NEW Brighton Lifeboat Station has launched its new Atlantic 85 B class vessel today.

The £160,000 vessel, called Charles Dibdin, has been funded by The Communications and Public Servant Lifeboat Fund and replaces New Brighton’s Atlantic 75 lifeboat, Rock Light, which has been stationed on Merseyside since 1996.

It is the 51st RNLI lifeboat to be provided by The Lifeboat Fund, an official charity of the Civil Service, Royal Mail and BT.

Sir Kevin Tebbitt, chairman of The Lifeboat Fund, said: "We are delighted to be able to continue our long tradition of funding lifeboats throughout the UK for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

"The new Atlantic 85 lifeboat is named after the founder of the Lifeboat Fund, Charles Dibdin, who started the fund in 1866 with an appeal to colleagues to raise £300 for a new lifeboat.

"He would be very proud that the Lifeboat Fund is still continuing its support for the charity and it is only fitting that New Brighton’s new RNLI lifeboat should bear his name."

The New Brighton crew are training on their new vessel this week, familiarising themselves with the new equipment on board.

The Atlantic 85 is the first RNLI inshore lifeboat to have radar, which means it can operate more effectively in reduced visibility.

It is also faster and bigger than its predecessor, with room for a fourth crew member as well as more space for casualties.