PROPOSALS to cut back lifeboat cover for a busy shipping area have been described as a travesty.

The future of the Teesmouth all-weather station is expected to be decided by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) operations committee at the start of next month.

Teesmouth operations manager Neil Marson believes time could be running out for the station, which has served the region for 177 years.

He said: "We are convinced that the level of current cover in the area is needed. There is no logic behind the RNLI's thoughts to reduce the cover when calls for the service are increasing. If you look at the incidents themselves, 2005 was the busiest year on record and, so far this year, there has been a 400 per cent increase in launches.

"If the station was closed, the loss of experienced volunteers would be a travesty. It takes five years from taking them on board to them becoming a fully effective member of the team.

"If they do close the station, unfortunately they would only realise the effect when there was a disaster and people lost their lives.

"Hopefully, the RNLI will come to the right conclusion and keep the station open."

Some members of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council are backing the campaign to save the station.

Deputy leader Councillor Vilma Collins said: "I think it is vital that the RNLI recognise there would be enormous public concern and anger at any suggestion that the station is at risk.

"I believe it is vital that everyone in the area supports the campaign to protect our local lifeboat services. It would be a dangerous folly to consider reducing cover in one of the busiest shipping areas in the country."

Crews from the station have been presented with 20 awards for gallantry in the past few years. However, one factor against Teesmouth is the need for a deepwater berth, rather than the current slipway.

The RNLI said in a statement last month that its reasoning for the review was based on the fact that two all-weather lifeboats operate only four miles apart and eight increasingly capable and sophisticated lifeboats cover 25 miles of coast.

The RNLI's trustees are expected to make their decision on Wednesday, April 5.