THE family of former Stourbridge man killed in a road crash say they are "immensely proud" that a new inshore lifeboat will be launched in his memory.

Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) will officially launch and dedicate the vessel to their colleague Stuart Frost - who died in a car crash on the A450 Worcester Road in March 2016 - on Saturday January 21.

There will be short ceremony at Stourport Boat Club to dedicate and bless the boat, SARA 26, honouring 42-year-old Stuart who grew up in the Stourbridge area - attending Thorns School and King Edward VI College.

His heartbroken father, Ian Frost, said: "We are immensely proud to see the newest boat officially launched and to see Stuart's name living on and supporting SARA in their future rescue missions and we know that Stuart would be extremely proud.

"We, in turn, will do what we can to help and support SARA and cannot thank them enough for all that they have done and especially for the boat launch and naming."

Senior crew member Nick Harvey said Stuart would always be remembered at SARA's Wyre Forest base and he added: "Stuart was a close friend and the thought that he will live on at the station, with a boat in his memory, is fantastic."

Mr Frost said Stuart joined SARA when he returned to Kidderminster to study at Worcester University and re-train as a nurse, having been a volunteer lifeboat crew person when he was living in Weston-super-Mare.

He continued: "He loved the sea and felt SARA was as near to it as he could get in the landlocked Midlands.

"Stuart always explained that SARA was like an extended family and he thoroughly enjoyed his time with them, making some superb friends and enhancing and refreshing his boat, rescue and first aid skills.

"He gained a reputation within SARA for his 'sunglasses selfies' - rarely being photographed without his shades and looking like a 'real cool dude'.

"Following Stuart's tragic death, the crew and 'family' of SARA Kidderminster were extremely supportive to Kath, Emma and I and excelled at his funeral with the cortege and the guard of honour provided. "The announcement at that time, that they intended to honour Stuart by naming their newest rescue boat after him, was both a surprise and a delight.

"The fact that all of the SARA family do what they do on a voluntary basis and only with charitable funding is a credit to each and every one of them."

SARA requested government funding for a new boat two years ago and received a grant of £13,000.