Lifeboat crew boosted by city firm

A north Norfolk lifeboat crew is feeling buoyant after a Norwich-based delivery company depot handed over four new life jackets worth �700.The volunteers of the Sea Palling independent lifeboat will be donning the jackets just as their busiest time for rescues starts - the summer season holiday season.

A north Norfolk lifeboat crew is feeling buoyant after a Norwich-based delivery company depot handed over four new life jackets worth �700.

The volunteers of the Sea Palling independent lifeboat will be donning the jackets just as their busiest time for rescues starts - the summer season holiday season.

The donation was made by City Link after employee and lifeboat volunteer Mick Clarke said the Baltic 1515 rescue vests would be vital to the eight volunteers' life saving work along the north Norfolk coast from Winterton to Happisburgh.

Mr Clarke said: 'It costs us �12,000 a year to run the service even before the lifeboat is called out to an exercise or a rescue.

'Thankfully we do receive a lot of support from the Sea Palling community and this fantastic donation from City Link means we can put other donations to good use elsewhere.'

Stuart Goodman, City Link sales and marketing director, said: 'Mick and his fellow volunteers do an extremely difficult job and to know our donation will make such a difference to the lifeboat team is tremendous.'