The community of St Abbs has launched a funding appeal to set up its own lifeboat station.
It comes after the entire Berwickshire village turned out to a public meeting and voted unanimously to set up their own service following the axing of the station that has served the area for more than a century.
The new governing body, St Abbs Community Trust, has been registered as a charity and fundraising for £500,000 has begun.
The trust will take over and operate the existing lifeboat station at St Abbs, which was closed last month by the Royal National Lifeboat Institute and the service moved to Eyemouth two miles away.
The St Abbs Lifeboat campaign is being co-ordinated by Alistair Crowe and Euan Gibson supported by a dedicated team of local volunteers.
Mr Crowe held the last post of Lifeboat Operations Manager under the RNLI, and has 50 years of experience and service to the institute.
Supporters say his family are among those who have been the "backbone of the St Abbs Lifeboat for generations".
Mr Gibson recently co-ordinated the campaign to save the station.
He said the re-establishment of St Abbs Lifeboat is "not only a logical extension to this it is also a direct reflection of the massive support received during that campaign".
Mr Crowe said: “We are delighted to have been able to launch this independent appeal so quickly.
"Our job as a lifeboat crew is to continue to save lives on this coast.
"A lifeboat at St Abbs is not a luxury it is an essential public safety requirement given the growth in leisure activities and the natural geography of the coastline.
"For anyone in trouble at sea it is not about the flag on the boat, it is all about the skill and knowledge of the crew.
"This is a dramatic and treacherous stretch of coast on a big arc at the southern approach to the Firth of Forth.
"To a seafarer that means it is exposed to weather and tides from the west all the way round to the south.
"The combined effect of tides and weather round any exposed headland are potentially dangerous, and St Abbs Head is no different."
The area has been recognised as one of the top UK dive sites, and there is growth in numbers of sea kayakers, surfers and sea anglers.
Mr Crow added: "We have also seen an increase over the last few years in local fishing boats operating out of St Abbs Harbour.
"The track record of St Abbs Lifeboat station and the commitment of its volunteers over its 104 year history speaks for itself.
"We feel responsible for everyone who uses the sea around our village and we want to be able to keep on doing what we’ve been doing for generations and keep the lifeboat running.
"We have a very detailed record of much of this history, and have plans to place some of this in the public domain.”
Mr Gibson said: "Our petition to the RNLI had over 13,000 signatures from both within the UK and from over 40 countries all over the world.
"The campaign was also supported by the Scottish and British Sub Aqua Clubs among others.
"We currently estimate that approximately £250,000 should be allocated to the boat and related crew and medical equipment, and that a further £250,000 should be raised initially towards liquid funds.
"The appeal will also remain open for ad hoc and regular subscription in keeping with charitable practice for lifeboats in the UK."
www.stabbslifeboat.org.uk
http://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/stabbs/lifeboat
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