A FUNDRAISING campaign has been launched to refit the lifeboat that has saved hundreds of lives in the past two decades.

The Harry Childs is one of the lifeboats used at Hamble Lifeboat station and has rescued 500 people in the last 20 years.

Now it needs to undergo a major refit and the Hamble Lifeboat crew has launched an online £30,000 fundraising campaign in a bid to raise £30,000 as soon as possible to ensure the lifeboat remains safe.

Once the vital cash is raised the crew will buy new inflatable collars, overhaul the water jets, purchase new electrical navigation and radio equipment, and service the engines.

Liam Dobbin, fundraising manager, said: “We need to ensure our lifeboats are kept to a high standard and ready at all times. This maintenance period for the Harry Childs is needed so we can provide a continued service and not have to withdraw the boat from service for maintenance. “We need the Harry Childs to be compliant to the Rescue Boat codes of Practice to enable us to be a declared facility for the Maritime and Coastguard agency to task us as a Life saving asset.

“We need to keep our volunteer crew safe while they are out on a rescue, ensuring the lifeboat is maintained and kept up to date is one way we can safe guard our crew.”

Mr Dobbin confirmed that the works are expected to start in January 2018 in a bid to put Harry Childs into the water by spring 2018.

The Hamble Lifeboat, which is run by 25 volunteers, covers 50 miles of local coastline including areas such as the central Solent, Southampton water and all connected rivers.

Residents who would like to donate can visit www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/hamblelifeboat/harrychildsrefitcampaign.