Celebrity chef Rick Stein paid tribute to a company that trains people to work in the seafood industry.

Mr Stein handed bosses at Seafood Cornwall Training two liferafts at Newlyn Fish Festival to help in their mission.

The not-for-profit company based at Newlyn, West Cornwall opened its doors last year and has trained 415 people in areas including fishermen's basic safety and food safety, while helping others to get their skipper's ticket.

Simon Cadman, director at the company, Sarah Crosbie, manager and Emma Thomas, course administrator, received the liferafts.

Mr Stein said: "I'm really pleased to be supporting Seafood Cornwall Training.

"It's important to recognise the work that Simon, Sarah and Emma have put in to help provide local fishermen with the dedicated skills training they need to improve safety and efficiency at sea, which in turn has helped develop the Cornish fishing industry as a whole."

The liferafts, donated by Viking Life-Saving Equipment Ltd, will give those who have signed up with Seafood Cornwall Training experience of the latest devices.

Mr Cadman said: "Fishing is a highly skilled and sometimes dangerous profession and therefore it is vital that all fishermen have access to local, specialist skills training to improve safety and efficiency at sea.

"We have an important and worthwhile fishing industry in Cornwall, and we must ensure skills are continually developed to assist the sector to continue on successfully and safely."

Sarah Crosbie added: "We have been working hard to ensure Seafood Cornwall Training is a success and it is great to be honoured by Rick Stein for our work.

"Since the launch of the dedicated training and resource centre last year, we have helped over 400 fishermen and businesses access funding and gain certificates in courses they would otherwise have had to travel out of the county to achieve."

Paul Trebilcock, chief executive of the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation and a director of Seafood Cornwall Training, said there had always been a clear need for local provision of training for my members and all Cornish fishermen. "It's essential that fishermen have access to training and advice and that it's available when they want it. An increase in skills across the sector helps the industry as a whole."