A £77,000 grant to buy a potentially life-saving lifeboat will cost Maryport Rescue £90,000.

Operations manager Mike Messenger said the voluntary organisation – which exists only on donations and grants – was thrilled to receive the Ministry of Transport grant which will buy a new D-class lifeboat with far greater capabilities that the present boat which is good in flood situations while the new one will cover a much larger area and be able to get closer to the coast.

“It’s like comparing a Mini to a Rolls Royce,” he said.

The funding comes ahead of Go Orange Day on February 29 when businesses and individuals are asked to wear orange and support the lifeboat which is run by volunteers and depends solely on donations and grants.

Mr Messenger said the service is in line for a £57,000 grant which would allow crew to undertake essential rescue training, but again, 20 per cent of that would have to be funded locally.

Some of that will come from the Lifeboat Lottery which literally helps keep the lifeboat afloat.

“Since it was launched in 2014, the Lifeboat Lottery has raised over £82,000.

“This has helped us buy a £20,000 launch vehicle, a rescue Land Rover for £27,000 and helped pay the percentages we needed to provide for five successful Department for Transport grants.

“It has also helped with other training costs, emergency repairs and renewals and general running costs.

“We cannot thank the people enough for their continued support it really does make a huge difference and is absolutely vital to our independent life saving organisation.”

He said the group were planning door-to-door visits later in the year to try and promote the Lifeboat Lottery.

“We are so grateful to everyone who supports us through the lottery and in every other way,” Mr Messenger said.

Go Orange Day is on February 29 when independent lifeboats throughout the country will be raising awareness of the work they do and their need for funding.

There are 89 independents, all of which operate a lifeboat, while many also offer other services like flood rescue and swift water rescue, mud rescue and search and rescue.

Maryport Rescue’s Go Orange Day will begin at 19am.

The lifeboat station will be open to visitors including school and community groups and the crew will be visiting local schools for educational talks.

Companies including New Balance, PPM Ltd, James Walker of Cockermouth and Cumbria Civil Nuclear Constabulary staff will be wearing orange ribbons and donating £1 to help raise funds and awareness

Orange ribbons are available in Maryport Spar, Maryport News, Dearham Garage, the Aquarium, Maryport Navy Club and Maryport Primary School.

An evening of celebration will be held at the Navy Club from 7pm.