As this issue of THE LIFEBOAT was going to press severe weather caused the flooding of the North Wales town of Towyn and the surrounding areas.

D class inflatable lifeboats from Rhyl, Llandudno and Flint (some 25 miles away by road) were at the scene over a period of several days and the stations' launching vehicles also performed sterling service in the deep floodwater.

First estimates are that lifeboatmen ferried more than 500 people to safety..