Over 10,000 copies of a children’s book produced by the RNLI and supported by TV star Chris Jarvis have been sold since it went on sale this year.

Entitled The Big Christmas Rescue, the book can be personalised for the individual child to put them at the centre of the story, which has been created by Rory Stamp, senior editor, based at the RNLI, on West Quay Road.

Rory said: “It is wonderful to see this book being well-loved by kids, introducing them to the RNLI as well as raising money to help keep volunteer lifeboat crews equipped, trained and safe.

“I wrote the story in the build up to Christmas 2013 and was able to try it out on the most honest and beautiful critics I could possibly have found – my daughters Lucie and Hattie.”

The book is set on a wet and windy Christmas Eve night, when Santa crashes his sleigh in the sea, leading to volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew members going to the rescue, with the help of a very special child.

The name, gender and skin tone of the child at the heart of this wonderful festive story can be selected when ordering the book, making it a truly unique gift.

Between December 23, 2013, and January 1, 2014, RNLI lifeboat crews launched 122 times across the UK and Ireland, rescuing 62 people and saving five lives, with six launches on Christmas Day.

Rory’s book has been created to raise funds for the lifesaving charity, which sees volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service, operating 235 lifeboat stations and more than 200 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Ireland.

It is priced at £9.95 and is available from rnlishop.org/bigrescue