Lifeboat station sees record number of donations

A lifeboat station said it is seeing a record number of donations during its annual open day event.

SARA Sharpness Lifeboat Station covers rescues along the Severn Estuary and River Severn to just upstream of Gloucester.

On Sunday, the station held an open doors event to raise funds for the service, offering boat rides for children and "Floating Gladiator Battles" among staff.

David Hill from SARA said: "We have such a generous community, I think we're seeing a record year of donations."

"It's going great, there's bright sunshine and more than 700 people have come through so far," Mr Hill added.

"There's a long queue for the kiddies boat rides and people seem to be having the time of their lives."

SARA, which provides support to the HM Coastguard, police and emergency services, has "grown substantially" since the service first started in 1973, with increasing inshore and flood work.

The Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) first operated out of a shed in Gloucestershire more than 50 years ago and now has multiple stations across the county.

It now has 250 volunteers in the organisation, covering seven stations across Gloucestershire.

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