LIFEBOAT crews on the north Essex coast were kept busy last year, responding to more than 200 incidents and saving five lives.

Figures released by the RNLI showed that across Essex, the six lifeboat stations launched on 378 rescue missions in 2014.

They attend a wide range of incidents, including commercial vessels in trouble, distressed fishermen, swimmers and leisure marine users.

Overall, the crew rescued a total of 408 people.

Of those, 14 people were given first aid and five of those rescued were classed as “lives saved” – a specific RNLI criteria where a person would have most likely died if not for the RNLI rescuing them.

Clacton’s lifeboats were the third busiest in Essex, saving two lives during its 47 launches.