THE RNLI lifeboat station in Lyme Regis is on the look out for more volunteers to help keep the lifesaving operation afloat.

While there is no serious shortage of volunteers, plans must be put in place for the future.

The Lyme Regis station has 30 volunteers carrying out a wide variety of tasks, and 19 of them qualify to go to sea.

But at the age of 50 the RNLI regulations state that men or women can no longer be sea-going crew.

Lifeboat operations manager Rob Fossett said: “We do not have a serious shortage of people and certainly not an immediate crisis, but we do need to plan carefully for the future.”

He added: “It can take anywhere between six months and a year for a man or a woman to become a sea-going crew member.

“The majority of training takes place at our lifeboat station and can also involve courses at the RNLI headquarters in Poole. All crew are continually assessed.”

Availability and commitment are key to becoming volunteers with the RNLI charity.

The need to be living in or close to Lyme Regis is also important so that volunteers can reach the lifeboat station safely and in good time for launching.

There is also a need to be able to leave work to answer a ‘shout’ which can occur at any time, night or day, 365 days a year.

Apart from going to sea, crew carry out a multitude of duties ashore including operating the radio link between the boathouse, the lifeboat and the coastguards, maintaining the tractor and other vital equipment, training, keeping the station itself tidy, giving talks and generally promoting the work of the charity.

Anyone who would like to know more about joining the crew should write to the lifeboat operations manager at the RNLI lifeboat station at The Cobb, Lyme Regis.