MORECAMBE lifeboat station will open its doors to the public on Saturday.

Crew will be on hand to talk to visitors and show them around the resort's lifeboat and hovercraft.

And there will be attractions including a bouncy castle for children, a lorry pull and 'get your kit on' competition.

The open house will take place from noon to 4pm.

Friends do the business

THE future of Morecambe's historic Winter Gardens theatre could be decided within the next month.

A group dedicated to restoring the landmark Victoria Pavilion building will decide whether to buy the historic theatre in the next few weeks.

The Friends of the Winter Gardens are awaiting the publication of a business plan for the future of the £250,000 listed theatre.

If all is in order, they will step in and buy the building from owners Barnfield Construction.

Evelyn Archer, chair of the Friends, says: "We will know where we stand in September when we have the business plan in front of us and can see whether it is viable.

"Despite interest in the building from local developers, we have been promised the Friends will be given the first option to buy it if we wish to go ahead."

The group has been raising funds for years to secure the building and intends to start applying for grants to secure the rest of the cash.

Its blueprint for the future sees the theatre converted to a multi-purpose venue but with an auditorium retained for theatrical performances.

If the Friends cannot buy the building, Carnforth firm Norman Jackson Construction may move into pole position as a prospective purchaser.

In June the firm approached Tim Webber, of Barnfield Construction, with plans to transform it into an antiques emporium with a caf and a small theatre.