WHEN the oldest lifeboat in the world was brand new it was the pride and joy of the 100 or so souls who lived in the tiny fishing village of Redcar.

Now the people of the massively grown, post-industrial town are preparing to celebrate the day their Zetland lifeboat was first launched on October 7, 1802.

A service of thanksgiving will take place on Sunday, both for the Zetland which was used to save 500 lives in her 78-year career and for the Redcar lifeboat service which was created on that first day.

Those gathered for the emotional service will hear something of the incredible history of the Zetland and the lifeboatmen who have braved the Redcar seas over the past 200 years.

Stories like that of crew member Mike Picknett whose family has served with the lifeboat since his great-great-great-great-grandfather, Thomas Hudd, was with the Zetland.

And stories like that of William Guy, the only Redcar lifeboatman to lose his life.

Mr Guy died on Christmas Day, 1836, after being thrown overboard and crushed on the vessel he was attempting to rescue.

Those gathered will also hear the tale of the time, in 1854, when a ship called Jane Erskine ran aground and the Zetland saved the lives of 57 people at once.

Those stories and others like them will help to give the human side to some of the statistics about the lifeboat service in Redcar. This includes the fact that the station's lifeboats have been launched 1,075 times since records began in 1857, saving 1,173 lives in that time.

Redcar RNLI spokesman David Cammish said: "This will be a unique double celebration for the Zetland and the lifeboat service.

"In a private ceremony the station will be presented with its 200-year Vellum Certificate which will be a moment of great pride."

Roy Barker, chairman of the Zetland 200 committee, explained that the people of Redcar, who had a lifeboat before a church or a school, subscribed to buy the boat from Henry Greathead of South Shields.

The thanksgiving service will take place at St Peter's Church in Redcar at 2.30pm.

A painting has been commissioned depicting Redcar's beach in the early 1800s. There are 500 prints of the painting available for sale, one for each life saved. They cost £25 a print.

For more details call Mr Barker on (01642) 778349.