The RNLB Christopher Pearce as she arrived in Holyhead

A new �2m RNLI lifeboat has been unveiled at Holyhead - the second one along the north Wales coast to be funded by a family who spent childhood holidays there.

The vessel is named after Christopher Pearce, who bequeathed the money before his death in 1997.

A second rescue boat financed by a legacy from Mr Pearce's brother Andrew, was launched at Llandudno seven years earlier.

Roselyne Crowther, from the RNLI, said the men's mother Diana Pearce, who is now in her 80s and lives in Cheshire, had asked for the money left by her son Christopher to be specifically used for the Holyhead lifeboat.

"The reason why it went to Holyhead was that she used to take her boys to north Wales on holiday when they were young."

Mr Pearce's brother Andrew had left a generous legacy which funded a lifeboat stationed in Llandudno after his death in1988.

The old lifeboat may now be sold off

"She is very pleased that the money has gone to two boats in Wales and it is easy for them to visit them both."

After over a week of sea trials the RNLB Christopher Pearce sailed into Holyhead marina from Poole in Dorset via Ireland.

When the Herald of Free Enterprise ferry sank in the English Channel 16 years ago, the government and the RNLI agreed that a fast Severn class lifeboat should be at every major ferry port.

Holyhead is one of the last stations in the UK to have the improved vessel stationed there - but it is the first in Wales.

The boat will cut the journey time to Ireland by over half an hour with a top speed of 27 knots.

On Tuesday its predecessor the RNLB Kenneth Thelwall went out to meet her replacement in the Irish Sea only to be left in its wake as the new lifeboat showed off what it could do.

RNLI crew member Stuart Cramp said: "She left the old girl for dead - she is a cutting-edge boat and it means we can get out to deal with casualties faster which is especially important when your dealing a lot with high speed ferries.

"We cover an area from the Isle of Man right the way down to the Lleyn Peninsula and we can get all the way to Ireland in about an hour and a half."

RNLI divisional inspector Andy Clift said: "It was an incredibly generous donation and we are very grateful for their gift and we rely totally on donations."