KEEN oarsman have banded together to form what is thought to be North Berwick's first ever rowing club.

To date, North Berwick Rowing Club has attracted more than 20 members - aged from mid-teens to about 60-years-old - and intends to build a £2,500 kit-bought racing boat over the winter months in time for upcoming spring regattas.

The vessel - a St Ayles skiff - is powered by four single-oared rowers and directed by a coxswain. The fledgling rowing club recently trained in a prototype and hope to have built at least one, and hopefully two, before the season's inaugural regatta in Anstruther in May.

One of the founding members Paul Devine, said he believed this was the inaugural rowing group in North Berwick.

"I think this is a first for North Berwick," he said. "Other clubs have been formed in the county but not here. We intend to make a start on building the boat - which is expected to take around four months - this side of Christmas." Premises have been secured at Wamphray Farm where the committed rowers-turned-boatbuilders will work to shape their vessel. Shares in the boat will be made available to recoup costs.

Robbie Wightman, secretary of the Scottish Coastal Rowing Project, hopes that communities all the way along the Berwickshire and East Lothian coast will become involved.

"This is a great community project which combines construction, maritime heritage, health and fitness," he said. "Coastal communities such as Fisherrow, Prestonpans, Cockenzie, Longniddry, Aberlady, Gullane and Dunbar would be ideal communities to become involved." More information can be found on the www.scottishcoastalrowing.org and Robbie can be contacted through the contacts page of that website.