BAYWATCH came to the region's coast yesterday when model Nell McAndrew braved the rain and fog to don her swimsuit.

She was in the resort of Scarborough to launch Yorkshire Water's 2005 Baywatchers summer campaign.

The company has signed a deal with Scarborough Borough Council that includes a new rescue boat for the town and sponsorship of the authority's lifeguards.

Yesterday, McAndrew, who also fronted Yorkshire Water's recent television campaign, joined forces with the borough's lifeguards to kick off the sponsorship deal.

The company has spent more than £120m building waste water treatment works in the resorts of Whitby and Scarborough, as well as in Bridlington, Filey, Hornsea and Withernsea, further down the east coast.

A spokesman for the company said: "Thanks to this investment, the quality of the bathing water has improved considerably and a number of resorts now boast coveted Blue Flags.

"Because this work is helping to boost tourism, which is seeing more people using the sea, Yorkshire Water sees it as almost a duty of care to ensure the waters are properly patrolled, hence the sponsorship deal which also includes a new rescue boat for Scarborough."

During August, teams from Yorkshire Water, known as Baywatchers, will be touring the resorts promoting the work the company has done, as well as giving away Yorkshire Water beach goodies.