The Lowestoft RNLI lifeboat station on the town's South Pier is holding its annual open day on Sunday to give people a chance to see how its crew saves lives out to sea and along the seafront.

The station's crew says it is a great opportunity to find out more about the town's lifeboat and the work of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) charity.

From 11am people can meet the crew and look round the Spirit of Lowestoft Tyne offshore lifeboat.

There will be an exhibition showing the town's lifeboat in action and the opportunity to enjoy light refresh-ments as people watch lifeboat DVDs, including one showing many old local photographs.

Lowestoft is one of the oldest lifeboat stations in the country with a lifeboat stationed in the town since 1801. As well as many rescues the station helped the evacuation of British forces from Dunkirk and over the years its brave crews have received 45 awards for gallantry.

Since March 17 this year the crew has been called out 10 times to incidents.

Subject to operational requirements, the Spirit of Lowestoft Tyne class lifeboat will leave its moorings in the yacht basin on Sunday at 2pm and head through the pier heads.

There will be a demonstration by the volunteer lifeboat crew which people can watch from the South Pier or nearby beach and promenade.

Afterwards, people can join the crew and volunteer station officials for a Blessing of the Lifeboat service at 3pm at the lifeboat station. It will be conducted by the Salvation Army's Major Barry Willson and Tim Jenkins from the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen.

The lifeboat gift shop on the South Pier will be open on Sunday as usual and then on weekdays and weekends until Christmas.

An RNLI spokesman said: 'Lifeboat crews could not carry out the rescues they do without people supporting the RNLI, so come along and find out more.'