For the past three months around 20 volunteers from the station have been growing their hair as long as they could after it was decided the best way to raise money for the RNLI was to undertake a 'Shave Our Scalps' operation.

And on Friday evening at the Commercial Inn, local barbers, as well as the family and friends of the crew, were on hand to complete the final stages of the fund-raising efforts by shaving off each crew member's hair.

Arbroath Lifeboat coxswain Tommy Yule explained that the crew had to come up with the fund-raising slogan using the abbreviation SOS with one volunteer coming up with the headshave idea.

He said: "Somebody suggested SOS should stand for 'Shave Our Scalps' and we all voted on it and decided that's what we would do to try and raise money.

"We have had brilliant support from family, friends and work colleagues who have all helped us to raise as much as we can."

It is estimated the crew's efforts have realised around £6,000 for the RNLI which relies on donations to carry out their life-saving work.

Tommy continued: "All the money we have raised will be sent to the RNLI headquarters in Poole where it will go towards helping to provide new equipment and training for volunteers.

"Lifeboat volunteers have to be trained to a high standard and as many of them now don't have jobs as sea going people, this takes a lot of time and money."

The Arbroath Ladies' Lifeboat Guild also did their bit for the appeal by holding a 'Scones On Saturday' event in the Old and Abbey Church hall on Saturday morning.

The money they raised will be added to the £6,000 before it is sent to the RNLI headquarters in England.