A North East sailor has left lifeboat crews a sizable donation in his will to help ensure safety on the coastline.
Stephen Moore, an avid sailor and member of the Tees and Hartlepool Yacht Club, has left the RNLI £10,000 in his will to ensure the safety of "his sailing friends."
His family said he had to call upon the aid of the RNLI on a few occasions after running into difficulty at sea.
Read more: Person dies after being hit by train in Northallerton
They added they were proud to donate the money knowing their father was playing a part in saving lives.
His son Robert said: "Dad, who passed away last year, was a keen sailor and had to call upon the help of the RNLI on one or two occasions when he ran into difficulty whilst sailing.
"He liked to think that this donation would help the Hartlepool RNLI help his sailing friends at the yacht club should they ever have any issues at sea.
"So as a family we are really proud to present the cheque to the charity knowing that dad is playing his part in saving lives at sea and supporting the important work of the RNLI."
Read more: Officer claims no vendetta against teen killed in Spennymoor
Hartlepool RNLI chairman Malcolm Cook thanked the family on behalf of the volunteers at Ferry Road lifeboat station for the "really generous donation."
He said: "This a really generous donation and on behalf of all the volunteers here at the Ferry Road lifeboat station I would like to say a huge thank you to the family for this donation.
"The volunteers are on call 24-7 and continually train for any eventuality.
Read next:
- The Rat Race in Hartlepool named one of best by Northern Rail
- Darlington: Michael Gallagher handed 16 year jail term
- Darlington ranks third in UK for postcode lottery wins
Get more from The Northern Echo with a £1 for 1 month Premium Plus subscription. Click here.
"We also have the best personal protection equipment available all of which is reliant on donations such as this."
The RNLI provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts.
It operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here