MORE than £30,000 has been raised for lifesavers after a hugely successful fundraising week.

Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week took place between Saturday, July 24 and Saturday July 31. Some figures are still to be counted but it has raised at least £33,000.

Organisers said the 2021 Lifeboat Week was a 'huge success' with thousands coming out during the week to enjoy a sense of normality.

The highlights of the week included the traditional bath rub race from Cobb Gate to the harbour, the popular 'yard of ale' competition, a variety of musical performances and a display from the British Army's free fall parachute team, the Red Devils.

Ken Lavery, chairman of the Lyme Regis and Charmouth Lifeboat Supporters said: “The provisional total is an absolute tribute to our fantastic volunteers who toiled well beyond the call of duty working long hours to achieve a great result.

“There was evidence that the public – our visitors and local residents – were delighted to see the return of Lifeboat Week. Many people said they were so pleased to see the event taking place as it signalled a return to some sort of normality.

“We must place on record our sincere thanks to everyone who donated so generously to our charity and they are, quite literally, helping to save lives at sea.”

Lifeboat Week has been held in the town since the early 1970s and has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for the RNLI charity. The previous event in 2019 raised a record £40,000.

There were many success stories throughout the week with the wine or water tombola raising £9,000, the lifeboat crew managing to raise £1,715 by selling 600 hot dogs, £1,021 being raised in the name the welly dog competition and the produce stall was able to raise a record £800.

17 year old Josh Denning, a keen supporter of the RNLI who opened the lifeboat week at the opening ceremony, retained his record as the top collector with £1,048 donated to his bucket over the course of the week.