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Bucket loads of fun at Hunstanton RNLI sandcastle showdown

Lifeboats News Release

Young builders took to the beach on 7 August for a Norfolk lifeboat station's sandcastle competition.

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Young builders get to work at Hunstanton RNLI's sandcastle competition
More than 100 young supporters dug in for the charity that saves lives at sea on Old Hunstanton Beach.

When the signal came to start, teams had just 45 minutes to show off their skills.

This year's contenders included Olympic-themed entries, along with sea creatures and RNLI-inspired creations.

Judges from the Hunstanton and West Norfolk Lifeboat Guild, which organised the event, admitted they were up against it.

'It's a tough call,' one confided as buckets and spades set to work under stormy skies. 'It's going to be very close.'

Back at the boathouse, weather experts from the station visits team reckoned the rain might just hold off.

Talking of stormy, station mascot Stormy Stan was greeted with cheers after he hitched a ride on the beach ice cream man's vintage Land Rover to help hand out the prizes.

Winners in the aged two to seven and aged eight and above categories, along with second and third-placed were awarded vouchers to spend at the station's souvenir shop.

Notes to Editors

Hunstanton is one of Norfolk's busiest lifeboat stations, whose volunteers operate both the inshore lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk and search and rescue hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer.

They cover The Wash, a tidal estuary stretching for more than 100 square miles fed by five main rivers, along with parts of the north Norfolk coastline.

Like more than 200 RNLI stations around the coast of the UK and Ireland, the crew's lifesaving work could not be possible without the kindness of those who give donations or leave legacies to the charity that saves lives at sea.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of both the RNLI and the founding of a lifeboat service at Hunstanton.

RNLI media contacts

For more information call Chris Bishop, Hunstanton RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07584 147219, Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, North and East on 07824 518641, or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.




RNLI/Chris Bishop

Young builders get to work at Hunstanton RNLI's sandcastle competition

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Young builders get to work at Hunstanton RNLI's sandcastle competition

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Young builders get to work at Hunstanton RNLI's sandcastle competition

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Stormy Stan with some of the winners at the Hunstanton RNLI sandcastle competition

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

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