A PART of Poole's history re-opened for Easter with a smart new look.

The former lifeboat station at the eastern end of the Quay, now a museum, has been given a £50,000 makeover.

All the redecorating efforts were almost undone by the recent storms, though.

"The building was flooded but we've worked like mad to get it re-opened," said Anne-Marie Clark, from the Poole lifeboat station.

The 19th century building boasts Poole's first motorised lifeboat - the Thomas Kirk Wright - and offers a reminder of the significance of the service to the town, which still hosts the RNLI headquarters.

"It is an important place for our current crew and it evokes the memories of past crews," said Mrs Clark.

"You can really feel the atmosphere when you walk in."

More that 35,000 people visited the museum last year, raising £8,000 in donations - enough to train four new lifeboat crew.

The building was fully re-opened in 2006 after remaining virtually untouched since the last crew left in 1974.

The boathouse and gift shop will be open from 10am to 4.30pm until October, weather and volunteers depending.