The lifeboat bought with money raised in Oxford has helped save 11 lives in the past year.

The Oxford branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution mounted a successful appeal to raise £76,000 for the lifeboat.

Based in Whitstable, Kent, the Atlantic 75 boat -- named the Oxford Town and Gown -- was one of the busiest in the south east last year, when it was launched 64 times.

Whitstable Lifeboat Station secretary Larry Lamberton said: "I think the people of Oxford and the universities who raised the money for her can be proud.

"We have welcomed a number of visitors from Oxford who have called in to see the boat and look forward to seeing many more this year."

A deceptively quiet start to the year, with only two call-outs in the first three months, gave way to a busy summer.

The crew was called to several small craft when sea-farers came unstuck on the choppy waters of the North Sea.

They have been called out to a range of emergencies, from children blown out to sea in dinghies to broken-down yachts, angling boats, motor cruisers, speedboats and Jet Skis.

In June last year, the boat crew was called to a speedboat that capsized a mile off shore from Herne Bay.

They arrived to find the speedboat's two occupants clinging to the bow of their vessel, which was pointing to the sky.

In July, the crew rescued a 62-year-old yachtsman who ended up in the freezing sea when his yacht capsized and was in danger of being blown on to rocks at Hampton, west of Herne Bay.

In August, three children were blown a mile out to sea in a rubber inflatable dinghy, but were safely rescued.

In addition to saving 11 people from severe danger, the lifeboat and its crew safely landed 36 other people.