MINEHEAD’S RNLI shop has re-opened for the year after losing much of the last 12 months’ trading because of the pandemic.

Volunteers are now manning the shops based in the Quay West lifeboat station, from Wednesday to Sunday from 11am-1pm each day.

But station officials say they plan to return to normal, all-day trading hours as soon as restrictions are relaxed.

In recent years merchandise sales in the shop have brought in more than £50,000 a year for RNLI funds on top of the average £50,000 raised locally through collections, donations and fundraising events.

And, said shop manager Alma Williams: “Clearly with RNLI shops all over the country having experienced the same constraints during lockdown, everyone is keen to open the doors again.

“As well as offering merchandise our shop also acts as an information point about the station and its activities so is a very important element of the RNLI’s presence in Minehead.

“All our volunteer staff are looking forward to an interruption-free trading season this year.”