Fundraising throughout Lyme Regis’ RNLI Lifeboat Week is expected to top £43,000.

That’s the figure being given by Brian Cursley, treasurer for Lyme Regis and Charmouth Lifeboat Supporters.

The official figure stood at £38,367 when the week came to a close on Saturday but, with final receipts still to come in, the organisers look set to have achieved a bumper amount.

Brian Cursley, who is still totting up the figures, said: “Considering the situation in the country at the moment and the stress on peoples’ pockets, those who came to lifeboat week have been very generous. The total raised for our life-saving charity is a tribute to our visitors and residents.”

Among the many successful events was the wine, water or snack tombola which raised a stunning £6,200, the book stall with £3,000, the duck race raised £1,674 and the lifeboat crew barbecue and breakfast baps produced £1,600. The produce stall received record donations of £1,057

The event kicked off with an opening ceremony at the lifeboat station on Saturday.

Day two saw a large selection of events take place from breakfast, displays and book sales.

A promising start to the day saw around 250 bacon baps sold by the lifeboat crew at breakfast time on the lifeboat station slipway.

The ever-popular bathtub race drew in large crowds, starting from the beach and finishing at Lyme Regis Harbour: this year’s winners were members of the youth section of Lyme Regis Sailing Club.

Second place went to the local firefighters and coming in at their highest ever position of third was the RNLI lifeboat.

Isabelle Makepeace, a young girl from Luton who regularly visits Lyme Regis with her family gave up sweets for three weeks: raising £74 which she presented to husband-and-wife lifeboat crew members Brian and Joe Street whilst on holiday in the town.

The British Army’s Red Devils - a freefall parachute team - wowed crowds on Thursday with a spectacular display along the main beach.

Ken Lavery, chairman of the supporters group, said: “I would like to thank everyone who helped to produce another fantastic lifeboat week.

“We had some new events this year and Total Wipeout and Pirates Day were terrific.

“Everyone seemed to enjoy all of our 42 events and, of course, there was a wonderful display, watched by possibly thousands, by the army’s Red Devils freefall parachute team.”