COASTGUARDS will be holding their first ever recruitment day next week as an appeal is launched for volunteer life-savers to come forward.

West Bay Coastguard will hold the event outside Bridport Arts Centre on Wednesday (2) as they search for helpers from the local community.

At the recruitment day, officers will be on hand to chat to potential new volunteers.

Jake Lanning, rescue officer at West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team, said: "Most people still not realise that the Coastguard Officers that make up the rescue team are all volunteers that live and work in the local community.

"We currently have three spaces open on the team and are looking for volunteers from the local community. We have never run a recruitment day before and are hoping that by having officers on hand that potential new members can chat to will answer a lot of potential questions and also help generate more interest.

"There are over 3,500 Coastguard rescue officers in the UK based over 362 teams all of which are manned by volunteers from the local community."

The Coastguard team will be outside Bridport Arts Centre from 8.30am on the busy market day in the town.

Officers are all volunteers who give up their time to keep people safe along the coastline.

We are trying to break the perception that we are a retained or full time employees," added Mr Lanning.

"Instead, we are local people who give up their time to respond to those in need, day or night, 24/7."

West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team is also called out to a range of events to promote sea safety.

Mr Lanning said: "While most of the incidents we attend end very well, we also had to recover the bodies of two people who had lost their lives on our coastline in 2014.

"Our thoughts remain with their families and friends.

"In addition, the team attended a number of local events, country shows and scout groups to promote the work of the Coastguard and sea safety.

"A Coastguard Rescue Team responds to a wide range of incidents and you never quite know what the next callout will bring."