THE all-conquering Dorset Fire and Rescue bathtub race crew have thrown down the gauntlet to other competitors in this year’s popular Lifeboat Week event in Lyme Regis.

Skipper Virgil Turner said: “We aim to break all the records again this year.”

Last year the firefighters crew of nine won for the sixth year running using their somewhat unconventional snow shovels as oars.

Mr Turner, who is station commander with the fire and rescue service in Lyme Regis.added: “There’s no rule against the shovels and, in fact, they are very hard work and almost a handicap.

“We challenge anyone to beat us this year and once again we will have one or two tricks up our sleeve.

“Apart from just winning we aim to do it in a record time.”

Rob Perry Marine from Axminster is once again sponsoring the bathtub race which is being held on July 22, the first day of Lifeboat Week, and is also entering the event.

Teams wishing to compete should simply turn up with their ‘vessel’ by 7pm to register. The race starts one hour later.

The bathtub race is just one of around 45 events during the week.

New events include a hole-in-one golf tournament in which players hit a ball off the North Wall of the harbour into a floating ‘hole, ’ and a water polo match between RNLI lifeguards and the lifeboat crew.