Plans to replace a coastal city's all-weather lifeboat with a smaller model have been described as "bonkers" by its council leader.

The RNLI confirmed Plymouth would be given a new Coastal class boat in 2030 and it will replace the Devon city's current Severn-class vessel - the largest in the RNLI's current fleet.

Plymouth City Council leader Tudor Evans said there had been "no consultation" on the move and it would "diminish" the service the RNLI could offer from the city.

The RNLI said the decision was based on analysis of more than 81,000 rescues nationally since 2017 and reflected how people were increasingly getting into difficulty closer to shore.

Under the RNLI's plans, Salcombe and Torbay will get new Shannon class all-weather boats and Appledore has one.

Ilfracombe has also got a new Atlantic 85 Mk3 craft, a high-speed rigid inflatable, replacing a larger Shannon class boat.

Evans, who is head of the council's ruling Labour group, said: "It's all very well saying there will be an all-weather boat in Salcombe, or in a part of Cornwall, but that doesn't mean the boat for Plymouth isn't required.

"The French boat incident demonstrated that."

He was referring to the sinking of the Maranello trawler off the coast of Plymouth in August as an example of what can happen in local waters.

At the time, a helicopter, plane and lifeboats were all launched from the city.

He said: "What is being proposed will mean the service the RNLI can provide from Plymouth will be diminished.

"There's been no consultation about it, and so I'll be in touch with the RNLI to explain the concerns we've got in Plymouth."

Evans explained he would understand the move if the charity had been short of money, but pointed to a recent increase in donations since it revealed its volunteers had been targeted by anti-migrant protesters.

"It can't be a financial decision, so it must just be a bonkers decision," he said.

The RNLI defended its plans to replace Plymouth's Severn-class vessel, Sybil Mullen Glover, with the Coastal class vessel.

Speaking on BBC Radio Devon, Tom Mansell, RNLI regional operations lead, said 98% of the charity's lifeboat responses were within 10 nautical miles (11.5 miles, 19km) of the coast between 2017 and 2025.

"The way people use the water now has changed and the services that the organisation are being asked to attend tend to be much closer to the shore," he said.

"They tend to be much more towards people who are using the sea for leisure, perhaps playing in the water, walking on the coast paths, sailing boats close to shore, rather than what we used to do many years ago, which was a lot more commercial craft."

Sybil Mullen Glover had carried out more than 1,000 launches during its service and would be 27 years old when it was retired in 2030, he said.

The replacement Coastal class lifeboat would feature modern communications systems and new technology to support future rescues.

He added that the Maranello incident involved multiple lifeboat stations working together, including crews from Falmouth and Penlee in Cornwall.

He said Plymouth remained a busy station and that the Coastal class lifeboat would be "perfectly placed" for the types of incidents crews most commonly attended.

The RNLI said the vessel was designed to operate most effectively up to 10 nautical miles offshore but could extend its range to 25 nautical miles (29 miles, 46km) when required.

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