Whitby's chief coastguard Tony Hornigold is retiring and his deputy, Robert Parkin, is to take over.

Halifax man Mr Hornigold 59, was a mechanical engineering lecturer in Middlesbrough before he became a coastguard. He now plans to spend more time enjoying his hobby - sailing.

Mr Parkin, 29, is following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who was a coastguard in Whitby for 42 years.

Meanwhile, an appeal is being made for new members for the auxiliary coastghuard search and rescue team in Whitby and an open day is being held on Sunday at the coastguard station, in Captain Cook's Crescent, Whitby.