An Oxfordshire-based couple have donated to a local lifeboat station on their charity marathon.

Julian Coles and his partner Debbie Claridge, from Didcot, are driving to all 238 RNLI lifeboat stations with small jars full of 5p coins they've collected - donating three to each station as they pass through.

Their project is in memory of a close friend and Julian’s father, both of whom were supporters of the RNLI.

The couple stopped off at the Lyme Regis RNLI station on the 13th leg of their mammoth marathon, which they estimate to finish in December.

The small change idea originated from RNLI supporter Betty Frith. Betty was Honourary Secretary of the Hertford branch, and it is said that she came up with the idea for collecting small change when washing out jam pots when staying at a guest house.

Julian and Debbie have kept their coins in Betty’s pots and by the end of their travels estimate that they will have driven 35,000 miles, used 33 ferries, taken 10 flights and handed over 720 Betty’s pots.

Julian said: “We are using weekends and holidays to travel. We thought it  important to remember my friend and my father, and as keen supporters  of the RNLI we wanted to help raise funds in the charity’s 200th year.”

Both Julian and Debbie are members of the Marlborough Social Club in Didcot whose members raised the funds to buy a D class lifeboat in 1988.