Exmouth's Manor Lodge Residential Home recently donated £1,000 to the local lifesavers in lieu of their annual garden party fundraiser, cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions.

The well-respected residential home, owned and managed by Ray and Gina Lovegrove, are stalwart supporters of Exmouth RNLI and, until the recent coronavirus outbreak, have held annual garden parties at the home to raise funds for the charity.

Ray said: "We were obviously very disappointed that we were unable to hold our garden party fundraiser for the second year running due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

"But the local Exmouth RNLI lifesaving charity is important to us, and, in recognising the hard work and often dangerous conditions the volunteer lifesavers often endure to save lives at sea, we decided to make this donation instead."

Chair of Exmouth RNLI Fundraising Committee, Des White, said: "On behalf of all the volunteers at Exmouth RNLI I would like to thank Ray, Gina, and all at the Manor Lodge Residential Home for their very generous donation to our lifesaving charity.

"The coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on our fundraising abilities with the closure of RNLI shops, museums and visitor centres and, of course, national and local fundraising activities.

"So we are especially grateful for this kind donation from Manor Lodge that will help fund vital equipment and training at Exmouth Lifeboat Station."