The RNLI has named its new lifeboat, to be based at Chiswick, West London, the Chelsea Pensioner, in honour of the old soldiers who have spent 25 years rattling tins on behalf of the service at the London and Southampton Boat Shows.

The Chiswick boat is one of four now based on the London River after the MCA reviewed the Marchioness disaster when revellers on a disco boat died after it was in collision with a dredger.

The new boat can carry 20 survivors and is capable of 40 knots.