The RNLI is keen to show people just how it goes about saving an average of two lives at sea every day.

The Poole-based lifeboat charity proposes to build a £5 million, state-of-the-art visitor centre in West Quay Road and has applied from permission from Poole planners.

It aims to provide a major national attraction in the heart of Poole, which it believes could draw in 200,000 visitors a year.

The two-storey building, with parking, would be near the £10.9m training college currently being built, and is hoped to be open by 2007. It would allow people to get behind the scenes of the service and understand more about the lifesaving work carried out from 231 lifeboat stations around the British coast.

Land Design, the company behind several top UK attractions including the new maritime museum at Falmouth, has developed the exhibition design.

Visitors will be able to spend more than two hours trying out interactive and audio-visual displays including 3D film of a rescue at sea.

They can try their hand at becoming a beach lifeguard and find out what happens when a human body is subjected to cold temperatures in the water.

There will also be a caf with waterside views and an RNLI gift shop both with entrances outside the visitor centre.

"The RNLI has a lot to offer both the local community and the millions of tourists who visit the area each year," said James Vaughan of the RNLI.

"We want to develop an attraction that is on the 'must see' list for everyone who is visiting this part of southern Britain.

"We can offer a glimpse inside a major emergency service and by doing so, we hope to give visitors a clear understanding of all the incredible work that is made possible by donations and volunteers all around the British Isles," he added.