on Deudney's Cornish Pasties."

Gladys went home briefly in early 1941, returned to Porthleven to stay with a Mr and Mrs Wilson, the chauffeur to the local doctor and an ex-matron - and went back to London in July 1941.

She recalls many of the school party deciding to remain in Cornwall, among them the deputy head, Mr Harris, who later became head of Helston Grammar School.

Gladys' younger brother, Albert, was billeted with a Methodist lay preacher called Mr Hooper and his wife in a house in Wendron Street, Helston, opposite Bob Fitzsimmons' former home.

"He then moved to 45, Coinagehall Street - a student hostelry which was a very bawdy house," said Tony.

After several other moves, Albert ended up in Godolphin Road with a Mr Blueitt, a local maths teacher, remaining there until the summer of 1942.

The family are keen to hear from any Packet readers who may be able to supply additional information relating to local evacuees.

Anyone who can help is asked to contact the Packet office in Helston.