HUNDREDS of people took full advantage of the summer sunshine when they called into Redcar to show their support for the RNLI.

A full day of events at the weekend saw volunteers take to the sea to show off their skills while the Coastguard helicopter flew in on the afternoon to perform a rescue operation.

The town's two rescue boat volunteers were joined by crews from neighbouring Hartlepool and Staithes stations.

As a result of the annual fundraising day, the charity's coffers were boosted by £3,300.

Peter Haslett, treasurer at the Redcar RNLI station, said: ‘We were really pleased with the amount raised. The total was £800 more than last year, so I’d like to say a huge “thank you” to everyone who made a donation.

"Our volunteer crews can’t do what they do unless they get the support of the local community."

A further £1,200 has been raised by the crew who have just completed a virtual rowathon. Using rowing machines the crew, by RNLI lifeguards and local police and sea cadets, have rowed 425 miles, equivalent to the distance by sea from Redcar to the RNLI headquarters in Poole, Dorset.