Thousands urge rescue boat return

The Hope Cove crew says its boat is safe but bosses disagree

The crew of a Devon rescue boat is sending out its own SOS to get its vessel reinstated.

A petition of 5,000 signatures is being handed in to parliament on Wednesday, saying lives are being put at risk.

The story made headlines last summer when the crew used the boat to rescue a teenage girl at Hope Cove.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), which had warned the crew that the boat was unsafe, impounded it. The MCA is due to hold talks on the issue.

The MCA later brought the boat back, with a restriction that it could be used within a certain distance from the beach in the South Hams area of Devon.

A large stretch of the south Devon coastline is suddenly without adequate sea rescue coverage MP Anthony Steen

But two months ago the boat was locked away again, this time until a consultation was carried out.

The crew has said the boat is safe and fears lives are being put at risk.

MP Anthony Steen said: "The rescue boat had been successfully operated by four men who were able to launch the boat at a moment's notice in the event of an emergency since they worked locally.

"Now a large stretch of the south Devon coastline is suddenly without adequate sea rescue coverage."

The MCA said Hope Cove was covered by the nearby Salcombe lifeboat.

It said in a statement: "We will be consulting with stakeholders soon to discuss beach safety provision in the South Hams."