The “Surrey Volunteer” is being funded by donations from Surrey County Council and the River Thames Society.

It will be formally launched on the river at Shepperton tomorrow at 7pm, in the traditional manner with a bottle of champagne on the bow.

The aim is to have it patrolling at weekends, which is a busy time on the River for leisure sports like paddleboarding and canoeing.

Her patrol area will stretch from Thames Ditton downstream of Molesey Lock and upstream of the lock to Walton, Weybridge and Shepperton.

She will complement the ‘Blue Light’, which patrols upriver from Teddington Lock, covering Kingston, Surbiton and Thames Ditton.