DO YOU have what it takes to save a life on Weymouth beach this summer?

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) will be holding a free beach lifeguard try-out course from Monday June 9 to Sunday June 15, on Weymouth beach to find new lifesavers.

Across the week lifesavers will be put through their paces in a bid to find new recruits to patrol the beaches of Weymouth and West Dorset this summer.

No prior lifeguarding qualifications are necessary, as the course will be used to identify potential candidates as well as giving people the chance to find out what the job involves.

Talents the trainers will be looking for include: being a strong swimmer and being courageous, selfless, trustworthy and dependable.

RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor Kester Sheppard said: “This is a great opportunity for people to come along and see if they have got what it takes to get a job as a beach lifeguard.

“We'll be giving people the swim test that all potential lifeguards need to pass. They'll need to be able to swim 400m in under eight minutes. However, there is some flexibility if people don't quite achieve this - we'll be on hand to offer helpful tips on how they can go faster.”

He added that recruits could save a life in Weymouth or West Dorset this summer. He said: “And the skills you'll learn will benefit you for the rest of your life.”

A key part of a lifeguard's job is to spot dangers before they develop and they offer friendly and helpful advice, ensuring that people have a safe and enjoyable visit to the seaside.

Earlier this year beach lifeguard teams went into Dorset's school to teach more than 8,000 students how to stay safe at the beach.

The initiative came after last year saw the busiest summer for Dorset lifeguards in 24 years. In 2013 they helped more than 3,000 and around 65 percent of these were children and young people.

N Applicants need to be available from 23 June to 7 September. For information contact kester_sheppard@rnli.org.uk.