FUNDRAISERS are on the crest of a wave after hitting their target to buy a new lifeboat for Mersea Island.

The island’s lifeboat station, in Coast Road, will be getting a £214,000 Atlantic 85 after a two-year campaign.

Martin Wade, the station’s launch operations manager, said: “I didn’t think we would raise the money by now.

“I thought it would take us this year as well, but we’ve reached our target way ahead of what we needed.

“We’re grateful for everybody’s donations and the effort they have put in to raising money for us. We couldn’t have done it without their help.”

Read the full story in today's Gazette.