LOCALLY-FUNDED lifeboat Spirit of Tamworth has saved the lives of four teenagers who were swept out to sea in a dinghy.

The inshore lifeboat was launched just before noon on Monday this week after a RNLI worker heard shouts of panic.

The teenagers were in a seven foot dinghy with no lifebelts or oars and were being swept out to sea from East Bay, Roa Island, off the coast of Cumbria, by a fast running tide, which at 10.1 metres, was one of the highest of the year.

RNLI station mechanic, Paul Heavyside, raised the alarm when he heard shouts of panic from the two male and two female teenagers.

The volunteer crew quickly launched the lifeboat, reaching the dinghy within a few minutes. The teenagers were taken aboard and transported to the RNLI boathouse.

The lifeboat returned to the scene, took the dinghy under tow and returned it to the beach to prevent it from becoming a hazard to shipping.

Second Coxswain Shaun Charnley said: "It was a very foolhardy thing to do, they were lucky that they were spotted. If they hadn't been seen, they would have been swept well out to sea and the first little bit of swell would have capsized the boat and thrown them into the water. Without lifejackets they wouldn't have survived for long".

Lifeboat spokesman John Falvey added: "This dinghy has been on the beach for a long time, no one knows who it belongs to, it is in a very poor condition. The teenagers weren't bothered at all and I don't think they realise what a lucky escape they have had."

Committee member of Tamworth Lifeboat branch, Chris Muspratt, said: "Thanks to the people of Tamworth, that's four more people saved. Despite being so far in land, we are one of the few branches who have raised money for two lifeboats."

● Spirit of Tamworth is to be used as a reserve boat later this year when Vision of Tamworth, the second lifeboat funded by the town, is launched.