There will be a chance to see the RNLI’S volunteers in action on Saturday when a past tradition is revived.

The Minehead station is organising its first Lifeboat Day for many years as part of its 2019 fundraising activities.

The station will be open all day to visitors with an opportunity to meet crew members and inspect the state-of-the-art D class and Atlantic 85 lifeboats.

The station’s fund-raising team is organising entertainment and serving tea and cakes at the Quay West station all day.

And the programme will end with both boats being launched for a sea rescue demonstration at 3pm with a planned visit by the coastguard helicopter from St Athan, subject to operational demands and weather.

There will also be a pop-up RNLI shop in the Old Hospital forecourt, supported by street collections.

Minehead RNLI chairman Bryan Stoner said Minehead’s Lifeboat Day had been a fixture in the calendar in the days of the old, wooden lifeboats.

“The lifeboat would be decorated and pulled through the streets by horses with the crew on board,” he said.

“We can’t recreate that scene because we are no longer allowed to take either boat off-station for such an event.

“But there are many people in Minehead who don’t even know we have a lifeboat station, so this event will offer them a chance to look around and learn about the work of the RNLI, as well as seeing our dedicated volunteer crew in action.”