A significant donation by teacake and caramel wafer maker Tunnock's has secured the return of the St Abb's lifeboat.

The Berwickshire community that started raising funds for an independent lifeboat after the closure of the station there in September were astonished when owner Boyd Tunnock - a sailing enthusiast - decided to make up the shortfall of the first £250,000 target, giving about £170,000.

The boat is to be named after his grandfather Thomas Tunnock who founded the Uddingston business.

He had initially planned to give £10,000 but after speaking to the St Abbs campaigners came up with the idea of naming the vessel.

He said: "I had always wanted to name a boat after my grandfather and my late brother."

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It is expected that the new lifeboat will be launched next year.

A further £250,000 is also to be raised in a second appeal phase.

The community moved to set up its own service after the Royal National Lifeboat Institution moved its lifeboat to Eyemouth two miles south.

The St Abbs volunteers are known to have saved more than 200 and rescued countless others in 104 years in operation.

Alistair Crowe, Lifeboat Appeal Chairman, said: "This is a highly significant development and the emergence of Tunnock's as a major donor has unanimous support from the community of St Abbs.

"On behalf of the St Abbs community I would like to express my sincere gratitude not only to Tunnock's, but also to all our other donations both big and small. "

He added: "We look forward to becoming an operational Lifeboat Station at St Abbs again as soon as arrangements can be put in place, which will include a new purpose built boat.

"There are details still to be agreed with Tunnock's, which will include the name of the new lifeboat, and a further announcement will be made in due course."