A REVOLUTIONARY new type of boat has been put at the disposal of Upton rescue workers as they prepare for the prospect of more flooding this winter.

Dave Walker, station chairman for the local branch of the Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA), took delivery of the state-of-the-art craft on Wednesday.

Made of 12-millimetre thick plastic tubing, it is the UK's first ever commercially approved rescue boat. Despite its buoyancy and inflatable appearance, its hull cannot be pierced, even with drills or metal spikes.

"Two-and-a-half years ago, during the Easter floods at Abbot Salford (near Evesham), a rescue boat on its way to pick people up from a building hit a tractor that was under the water," said Mr Walker.

"It was punctured and the rescuers became stranded in the same building they were trying to get people away from. Eventually, they were all picked up by Air-Sea Rescue.

"This new boat will eliminate the risk of punctures and damage occurring to it."

SARA saw the craft at the first ever Inland Water Safety and Rescue Conference in Nottingham last month, when its distributors demonstrated its strength by dragging it down the road tied to the back of a car.

At the conference, Mr Walker met Martin Dutton, a keen watersports enthusiast and owner of BCA Safety Systems, based in Upton Warren, near Droitwich, and UK distributor of the boats.

He offered Upton SARA his demonstration model to use on semi-permanent loan. It would normally retail at £3,750.

"They can pay me back whenever they have the money to buy one, or two or three," said Mr Dutton.

"The boat is very strong, very stable and is even flame and chemical retardant."

SARA has also been shopping for new buoyancy jackets and a Jacob's cradle - a type of rubber mat that can be unfurled from the side of a craft in order to scoop people out of the water.

The cost of the new equipment, along with Health and Safety Executive dive training, is around £23,000. SARA is seeking sponsorship from local businesses to cover the cost.