Flood lifeboat officially named

Workington RNLI's new lifeboat the Shannock

A new RNLI lifeboat which rescued scores of people during the Carlisle floods will be officially named at Workington station on Saturday.

The inshore vessel will be called the Shannock in honour of the RNLI branch in Sheringham, Norfolk, which raised the cash to buy it.

The Shannock is one of the first of the organisation's newly-updated, D-class lifeboats, known as an IB1.

The vessel can reach speeds of 25 knots so it can get to casualties quickly.

Robert McLaughlin, the RNLI's lifeboat operations manager at Workington, said: "The D class proved its worth during the Carlisle flooding, when some of the crew took it into the city to help people stranded in their homes.

"Normally it is used to save lives at sea but it was perfect for the sorts of conditions the crew faced in Carlisle - it is very manoeuvrable and ideal in shallow waters."

During the service of dedication, the Shannock will be handed into the care of the RNLI by Brian Farrow, the lifeboat operations manager of Sheringham station. His wife Annie will officially name the vessel.