Restaurateur, chef and author has supported RNLI Dart with a £4,500 donation.

Mitch Tonks has used his business, Rockfish, to generously support RNLI Dart again.

Diners at Rockfish in Dartmouth have been asked if they will support the local RNLI lifeboat by adding one pound to their bill.

These donations supplemented by Mitch Tonks resulted in a cheque for £4,500.

Mitch came to the lifeboat station at Coronation Park and was thanked by Bob Gilbert, the RNLI Dart fundraising branch chairman and by Tom Shanley who was representing the crew.

Recently, the cost of running the station has risen dramatically as all lifeboat crew and shore crew need to be trained and then prove their efficiency in handling the recently arrived Atlantic 75 lifeboat.

Training is taking place at every opportunity, by day and night, so the trial of the B class lifeboat can begin. This will possibly be by the end of the month.

Mitch has also supported the Sailing Youth Trust by the purchase of two RS Quest dinghies which helps young children. These boats are at the Royal Dart yacht Club and the Royal Torbay Yacht Club.

Other charities supported by Rockfish includes the Torbay Network Trust which supports the families of severely ill children and the award winning Pride of Brixham volunteers.