Hunstanton RNLI supporters collect nearly half a tonne of 5ps in Bettys Pots

They say look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves. That's why Hunstanton lifeboat treasurer Jackie Merralls is singing the praises of Betty's Pots.

For the teeny recycled jars in which people save 5p pieces for the charity which saves lives at sea have come flying into the station full of change to the tune of more than £7,000.

Supporters collected more than 140,000 of 5p pieces last year. They ranged from children who were given pots to fill before school visits to the Norfolk station, to the Rock Choir who brought hundreds along on their coach when they came to perform for the RNLI's 200 anniversary containing more than £600 worth of silver shrapnel.

Rock Choir members with some of their Betty's 5p Pots. Photo credit RNLI/Chris Bishop 

Visitors to the station also included Julian Coles and Debbie Claridge from Didcot, in Oxfordshire, who completed a mammoth sponsored trek around all 238 RNLI stations at Hunstanton, giving each crew along the way three Betty's 5p Pots.

Laid end to end, the 18mm coins which have found their way to Hunstanton RNLI would stretch for more than a mile and a half. But the money raised will go much further than that when it comes to saving lives at sea.

For the sum is more than the cost of training and equipping two volunteers to save lives on board the station's inshore lifeboat or search and rescue hovercraft.

Treasurer Jackie said: 'Our crew and more than 200 like them would not be able to carry out their lifesaving work without the kindness of those who donate.

'Even a few 5p pieces soon mounts up, with a jar holding more than £2 worth.

Betty's 5p Pots, which help the RNLI to save lives at sea. Photo credit RNLI/Chris Bishop

'That money helps us to train and equip our crew to keep saving lives at sea.'

Donations in pots included £2,030 from Albany Radio, in Hertford and £476 from the town's former RNLI branch. Hertford was the home of the late Betty Frith, who was the treasurer of its RNLI branch for more than 20 years.

It was Betty who first came up with the idea of supporters filling recycled small jam jars that hotel guests are given containing breakfast jam or marmalade with 5p pieces, which are donated to the RNLI when full.

Change began trickling into the first pots in May, 2014. With support from Albany radio, the Hertford branch raised £450 in 5p coins in the first year. The following year, the Hertford total topped £2,500. Other branches and lifeboat stations around the country took up the idea and Betty's Pots have since raised more than £400,000.

Jackie added: 'While they'll always be Betty's 5p Pots, we're starting to see people using them for a multitude of coins and they're all welcome.'

If you'd like a pot to fill to help save lives at sea, they can be collected from supporters in and around Hunstanton including the LeStrange Arms, The Mariners, Caley Hall, Cruso Wilkins; and the Queen Victoria, The Granary, Stockley's Chemist and Shepherd's Port Caravan Park at Snettisham.