LIFEBOATMEN from have under-gone vital capsize training which will ensure cover is maintained at two North-East stations.

A mobile crane was brought in to capsize an Atlantic B class lifeboat with crews from Sunderland and Hartlepool on board.

The crews were then taught how to right the boat safely and restart it, along with sea survival techniques, during the exercise at Hartlepool Marina.

This was the first time such training has taken place away from the RNLI's inshore lifeboat training centre on the South Coast.

Robin Warrington, the RNLI's training divisional inspector for the North, said the training had to be carried out locally to enable lifeboat cover to be maintained at the two lifeboat stations.

He said: "A capsize is an extremely rare occurrence, but it is essential that all crew know exactly how to react if it does happen.

"The RNLI is committed to giving our volunteer crew the best possible training to ensure that, when they are saving lives at sea, they do so in the safest and surest way possible."

For the Sunderland crew, it was the first stage in an intensive training programme to prepare them to man their new 32-knot Atlantic lifeboat, which is soon to replace the lifeboat station's Trent class all-weather boat.

The Sunderland lifeboat operation manager, Captain Peter Mitchell, said: "This training is just the start of the Sunderland crew's preparation for receiving their new boat.

"The Atlantic is a fantastic, versatile boat and the crew is looking forward to really getting to grips with it over the next few weeks."

Manned by only three crew, it can launch more quickly than an all-weather boat, enabling the crew to respond faster and so reach casualties sooner.