RNLI volunteers are visiting the Redruth Tesco store today as part of a south west regional tour to protect lives on the coast.

The visit is part of a tour that visits 11 stores across the south west all week, providing members of the public with a chance to learn more about the work of the RNLI in the south west. Safety information is also be available for people to learn how best to stay safe around the coast this summer and Respect the Water.

Earlier this year Cornish baker Rowe’s teamed up with Tesco to help support the RNLI. A delicious chocolate chip and orange biscuit, produced exclusively for the RNLI, is currently on the shelves in over 70 Tesco stores around the region with 10p from the sale of every pack of biscuits going to the lifesaving charity.

Ben Bowskill, community fundraising manager for Cornwall, said: "We’re delighted that Tesco and Rowe’s are supporting the RNLI in the south west this summer. We recently launched our drowning prevention campaign, Respect the Water, and these store tours now allow us the opportunity to spread our safety advice to as many people as possible.

"The south west’s population swells during the summer months so it’s really important we educate everybody on how to stay safe when they’re by the coast. Please do come down to your local store to meet our fantastic volunteers and learn more."

Kieran Aspey, from Tesco Redruth said: "A lot of people visit Falmouth in the summer months and any way we can help the RNLI make their visits to the coast safer is great."

In 2015, 31 people lost their lives around the south west coast, and over half of those were people who did not intend to get wet – people taking part in activities such as coastal walking, running, climbing or angling. Other risk factors include cold water shock, and rip currents.

The RNLI’s Respect the Water message urges people to take extra care and treat the water with respect, as not everybody can be saved.

UK-wide, the number of lives lost at the coast reached a five-year high last year, with 168 lives lost. The Respect the Water campaign will run throughout the summer on channels including cinema, outdoor, radio, online, and on catch-up TV channels.

To find out more information on how to stay safe, visit RNLI.org/RespectTheWater