A ROWING club has named a new boat after a council worker in honour of her “oarsome” fund raising.

Chester-le-Street Amateur Rowing Club has named its new safety boat after community development worker Allyson Rose.

Over the last few years, she has helped the club raise more than £8,000 by helping with funding applications.

Ms Rose, who works with Chester-le-Street and District Area Action Partnership, said: “It was a total surprise, I never dreamed of anything like that when I went along to see the new boat.

“I love my job and being able to help local organisations, so to have the club name a boat after me was a great honour.”

The new training boat, which cost £3,500, will help rowers develop their skills and abilities on the water.

Head coach Steven Thompson said: “The boat will make such a difference for the club and we are so grateful to Allyson for helping us obtain the funding to get it.”

Ms Rose has worked with the AAP since it was set up in 2009 and previously worked with the former Chester-le-Street District Council in a similar role, so has been helping the rowing club and other local organisations in the area for more than ten years.

Bob Young, the club’s chairman, said: “Allyson is invaluable, no matter what query we have or what we need Allyson is always willing to help and is so dependable.”