Gang vandalises Morecambe RNLI Lifeboat Station
Repairs are being carried out at Morecambe RNLI Lifeboat Station after it was attacked by a gang of 30 stone-throwing youths.
Repair work is being carried out to the large observation window at Morecambe RNLI Lifeboat Station after it was smashed by a gang of 30 young people.
The youths threw stones at the window at around 9pm on 25 September 2016, causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage.
Volunteer members of the RNLI crew were in the building at the time of the vandalism.
They had just finished hosting a visit by a group of young people from Lancaster.
The volunteers gave chase to the vandals, who dispersed as they ran away, catching up with some of them near Poulton Park in the town.
When challenged, the teenagers, both male and female, subjected the crew to verbal abuse and threats of violence until the police arrived on the scene.
The crew members then returned to the lifeboat station to assess the damage and make it secure.
Volunteer deputy launching authority at Morecambe RNLI, Colin Midwinter, said: “It is sad to reflect that on a weekend when my granddaughter joined hundreds of other young people on the Scouts’ district camp and many others in the area were similarly engaged in positive activities, a small minority have nothing better to do than engage in mindless vandalism on a building funded by public donation for the purpose of saving lives.”
“Fortunately, on this occasion, the damage was confined to a window,” he noted.
“The vital communications equipment located behind it survived unscathed and so our operational capability has not been affected,” stated Midwinter.
Since the incident, the RNLI station has been “overwhelmed” by the support from the public.
Writing on its Facebook page, Morecambe Lifeboat wrote: “To all those who have offered assistance, financial or otherwise, please accept our grateful thanks. It is very much appreciated.”
The repairs should be finished by the end of the week.
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