THE history of a town's lifeboat service has been recorded in the latest book by a former ships' pilot.

Proceeds from Bert Spalding's history of the 200-year-old Hartlepool lifeboat service will go to maintaining the lifeboat.

The 68-year-old has also written about the town's shipbuilders of Hartlepool and maritime history.

Hartlepool Lifeboats, 1803-2003, is available from Pocket Papers and Nauticalia in Hartepool Marina or from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution boathouse on (01429) 266103. Some newsagents also plan to stock the volume.

Lifeboat crew and workers marked the bicentennial with an open day at the weekend.