VOLUNTEERS from Hoylake lifeboat station are in training for the arrival of their revolutionary new vessel.

The Shannon-class boat is due to be delivered at the beginning of December and the crew is undergoing intensive training with the purpose-built £1.2m launch and recovery vehicle that has already arrived.

The new vehicle allows faster and more efficient launching and recovering of the lifeboat than the current Mersey class system, enabling volunteer crews to reach people in need even faster than before.

It is named Roland Hough after a Hoylake businessman whose family made a generous donation to the charity to fund its provision.

The existing Talus tractor can pull the present lifeboat at 7mph but the new vehicle can tow at 10 mph to the launch site.

A total of 15 RNLI volunteers are attending crew training courses in using the new rig.

Mark Perry, lead machinery specialist and one of these trainers, said: “The training has been going really well.

“The lads and lasses on the crew are very keen to learn and very excited about the capabilities which the new launching and recovery system will bring to the Hoylake station.

“They have proved themselves a very efficient team in training. The future of the station is looking bright.”

Tracy Davies, one of the qualified tractor drivers, said: “The training has been very exciting and enjoyable. We feel very privileged to be allowed to use this state-of-the-art equipment.

“I know we all take the training very seriously as it is such a great responsibility but look forward confidently to operating the new launch and recovery vehicle to save lives.”

In the early years of the Hoylake Station horses, owned by local contractors, pulled the old rowing and sailing lifeboats across the bank at little more than walking pace.