VISITORS to Minehead were able to see two local rescue teams in action on Bank Holiday Monday.

The town’s volunteer RNLI lifeboat crews and the RAF Search & Rescue team from Rescue 169 Chivenor carried out a joint training exercise.

The hour-long exercise, which involved manoeuvres between both Minehead inshore lifeboats, provided an excellent opportunity for volunteer crews to experience winching and casualty transfer operations normally restricted to real-life emergency situations.

The display also gave harbour-side visitors an opportunity to witness at close quarters the operational capabilities of the RAF Sea King Search and Rescue helicopter and the station’s Atlantic 85 and D Class inshore lifeboats.

Following the exercise, the helicopter set down on Culvercliffe green, where the public could speak to the crew and climb aboard for a look around.

Minehead RNLI volunteer helmsman Andrew Escott arranged the joint|exercise.

He said: “We rarely get the opportunity to train with the SAR crew due to their operational commitments but this morning gave both our probationary and experienced crews the chance to work with the helicopter under a range of scenarios.”

He added: “The crew are extremely grateful to RAF Chivenor for their time and the gesture of landing to give people the chance to talk to the crew and look at the helicopter was fantastic.”