Investigation after council wastes £55k on pirate world record attempt

Penzance, Cornwall, UK 26th,May 2014, More than 14,000 Pirates gathered in Penzance today at an attempt to break the world recor

An investigation is underway after Penzance Town Council spent three times its budget for a failed fancy dress world record for the most pirates in one place in Cornwall.

The budget was set at £20,000 but the amount spent on the event was £56,056 and an additional £66,219 to fund smaller events, the BBC reports.

Mayor David Nesbesnuick has promised a "full public investigation".

The event was 77 pirates short of a record.

According to Western Morning News, the mayor sent a letter to all town councillors and wrote: "This issue has caused us enormous reputational damage.

"We only had £20,000 and this was known in mid-February last year. Despite that £60,000 was spent - who authorised it, when and why?"

A petition has now been started asking for six councillors to stand down.

Meanwhile in St Ives, pet owners are outraged after St Ives Town Council put up a sign warning them to keep their dogs quiet on Bamaluz beach.

The sign reads: 'Dog owners are asked to be considerate to other beach users and to local residents. Please try not to have a barking dog on the beach for prolonged periods.'

Locals took a petition to the town council requesting action after more than 50 dogs were on the beach at one time.