JUST 12 months after launching an appeal to raise £180,000 towards the cost of a new lifeboat station at Portishead, the RNLI is celebrating after reaching its original target.

But the fundraisers are now looking to raise a further £52,000 which will pay for the volunteer lifeboat crew’s changing facilities.

Building work started in March to build a new lifeboat station at the site of the former Masonic Lodge in Portishead after the RNLI’s trustees agreed to eventually adopt the independent Portishead Lifeboat Trust.

You can donate £5 towards the appeal by texting RNLI PORTISHEAD to 70300 or visit portishead-lifeboat.org.uk