Lifeboat heroes will take part in this weekend's veterans parade as part of the Weymouth RNLI station's 150th anniversary celebrations.

The parade, part of the town's Armed Forces Celebrations weekend, is this Sunday, June 23.

Members of the lifeboat station – as well as others from the maritime community – will join in the celebrations on Weymouth seafront.

The station is inviting all members of the community, especially those who have had family involved with the Weymouth RNLI, to come and join them.

Station Press Officer Ken Francis said: "If your granddad or great granddad was on the crew or your great uncle or any other relation was one of the volunteers, then they and therefore you, are part of our history and we would love to see you on the parade to help us celebrate all of the 150 years of our existence."

The Weymouth lifeboat station played a notable role in the Second World War.

Their lifeboat was requisitioned by the Royal Navy on three occasions for defence exercises and troop transportation.

It was also required to carry out regular lifeboat duties, and it was frequently assisted by other vessels from the Naval base on Portland.

The boat also helped with a historic rescue in 1940 after it was called out during an air battle.

Describing the event, a spokesman said: "Her crew could see the swooping aeroplanes and hear the rattle of the machine guns, with bullets and fragments falling in the water all around them. "Then a more terrible missile nearly overwhelmed them. It turned out to be a German aeroplane which plunged into the sea only a few yards away.

"The lifeboat went to it at once but in those few seconds it had sunk, taking its crew with it except for one man. He was the first German airman to be rescued by a RNLI lifeboat. Seven more airmen were rescued during the Battle of Britain by lifeboats along the English Channel."

The veterans parade is on Sunday, June 23 at 11am. The open air service and parade will feature more than 1,500 veterans as well as marching bands and convoy vehicles.

Meanwhile, this Saturday there will be a series of historic military vehicles on the seafront outside the Pavilion for visitors to see. The convoy leaves for Portland at 12.30pm.