What’s happening at Swanage Lifeboat Week this year?

The station, which was officially opened earlier this year, will become the focus of the final day's activities - with an open day scheduled.

A RNLI spokesman said: "This has been a special year for the volunteers at Swanage Lifeboat Station as we moved into our new, iconic boathouse.

"The transition to our new facilities has gone well and in the first six months of the year the Swanage lifeboats have already launched 24 times."

Like much of the work they do, the actual construction of the RNLI boathouse proved anything but plain sailing - with the project cost's spiralling from £3.5m to £8.1m.

'Unforeseen challenges' were cited as one of the reasons why costs more than doubled, alongside 'additional improvement to the original design and infrastructure'.

Hundreds of local residents, many who helped raise £465,000 towards the project, attended the official opening.

This year's Swanage Lifeboat Week will include a wide array of events, culminating with the weekend of live music, entertainment and lifeboat bar and barbecue at the town's Prince Albert Gardens.

The spokesman said: "To showcase our new station, and to provide more water-based RNLI demonstrations, our open day on Sunday, August 20, will be held at the station from 11am to 4pm.

"Although this will mean a move away from Prince Albert Gardens on the Sunday, we hope this will enable us to provide a fully lifeboat-focused event and allow people closer access to the lifesaving work we do."

There will also be a VIP evening at the boathouse on August 15 from 7pm. Tickets, costing £10, include private tours of the building, a chance to meet the crew and light refreshments.

The Lifeboat Festival and Fair, at Prince Albert Gardens, includes the popular build a boat contest. It takes place on August 19, 12-4pm, followed by the race at 4pm. The raft race takes place the same day, on Swanage Beach, at 5pm.

Swanage Lifeboat Week starts on August 11 and is spread over 10 days.