VOLUNTEERS at Burnham-on-Sea RNLI have welcomed a new lifeboat to their team.

The new D class lifeboat, Burnham Reach, was introduced to the team at the lifeboat station on October 5 after a year of fundraising by volunteers, supporters and voluntary groups.

On arrival, the new lifeboat was prepared and launched at 7.30 pm for the evening training trip and shakedown cruise.

On Sunday, the crew of Burnham Reach took part in the morning joint exercise with the crew of Staines Whitfield, a 7.5m Atlantic 75 lifeboat.

Burnham Reach is a 4.95m D class IB1 inflatable.

Deputy launch authority Phil Counsell said: "There is an old and very appropriate concept - if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. The D Class lifeboat is the workhorse of the RNLI, and Burnham Reach is brand spanking new, with up-to-date equipment."

On Monday morning a party from Burnham-on-Sea RNLI attended the 150th anniversary of the lifeboat Cheltenham, at Pittville Park in Cheltenham.

The lifeboat station at Burnham was opened officially on May 15, 2004, but has been operational since December 2003.

The RNLI operates more than 230 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and has more than 100 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK.

Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 137,000 lives.

For more information, visit www.rnli.org.uk. For details about Burnham-on-Sea RNLI activities, visit www.burnham-on-searnli.org.uk.