A major fundraising scheme to restore Europe's oldest motorised lifeboat to sea-going condition is on the crest of a wave after receiving more than £10,000 in grants.

Frinton and Walton Heritage Trust is aiming to put James Stevens No 14 back to its former glory.

And it has been awarded £10,000 from the Science Museum's PRISM Fund and a further £1,500 from Essex Heritage Trust.

The whole project will cost around £75,000 and so far about £24,000 has been pledged.

Iain Sproat, chairman of the fundraising campaign, said he was delighted with the grants and said he was also hopeful of cash from the lottery.

"Of course, we cannot bank on lottery money but we hope we have a reasonable chance," he said.

"People often ask how the restoration is going but work cannot normally start if an application to the lottery is being made."

Matters were further complicated by the continued delay in the National Historic Ships Register list for property vessels which the heritage lottery funds wants in place before considering maritime projects.

The James Stevens No 14, the second station lifeboat at Walton and Frinton, is on the list but it is not yet known how far up it stands.

However, Mr Sproat said the trust had now been given the go-ahead to undertake a proposed stabilisation plan which means that work on this initial stage of the project will begin later this summer.

"All in all the fundraising is going well but we do need to keep it going and we are hoping people will take out covenants on which tax can be claimed back," he added.

A recent gala supper which was supported by stars of television and radio Griff Rhys Jones and John Peel, raised £2,000.

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