The National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) launched its Brancaster outpost in April, 2022 with a handful of volunteers using a borrowed trailer to scan the beach, with its notorious tides and currents.

The National Coastwatch Institution's station at Brancaster (Image: NCI)

It now has a purpose-built bespoke outpost, with powerful camera and radar equipment and more than 40 watchkeepers.

Since they began work from lofty perch on top of the sea defences at the golf club, they have now been involved in more than 100 incidents - the majority leading to the lifeboat or hovercraft from Hunstanton RNLI being called out to rescue people who have found themselves cut off by the tide.

Holidaymakers pack the beach at Brancaster (Image: Ian Burt)

Volunteers were invited to a special Baywatch Day at Costa Coffee's Hunstanton branch on Saturday to showcase their work to customers, as café staff dressed for the beach.

Manager Trish Groom said: "It' so important for safety, it should be publicised more for children and adults alike.

Jo Moorfield from NCI Brancaster, with a map showing its stations around the north Norfolk coast (Image: Chris Bishop)

"I grew up in Brancaster so I'm very local and I'm very aware of what the tides can do."

Frazer Clement, deputy station manager at Brancaster NCI, said: "We're celebrating the fact its four years coming up and we've grown from five watchkeepers to 44 now.

"We had a lot of people come from Brancaster to start with because they knew about the dangers and wanted to help.

NCI mascot Barney Bear (Image: Chris Bishop)

"Now the word's spread and they come from all walks of life they're not all nautical people."

The team includes station manager Barney Bear, who was on his first excursion supporting the station.

Watchkeeper Jo Moorfield said: "It's his first outing and he's really nervous. We've banned him from biscuits because we don't want him gettin g crumbs all over his jumper."

© Eastern Daily Press