Thames to get new lifeboat

BOATERS cruising the tidal Thames can perhaps feel a little safer as the river will have a new lifeboat, thanks to Ross Brawn of Formula One.

Ross inspired his Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team and other business to help raise money for his Brawn Lifeboat Challenge, that made £360,000 in just eight months, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Successfully broke

The fund raising was instigated by the RNLI 11 months ago, with the target set at £350,000, which the teams successfully broke.

The money will buy a new lifeboat that will be shared between Chiswick and Tower RNLI lifeboat stations, and named the Brawn Lifeboat Challenge and will be on service in early 2012.