Eight dogs and 37 people rescued, 20 call-outs attended and one heartfelt goodbye made - it has been a busy first year for the new lifeboat station at Wells-next-the-Sea.

Last November the flag was raised above the RNLI's state-of-the-art facility, which was built next to the old station at the entrance to Wells Harbour.

Fakenham & Wells Times: The new (left) and old lifeboat stations in WellsThe new (left) and old lifeboat stations in Wells (Image: Mark Frary)

Since then the station's team has had 18 inshore lifeboat call-outs, and two all-weather lifeboat call-outs in the Shannon class Duke of Edinburgh.

And townsfolk and lifeboat crew gathered in February to say goodbye to the Doris M Mann of Ampthill, a Mersey class all-weather lifeboat which had served since 1990. 

Fakenham & Wells Times: Chris Hardy, Lifeboat operations manager at Wells RNLI Chris Hardy, Lifeboat operations manager at Wells RNLI (Image: DENISE BRADLEY)Lifeboat operations manager Chris Hardy said: “We are all immensely proud of our new boathouse which will be fit for purpose for many generations and decades to come.

“This new boathouse enables our volunteer boats and shore crew to launch our lifeboats much quicker and increase our lifesaving capabilities immensely off the north Norfolk coast.

Fakenham & Wells Times: The new RNLI lifeboat was named by the Duke of Kent earlier this yearThe new RNLI lifeboat was named by the Duke of Kent earlier this year (Image: Chris Taylor Photography)“Our Shannon class lifeboat is very special being a 'launch a memory' boat with the names of 15,000 loved ones putting to sea with us every time we launch. 

"We were also very fortunate as a ‘first for Wells’ to accommodate within the boathouse build programme, a purpose-built viewing platform, visitor engagement space and shop all manned by our team of dedicated volunteers.”

In June, the Duke of Kent, Prince Edward, unveiled the Duke of Edinburgh, which was named in honour of the late Prince Philip's long-standing commitment to maritime services.

Fakenham & Wells Times: The RNLI's Shannon class lifeboat named Duke of Edinburgh, to commemorate the late Prince PhilipThe RNLI's Shannon class lifeboat named Duke of Edinburgh, to commemorate the late Prince Philip (Image: RNLI)

In August the boat was launched on its first service call - rescuing a 60ft motor cruiser with two casualties aboard which had run aground at the mouth of Wells Harbour.

The Wells crew is now looking ahead to December 17 when the station will host its annual carol service.

Fakenham & Wells Times: Duke of Edinburgh first call-outDuke of Edinburgh first call-out (Image: James Betteridge RNLI)