Residents living in Cornwall have revealed their anger over the G7 summit taking place in their home town.

Delegates from the seven nations including the US, Germany, Japan and the UK are meeting in the southern beauty spot of Carbis Bay over the next three days to discuss how to tackle coronavirus, climate change and other political issues.

However, people living in the nearby town of St Ives have mixed feelings towards the arrival of the nation’s leaders.

Andrea Hodgson, 78, said it was “pretty awful” the G7 is being held in Cornwall this year.

Police activity on the route of the US motorcade in Carbis Bay
Police activity on the route of a US motorcade in Carbis Bay (Ben Birchall/PA)

Mrs Hodgson told the PA news agency: “It’s totally inappropriate, it’s not climate-friendly, it’s a total waste of money. They’ve closed our hospital, they’ve closed our police station and they are wasting millions and millions of pounds for international people to have a party.

“It could all be done online. I’m really angry about it – the number of people that are coming down all through lockdown. We’ve been locked away here so we can’t even go outside of our front door.”

She added: “The people are being marginalised here – and the G7 is making it worse.”

Other residents in the town showed their displeasure at the major world event happening on their doorstep.

One sign, hung on the side of a shop, read: “G7, what have you done today to make you feel proud?”

Some local businesses have also closed deliberately for the event.

The seafront in St Ives
The seafront in St Ives (Ben Birchall/PA)

Burger takeaway bar, Blas Burgerworks, had a sign in the window which read: “We are now closed due to G7 from Monday 7th to Wednesday 16th. Reopening Thursday 17th June.”

Resident Andi Grimes, 55, told PA she felt like the event was not going to be a huge benefit for the community.

“It has been quite disruptive for the local people – delivery guys can’t park anywhere, the road closures, the train station is closed.

“Anyone living in Carbis Bay, they rely on the bus to come down here for work or to go to shops, it’s a problem.”

Another local, Simon Norris, 62, disagreed with his neighbour’s sentiments.

“It’s exciting – it’s very good for Cornwall I think,” he told PA. “It will raise Cornwall’s image in the world and the innovations they want to do – particularly the green projects and the space programme.

“It’s caused a little inconvenience locally because the roads are shut and staff are finding it difficult to get into work. I think it’s very good for Cornwall and for the UK to host it.”

He added he knew some people who had temporarily moved from Carbis Bay to St Ives as a result of the summit.

“(Residents in Carbis Bay) are finding it hard work to move around. I know one or two have moved into St Ives with friends for the duration due to security – it takes a lot of time to get through. It’s not easy – but it’s a small price to pay for the benefits that we hope will come to Cornwall as a result.”