A volunteer for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is following in the footsteps of her father, who has been a part of the organisation for almost two decades.

Stuart Lacey, the helmsman and station mechanic at Burnham-on-Sea lifeboat station, has been a part of the RNLI for nearly 20 years.

His 18-year-old daughter, Neve, who has been surrounded by the RNLI all her life, has always shown interest in following her father's path.

Mr Lacey said: "Neve was born August 2006, turned 18 this year, and signed up on her 18th birthday.

"She has been brought up around the RNLI and has wanted to follow in my footsteps since she can remember.

"Neve volunteering with RNLI has made me very proud as these days young people do not seem to want to get involved."

On November 3, Neve took her first step into the RNLI as she joined helmsman Jason Coombes on her first acquaintance trip.

She donned a drysuit and joined Mr Coombes as he helmed the Burnham-on-Sea Atlantic 85 lifeboat Doris Day and Brian.

She also spent some time on the Burnham D Class lifeboat Burnham Reach, which was helmed by her father, Mr Lacey.

All members of the shore crew team are occasionally offered acquaintance trips to assess their suitability as future boat crew.

The necessary training of volunteers, although complex and detailed, is provided by the RNLI both in-house and at the RNLI college in Poole.

This is part of the scheme known as the Operational Competence Framework.