CALLOUS thieves have been targeting collection boxes left in pubs to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

The sickening raids were revealed at the annual meeting of the charity's Morecambe and Heysham branch.

Collection box secretary Jean Kilpatrick said: "I just don't know what to do. We seem to have this every year and the number of thefts is increasing."

Two boxes that were stolen from a large public bar were replaced only to be taken again. And when a box was stolen from a children's play area it wasn't replaced, reducing the number of boxes in circulation to 36.

Mrs Kilpatrick added: "No matter how carefully we look after them and batten them down, they still go. When one was stolen from a children's play area I thought enough was enough and didn't reinstate them."

But despite the increase in thefts the local branch raised a record £10,000 last year.

Souvenir sales experienced a huge increase after the opening of the new lifeboat station on the promenade and special events and donations has also given a significant boost to the total.

It's been the busiest 12 months in the station's history with 28 call outs and five emergencies and the centre had the enviable situation of a surplus of volunteers.

Addressing members at the branch meeting, station secretary John Beaty said: "The new building, together with an impressive array of high-tech aids, including satellite navigation means that this is one of the best equipped stations in the country."

Morecambe Station will be open to the public on June 27 between 11am and 3pm

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.