Bradford was on the crest of a wave today - after hitting its target of £65,000 to buy a new inshore lifeboat.

And the boat will be named City of Bradford V in a VIP naming ceremony in Centenary Square with the Lord Mayor on May 22.

The Royal National Lifeboat Association will use the rigid inflatable Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat to provide relief cover at stations across the country.

The campaign to buy the new boat was launched in May 1997 and captured the hearts of the city's residents both young and old.

Delighted RNLI area organiser Julie Mounty said it was a special day for the city.

"This boat is for the people of Bradford and it will be put to good use when it is used across the country in rescue operations," she said, speaking at Lady Royd Junior and Infant School in Duckworth Lane, where the appeal kicked off with a £220 donation 20 months ago.

"The support from across the city has been tremendous and I just want to thank everyone who has donated cash to this deserving cause, including T&A readers.

"We have cash from schools who have donated their pennies to cash from a 100-year-old," said Mrs Mounty. The final £5,000 was donated by Transco in Valley Road, Bradford.

The boat will be based at Flamborough in the North East, but could be used anywhere across the country.

Bradford has been closely associated with the RNLI since 1869. The city funded the first of four City of Bradford lifeboats in 1923 to commemorate the service's own centenary celebrations.

The RNLI celebrates its 175th anniversary this year.

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