Twenty stone of herring was served up at Hemsby Herring Day, raising vital funds for the volunteer inshore lifeboat service.

Reverend Charles Powles blessed the herring - with a bible reading - as lifeboat men began to serve up the fish.

Coxswain Ross Hewitt said public support is vital to the charity, and hopes yesterday's fundraiser has brought more than �2,000 in.

'Fundraising is of paramount importance,' he said. 'It costs us around �20,000 per year just to run the service, and it goes up when we have to replace equipment.'

The crew started preparing for the event in April, and it is their last big beach fundraiser of the year.

Guests enjoyed fried herring with beef dripping in wholemeal flour, and lifeboat men also ran a bar.

Younger visitors enjoyed sea rescue displays by Newfoundland dogs, and made the most of a sunny afternoon by the Norfolk seaside.