A NAUTICAL charity operating along the North-East coast is seeking new recruits to keep it ship-shape in coming years.

With events like the Tall Ships Race, in Sunderland, next year, looming on the horizon, the Northumbria unit of the Maritime Volunteer Service (MVS) is seeking to bolster its numbers by recruiting and training new volunteers.

The service aims to help to keep the nation’s maritime tradition alive by training and delivering practical seamanship and engineering skills.

The Northumbria unit covers the stretch of coast from Berwick to Hartlepool and last year provided invaluable support, both afloat and ashore, at the Tall Ship’s Regatta, in Blyth, in Northumberland.

It will be staging an information evening for prospective recruits on Wednesday February 1, from 7 - 9pm at the Old Low Light, at Clifford’s Fort, on North Shields Fish Quay.

Prospective volunteers will see a presentation about the service, a short film on the work of the unit, while volunteer officer Keith Newman will be presented with the Maritime Service Medal, recognising his work spanning more than 20 years with the charity.

Unit head, Volunteer Officer Angela Carrington, said: It’s time for us to grow the unit so that we can attend more events and utilise our vessels more.”

Potential new recruits need no previous nautical experience, as training will be offered.

Free tickets for the information meeting can be obtained via www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/maritime-volunteer-service-information-evening-tickets-31354619511, while further information is available from volunteer officer Newman, on 07814-397951.