Historic lifeboat returned home

15 March 2012 Last updated at 10:38 ET

A historic lifeboat which has been lying derelict in Conwy harbour is to return home to Norfolk for restoration.

The Edward Birkbeck was built around 1896, and was the lifeboat at Winterton-on-Sea until 1925.

Detective work by Conwy's harbourmaster has led to it heading home to East Anglia, where it was the village lifeboat until 1925, making 94 rescues.

The vessel was being loaded onto a lorry to be transported overland on Thursday.

The village church in Winterton-on-Sea has a plaque in the Fisherman's Corner recording the lifeboat's many live-saving successes.

The old Norfolk family names of the original crews are still well known locally and a team of volunteers are ready to help restore the vessel.

The Edward Birkbeck is set for eventual display as part of the village's maritime heritage.

The vessel had faced being broken up for scrap after Conwy's acting harbourmaster Barry Tuson issued a notice in November 2011 that he considered it abandoned and causing an obstruction.

But after learning of its former links to Winterton-on-Sea, he contacted the parish council there to let the village know of its existence.

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Historic lifeboat returned home