The lifeboat served in Aberystwyth from 1951 to 1964

The 35ft Aguila Wren has been bought from Tyne dockyard, in South Shields, by former lifeboat man Tim Kirton.

Once the restoration work is complete, he intends to return with it to mid Wales for a visit.

Aguila Wren was Aberystwyth's last off-shore boat, serving from 1951 to 1964 when the lifeboat station was downgraded.

The boat was named in memory of 22 members of the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), who drowned when the ship SS Aguila was torpedoed by a German U-boat off Ireland in 1941.

Mr Kirton, from Berwick-upon-Tweed, said once the boat was restored he intended to display it at sailing regattas to raise money for the RNLI.

She needs a bit of tender loving care Tim Kirton

He said: "My father served on the Aguila Wren when it was stationed in Redcar in the 1960s. It was there between 1965 and 1972, but was then sold to train Sea Cadets in Scunthorpe and was there for 15 years."

Mr Kirton added that it ended its days as a diving boat at Tyne Dock.

It then sat on the quayside for a few years until it was eventually put up for sale last year.

"I bought the boat for �3,500, although I think the restoration work will cost about �10,000," said Mr Kirton, who served in the RNLI for five years.

The lifeboat cost �14,000 to build in 1951.

"When I saw her she was totally different to how I remember her," said Mr Kirton.

Regattas

"I am making preparations for her to be moved to a boat yard either in Liverpool or another in Northern Ireland for the restoration to take place.

"She needs a bit of tender loving care, but mercifully she is more or less intact and all her parts are there."

Mr Kirton expects the restoration work to take up to two years.

"Once I've restored her I intend to return her to Aberystwyth lifeboat station for a visit," he added.