Historic lifeboat station passes funding target

A £1.2m upgrade is planned for the lifeboat station in Kirkcudbright - one of the oldest RNLI sites in Scotland

A community effort to support plans to upgrade one of Scotland's oldest RNLI boathouses has passed its funding target.

Local fundraisers were aiming to gather £50,000 towards the £1.2m needed to deliver a state-of-the-art facility in Kirkcudbright.

They have already reached £60,000 in five months and now hope to raise even more before building works start next year.

Since the lifeboat station was established in 1892, the volunteer crew have been launching from a 19th Century boathouse which they now hope to bring up to modern standards.

May Brown, president of the Stewarty of Kirkcudbright RNLI fundraising group, said: "The boathouse has hardly changed since it was established over 130 years ago.

"The new boathouse will bring our facilities into the 21st Century and give the volunteer crew the facilities they deserve."

She said they were "absolutely delighted and overwhelmed" with all the support received from the community.

"It means the world to all of us here at Kirkcudbright RNLI," he said.

"The community have really got behind the appeal and supported us, which is brilliant to see."

A local campaign has already passed its fundraising target

Jill Hepburn, head of region for the RNLI in Scotland, said they had been "amazed" by the response.

"Every single penny raised will go towards the £1.2m needed to provide the volunteers at Kirkcudbright RNLI with a new boathouse and modern facilities," she said.

"We would like to thank everyone for their generosity and support with this appeal so far."