Naming ceremony for Hartlepool's inshore lifeboat

The 35-knot Atlantic 85 is the fastest sea-going RNLI lifeboat

A naming ceremony for a lifeboat funded by the will of a World War Two veteran has taken place on Teesside.

Hartlepool RNLI's Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat was named Solihull at the request of John Masters, who took part in the D-Day landings.

The West Midlands town was where Mr Masters met his wife Barbara and spent much of his life.

Traditionally the donor or family members name the lifeboat but Mr Masters relatives have not been traced.

Having served in the Royal Navy as a lieutenant, he died in 2011 aged 93.

He had written to the RNLI and said he had always loved the sea and "had a deep regard" for the organisation.

Hartlepool RNLI lifeboat operations manager Mike Craddy said: "None of us had met Mr Masters and we don't know if he ever visited a lifeboat station, but he was clearly full of admiration for our charity.

"I'm sure he would have been delighted to know his gift has already saved one life off the Hartlepool coast and will help us save many more in the years to come.

"There can't be any better legacy than that."

The lifeboat went into service in March and on its first day of operation the crew rescued an angler who was swept off South Gare.

It has since been used to rescue 13 people.

About 100 volunteers and supporters of the organisation were joined by members of the public at Hartlepool Marina for the ceremony.