LIFEBOAT volunteers have taken part in an event to promote sea safety and boost the RNLI ’s coffers.

Hundreds took advantage of the Poole RNLI open day, which saw the lifeboat station open its doors for the public.

There was also a host of displays, on and off the water, designed to hammer home important safety messages and provide an insight into the vital work the RNLI carries out.

Poole RNLI spokesman Anne Marie Clark, one of the many volunteers manning the event on Sunday, said: “It was nice to meet people safely here on land instead of during an emergency situation at sea.

“We were also able to raise a bit of money to fund our lifeboat station, buy new equipment and pay for crew training.”

The day also boasted a lifeguard demonstration, a capsize and refloat exercise, sea survival skills and a free lifejacket check.

Anne Marie explained: “A lot of people have discovered their lifejackets don’t actually work, so these checks have been vital.

“We’ve also had a Trent Class lifeboat from here from headquarters, which has proved a favourite with everyone.

“The event was all about making sure people go to sea with the right safety equipment.”

Another highlight was a launch demonstration – showing how the lifeboat crew goes from pagers’ sounding to launch, between six and eight minutes later.

Visitors in the morning got to experience a real launch, as the inshore crew headed out in the search for an overdue rower.

The rower later turned up safe and sound.