RNLI lifeboats launched 3,575 times between June 1 and August 31 this summer – a slight drop on last year’s figures.

The RNLI has attributed the drop of two per cent from 3,633 launches in 2011 on the poor weather that blighted the start of the season.

On average lifeboats were launched nearly 39 times a day, with the River Thames’ Tower and Chiswick lifeboat stations being the busiest with 160 and 73 launches respectively.

On the coast Southend-on-Sea, Essex was the busiest with 71 launches, followed by Ramsgate, Kent with 49 launches and Calshot, Hampshire with 46.

Michael Vlasto, RNLI Operations Director, said: ‘This has been another busy year for the RNLI despite the poor weather at the start of the summer.

‘It was also a memorable summer as our lifeboats, volunteer crew and lifeguards were involved in both the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant and the London 2012 Olympics.’

Photo credit: RNLI/Nigel Millard