DEDICATED volunteers at Burnham-on-Sea RNLI were thrilled this week as they took delivery of their new inshore lifeboat.

The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat, named Doris Day and Brian, was delivered to the station in Pier Street on Monday (February 4) and lifeboat volunteers were quick to take it for a spin.

This week all of the lifeboat station's volunteers have been taking part in familiarization training as the Atlantic 85 is a step up from their old boat Staines Whitfield, which is currently being repaired for operation in the RNLI relief fleet.

Staines Whitfield has been in operation at the station since December 2003 and Atlantic 85 is its replacement.

The new lifeboat is one metre longer with more powerful engines and features refinements such as Radio Direction Finding and radar. Also being longer, the new boat is faster, and now carries seats for a crew of four.

Burnham-on-Sea lifeboat operations manager Matt Davies said: "Now that the boat and all her equipment has arrived a week of familiarisation starts for the crew, both afloat and ashore.

"The team have all made a great start on this and training continues throughout this week. The RNLI staff will constantly be assessing the team so the boat can be used to it's full potential once on service at the end of the week.

"I take my hat off to all the crew for their commitment and dedication."