The home of legendary lifeboatman Henry Blogg has a new vessel. 

A naming ceremony was held at Cromer Lifeboat Station for the Mr Eric Sharpe, a new D class inshore lifeboat.

The boat was named after a former civil servant who left a legacy to pay for it in his will. 

Mark Dowie, the RNLI chief executive, formerly accepted the lifeboat and handed it into the care of the Cromer station.

North Norfolk News: D-868 Mr Eric Sharpe launches after the ceremonyD-868 Mr Eric Sharpe launches after the ceremony (Image: RNLI/Neil Longdin)

Mr Dowie said: "We have a very special lifesaving heritage here in Cromer, home to the RNLI’s most decorated lifesaver Henry Blogg."

Polly Clarke, the station's volunteer lifeboat operations manager, said it was a "very proud moment" for the Cromer RNLI.

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She said: "Naturally we were very sad to bid farewell to our outgoing lifeboat George and Muriel, but we are also excited to embrace our new D class lifeboat Mr Eric Sharpe.

"The D class is an amazing lifesaving asset and is the workhorse of our charity’s fleet.

"It will give our volunteer crew peace of mind every time they launch to know that they are heading out to save lives at sea in such a highly agile and manoeuvrable lifeboat."