It is a welcome opportunity to celebrate the great work of our volunteer lifeboat crew at the Largs RNLI Open Day this Saturday.

Anyone who has been watching the BBC documentary on the lifeboat around the UK will have been impressed by the bravery, speed and efficiency of the volunteer crews, and it is a chance to say your thank you this weekend to our local heroes.

The open day promises fun for all the family and takes place from 12 midday until 4pm.

During the event, the brand new coastguard helicopter Sikorsky will be demonstrating lifts from the boat and the water around 2pm.

In attendance will be - the police, coastguards, first responders, sea safety team, Territorial Army with an army jeep, rowing club, model boats from Largs model boat club.

There are plenty of activities for children including the young ones with a bouncy castle, RNLI stalls, money in the welly challenge and of course a BBQ.

Former 'News' editor Drew Cochrane will be providing commentary for some of the action on the day, after he helped launch the successful sponsored walk earlier this year for the local lifeboat.

The RNLI Fundraising Branch will have several stalls inside the station including a tombola, crafts, throwing coins into a yellow welly for the children and more competitions, and that the souvenir shop will be open from 10.30am on the day, to support the very good cause of saving lives on the water.

The open day provides an opportunity for you to show your support to our volunteer lifeboat crews who risk their lives to save others at sea, and sometimes on land.

In the UK in general, the work of the search and rescue service increases year on year and now on average its saves 23 people a day.