A NORTH Somerset estate agent has said 'happy Christmas' to Portishead RNLI with a donation of more than £2,500.

Reeds Rains, which has offices on Clevedon Triangle and in Portishead High Street, made the RNLI its charity of the year for 2022, donating 1 per cent of its sales fees to the Portishead branch.

Sales director Craig Helps, said: “Giving back to the local community has always been very important to Reeds Rains and over the years we have supported numerous charities in many different ways.

"This however, is the first time we have agreed to support one specific charity all year.”

Members of the estate agency and lettings team presented a cheque for £2,737.21 to volunteers at the Portishead lifeboat station in Pier Road on Saturday afternoon (December 10).

Reeds Rains director Charlotte Emsley said: “The RNLI does such an important job with volunteers risking their lives on a regular basis to help others. With Clevedon and Portishead both being coastal towns, this voluntary service is vital and we know it can’t exist without continual fundraising.

"We would like to say thank you to all those who serve us locally and making RNLI Portishead our chosen charity for the year is a way of showing our appreciation.”

Simon Perks, a volunteer for the charity, said: “We’re delighted that the Reeds Rains team chose us as their charity for the year and are immensely grateful for their fundraising efforts.

"It’s only through the support of local people and businesses that our volunteer lifeboat crew is able to carry out its lifesaving work.

"And we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to thank the Reeds Rains team in person and to show them how the funds they have raised will help us to continue saving lives at sea.”

Following the cheque presentation, members of the Reeds Rains team were given a tour of the lifeboat station and even tried on some of the crew attire, while Simon explained how the funds donated will benefit the lifesaving services.