BUILDING work has begun on a new floating boathouse for Poole RNLI lifeboats.

The state-of-the-art construction is already under way, with work on the structure taking place at the temporary home across the quay on the former Power Station.

The work is the first phase of 'Project Lifeboat House', which will eventually see the building become the operational station at Poole.

And phase two will start shortly, which will see the external cladding and side walls installed as well as glazing and preparation for installing the electrics, the boat lifts and other essential equipment.

Once the work on Poole Bridge are completed, the new lifeboat house will be floated down between the quays, secured and installed on to the piles already positioned on the bridge.

Paul Glatzel, Poole's volunteer lifeboat operations manager said: "Our volunteer crew are very excited that the building work has begun and that the new permanent home for the lifeboats is becoming a reality.

"The new boathouse will provide much more space for the lifeboats and for the crew enabling them to work safely in and around the boats.

"In the future we look forward to facilitating visits to the lifeboat house, promoting the work that the station does, sharing the key sea safety messages, which in turn will help to save lives at sea. Exciting times ahead."

The lifeboats are currently operating from a floating pontoon alongside the quay outside the station.

Poole RNLI Lifeboats have been launching from the town for more than 152 years.

In 1865 lifeboat crew had to be taken by coach from the Antelope Hotel in the High Street to Sandbanks where the lifeboat house had been built.

They moved to a new site at the east end of the quay, which is now now the Old Lifeboat museum in 1882 and was used until 1974 when it relocated.

In 1989 the lifeboat station moved to Town Quay next to Poole Bridge, with a floating boathouse built next to the lifting bridge for the Atlantic class lifeboat.