Cromer lifeboat had a new member of the crew yesterdayas actor Roger Lloyd Pack pulled on his survival suit and stepped on board.

The north Norfolk-based star of film and television is playing pier theatre manager Norman in a new movie being shot in the area.

His character is also a retired lifeboatman, and son of a coxswain who died in a rescue of two boys in a dinghy. One of the final scenes sees him recalled to the boat when it is short of crew – and launched to a similar 'shout'.

Mr Lloyd Pack said it was a emotional part of the plot, as Norman risked his life and realised there were other things in life than his long-running management of the pier's showbusiness.

The film, In Love with Alma Cogan, also features Niamh Cusack, as Norman's devoted assistant Sandra, and Keith Barron, as his friend Cedric.

Filming of the story ends on Sunday and producer Anwen Rees-Myers said the wintery weather had not affected the venture, set in the autumn, too much.

'We have been very lucky. We had to cancel one scene on West Runton golf course because of snow. But we filmed on the marshes at Wiveton when it was cold but sunny,' she said.

There was a risk the planned shots of the lifeboat launching at the weekend might not happen, but they had plans to work around that.

Cast members were being kept warm with hot water bottles, and crew members had their thermal clothes on as filming went ahead yesterday at the lifeboat house, amid 50mph winds and towering waves – which will not be seen in the final edit.

Mr Lloyd Pack said: 'It is testing in this weather, but you just concentrate on your part, then realise how cold it is afterwards.'