Dumfriesshire’s Nith Inshore Lifeboat service has joined a new countrywide network.
It is one of nearly 30 sites to sign up to the National Independent Lifeboat Association (NILA).
The Glencaple-based search and rescue service is always on call and is wholly operated by a team of highly trained and professionally equipped volunteers.
They were singled out for praise by Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell last week when he joined others at a parliamentary event hosted by the founder and honorary president of the NILA, Anthony Mangnall MP, to find out more about the organisation.
Mr Mangnall founded the charity following a visit to an independent lifeboat in his constituency of Totnes and South Devon.
The organisation has already welcomed 29 members from across the UK, each of which works closely with their local Coastguard team, Police and fire and rescue service.
Mr Mundell said: “The work done by the Nith Inshore lifeboat helping ensure the safety of people in and around the Upper Solway and further afield is an invaluable service to our local community.
“When residents or visitors to our area get into trouble on local waters or when there are serious emergencies like flooding, the Nith lifeboat volunteers are on hand to assist in search and rescue operations and the fact is many people owe their safety, and in some cases lives, to their efforts.
“I believe that membership of the NILA will help our local inshore lifeboat and other independent lifeboat services across the country thrive over the years to come as well as ensure our coastline has maximum lifesaving coverage.”
