The Great Yarmouth branch of a worldwide charity that supports seafarers has been handed a festive donation of £12,000

The money has been raised after surplus metal from the Galloper offshore windfarm project was sold for recycling.

Rev Peter Paine, who runs the quayside centre, said the money would leave 'a lasting legacy in Great Yarmouth' as the Galloper team prepares to leave the town.

Most of the turbine components installed on the project were pre-assembled at the Siemens turbine assembly base in the town.

Galloper project director, Toby Edmonds, said: 'It has been an honour to gift this donation of just over £12,000 to the Great Yarmouth Seafarers centre.

'Leading the construction of a major offshore wind farm, and managing the turbine assembly from Great Yarmouth, it was a natural choice to donate to the mission, which provides such valuable support for seafarers around the world.'

He added: 'Whilst the construction of the project is coming to an end, we are very pleased to be able to leave this legacy to the local branch of the mission. I would also like to pay credit to the Galloper team members based in Yarmouth who came up with this brilliant suggestion. It's a very worthwhile cause.'

Mr Paine said: 'This wonderful donation to Great Yarmouth Seafarers centre from the Galloper wind farm project will be distributed within Great Yarmouth maritime sector, and to help other local charities. I would like to thank the project team on behalf of the seafaring community for thinking of us.

'The donation will leave a lasting legacy in Great Yarmouth.'

MORE: Port chaplain's role is saved but reduced to part time jobThe Galloper wind farm, which generated power for the first time on November 5, will eventually be capable of generating enough power for over 380,000 homes. Construction of the 353MW project, which is being built off the coast of Suffolk, is expected to be finished in Spring 2018.

The Mission to Seafarers was established in 1856 and is entirely funded by charitable donations.

It supports seafarers using the port of Yarmouth and sometimes suffer loneliness and hardship and need comfort and support, as well as a land-base to freshen up and contact their families.