The future of a volunteer lifeboat service has been secured by Government grant of more than £30,000.

Maryport Rescue has received £30,800 from the Department of Transport's Inland and Inshore grant scheme.

It will be used to replace the engines of the 10-year old rescue boat "which will ensure our future for the next 10 years and beyond," according to station officer Mike Messenger.

Mr Messenger said the present rescue boat was still reliable "but it is 10. Things have moved on. A new engine and new technology will be invaluable in our work."

Maryport Rescue, formerly Maryport Inshore Rescue, has been involved in all the major emergencies in the region in recent years including flood rescue work in Cockermouth, Workington and Carlisle.

It is the first service called out to any events in the Solway in the Maryport area. Despite this, it is a voluntary organisation depending totally on donations including for all equipment and training.

Mr Messenger said that puts the Department of Transport grant into perspective: "Without help such as this, we could not operate."

He said last year a grant from the same fund enabled the crew to be issued with updated paging systems.

Ewanrigg Local Trust has also given the volunteers a £6,500 grant which enabled them to buy updated First Aid and trauma equipment.

"We have also got a few other applications in the pipeline. We are hoping to get help to instal more solar panels at the lifeboat station. This would reduce both running costs and our carbon footprint. We are applying for funding, too, for more training for our crew."

Mr Messenger said he was grateful to all who helped.

"Without the funding we get we would not be able to continue our work. It is not only the large grants such as these ones, but also the donations from the public and our Lifeboat Lotto that keep us going. Maryport supports us well."

He said as well as money, the service relies on the willingness of people to volunteer their time.

"We are always looking more more volunteers. The more there are, the less the pressure on everyone else. We are especially interested in finding people who live in the Maryport area and would be available during the working day. We have a skeleton crew then but more would be helpful."