Volunteers from Helensburgh's RNLI branch are urging the public to support a fundraising campaign which is set to launch next month.

The local branch of the lifeboat charity is launching their Mayday Mile challenge which calls on the community to covering a mile a day for the month of May.

It comes after the charity revealed they launched 59 times last year – making demand or their services at a high.

Local operations manager, Howard Morrison, said: “Summer is the busiest time of year for the RNLI, with thousands of people at risk of getting into danger by the water.

“Having recently marked the RNLI’s 200th anniversary, we’re putting out our call for help to raise the funds which will help keep our lifesaving service going today and into the future.

“As a charity we rely on the generosity of the public to take part in events like the Mayday Mile and raise the funds that allow us to be there when we’re needed most.”

All money raised will go towards the charity’s work and will help provide training and equipment that is needed to keep volunteers safe.

The RNLI’s Mayday fundraiser begins on Monday, May 1 and will run for the whole month across the UK and Ireland.

The RNLI was established in 1824 and is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year.

Across their history, they have saved more than 146,000 lives at sea throughout the UK and Ireland.

Sign up for the Mayday Mile now and find out more at www.rnli.org/SupportMayday.