The rescue hovercraft is named after Lelaina Hall

It had been hoped that the Spirit of Lelaina, named after Lelaina Hall from Worcester, would be in service by September.

Lelaina died last year after becoming stranded on a mud flat in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset.

Training the crew has proved more difficult and lengthy than had been expected.

A total of 10 pilots are wanted before a full 999 service can be offered. At present, only seven are fully trained.

Fundraising

Glen Cutter, one of the pilots, told the BBC: "We are conscious that people want this hovercraft in service. But we want it to be right from the start."

The Spirit of Lelaina will complement existing safety arrangements on a stretch of coastline that has the second highest rise and fall of tide in the world.

Lelaina died last June after getting trapped while on a family holiday.

She was plucked from the sea by a rescue helicopter but died later in hospital.

The campaign to fund a �35,000 hovercraft that can rescue people from the mudflats was launched days after the tragedy.

Within three weeks, the total had been met and continued fundraising took the money raised to more than �100,000.

This paid for a boathouse and will fund the running of the hovercraft for up to 10 years.