LAWYER John Trevaskis could be said to have gone away for Christmas – on a journey of 7,000 miles.

For Mr Trevaskis, born at Trescowe, near Helston, and educated locally and at Taunton School, Somerset, has moved to the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic where he has become the senior magistrate.

Mr Trevaskis has practised law in Helston for more than 30 years; he obtained his law degree at Kingston Polytechnic, Surrey, in 1976.

He was working on part-time judicial appointments for the Ministry of Justice, as a recorder of crown and county courts (Western circuit) and immigration judge (Newport) before his Falklands appointment.

Of his move to the islands – the subjects of the conflict between Britain and Argentina 26 years ago – he said: "I was looking for a full-time judicial appointment in a new and exciting part of the world with unique challenges, where I could use my past professional and judicial experience."

It also presented him with the chance to "travel to somewhere we had never been before but always wanted to see".

Mr Trevaskis was also appreciative of the warmth of the welcome he had received, the islands' weather and the beauty and grandeur of the scenery.

He said the terrain was very like Cornwall: "The small size of the population is different, but the community spirit is very much like home.

"The friendliness of the people reminds me of Cornwall."

Mr Trevaskis's wife, Jane, will follow him to the islands in the new year.

The couple have two daughters, Mary Kate and Meg.

It remains to be seen how busy Mr Trevaskis will find himself in dealing with lawbreakers on the islands, among his many other tasks.