The D-797 Peter Wilcox was funded by Jayne Wilcox in memory of her late husband Peter.

She came to Wells to welcome the new boat help crew members prepare it for use.

Once set up, D-797 was launched and given a brief test run around the harbour to ensure all was well before being washed down, rehoused and officially placed on service as the station's new inshore lifeboat.

The public will have a chance to see the boat in action for the first time at the Lifeboat Open Day this Sunday from 12-noon.

Peter Wilcox is the 12th D-class inshore boat to be stationed at Wells since this type of boat was first introduced in the early 1960s and replaces the previous D-661 Jane Ann III which left the station to return to the RNLI, where she will serve in the relief lifeboat or training fleet. D-661 was on station for almost 10 years, launching on service 223 times and was the third boat in sequence to carry the Jane Ann name, covering a period of 28 years.

A formal naming ceremony and welcome for the new lifeboat will take place later in the year.