A HUGE thank-you has gone out from the Ilminster branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for the support it has received from local people over the past 12 months.

The branch raised the fantastic sum of £51,954.64 and after its expenses of rent, rates and other utility bills, it was able to send off to the RNLI a whopping donation of £43,808.79 for the year.

The group’s Joan Olds said: “This money will help to keep all those very brave people who risk their lives to save the lives of others at sea, on the beaches, in the floods and on the River Thames operational.”

Joan said she would like to thank all the shops, pubs and clubs who have the group’s collecting boxes in Ilminster and surrounding villages.

The group also has a thriving charity shop as well in Ilminster – thought to be the RNLI’s only fundraising shop in the country which is set inland away from the coast.

Joan added: “I’d like to thank everyone who comes to our shop in Ilminster to buy things and brings us things to sell.”

Joan thanked her hard working group of volunteers who help in the shop.

“We are a happy crew,” she said.