Busiest summer for lifeboat crews

Lifeboat crews in Kent carried out more rescues this summer than ever before, exceeding last year's figures by 3%, according to the RNLI.

Lifeboats were launched 195 times during June, July and August, compared to 189 the previous summer.

The busiest RNLI lifeboat stations were Ramsgate, with 42 launches, Whitstable with 38, and Dover with 35.

Rescues included swimmers in trouble off Folkestone, boat breakdowns and people cut off by the tide.

Royal National Lifeboat Institution divisional inspector Andrew Ashton said it was thought better weather and people holidaying at home could be partly to blame, despite the increase in public awareness.

The organisation said the rescue figures were the highest ever recorded by the charity in Kent.

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