A CAR dealership has pushed the boat out and raised more than £250 for a life-saving Sidmouth cause.

Livery Dole Mitsubishi, in Exeter, raised the money for Sidmouth Lifeboat during a launch event.

The dealership took over part of The Bowd Inn and offered to donate £5 to the charity every time someone took the new super-mini Mitsubishi Mirage for a test-drive.

An impressive 51 test-drives later Livery Dole had raised £255 for the valued cause.

Dealer Nigel Clegg said: “The Sidmouth Lifeboat team do vital work so we are more than happy to support them.

“The team relies on funding to keep going and none of the members get paid for the fantastic job they do.

“We had a great couple of days at the Bowd Inn and Restaurant and we were amazed by how many people came to see us.

It costs £90,000 a year to run the independent Sidmouth Lifeboat.

Its volunteers are on service 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

Money raised will go towards keeping the boat maintained and 15 crew trained and equipped.

Trustee Philip Churchill said: “When Nigel phoned me up to say they had raised all this money, it was a nice surprise – we’re very grateful.”