THEY watch, and they look, and they observe, and they record.

From a vantage point above the Zetland Lifeboat Museum, Redcar, volunteers watch the North-East shore and sea, from Hartlepool to Skinningrove.

The members of Redcar Coastwatch, part of the Sea Safety Group, are watching for people, boats or ships in trouble to alert coastguards to potentially life-threatening situations.

In 1990, fishermen and sea captains across the country became concerned about the number of collisions involving fishing boats and merchant ships that were resulting in a loss of life.

The result was the Sea Safety Group.

It involved the formation of coastal surveillance stations around the country, by rejuvenating old coastguard stations, and installing volunteers who would provide an extra pair of eyes and ears for the coastguards.

The coastguard station in Redcar was closed in the early 1990s, as part of a cost-cutting exercise. It was brought out of mothballs for the group in October 1996.

Last year, members of the team spotted 29 incidents which would have gone unreported because of the lack of coastguard facilities in the town - and, since it opened, the station has alerted coastguards to more than 100 various incidents.

Ray Preston, the station controller and a former lifeboat volunteer, said yesterday: "Quite a few of the watchkeepers were upset when the coastguards closed this station.

"They all felt they could do something to help - that is why we all volunteered, to see what we could do for the town.

"We have ex-policemen, a magistrate, a former sea captain, Tees river pilot, an ex-school teacher, people from all walks of life - and not just local people from Redcar.

"The fishermen feel more secure because they know that there is someone up here watching over them.

"Not every boat that goes to sea carries radio, so it is reassuring to know that someone is watching."

Currently, the station is open from 8am until 4pm, but more volunteers could extend that to 9.30pm, or beyond.

The service is funded entirely by donations, like its sister service the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

The service is constantly on the look-out for new volunteers, so that it can develop the service it offers.

Anyone interested in volunteering just one or two hours a week is asked to call (01642) 491606