Volunteer RNLI crews have rescued more than 50 people in the Dengie over the last year.

The crew based in Burnham launched into the waters 36 times in 2018, rescuing 55 people in need of saving.

The volunteer team have now launched an appeal to raise funds to keep the crew running.

On Friday may 3 between 6am and 11am, the Burnham Guild will host a fundraiser at the train station, collecting cash to help keep the Burnham RNLI afloat.

The event is part of RNLI's Mayday fundraising events that will take place across the country.

It currently costs £2,161 to provide one all-weather lifeboat crew member with all the kit they need when responding to the call for help.

David Nicholls, volunteer lifeboat operations manager said: "When the charity’s annual rescue figures are published, it’s always a sobering reminder of what our RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews do year in year out – they literally drop whatever they are doing and race to save lives at sea when they get the call.

"The least they can expect is the best kit possible to protect them against the extreme conditions they face.

"Kit which gives them a firm footing on unsteady surfaces and shields them from injury, allowing them to carry out their lifesaving work.

"The Mayday national fundraising event is our own call for help, as we rely on the generosity of the public to fund the vital kit that helps keep the crews safe when they risk their lives for others."

The RNLI’s Mayday national fundraiser begins on Wednesday 1 May and will run for the whole month.

The organisation aims to raise a total of £700,000 across the country by the end of May.

To find out more, click here.