A NEW Forest branch of a national charity has announced it has raised £30,000 this year.

The Hythe and Calshot fundraising branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) raised the money through events and collection pots for the Lifeboat Station.

The biggest event held by the charity is the Great Waterslide Raft Race in Hythe Marina, which began over 30 years ago.

Teams build rafts and get sponsorship in order to compete in the event that features six races.

This year the event raised £5,000.

The Lifeboat Station also hosted a twist on their annual Open Day.

'Bands in the Boatshed', which raised £2,600, featured live music, a bar, stalls, cakes and souvenirs and will be returning next year.

Another fundraising initiative was Betty's 5p Pots, which was inspired by one of the RNLI's honourary treasurers, Betty Frith.

The pots have been put in businesses and schools since 2017 to relieve residents of 5ps and spare change.

The incentive has raised in excess of £4,000 for the branch since 2017.

Hythe Marina Village hosted a live stream of the BBC's coverage of Last Night of the Proms which raised £1,000.

£400 of the money raised came from an auction of two Thai Airlines tickets.

The RNLI also attended local community fetes, fairs and other events, bringing their tea tent and souvenir stalls to raise additional funds.

RNLI Calshot's Lifeboat Station will be celebrating its 50th anniversary next year on July 25 and will be celebrated with a service at All Saint's Church in Fawley and a hog roast for ex-operatives and their families.