Lifeboat appeal reaches landmark

Building work on the new station has already begun

An appeal in Merseyside for one of the oldest lifeboat stations in England has raised a quarter of a £2m fundraising target in three months.

The RNLI has said Hoylake's existing lifeboat station, which was built in 1899, is too small and out of date to house the next generation of lifeboat.

The £500,000 raised so far will provide state of the art equipment, training facilities and a workshop.

Fundraisers said the support for the appeal had been "amazing".

Hoylake coxswain Dave Whiteley said the current building was designed to house 19th Century rowing lifeboats.

The appeal, which started three months ago, will help see the project completed by the end of 2009.

Hoylake lifeboat and launching tractor are currently housed in separate buildings, but the new boathouse will enable them to be housed together,.

The RNLI said they would be hooked-up and ready for immediate launch, saving precious time in a rescue.

Local business and community fundraising events have provided donations so far.

The RNLI has also received many individual donations, some from as far a field as Australia, and profits from calendar sales.