MEMBERS of New Brighton lifeboat crew strutted their stuff in a Yellow Welly Zumba to launch the RNLI's Mayday challenge.

Mayday is a fundraising event running from May 1–5 in Wirral and across the Mersey.

All organised events have a welly theme, taking inspiration from the yellow boots which are a vital piece of RNLI crew kit.

To encourage people to take part in Mayday, members of New Brighton RNLI lifeboat showed off their footwork outside the crew's station. Putting them through their paces was local Zumba instructor Jordan Griffiths.

Graham Sale, New Brighton RNLI Lifeboat operations manager, said: "The Zumba session was a bit of a change from our normal RNLI lifeboat training and I think we soon realised rhythm isn't our strong point.

"But we had a great laugh, and we hope everyone who gets involved in Mayday from 1 – 5 May will have as much fun as we did."

In offices around the region, people are organising Wear Your Wellies To Work days, with everyone taking part paying £2 for the privilege.

Other events include welly walks and welly-themed cake sales, while schools are being asked to Fill Your Boots, using a welly as a collecting bucket to raise funds for the RNLI.

The charity’s volunteers will also be out in force selling yellow welly Mayday pin badges for a £2 donation.

Deborah Ferns, the RNLI's community fundraising manager, said: "Yellow wellies are a vital piece of protective kit for RNLI lifeboat crews, who wear them for hours on end when they are saving lives at sea.

"We thought asking people to wear their own wellies for Mayday when they were at work or while doing something fun like Zumba would help them empathise a little with our volunteers.

"It's a great way to show support for our charity and hopefully raise some money for the RNLI at the same time."

All money raised will support the RNLI's lifesaving work. To get involved in Mayday or make a donation, visit www.rnli.org/rnlimayday