A NEW fundraising lifeboat shop has opened on a pier thanks to the generosity of its owners.

Clacton RNLI currently has a shop at the lifeboat station in Hastings Avenue but the charity has now opened a new unit on the pier which has been made available free of charge by owners Billy and Elliot Ball.

Derek Marshall, who volunteers as shop manager, said: “We are very grateful to the pier for offering us the shop.

“The pier attracts thousands of people every summer and hopefully some of those will pick up a few lifeboat souvenirs, helping to raise funds to save lives at sea. Everyone at Clacton RNLI, from the fundraisers to the crew, is a volunteer and we rely on the generosity of the town.”

Billy Ball, from Clacton Pier, said: “The pier has a long-running association with the lifeboat and it is a very worthy charity.

“It is something that is very close to our hearts, seeing as we are out to sea and we see the good work they do throughout the course of the season.”

The new shop, which was launched on Saturday by Clacton MP Douglas Carswell and RNLI mascot Stormy Stan, will be open daily from 10am to 4pm.