A COLLECTION box that was stolen from Criccieth’s lifeboat station has been restored to its former glory.

The box was stolen last August and was found, smashed up and its contents removed, three days later in a pub car park in Bontnewydd.

Earlier this week, the repaired collection box was returned to the station.

The repairs were undertaken by Aaron Jacobs, a 19-year old second year apprentice boatbuilder from Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, as a project to improve his skills in working with composite materials. One side of the boat had to be rebuilt completely.

These repairs were undertaken at the same time as the station’s Atlantic 85 Lifeboat, Doris Joan, was at the RNLI’s Inshore Rescue Boat Centre in Cowes.

After many hours of work the boat was ready having been completely repainted and looking better than when she was new in the 1950s.

On Tuesday, 13 November the station’s lifeboat returned from refit and Aaron came with her to present the station with the rebuilt collection box. This was the first time he had been to Wales.

In thanking Aaron, Peter Williams, Criccieth Lifeboat operations manager, said how pleased everybody at the station was in receiving the collection box back and congratulated Aaron on an excellent job well done.