Donations continue to roll in to fund the £1 million-plus upgrade to Minehead’s RNLI lifeboat station as steelwork for the new building is now taking shape.

Contractors are now racing ahead with the project which will transform the historic 101-year-old building.

But support for the project has already passed the £600,000 mark - and more donations are being received almost daily.

Minehead RNLI treasurer Liz Escott said the appeal for part of the cost to be raised locally had received a fantastic response.

“Three significant individual donations to the appeal fund from people elsewhere in the country got things off to a flying start but the response locally from individuals and organisations has been amazing,” she said.

“I am still being sent cheques for amounts of up to £1,000, often without any accompanying letter, so I have no way of responding to thank the donor.

“But we should like everyone who donates to know how grateful we are. In normal circumstances the crew and supporters would have been running some large-scale public events over the last two years to raise money towards the build.

“But until very recently Covid restrictions have ruled out anything like that taking place,  so we are doubly grateful to have been supported by so many well-wishers.”

The building is being extended to create a crew changing room with showers and a separate female crew changing space, a dedicated mechanics’ workshop and a souvenir shop.

Minehead RNLI chairman Richard Newton said the improvement was long overdue.

“We ask a lot from the volunteer crew in giving up their time for shouts and to attend training sessions, and in its old form the boathouse really didn’t have the facilities they deserved,” he said.

Work on the project is scheduled for completion in October, with the crew operating out of two temporary buildings until then.

Anyone wishing to support the building appeal can do so by visiting can visit the Justgiving page at www.justgiving.com/campaign/Minehead-RNLI-Lifeboat-Station-Appeal