Volunteers providing lifesaving cover on one of Falmouth's beaches are appealing for donations to help continue their work keeping beachgoers safe.

Gyllyngvase Surf Life Saving Club has begun carrying out patrols at Gyllyngvase Beach, in place of the RNLI service that has yet to resume there since coronavirus restrictions.

More than 30 trained volunteers, including many former RNLI lifeguards, as well as those would normally have been lifeguarding this summer, are now giving up their time to cover a rota between 10am and 6pm every day.

Read more: Patrols to begin on Falmouth beach as safety fears grow

Following guidance from Surf Life Saving GB, at present the volunteers are not carrying out rescues but will educate people on the dangers and be close at hand to contact emergency services if necessary.

It is hoped however that the the club, run by chairman Simon Thomason, can soon be stepped up to a full lifeguard service.

However, to keep the service running, the club is hoping to raise £1,500 to help fund the equipment and materials needed to provide it.

An online fundraising appeal has now been set up at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/gyllyngvase-voluntary-beach-lifesaving-patrols

The club said: "Our volunteers have been observing the beach, providing advice to beach users, and taking measures to prevent incidents, and have already carried out several rescues to prevent drownings.

Read more: Off-duty lifeguard rescues multiple swimmers from rip at Falmouth beach

"So far we’ve relied on the basic equipment and supplies of the club and its volunteers. We are in desperate need of additional equipment and PPE to allow us to carry out our voluntary beach patrols effectively over the coming weeks, and to allow us to extend the level of cover provided by our patrols."

This includes sun cream; hand sanitiser, disinfectant, wipes and spray; uniforms and hats; beach safety signs; and specialist rescue equipment - throw lines, tow lines, VHF radios and waterproof binoculars.

Any donations beyond the club's initial target will be used for additional equipment and supplies, or will otherwise go towards supporting Gyllyngvase Surf Life Saving Club, which gets children, teenagers and adults of all ages involved in surf life saving.

The club is also offering sponsorship opportunities for businesses. For £200 a business can get its logo on the patrol windbreak.

It can be contacted via the Gyllyngvase Surf Life Saving Club Facebook page or its website www.gyllysurf.org.uk/contact