The RNLI Lyme Regis has welcomed one of its youngest volunteers to the team.

Sam Ellis, a sixth form student at Axe Valley Academy, has joined up with his father, Mark Ellis, to take to the water to help others.

Sam, who turned 17 last month, is at the youngest age at which a new member can join.

The student took to the sea in the RNLI lifeboat for the first time on the same day his father, Mark, qualified as the latest volunteer to become a member of the sea-going crew of Lyme Regis.

Mark Ellis, from Uplyme, has been a crew member for two years and has now passed the final part of his sea-going training.

Mark said: "I am delighted and relieved to have got through training and very pleased for Sam who has been nagging me to join the crew at the first opportunity when he became 17.

"And that was only last month."

After completing his first training session afloat, Sam, said: "I just loved it."

Since its was founded in 1824, the RNLI's lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved more than 137,000 lives.

To find out more information about how you can get involved, you can visit their website: rnli.org.uk