Felixstowe Coast Patrol & Rescue has launched appeal

Felixstowe Coast Patrol & Rescue has launched an appeal to find new facilities for its equipment by September because the organisation can no longer use its current base in a car park close to the town's railway station.

The town's Co-Op owns the warehouse building and had let the charity use it, but now needs it back due to changes within the retail company.

READ MORE: Final bid to save Felixstowe’s coast rescue service

The decision means the charity, which helped save six lives at sea last year, now needs to find a classroom, or training room-type facility and a storage room for its seven-and-a-half metre rib vessel and Land Rover.

Coxswain Johno Brett, who is the patrol's chair, said: "Our notice runs out in September, but obviously the sooner we can find a new base, the better as far as everyone is concerned really."

Johno Brett, chair of Felixstowe Coast Patrol & Rescue (Image: Felixstowe Coast Patrol & Rescue)However, he said there was no threat to the patrol's survival and there was a back-up plan to use a site at Suffolk Yacht Harbour at Levington instead if a new place could not be found.

READ MORE: Rescue service forced to stay on dry land because of running costs crisis

Felixstowe Coast Patrol & Rescue has 35 volunteers who patrol a stretch of shore from Walton-on-the-Naze to Orford Ness.

The service, which has been in operation for 25 years, responds to a variety of incidents and so far this year has attended three mayday calls.

READ MORE: Felixstowe news

These could be people falling off jet skis or boats running aground on the River Deben.

Last year alone, the volunteers saved 48 people and a dog in boats that had got into trouble and in total spent 55 days on patrol.

Mr Brett added: "We are very busy and we also do a lot of social talks, water safety talks and we attend the Suffolk Show. We get involved in a lot of things."

READ MORE: Suffolk news