THEY are on the front line in the battle to save lives off Burnham and Berrow’s coast. Meet BARB Search and Rescue, the organisation set up 20 years ago as an inshore rescue service but now an organisation with a multiple offering.

It includes a hovercraft rescue, inshore craft, four-wheel drive vehicles for ferrying medics through snow or mud – and an education service to prevent future disasters. And they do it all for free.

“It takes £50,000 a year to keep BARB operating,” said Mark Newman the charity’s press officer. “That’s a lot of money for a small local charity to raise so we rely on the support of local people.

“We are very lucky to get support from the holiday parks Diamond Farm, Retreats Caravan Park and Burnham Holiday Village. But we need that money to keep coming in as the maintenance of the vehicles and equipment is very costly with the combination of salt water and sand.

“It all has to be frequently replaced and repaired,” he said.

He said their organisation prides itself in being entirely voluntary with every penny raised put into the keeping the outfit operational.

Due to the fact it is entirely voluntary BARB always needs new members as people get older or move away.

All ages are welcome as there is a range of jobs at their headquarters on the seafront from coxswains to mechanics and from trainers to secretaries.

“It was formed over 20 years ago as an inshore rescue service,” explained Mr Newman, “We launched with just one boat, and then in 2004 when a tragedy happened, five-year-old Lelaina Hall died at Berrow, we became a hovercraft service.

“Over £200,000 was raised at that time to fun the new craft. Since then it has saved many hundreds of lives.”

It has been questioned by some in the town as to why there is not only the RNLI, but also BARB and the Coast Guards. Mr Newman said all three performed very different roles which complimented each other.

One example was the way BARB operated in different areas such as inland rescue during the floods.

Wayne Kilgallon was involved for instance in the rescue of a woman in North Curry using a BARB vessel requested by the Civil Contingency.

He said: “We got tasked to get a lady who had been stuck in her house for 14 days. We parked up in a road and then launched the boat and crossed two fields to get there. The water was half way up the stairs.

“We were tasked to see if she was OK but when we got there she decided to come out along with her dog Elvis.

“It was quite surreal going across the flooded fields and I think Elvis was relieved because he hadn’t had a walk for two weeks.”

n If you would like to join BARB or to help them then visit their HQ on the seafront or visit their Facebook page.