MINEHEAD lifeboat station is looking for people to help with the job of saving lives at sea – but without leaving the safety of the land.

Officials are keen to recruit more volunteers to run the station shop which plays a vital role in local fundraising for the RNLI – last year its takings topped £46,000.

The shop operates daily from March to October and winter weekends, and a search is on for volunteer sales staff who can offer two to three hours once a fortnight, either on weekdays or at weekends, to keep it open.

Minehead RNLI chairman Bryan Stoner said the shop fulfilled a key role in the life of the station, bringing in additional income to complement that from local fund-raising and donations – which brought in £55,000 last year, a £6,000 increase on 2018.

“The RNLI has to raise all its funds without any Government support and that means we need to find around £3 million every week,” he said.

“And that’s why the shop volunteers are such important and valued members of our team.

“Many of our regular helpers are couples who have retired to the area. In nearly every case they have found that becoming involved with the life of the station has provided an invaluable way of settling into the local community, as well as being a highly enjoyable retirement interest.”

Volunteers will be given full training on all aspects of the shop’s management.