A rare opportunity is available to join a team of life-savers who keep the region's beaches safe.

Eastern Daily Press: Cromer RNLI lifeguards on the beach last year (2013).Cromer RNLI lifeguards on the beach last year (2013). (Image: Archant)

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is on the lookout for new lifeguards – with recruits needed across Norfolk and Suffolk.

With a training course leading to possible employment on the region's shores now open for applications, a call has gone out to join Norfolk and Suffolk's RNLI lifeguards this summer.

With the RNLI successfully patrolling 11 beaches in Norfolk since 2007, and in Lowestoft and Southwold since last year, potential new recruits aged 16 and over are being urged to join its experienced returning beach lifeguards.

Last year Norfolk's RNLI lifeguards saved eight lives, rescued 54 people and dealt with 989 incidents, ranging from searching for missing children to water rescues.

In Waveney, with a new partnership launched officially in June last year, Suffolk's RNLI lifeguards saved two lives, rescued 16 people and dealt with 133 incidents ranging from searching for missing children to water rescues.

RNLI lifeguards patrol beaches at Sheringham, Sheringham east, East Runton, Cromer east, Cromer west, Mundesley, Sea Palling, Hemsby, Great Yarmouth, Gorleston, Wells, Lowestoft and Southwold between May and September.

Candidates will need to prove they are courageous, selfless, trustworthy and dependable to make the grade and in return they will receive world class training in search and rescue, life-saving and casualty care techniques.

RNLI lifeguard manager Vince Pank said: 'Working as a lifeguard has got to be Britain's best summer job.

'Of course it's incredible to be able to call the beach your office, but far more importantly than that, you could save a life this summer.'

But before you can apply to become an RNLI beach lifeguard, you must first obtain a surf life-saving qualification. A course hosted by the North Norfolk Surf Life Saving Club will be held in Cromer between April 7 and April 12. Alternatively, another course will be held on Lowestoft South Beach between April 14 and 19. Both courses cost £230.

For more information contact Vince at vincent_pank@rnli.org.uk or call 07917 581567. Have you got a tourism story? Email newsdesk@archant.co.uk