Daniel Craig donates James Bond motorbikes to RNLI

Daniel Craig said the RNLI had been close to his heart since his childhood in Hoylake

Actor Daniel Craig has donated two limited edition James Bond themed motorbikes to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

Craig, who grew up near the lifeboat station in Hoylake, Wirral, gifted the 007 Triumph bikes to mark the charity's 200th anniversary year.

The bikes were inspired by the motorcycles featured in 25th Bond film, No Time to Die, and will be sold at auction to raise money for the RNLI.

The winning bidder will also get the chance to ride with James Bond stunt co-ordinator Lee Morrison and stunt double Paul Edmondson.

The highest bidder will get the opportunity to ride with a James Bond stunt co-ordinator and stunt double

Mr Craig, who played the fictional super-spy in five films between 2006 and 2021, had previously been involved in a campaign to support Hoylake station and had been out on a ride-along with a lifeboat crew in Ramsgate.

"The RNLI has been close to my heart all my life since growing up near the RNLI station at Hoylake," he said.

"I have incredible memories of going afloat with the RNLI crew at Ramsgate to experience first-hand what it’s like to be part of the organisation that has saved over 146,000 lives since starting up over 200 years ago."

Jayne George, RNLI director of funding, said: "The money raised from the auction will make a huge difference.

"It will enable us to invest in vital training and equipment for our lifesavers as well as helping us to deliver water safety advice to the public so we can prevent people getting in trouble at sea."

The auction, arranged by Bonhams, will take place at the Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show in Stafford on 12 and 13 October.