A LEGACY left by a modest benefactor has ensured a lifeboat station can meet its running costs for the next three years.

Mary Harper, from Loftus, east Cleveland, left a quarter of her £660,000 estate to Staithes and Runswick RNLI lifeboat station when she died recently, aged 87.

Lee Jackson, one of the crew's helmsmen, said: "Unfortunately, we know very little about Mrs Harper but I understand she was a long-time supporter of the RNLI. We've also been told she was a bit of a character and lived very modestly.

"The legacy was a complete surprise. Everyone is extremely grateful to Mrs Harper for her generosity, which will keep our lifeboat station running for the next three years.

"As a charity, the RNLI relies on legacies and donations for its funding. Without people like Mrs Harper, we would be unable to carry on saving lives at sea."

Every day RNLI lifeboats are responsible for saving an average of 22 lives at sea. Six out of ten lifeboat launches are made possible because of legacies.

To find out more about supporting the RNLI, call 0161-787-8779 or log on to www.rnli.org.uk