LIFEBOATS in Dorset have had their busiest ever summer, figures released by the RNLI show.

Call outs from the Weymouth and Lyme Regis stations in June, July and August were more than ten per cent up on last year.

Preliminary figures show Weymouth had 49 launches, compared to 43 for the same period last year.

The RNLI station on Nothe Parade began using a new £1.8million lifeboat in July 2002, the resort's first new offshore craft in 26 years.

Lyme Regis saw 22 summer launches, and Poole's lifeboat station was the busiest in the country with a total of 85 launches.

The total number of call outs in the UK during the summer was 3,667, up from 3,249 last year.

RNLI officials say the unprecedented levels of call outs were a result of the good summer enjoyed by the UK, the hottest since 1995.

Michael Vlasto, operations director for the RNLI, said: "We have to wait until the final figures for 2003 are collated and verified early next year to have a clearer view of any trends that may be emerging.

"One obvious explanation for this year could be that record temperatures have encouraged more people to take to the water or visit the coast.

"After such a season I would like to thank our lifeboat crews, who are mostly volunteers, for risking their lives time after time to save others.

"They are on call 24 hours a day and never tire of their responsibility.

"My thanks also go to the teams of volunteer fundraisers, without whose efforts the lifeboats couldn't operate as effectively as they do.

"Saving lives and educating the public on safety will remain our top priorities."

The RNLI is a charity funded by voluntary donations and legacies, and the 231 stations around Britain and Ireland cost nearly £300,000 per day to run.