Facts and Figures In 1987 the RNLI's lifeboats have so far launched 1,572 times, saving 638 lives.

In 1986 lifeboats launched 3,712 times (an average of over 10 times each day) and saved 1,424 lives (an average of over three each day).

Over 44 per cent of all services carried out by lifeboats in 1986 were in winds of force 5 or above.

Sixty-two per cent of all services were to pleasure craft.

There are 261 lifeboats on station and a further 97 in the RNLI relief fleet.

115,613 lives have been saved since 1824, when the RNLI was founded.

The net cost of running the RNLI in 1987 will be over 29 million.

Current costs of building lifeboats are as follows: 16ft D class inflatable £8,250 17ft 6in class inflatable £10,500 21ft Atlantic rigid inflatable £31,000 47ft Tyne £450,000 52ft Arun £415,000.