Eight RNLI lifeguards paddled 10-miles on their rescue boards from Whitsand Bay to Looe in south east Cornwall on August 6 to celebrate RNLI Lifeguard week and raise money for the charity's Life first campaign.

They arrived in Looe after three and a half hours of paddling, to take part in a spectacular rescue exercise, watched by over 500 people, with the RNLI lifeboats from Looe and Fowey, Looe's Coastguard cliff rescue team and the Royal Navy Search and Rescue helicopter.

RNLI lifeguard supervisor for Whitsand Bay, James Millidge, who organised the lifeguard's Paddle for Life challenge, was apprehensive before they set off from the beach yesterday lunchtime, he said: "We're all slightly nervous, conditions are reasonable, but with a one to two foot, slightly messy swell running, and a south, south westerly wind it will definitely be a test of endurance!

"But we're all confident in the training we've put in, and looking forward to meeting up with the RNLI lifeboats in Looe for the training exercise, and hopefully getting a warm welcome from supporters!"

The lifeguards had given themselves five hours to complete the paddle, but once underway conditions turned out more favourable than they had thought, and they paddled into Looe lifeboat station at around 4.30pm, way ahead of family and friends who were expecting them at 6pm!

James added: "I think all the training we had put into the challenge really paid off. We hit a wall at around 7 miles, but we made sure we paddled together as a team, and encouraged each other though the tough points. There was a great team spirit along the route, and we all felt fairly good when we got in, some of us even found enough energy to take part in the rescue exercise as well.

"We were especially pleased with the turn out of people who came along to support us, and watch the exercise. Despite the frequent down pours of rain, there were about 500 people on the sea front. It was a great opportunity for us to train alongside the other rescue organisations and illustrate the joined up rescue service the RNLI provide around the coast. I hope people enjoyed watching the action.

"We've all been individually collecting sponsorship and people kindly made donations on the night so we are yet to know the full total, but we hope to have raised around £1,000 for the RNLI. It was a great way for us to show our support of RNLI Lifeguard week, and we hope to make it an annual event, which will be bigger and better next year!"

If you want to sponsor the RNLI lifeguards taking part in the Paddle for Life, please visit www.justgiving.com/paddle4life.