The town's lifeboat has just had a welcome donation of £5,500 specifically for the coming year's fuel bill.

It was from the town's former mayor, Coun Ray Allerston, who selected Bridlington Lifeboat as one of his nominated charities during his recent year of office.

Stewart McKie, coxswain mechanic for the boat, said that was the cost of last year's diesel bill and he hoped it would cover the lion's share of next year's.

"It all depends how many call-outs we get. The offshore lifeboat uses a huge amount of fuel, around 30 gallons an hour when we are at full speed."

The crew have seen the price of their agricultural diesel, which does not carry the same duty and is cheaper than pump prices, increase by around a third during the past few months.

But there is no danger of Bridlington's offshore lifeboat Marine Engineer not being able to operate if the money runs out.

Mr McKie said: "Funding would come from the RNLI head office to ensure we can remain fully operational.

"At Bridlington, where we have a lot of support, we try to cover our own expenses, diesel being the largest one, to make up for other lifeboat stations who are more out of the way and don't get visitors or the benefit of fund-raising activity."

Bridlington's shellfishermen have already said rising fuel costs are threatening their industry, with some restricting visits to fishing grounds and travelling at lower speeds to try and save fuel.

Last Wednesday Coun Allerston turned his hand to filling the tanks of the offshore boat when he handed over his cheque to lifeboat chairman Richard Dunk and Second Coxswain Stuart Tibbett.

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