The RNLI relies on volunteer crews

On average, 21 people every day were rescued from troubled waters by lifeboat crews - a total of 7,815.

Michael Vlasto, of the RNLI, said the number of rescue attempts had more than doubled since 1986.

The figures were revealed just 12 days after crews rescued 14 cockle pickers trapped on sand banks at Morecambe Bay.

Twenty of their Chinese colleagues died after being stranded by the incoming tides on 6 February.

Volunteer crews

Mr Vlasto said the way the public used the sea, improved search and rescue techniques and the dramatic growth in the use of mobile telephones among the public had all contributed to the rise in rescue attempts.

But the RNLI still relied on volunteer crews and public donations, he added.

The organisation costs �290,000 every day to run.

The busiest lifeboat station in 2003 was Poole, Dorset, with 175 launches of its two lifeboats and 190 people rescued.