A soggy start with rain and high winds turned into a sunny finale for Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week.

The week came to an end last Friday, and organisers the Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild have reported an early estimated total for donations in the region of £26,000.

The weather caused the postponement of the bathtub race and the swimming challenge but both were held later and cancellations were few.

Chairman of the RNLI Guild, Ken Lavery, said: “The week was a resounding success and a tribute to all the volunteers who gave up their time in the planning process and during the week itself.

“Once again we have had tremendous support from the public and we have received many positive comments.”

Drawing huge support was the Army’s Red Devils parachute display team, the popular wine or water raffle, the ‘name the welly dog’ competition and the tug ‘o war across the harbour mouth. This was was started by Lord Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey, who was aboard the harbourmaster’s launch with his wife, Lady Emma.

A Madagascan tortoise stole the show at a packed Uplyme Village Hall presentation of snakes and exotic reptiles.

Meanwhile, more than 600 hot dogs were sold by the lifeboat crew at their barbecue on the harbour slipway. And a local firefighter scored the first ever hole-in-one at the golf challenge on the harbour’s North Wall.

There was an element of drama, too, when 11-year-old Dylan Cox, from Bristol, dropped his mobile phone into the harbour.

Lifeboat crew member Seb Cope went to the rescue and donned goggles and a wetsuit before diving in to find it.

Seb dived to the sea bed and searched for 15 minutes before finding the phone.

As the week came to a close with a spectacular fireworks display, one of the last events – the swimming challenge from Cobb Gate to the harbour – attracted a record entry of 100 participants made up of 65 adults and 35 juniors.