A 12ft-LONG inflatable whale called Wally is making North Berwick his home – while helping a rescue service save stranded real-life whales.

Wally cost £1,600 and has been donated to British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) following a grant award from North Berwick Trust.

He will be filled with water to give him a weight of about two tonnes –the same as a real stranded whale.

BDMLR is a rescue service which aim to provide assistance to marine mammals and other species in need of help across the UK.

In the UK last year, a total of 1,788 call-outs were performed including 36 involving the rescue of whales.

Wally the model whale will be used for training purposes at sea and on the coastline by BDMLR’s Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders division and stored at North Berwick Harbour.

Corinne Gordon, area co-ordinator at the Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders BDMLR, said: “We are extremely grateful to the trust for the grant awarded this year.

“Our volunteer area marine mammal medics are called out 24/7, 365 days per year to rescue injured and abandoned seal pups in this area, along with strandings of porpoises, dolphins and whales.

“Having this whale model means we can carry out training sessions throughout the year with our medics and educate the local public on what to do if they find a stranded marine mammal on the beach.

“Until now, the nearest model of this kind was in Aberdeen, so to have our own one will help us do more regular training.

“With our pontoons and the whale model, we carry out training of new and existing medics to ensure that cetaceans are given first aid, restoring equilibrium and keeping the animal wet prior to being refloated on an incoming tide.

“Using this essential equipment means all our team are ready to act to save our amazing marine wildlife living in our coastal waters.”

Dr Libby Morris, vice-chair of North Berwick Trust, said: “The trust funds a variety of local projects in the town.

“We recognised the number of stranded cetaceans on our beaches and could see the value in this project, both in caring for marine mammals and educating our community on what to do.”