Volunteer RNLI lifeboat crews across Dorset will remain on call as the new year festivities continue.

Last year the charity’s volunteers in the South West were involved in a total of 30 search and rescue operations over the nine-day period.

This year the RNLI is urging visitors to the coast to be fully prepared with the appropriate clothing and equipment and know what to do in an emergency.

2012 was the busiest festive period for the South West lifeboat crews since 1990 with 17 of the 35 stations in the region being called out to a total of 30 emergencies.

The Lyme Regis crew launched twice.

Christmas 2012 also saw the RNLI’s specially trained Flood Rescue volunteers deployed to the flooding in Devon and Cornwall where they saved a woman’s life and rescued householders in a dramatic night of operations.