BLAZING hot seaside weather and blue skies brought out the crowds for Minehead Lifeboat Station’s annual open day on Saturday afternoon (June 29) and helped raise more than £2,700.

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Yesteryear and today's Royal National Lifeboat Institution crew kit is demonstrated for the Minehead station's open day. PHOTO: George Ody.

It was an occasion full of fun as residents and visitors alike helped celebrate the 200th anniversary year of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

Entertainment ranged from a shanty singing session and children’s games to full-blown demonstrations by the crews of the station’s lifeboats and the kit they use to ‘Save Lives at Sea’.

There was also an RNLI version of the television Bake Off competition for adults and under-16s with the bicentenary of the charity selected as the theme for entries.

The RNLI depends on public support to fund the expense of running its vital life saving equipment.

In the past three years, Minehead lifeboat crews have completed more than 100 rescues and have been credited with saving at least 10 lives.