A LIFEBOAT station which has served a community for more than 100 years is being shut as part of the RNLI's review of lifesaving in the Scottish Borders.

The St Abbs station, which opened in 1907, will soon be closed, with the facility two miles away at Eyemouth providing cover with a new D class lifeboat. The St Abbs lifeboat Dorothy and Katherine Barr II, an Atlantic 75 built in 2002, will continue to operate.

George Rawlinson, RNLI operations director, said: "The RNLI does not take lightly any decision to close a lifeboat station - such changes are only made after extensive operational research and painstaking consideration.

"But we understand that this will be disappointing for our crew, supporters and the community at St Abbs. The lifeboat station has served the RNLI proudly for over 100 years, saved 226 lives and rescued many more in that time.

"On behalf of everyone at the RNLI I would like to thank the volunteers for their dedication and commitment to saving lives at sea."

The move is part of a review of the service in the north east of England and the Scottish Borders which will see new lifeboats introduced to Seahouses and Amble while the all-weather lifeboat at Berwick-upon-Tweed will not be replaced at the end of its operational life in 2018. A second inshore lifeboat will be added to Blyth.

The RNLI said that in the last 20 years, it had opened eight lifeboat stations and closed three, and the latest review would ensure it could provide the best possible search and rescue service

Mr Rawlinson added: "The traditional pattern of sea use has changed greatly over the years. Commercial fishing has declined in many areas and leisure activities are on the rise.

"Taking advantage of the greater speed and capabilities of modern RNLI lifeboats, we continuously adapt our lifesaving service to meet current and future requirements and ensure public safety is not put at risk or compromised."