SANDOWN and Shanklin Independent Lifeboat have received a grant of almost £20,000 to help purchase a new launch tractor.

The current tractor is nearing the end of its useful life and maintenance is the charity's largest yearly outgoing expense.

The grant from the Department for Transport will also assist in purchasing a direction finding VHF radio and updated helmets fitted with internal radios.

All of these items will improve emergency response times.

Operations manager Mark Birch said: "The lifeboat station is grateful to the Department for Transport for such a significant grant. Raising this amount of money by normal fundraising means would normally take a number of years and this grant allows us to realise the benefits now”