THE group behind plans for a heritage centre in Whitby has come to the rescue of an old lifeboat which helped save 16 lives.

Built in 1918 and stationed in the North Yorkshire harbour from 1947 to 1957, the rowing boat had been in the lifeboat museum since it was decommissioned.

With the lifeboat station due to be rebuilt, museum officials though the boat might have to go because there was nowhere to keep it.

However, the organisation behind the £10m Cook's World heritage centre - due to open in Whitby in 2007 - said it is willing to store the boat so it can be restored during the winter.

"I'm delighted Cook's World has offered to house the lifeboat for us during the rebuilding,'' said Lifeboat Museum curator Peter Thomson.

"The engine shed at Windsor Terrace, where the lifeboat will be stored, is ideal and it means we don't have to transport it very far.''