RNLI fills village sea rescue gap

RNLI lifeguards will patrol until the end of the summer season in September

The RNLI is putting lifeguards at a Devon coastal village which has been left without cover by a coastguard rescue boat.

Hope Cove's coastguard-operated lifeboat, which has saved 21 people since 2000, was taken out of service in 2008 amid safety concerns.

The RNLI is now stepping in after meeting local people.

Lifeguards will be at Hope Cove from 1000 to 1800 daily and the service will be reviewed at the end of the season.

Phil Hill, RNLI divisional lifeguard manager, said: "Hope Cove is a popular tourist destination.

"We look forward to providing a beach safety service."

The coastguards' inflatable boat at Hope Cove was impounded in August 2008.

It followed a launch to save a young girl who was being swept out to sea, despite the boat being suspended for health and safety reasons.

After a protest by local people it was reinstated, but restricted to an area 1,640ft (500m) offshore, and later impounded again.