CHILDREN from the Swale Speech and Language Unit, Sittingbourne, have been treated to a tour of a lifeboat.

Peter Ripley, chairman of the Sittingbourne branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, took the boat to the unit in Minterne Avenue last Friday in a bid to attract new members to its junior section.

His wife Sharon, who is a teaching assistant at the unit, said: "Peter is always keen to help the children who were encouraged to join the junior section of the RNLI, Storm Force."

Mr Ripley said: "It was a joy to see the smiles on the faces of the children and the visit went really well."

Over the weekend the inflatable D-class lifeboat was towed to the town's Asda store where branch supporters held a collection, raising £500 for the RNLI.

• Membership of Storm Force is £5 a year. Members receive four issues of the club magazine, a badge, membership card and entry to competitions. Ring 01202 663000 for details.