After completion of 1,370 cruises last year, the off-season maintenance programme revealed leakage problems with piping, hydraulics and engine cooling systems on two of the Trust's boats.

L Robinson & Co (Gillingham) Ltd of Kent UK, manufacturers of the Jubilee worm drive hose clip, helped to protect the charity's slender budget by donating a generous supply of stainless steel Jubilee clips in four different sizes ranging from 15mm up to 45mm. Robinson also provided a dedicated Flexidriver tool to assist with adjustment of the Jubilee clips. The tool incorporates a 7mm A/F socket head together with a flexible shaft to permit access to awkwardly placed clips.

These specialist tools help to avoid cuts to both hands and hoses.

The free supply of Jubilee clips is likely to benefit all seven Seagull Trust boats, which operate from bases in Ratho near Edinburgh, Falkirk, Inverness, and Kirkintilloch.

David Mieras, secretary for the Ratho branch of the Seagull Trust said, 'We know that as a charity we cannot be choosey but we did want to get good quality clips that would give us durability since we did not want an early repeat of the leakage problem. We were grateful to L Robinson for their prompt attention and generosity.'

MJ Information No: 207110