Businesses and the local community are rallying together to support RNLI Dart next week.

The community will be rallying round in support of RNLI Dart’s annual fete to be held on Saturday, July 28, in Royal Avenue Gardens by the bandstand.

Led by Tracy Lucas, the visitor centre manager, all members of the fund raising committee have been approaching local businesses asking them to donate money and produce to help make the event successful.

At a time when the lifeboat crew have had its busiest year and with the prospect of the trial of the new, larger B Class lifeboat starting in the next two months, fundraising is increasingly important.

The fete, the main RNLI Dart fundraising event of the year will feature food, bottle stalls, face painting, crazy golf and a coconut shy.

Katy Locke, RNLI Dart’s events chairman and a crew member said: “A huge amount of work goes into the preparation for this event to make it a successful day.

“It allows visitors to Dartmouth as well as the local community to help to support their local lifeboat in its mission to save lives at sea.”

The fundraising committee is working on plans to sustain the longer term funding of RNLI Dart now two boats will need to be maintained in the future.

Rob Gilbert CBE, RNLI branch chairman said: “We hope we will be able to persuade businesses to give longer term support and sponsorship following the excellent example set by Mitch Tonks, who asks customers at all his restaurants to simply add a voluntary donation of £1 to their bills.

“Nearly everyone is happy to do so and as a result Mitch’s restaurants have become a significant annual contributor to our funding.

“If other businesses would follow his lead, this is a really simple and easy way to offer support and allows Dartmouth visitors and local alike to contribute.

“We plan to make approaches along these lines to other businesses over the coming months.”