Charity fundraisers have begun an appeal to raise more than �100,000 to upgrade the South West's only independent lifeboat.

The Sidmouth Inshore Rescue Service was formed in 1968 more than 50 years after the RNLI closed its lifeboat station in the east Devon town.

The Atlantic 21 rescue launch, which gets no funding from the RNLI, or council or government grants, is crewed by a team of 17 volunteers and patrols an area from Budleigh Salterton to Seaton.

But the boat is now 14-years-old and will need to be replaced by spring 2004 to meet new technical standards.

To have adequate safety arrangements in place to look after our visitors is rather important Alan Phillips

The high-speed vessel costs �20,000 to run.

It took part in 26 rescues in 2002, including saving the lives of two elderly swimmers and rescuing people cut off by the tide.

Lifeboat Secretary Alan Phillips said the lifeboat is an integral part of the seaside community.

He said: "Sidmouth's a coastal town, and tourism and visitors are the lifeblood of the community, as they are along the east Devon coast.

"So, to have adequate safety arrangements in place to look after our visitors is rather important."

Community support

The appeal is being backed by fundraisers in the Midlands, as Sidmouth is a popular holiday destination for visitors from that area.

But despite the outside help, appeals director Freddie Wedderburn said it is a cause that is worth support from people closer to home.

He said: "We'll make no bones about it, we're going to ask the people of the community, businesses as well as the residents, help us do this.

"Once we've got the new lifeboat, we're looking after ourselves as well as our visitors along this 20 mile stretch of coast."