Former England rugby World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio, took part in an 18-mile-long walk along the River Thames in support of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution last Friday.

The ex-Wasps player trekked from Wood's Quay in Waterloo to Teddington, to mark 20 years since the RNLI started its lifesaving presence on the Thames.

Four RNLI stations – at Tower, Chiswick, Teddington and Gravesend – were opened in 2002 as a result of an enquiry into the Marchioness Disaster in 1989.

It claimed the lives of 51 people, including Lawrence's sister Francesca and after a successful campaign led by his mother Eileen, RNLI was established.

Teddington Lifeboat Station

Lawrence said: "These RNLI stations are the lasting legacy so that families hopefully will never have to wake up to such life-changing news ever again.

"Along with other emergency services and organisations, the RNLI for the last 20 years saved over 600 lives in London. Supporting this event to help the charity continue its lifesaving work is close to my heart."

The campaign, organised by Aquapac and Sturgeon Ventures, is specifically in support of the RNLI Water Safety programme to prevent drownings and aims to raise £20,000.

You can donate and support RNLI here.