A fun day will celebrate Northumberland's lifesaving heroes whilst raising money for the RNLI.

Bamburgh Lifeboat Fun Day, marking 200 years of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's (RNLI) role in saving lives at sea, is set to offer an array of family activities on Saturday, May 18.

From 11am to 3pm at Glebe Field, visitors can engage with crew members and the RNLI's water safety team, learning vital water safety tips through constructive fun.

The event pays tribute to Northumberland's rich history of lifesaving heroes, particularly highlighting the work of legendary figure Grace Darling.

Visitors will have the opportunity to hear about her daring rescue mission of 1838, in which she saved nine people from the Forfarshire Steamer shipwreck, courtesy of storytellers from the Grace Darling Museum.

Francis Watson-Armstrong, owner of Bamburgh Castle Estates and a former RNLI volunteer, expressed his support for the event, stressing Bamburgh's longstanding relationship with maritime rescue missions.

"The Castle served as an early lifeboat station in the 18th century," he explained.

This relationship, he added, continues today through the dedicated work of the RNLI volunteer crews.

A unique and powerful art installation will form part of the event, featuring 146 yellow wellies, each symbolising a thousand lives saved by the RNLI over the past two centuries.

Visitors can enjoy activities such as shanty singing, photography in crew kit and writing messages to crews, which will be placed in one of the yellow wellies.

The establishment of the RNLI in 1824 was in response to Sir William Hillary's appeal for a service to save those lost at sea.

The charity now operates 238 lifeboat stations, even maintaining seasonal lifeguards at over 240 lifeguarded beaches.

Despite these changes, the RNLI's dependency on volunteers and public donations is steadfast, ensuring lifesaving work at sea continues.

The Bamburgh Lifeboat Fun Day is an opportunity to support this vital cause, immersed in the rich history that underscores its importance.

The Seahouses Lifeboat Station will also be hosting an Open Day from 10am to 2.30pm on Sunday, May 19, featuring station tours and activities for children.