Hundreds of onlookers watched as Exmouth’s RNLI boathouse was officially opened and the all-weather lifeboat re-dedicated

To a crowd of around 400 people gathered outside the station, near Maer rocks, Exmouth lifeboat operations manager Kevin Riley revealed the success of the new facilities.

He said: “We were operating out of cabins that were quite frankly a shambles but now we have a fantastic building that includes all the best facilities - and even toilets.

“I can’t say enough about the station. We are all so proud of it. “One day recently we showed 135 schoolchildren round and we could only do this because of the generosity of everyone who helped us get this fantastic station. Thank you one and all.”

Before the boathouse was officially opened, he Mersey class all weather lifeboat Margaret Jean was rededicated in a service conducted by lifeboat chaplain the Reverend Stephen Hoyle, who said it was ‘joy’ to bless the lifeboat.

The official opening was carried out by RNLI chief executive Paul Boissier, who spoke of the successful appeal that raised nearly �1.4million towards the cost of the new boathouse.

He acknowledged the generosity of the Exmouth community and spoke about the benefits of the new building

Mr Bossier said: “This was the first lifeboat station I visited and now, seventy station visits later, this is still one of the most impressive.”