LIFESAVING volunteers that came to the rescue of pirate radio ships in the 1960s have been honoured with a £790 cashpot.

A cruise out of Tilbury aboard the Marco Polo with music legends Georgie Fame, Zoot Money and Eddie Floyd and radio djs Johnnie Walker, Dave Cash and Emperor Rosko celebrated 50 years of pirate radio last week.

But an auction for a navigation chart marking the locations of the offshore stations, and signed by the star names, as well as a raffle raised cash to support Harwich RNLI.

During the days of pirate radio, many of the ships broadcasting off the Essex coast were serviced by tenders working out of Harwich.

And on several occasions lifeboats from Harwich, Walton and even Sheerness were called out to assist pirate ships in difficulties.