THE SAVING of 1,306 lives off the North Yorkshire coast is to be celebrated.

The men and women of the Whitby branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution will mark the station's 200th anniversary in the town at a thanksgiving service on Sunday.

The Whitby lifeboatmen have received five gold, 14 silver and 16 bronze medals for gallantry over the years.

The service will be at St Mary's Church, at 2.30pm.