A state-of-the-art £1.6m vessel is expected to make a special visit to a Norfolk lifeboat station's family fun event.

Following two years of upgrading its equipment and facilities, Caister Lifeboat will be showing off its "world leading" 45-foot-long Medina class boat at its annual Lifeboat Day on Sunday, August 6. 

Weather permitting, the vessel will be viewable to visitors during the fete which will also have live music and plenty of food and drink.

The fun day will begin with a special parade with the City of Norwich Pipe Band leading the way. The band will march from the King George V Playing Field on Allendale Road to the lifeboat station from 10.45am.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Caister Lifeboat are looking forward to welcoming back visitors for its upcoming Lifeboat Day event. Picture - NewsquestCaister Lifeboat are looking forward to welcoming back visitors for its upcoming Lifeboat Day event. Picture - Newsquest (Image: Brittany Woodman)

The event will also feature a live set by the Up in Arms band. 

The lifeboat day will have a licensed bar and a wide selection of food on offer, including traditional fried Norfolk herring.

There will also be a tombola, stalls selling food and goods and weather permitting, a launch of the service's new lifeboat.

Over the past 18 months, the lifeboat service has spent more than £2.5m on upgrading its existing equipment and facilities, which includes a converted marinised tractor and the new Medina-class craft.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Caister Lifeboat's new Medina Class vessel reached speeds of 37.5 knots during its sea trials. Picture - Diverse Marine Caister Lifeboat's new Medina Class vessel reached speeds of 37.5 knots during its sea trials. Picture - Diverse Marine (Image: Diverse Marine)

Under construction with Diverse Marine on the Isle of Wight, the new lifeboat's twin-750 horsepower engines topped out at 37.5 knots during sea trials earlier this year.

Caister's new boat was said to have overperformed at trials, including in its test which saw the vessel's self-righting mechanism in action.

The new lifeboat will help the voluntary service carry out rescue operations with greater speed, accuracy and comfort for crew and casualties onboard.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Hundreds of people attended Caister Lifeboat Day last year. Picture - NewsquestHundreds of people attended Caister Lifeboat Day last year. Picture - Newsquest (Image: Brittany Woodman)

She will replace the voluntary service's boat, the Bernard Matthews II, which has saved 54 lives over its 17 years in action.

Caister Lifeboat's ongoing Keep The Boat Afloat campaign allows donors to see their names included in the final version of its new vessel.

For more information, visit www.caisterlifeboat.org.uk/keep-the-boat-afloat

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Caister Lifeboat crew inside the station on Beach Road. Picture - NewsquestCaister Lifeboat crew inside the station on Beach Road. Picture - Newsquest (Image: James Weeds)