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RNLI fun for all the family
Eager families flocked to the coast to take part in the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's annual celebrations.
Young and old alike enjoyed the stalls, activities and displays on offer outside the Inshore Lifeboat Station, Marine Walk, Roker, Sunderland at the weekend.
The event was opened at 11am on Sunday by writer, performer and radio presenter Alfie Joey who currently hosts the BBC Radio Newcastle's afternoon show.
Paul Nicholson, senior helmsman at Sunderland RNLI said: "We are delighted to invite the people of Sunderland to come along and take part in this open day.
"It gives everyone the chance to meet our volunteer crew as well contributing towards the charity's on-going running costs.
"We would like to thank everyone who came here today and gave us their services free of charge."
Fund-raising is vital for the charity which has estimated annual running costs are more than 122million a year which works out as approximately 335,000 per day.
Because the RNLI is independent of the Coastguard and the Government, it depends on donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service.
Visitors dug deep to buy trinkets, cakes and books, or take part in games, competitions and other displays by search and rescue teams.
There were scones and cream cakes, pots of clotted cream, bags of fudge and an array of sweets and treats to keep everyone happy.
Children were given the chance to dress up in the RNLI Lifeboat crew's specialist clothing or drench a crewman with sponges soaked in freezing water.
The highlight of the event was a rescue demonstration by Sunderland's RNLI lifeboats' crews who have saved countless lives since the station opened 200 years ago.
So far in 2008, Sunderland's two inshore lifeboats have been launched into action 55 times proving the service is as vital as it has always been.
Throughout it's history, the organisation's lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved more than 137,000 lives at sea.
It provides a 24-hour search and rescue service around Britain and Ireland's coastline with more than 230 lifeboat stations operated by 4,800 lifeboat crew members, 95 per cent of which are volunteers.
The organisation also runs more than 100 lifeguard units on the UK beaches with volunteers giving up their time to carry out rescues in difficult and often dangerous conditions.
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Weather for Sunderland
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
