A RE-LAUNCHED Tesco Extra is helping keep Poole’s lifeboat afloat.

The revamped superstore at Tower Park was officially opened by Poole mayor Cllr Peter Adams, who cut a ribbon in the presence of representatives from the town’s RNLI station.

Rod Brown, lifeboat operations manager, station treasurer Carole Brown and Paul Taylor, lifeboat station mechanic and chairman of Poole and District Fund Raising Branch, joined the celebration and accepted a £500 donation from store manager Andy Hossack.

Poole is one of the busiest lifeboat stations in the UK and Paul Taylor said: “We would like to thank Tesco Extra Poole for this fantastic donation. We will use the money to help us to continue our invaluable service providing a search and rescue service to Poole Harbour and Poole Bay.”

The multi-million pound refit is among 650 UK stores to undergo a refit.