CREW members of a Kent lifeboat station have put two new boats through their paces.

The Atlantic 85 is the first in the South East to take to the waves and can reach speeds of 35 knots, compared to its predecessor the Atlantic 21, which can do up to 32 knots.

This morning the Walmer crew at Deal also received a new D-class craft, making the day the first time a station has received two new lifeboats at the same time.

Walmer RNLI lifeboat operations manager Denis Brophy said: "It is a great honour to be the first station in the region to get the new Atlantic 85 and on top of this it is unprecedented for a station to get two lifeboats on the same day. We are delighted to be making history."

* Since Walmer Lifeboat Station opened in 1856 Walmer has carried out 651 launches and saved 236 lives.