Students have been learning about the work of the lifeboat service during a series of visits to their local station.

Hartlepool College of Further Education students have toured the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) station, in the town’s Ferry Road, Hartlepool, as well as picking up vital safety tips.

Public services and policing lecturer Aneta Bradley, who teaches and co-ordinates initiatives for uniform public services students, said afterwards: “The visits have allowed them to learn about the role and responsibilities of the RNLI, how they work with other emergency workers, and at the same time learn about volunteer services.”

Hartlepool RNLI visits officer Jimmy Slaughter praised the students following their visits and added: “We have really enjoyed hosting the students who have shown a great deal of interest in the various roles of the volunteer crew and also learning about how to be safe at sea and on the beach.”