POOLE RNLI lifeboat station was the second busiest in the south west during 2013, with the volunteer crew called out 99 times.

Annual figures just released by the Poole-based life saving charity show that the busiest station in the region was Plymouth with 104 shouts.

The busiest RNLI lifeguarded beaches were in Cornwall, however those on 21 beaches in Dorset dealt with 2,925 incidents, helped 3,039 people and saved four lives.

Bournemouth West and East beaches combined were the busiest with 619 incidents over the summer while at Sandbanks, Poole they dealt with 243 incidents.

Andy Hurley, RNLI regional operations manager said: “The figures released today go some way to illustrating the incredible dedication shown by the charity’s volunteers, without whom we could not carry out our core purpose to save lives at sea.”

Across the south west lifeboats were launched 1,449 times, rescuing 1,450 people and saving 34 lives. Lifeguards reported their busiest year with 13,390 incidents, 14,802 people assisted and 56 lives saved.