THE construction and larger workforce at Hinkley Point C is expected to put more pressure on Minehead lifeboat crew, according to RNLI officials.

So plans are being drawn up for a major upgrade to the lifeboat station to help its volunteer crew handle a rise in calls.

They already handle more than 30 calls a year on average and are likely to be even busier thanks to commercial shipping delivering construction materials to Hinkley Point C and as a result of the 5,000 workers using the sea and coast during their leisure hours.

Designs are scheduled to go before West Somerset Council within a few months for improvements including an extension to the 115-year-old boathouse and enlarged training and crew facilities.

A bid will be made soon to the Hinkley Point mitigation fund for a grant towards the cost of the work but Minehead RNLI chairman Bryan Stoner said some funds had already been received.

“Over the years, we have had a number of major donations to the station specifically to fund this sort of project and we are delighted that they can now be put to good use,” he said.