NEWQUAY Town Council will take over the running of the beleaguered tourist information centre (TIC), it can be revealed.

The council will take over the day-to-day running of the Marcus Hill property from April 1.

It is hoped the agreement will provide the TIC with much-needed stability and security for the future, bringing an end to the troubled few years staff have been forced to endure.

Town councillor Andy Hannan, chairman of the transition committee, said: "We are pleased to announce that we will be taking over the ownership and day-to-day running of Newquay's TIC from April.

"The takeover will secure the future of the service after several months of uncertainty providing visitors, and potential visitors, to the town with a vital point of contact regarding anything about tourism.

"It will also be the start of an exciting new partnership between Newquay Town Council and VisitCornwall, incorporating the TIC offices, staff and the VisitNewquay.org web-based proposition."

The town's TIC has endured a troubled past two years, which ultimately led to the privately-run enterprise being placed into administration.

Talks have been ongoing for a number of weeks between the council and VisitCornwall.

When asked more details about the funding of the takeover, Cllr Hannan stated more details would be released next week but confirmed "it will be entirely owned by the town council".

Cornwall Council owns four TICs around Cornwall, including Falmouth and Truro, costing in total about £400,000 a year.

The news comes just days after the town council was challenged over whether it was making secret plans to take control of the TIC.

Former chairman of the TIC Mike Mclaren was angered the council held a session in secret, prior to Wednesday night's full council meeting, which he believed was about the TIC takeover.

He said: "I overheard at the meeting particular councillors discussing the location of the TIC, which I don't think will be based at the offices on Marcus Hill for much longer.

"I also heard councillors discussing trying to find a business which would be happy to host the TIC.

"Newquay will have the greatest demand from visitors, seeing as 25% of visitors to the county come to the town.

"I think this is going to be too much of a cost to expect the Newquay Town Council taxpayer to fund."

Despite this view, mayor John Fitter, said: "I'm delighted that the town council has taken over the TIC.

"It will be vital as a tool for us to keep Newquay as the number one tourist town in the country."