Redcar MP Vera Baird made a splash when she went out on patrol with Redcar Lifeboat at the weekend.

She was given a tour of her constituency from the seaman's perspective in the station's Atlantic 21 lifeboat Leicester Challenge.

On the way back from Huntcliff, Ms Baird took the wheel and, with the help of crew member Mark Greaves, successfully recovered fellow crew member Mike Picknett from the sea.

Then, with an unceremonious splash, the MP went overboard herself and was rescued.

Before she returned to dry land, Ms Baird was transferred to the station's D-class lifeboat, Peterborough Beer Festival, which was put through its paces by helmsman Andy Stonehouse.

Back in the boathouse, Ms Baird presented long service medals to brothers Dave and Graeme Cocks, who have each achieved 20 years' service.

Dave is a senior tractor driver and mechanic, and was previously a crew member, while Graeme is a senior member of the shore crew who launch and recover the lifeboat from the sea after each rescue mission.

Both men have a long way to go before they catch up with their father, Charles Cocks, who gave more than 53 years' service to the RNLI.

Ms Baird also met the lifeboat station's Duke of Edinburgh Award candidates and 12-year-old Christopher Waites and his mother Nikki.

Last week lifeboat crews saved Christopher's life following a surf board accident