BIKES, lifeboats and a tall ship all put some ‘welly’ into an innovative fundraiser.

This weekend saw the RNLI’s Yellow Welly Rally reach Dorset.

The fundraiser is taking place this month along the South Coast. From Portishead to Harwich, the welly is being passed from one lifeboat station to the next, in a chain of 65 stations. The idea is to pass it in as innovative a way possible.

Nationally May is the month for the RNLI to fundraise as ‘May Day’ is the distress signal used by mariners in trouble.

Volunteer lifeboat crews wear the trademark yellow wellies when they are out on an emergency ‘shout.’

On Saturday, Lyme Regis inshore lifeboat delivered the treasured footwear to the Weymouth lifeboat crew, with a little help from the Tall Ship Pelican.

The ship, which moors in Weymouth harbour, met the two crews off Portland Bill where they exchanged the welly.

Weymouth inshore lifeboat met the Pelican out in Weymouth Bay and brought the welly into harbour. They then handed it on to the all-weather lifeboat crew.

The RNLI’s Weymouth beach lifeguards then took the welly to the beach and back onto the Pelican.

The luminous footwear was greeted onboard the vessel by the First and Fifth Brownie groups.

They got the chance to see the welly and to learn more about the vital role the RNLI plays in saving lives at sea.

On Sunday, five of the Weymouth volunteer crew and several supporters, took on the challenge to pass on their welly to their colleagues in Swanage.

Setting out early, the cyclists arrived at Swanage station at 1.30pm. They handed over the footwear before heading back to Weymouth – a total round trip of 78 miles.

They enjoyed a well-deserved pint on their return to Weymouth.

Donate at www.justgiving.com/maydaywellyrelay or to find out more about the fundraising month and how to get involved, visit rnli.org/mayday