THE cost of Swanage's new lifeboat station which should be fully operational this year has spiralled to £8.1million, it has been confirmed.

When the project started in spring 2015, the initial estimate was just £3.5million, but "unforeseeable challenges" and "additional improvements to the original design and infrastructure" have more than doubled its costs, says the RNLI.

The figures emerged as the RNLI's latest Shannon Class all-weather lifeboat, George Thomas Lacy, finally made its permanent move to the new Swanage boathouse last week.

An RNLI spokesman explained: "As a charity, the RNLI takes the way in which we spend donors' money extremely seriously. 

"Cost estimation, particularly in the very difficult terrain where we tend to build lifeboat stations, can be subject to unforeseeable challenges and takes time to investigate and realise both before and during the project. 

"Some projects come in under budget and some, like this, are over budget."

It was initially hoped the station would be fully operational by the end of 2016. However, the volunteer crew will start moving gear into their new state-of-the-art base in the New Year.

Captain Neil Hardy, volunteer lifeboat operations manager at Swanage, said: "Anybody who has seen the building recently will know that it is getting close to completion, and now the scaffolding has come down people can get a real feel for the new building. 

"There are still many tasks to do before the building becomes an operational lifeboat station, and these will be carried out in the New Year. 

"We will of course keep the local community updated on progress as I’m sure many people are looking forward to getting a closer look."

The official opening looks set for spring 2017, the Echo understands.

Over the past few months the Shannon all-weather lifeboat has been moved into the new boathouse several times to protect her from severe weather. 

The £1.5million craft launched down its new slipway for the first time at the end of November.

The new station includes a crew changing room, a fully-equipped crew training room, mechanics' workshop, office space and two separate boat halls.