The RNLI has released figures that puts Kent's lifeboat stations ahead of record number of launches.

Ramsgate and Gravesend had 87 launches each and Sheerness is the third busiest with 86 launches.

Mechanical failures to seagoing craft accounted for a quarter of all alerts and two thirds went to rescue pleasure craft. Crews from Ramsgate were involved in the rescue of 145 people and Gravesend managed to bring 120 people to safety. (See the RNLI Gravesend lifeboat on our programme page.)

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