The project to build a new lifeboat station on The Lizard has stepped up a gear, with the arrival of a huge tower crane.

The crane arrived at Kilcobben Cove last Tuesday and after two days now dominates the site. The giant green structure was declared operational on Friday and has been used to help clear the materials from the site of the old demolished boathouse.

Contractors are now working at breaking up the huge foundation slab that lay under the old boathouse building.

The casting process for a new slab that will form the base for the next generation of boathouse is due to begin this week.

Preparations are also underway now for the piling work to begin. The piles once in place, will form the major part of the structure of the new slipway down which the Tamar class all weather lifeboat will launch once it arrives in the autumn of 2011.

The piles themselves will arrive in Falmouth next week and will then be transported to The Lizard by sea on a landing craft.