TEAMS from New Brighton Lifeboat Station and the Mersey Divers will face eachother again in their annual New Year's Day Tug of War. 

The event, taking place on the beach near Fort Perch Rock, is in aid of the RNLI's lifesaving work, is due to start at 12pm on Sunday, January 1.

New Brighton RNLI will be fighting to keep the trophy whilst Mersey Divers will be hoping for their first victory since the competition began.

On Thursday, December 15, some of the New Brighton RNLI crew visited the Merseyside Sub Aqua Club - Branch 5. It was an opportunity for the teams to see who they will be up against.

With a practice session planned for Wednesday 21 December, the New Brighton RNLI tug of war team is taking the challenge seriously and determined to keep the trophy at the Lifeboat Station.

Ian Thornton, lifeboat operations manager for New Brighton Lifeboat Station said: "This will be the first competition we have hosted since the Covid-19 pandemic, so please come down to show your support.

"It's a great event which demonstrates the community spirit around the New Brighton area.’

David Edwards, Chairman of the Merseyside Subaqua Club - Branch 5 said: "The tug of war is something that we look forward to every year and we’re hoping we might actually win it this year!"

The event is free to watch. Fundraising volunteers will be on the beach and promenade to collect donations for the RNLI. Your donations can help the Lifeboat Station continue its mission of saving lives at sea.